After a buzzy cocktail hour overlooking the Hudson River, emcee Stanley Tucci kicked off the Food Bank for New York City‘s annual Can-Do Awards Dinner at Pier 60. “There will be glamour, bright lights,” Tucci promised as the sky turned wispy pink. “And that’s just my part.” The Academy Award nominee was just one of many luminaries adding his star power to Tuesday’s party: Mario Batali, Anthony Bourdain, Rachel Ray and honoree Emeril Lagasse made up the celebrity chef contingent, while Helena Christensen, Mariska Hargitay and The Edge upped Tucci’s promised glam quotient.
Over appetizers of shrimp cake, a fresh mache salad, shrimp roasted with dijon mustard and a satisfyingly crunchy fennel lemon relish, Food Bank President and CEO Lucy Cabrera presented awards to two of the evening’s honorees. The first recipient, Anthony Butler, Executive Director of St. John’s Bread & Life, heads an organization dedicated to feeding the poor and giving them the tools necessary to feed themselves. Butler noted, to applause, that his volunteers had served “over 400,000 meals to hungry New Yorkers last year” thanks, in no small part, to the Food Bank’s support. Joseph Sheridan, who as the Executive Vice President of ShopRite has worked closely with the Food Bank during the organizations’ 30-year partnership, accepted his award with the reminder that “the hungry depend on an army of volunteers to make a difference.”
As appetizer plates were cleared and white wine refreshed, Tucci urged guests to donate to Food Bank “the old-fashioned way” (using the envelope and donation form at every place setting), or, to avail themselves of technology. Pulling out an oversize bright pink phone to many giggles, Tucci texted the evening’s first pledge (“No sexting!” he commanded), which was displayed on screens throughout the room. “What are you waiting for?” His message read. “Pledge now!” Tucci’s opening donation of $5,000 was matched throughout the night as guests typed their good will onto the big screen. All in all, the event raised $1.4 million for hunger relief.
Before dinner was served, Food Bank board member Mario Batali, who would later present the evening’s final award to his Iron Chef cohort, Emeril Lagasse, talked to Tonic about the challenges of keeping America nourished. “The biggest issue is understanding that people aren’t aware. People aren’t eating nutritiously and they aren’t getting enough food. What I do is really about awareness creation,” the chef said. “Me and my sons go once a month to a Food Bank and serve. The most hopeful thing I see is my kids’ awareness that hunger isn’t some exotic thing. It’s everywhere you look. The whole thing is devastatingly obvious, which makes it easier to help.” Anthony Bourdain, who works every year with a Washington, D.C. organization dedicated to training and transitioning former prisoners and recovering addicts into working kitchens, credits his Food Bank involvement to Batali’s influence. “As a proud New Yorker and someone who understands hunger, I wanted to do something. It’s all thanks to Mario.”
Food Bank partner Rachael Ray — who copped to being another Batali recruit — had a few suggestions about solving the food crisis: think local. “It’s the last bargain left in food,” she said of shopping at farmer’s market. “Even if you have to take two trains and a car ride to get there, the last bargain in food is to buy it direct from the growers. If kids can’t distinguish the difference between potatoes, tomatoes, and cucumbers, then part of the storytelling is to take them on those pilgrimages.” Ray was hopeful that now was an ideal time to address issues of hunger, obesity and diabetes. “With this administration it’s the perfect climate to talk about meaningful change and the cost of fruits and vegetables, and the availability of them to the masses.”
Over dinner — beef tenderloin and a creamy truffled flan —Christie’s auctioneer Lydia Fenet started the bidding with tickets to a Mets-Yankees showdown. “I love a good football game,” she joked. The evening ended with a special performance by Buckwheat Zydeco, and, judging by the texts that popped up on the screens throughout the evening, a significant contribution to feeding New York’s underserved.
Photos by PR Photos and Wireimage.com.