Highlighting the occasion, C-CAP (Careers through Culinary Arts Program) gave honorary awards to Chair Emeritus Richard Grausman, C-CAP founder, cookbook author and chef, and to Sarabeth Levine, renowned baker, author, chef and restaurateur. The evening was emceed by Janice Huff, chief meteorologist for NBC. Over the years the non-profit C-CAP, school programs in numerous U. S. cities, has awarded nearly $60 million in scholarships.

In accepting his award, Grausman said, “I want to thank everybody who joined us in supporting C-CAP’s 30th anniversary benefit. I’m gratified to be recognized by my peers and honored for my work with C-CAP. I look forward to many more successful years and continuing to work with the chefs and students who are my extended family.”

In accepting her award, Levine said: “It is such an honor to have worked with the C-CAP students and Richard through the years. It was a special night seeing all guests, students and celebrities who came out to join us in our celebration. I’m beyond grateful for this recognition. I look forward to many more years of supporting C-CAP students and alum.”

Tim Zagat, C-CAP co-founder and founder of Zagat, the restaurant guide, asserted: “This was the best C-CAP tasting benefit in 30 years and broke all records, raising over 1.2 million. We had over a thousand guests and great food by 35 of the top restaurants in New York City. The room was filled with amazing energy and was buzzing all night. Best of all, the night celebrated a wonderful cause helping underserved high-school students gain careers in the food service industry.”

During the evening an auction was held to augment the fund raising. Other speakers included Marcus Samuelsson, C-CAP board chair, chef, restaurateur and TV personality, and Carlton McCoy, president and CEO of Heitz Cellar, who shared work and success stories of C-CAP and the honorees. In addition to long-time C-CAP benefactors, among guests attending were numerous sports figures and television personalities, including football notables Justin Tuck, Howard Cross, Charles Smith, ABC sports anchor Ryan Field and TVs Judge Patricia DiMango and Dee-Morris.

Apart from all the formalities, the main concentration for patrons was moving among the tables to enjoy sampling the variety of foods available, as well as to sip wines provided by. Heitz Cellar, champagne courtesy of Moët Hennessy and vodka drinks by Tito. Many C-CAP students and alum assisted. I did my share of wandering and tasting, although it was impossible to sample everything among the vast choices.

A favorite was Indian Accent’s pulled lamb, fenugreek roti, and pickled onions. I enjoyed Red Rooster’s charred salmon ceviche. Café Boulud served delicious Ora King Salmon gravlax with pumpernickel tuile, pickled beets, horseradish creme fraiche, dill, fennel and salmon roe. Nubu 57’s specialty was tuna sashimi, shisho and cucumber salsa. At the Jams table was clam chowder with oyster crackers, chives and Aleppo pepper.

Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse presented a substantial portion of herb crusted lamb chops. Lavraki in sea salt was the specalty at Estiatorio Milos. From Four Seasons Hotel one could enjoy tea smoked Long Island duck, with violet mustard and savory hazelnut praline. The Vaucluse sampling was tartare de boeuf with capers, cornichons and crostini. I especially enjoyed the smoked duck tacos of Almond.

The most buzz from the crowd regarding the desserts focused on the exceptionally creative dish from Le Bernardin. One looked at what appeared to be mini red apples on a plate. Actually, upon digging in to an apple one found it was really absolutely delicious apple brown butter mousse, with apple confit and Armagnac sabayon. The other much-talked about dessert was Sarabeth’s very rich triple-chocolate chocolate pudding. The above selections provide an idea of how much pleasure could be derived by attending the benefit.

Participating restaurants and chefs included: Abigail Kirsch (Matthew Tiscornia); Almond (Jason Weiner, Alex Nieto); Aretsky’s Patroon (Ken Aretsky, Aaron Fitterman); Bâtard Tribeca (Markus Glocker); Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse (Admir Alibasic); Bouley at Home (David Bouley); Café Boulud (Jerrod Zifchak); Casa Nomad (Yvan Lemoine); Cosme (Evelyn Velazquez, Isabel Coss); Cuisine Solutions (Bruno Bertin); Estiatorio Milos (Costas Spiliadis); Four Seasons Hotel (John Johnson); Gramercy Tavern (Miroslav Uskokovic); Hudson Yards Grill (Michael Lomonaco, Wayne Harley Brachman, Daniel Rutledge).

Also Indian Accent (Manish Mehrotra); JAMS (Jonathan Waxman); Le Bernardin (Eric Ripert, Thomas Raquel); Locanda Verde (Deborah Racicot); Loi Estiatorio (Maria Loi); The Loyal (John Fraser) Michael's (Michael McCarty, Kyung Up Lim); Nobu 57 (Matt Hoyle); Park Avenue Winter (Zene Flinn); Perrine at the Pierre (Ashfer Biju); Portale (Alfred Portale); Porter House New York (Michael Lomonaco, Wayne Harley Brachman, Daniel Rutledge); Quality Eats (Craig Koketsu); Decoy/ Red Farm (Eddie Schoenfeld, Joe Ng); Red Rooster (Marcus Samuelsson); Sarabeth's (Sarabeth Levine); Shake Shack, Storico (James Miller); TabeTomo (Tomotsugu Kubo); Untitled (Evan Tessler), and Vaucluse (Michael White, Jared Gadbaw).

The annual occasion is looked forward to by food lovers, as top chefs from leading New York restaurants will host tables offering samplings of their special dishes. They will be aided by current C-CAP students and alumni. Since its founding 30 years ago, the non-profit C-CAP has awarded more than $59 million in scholarships to high school students enrolled in cooking classes in New York and other cities as part of C-CAP national program. Some 200,000 students gave benefitted from the program, many of whom have gone on to important positions in the food service industry.

The organization was founded by Grausman, an educator who had been a representative in the United States and Canada for France’s noted Le Cordon Bleu, and who is the author of the popular cookbook, “At Home with the French Classics,” now sold under the revised and updated “French Classics Made Easy.”Grausman received the President’s Service Award from President Clinton and the Humanitarian Award from Bon Appétit and the James Beard Foundation and he has been made an Officer de L’Ordre du Mérite Agricole by the French government.

Honoree Sarabeth Levine has been celebrated for her popular restaurant Sarabeth’s and her admired baking skills. She and her partner/husband and co-founder Bill Levine are selling her products in department stores, specialty shops, supermarkets and hotels throughout the United States and in many parts of the world. She has written two cookbooks, “Sarabeth’s Bakery: From My Hands to Yours” and “Sarabeth’s Good Morning Cookbook.”

The evening will be co-chaired by Marcus Samuelsson, restaurateur, author and philanthropist, and Tim Zagat, co-founder of the renowned Zagat guide. The purpose is to raise funds for C-CAP’s extensive educational program. As in past years, the event will include an auction of culinary, culture and travel packages.

VIP and Red Carpet admissions will begin at 5:45 p.m., with general entrance at 6:30 p.m. In addition to the food at the huge array of tables at Pier 60, there will be a selection of wines presented by C-CAP alum Carlton McCoy of Heitz Cellar, as well as Vodka drinks by Tito. Guests are expected to include sports figures from the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB.

Participating restaurants and chefs include:

Abigail Kirsch (Matthew Tiscornia), Almond (Jason Weiner, Alex Nieto), Aretsky’s Patroon (Ken Aretsky, Aaron Fitterman), Bâtard Tribeca (Markus Glocker), Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse (Admir Alibasic), Bouley at Home (David Bouley), Casa Nomad (Yvan Lemoine), Cosme (Evelyn Velazquez, Isabel Coss), Cuisine Solutions (Bruno Bertin), Daniel (Daniel Boulud, Jean-François Bruel), Estiatorio Milos (Costas Spiliadis).

Felidia (Lidia Bastianich, Fortunato Nicotra), Four Seasons Hotel (John Johnson), Gramercy Tavern (Miroslav Uskokovic), Indian Accent (Manish Mehrotra), JAMS (Jonathan Waxman), Le Bernardin (Eric Ripert, Thomas Raquel), Locanda Verde (Deborah Racicot), Loi Estiatorio (Maria Loi), Majorelle (Richard Brower, Charles Masson), Michael's (Michael McCarty, Kyung Up Lim), Nobu 57 (Matt Hoyle).

Park Avenue Winter (Zene Flinn), Perrine at the Pierre (Ashfer Biju), The Polo Bar (Philippe Bertineau), Portale (Alfred Portale), Porter House New York (Michael Lomonaco, Wayne Harley Brachman, Daniel Rutledge), Hudson Yards Grill (Michael Lomonaco, Wayne Harley Brachman, Daniel Rutledge), Quality Eats (Craig Kokestu), Decoy/ Red Farm (Eddie Schoenfeld, Joe Ng), Red Rooster (Marcus Samuelsson), Sarabeth's (Sarabeth Levine), Shake Shack, Storico (James Miller), Tavern on the Green (Bill Peet), The Loyal (John Fraser), Untitled (Evan Tessler) and Vaucluse (Michael White, Jared Gadbaw).

The changes to MoMA have been made at a cost of $50 for the renovations and the higher amount of $400 million for the construction undertaken in newly added property. The gallery space has been increased by a third, now totaling 165,000 square feet.

The visitor returning will notice some changes even before entering. If one looks through the glass façade on West 53rd Street, one can see that the bookstore has been shifted to one level down.

The overall architecture by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler will of course strike different observers in varied ways. The stress has been on giving the museum a contemporary fit in the New York City landscape. The interior main lobby also gives an impression of spaciousness, as do the passageways in the new structure.

The renowned Sculpture Garden remains a prime attraction easily visible, and the area containing the cinemas remains readily accessible.

It will take some time to wander about and visit all of the areas where art is displayed, and no matter how up-to-date and spacious the museum looks, its orientation toward content is ultimately how it will be judged.

One thing is already clear. MoMA is dedicated to providing more space to art from different parts of the world in addition to exhibiting the collection for which it has become famous over the years. In that sense it is keeping up with recognition of new achievements and a wider cultural diversity.

As one strolls through the exhibit one sees evidence of Prince’s work, including posters of the vast number of shows which he produced and/or directed. There are photographs of him with those who wrote the music, lyrics and books for the hits that had long runs and stood out among the most popular Broadway productions of our time.

One can read the extensive correspondence Prince had with those in the theater world, some of them indicating disagreement, others laudatory and showing appreciation for his expertise and achievements.

One can trace Prince’s history in the theater, from his work with George Abbott early in his career to his later years when he remained the major figure in the Broadway theater world.

There are personal elements, such as his desk on display, complete with his telephone, as well as other memorabilia from his life and career. There are photos of those who played a large part in his work, such as Ruth Mitchell, who became an associate producer and an executive producer of Prince shows.

This event honored Eric Ripert, award-winning chef and co-owner of the renowned Le Bernardin, who lauded C-CAP’s work and said he wanted to share the C-CAP award with the organization’s students, whom he welcomed to his kitchen. The event chair and C-CAP board member was Brian Poplin, president and CEO of Elior North America, who called supporting C-CAP a good fit for his company. The event’s Chef Chair was Marcus Samuelsson, chef, author and chairman of the Marcus Samuelsson Group and also C-CAP board co-chair.

The printed program devoted a page to lauding Richard Grausman, founder and chairman emeritus of C-CAP, and award-winning educator and cook book author who previously represented France’s renowned Le Cordon Bleu in the United States. The program noted of Grausman: “As a result of his longtime leadership, C-CAP has helped train over 200,000 young people in the restaurant and hospitality industries and in the last 29 years has awarded over $56 million in scholarships to deserving high school students across the country.”

Those attending the 2019 benefit wended their way along the many tables spread throughout the venue and sampled as many dishes as stomachs could hold. I did my share, and naturally, while it was impossible to sample all the dishes and desserts, I had favorites among those I did try.

Restaurant Rice & Gold offered delicious mini Thai chicken sliders. Café Boulud served crispy duck rillette. The Polo Bar had Ralph’s corned beef sandwich. Estiatoro Milos served lavraki baked in sea salt.

I liked the Mangalitsa pork shoulder confit that was a specialty of the Tavern on the Green. I also liked the Michael’s octopus confit. At the Oceana table, one could enjoy cobia ceviche with Aguachile, orange and jicama.

One popular site was the table of Indian Accent, where I enjoyed the tamarind prawns, coconut barley, curry leaf gunpowder. Marcus Samuelsson , of course, is known for his Red Rooster and Marcus B & P. His dish of the night was the delicious salmon with bone broth aioli and crispy rice.

Maria Loi, long well known as a restaurateur, operates Loi Estiatorio, and she was personally on hand to supervise the servings of her tasty solomos mariantos: salmon tartare in phyllo cup with yogurt-dill sauce. Nobu 57 offered a tasty salmon sashimi over soba kernels with diced vegetables.

The treat at Park Avenue Spring was eggplant “meatball,” pine nuts, miso and kimchi. Almond excelled with smoked duck tacos. Porter House Bar and Grill served beef tenderloin salad. From Untitled at The Whitney: fingerling potato salad, trout roe, kombu, Granny Smith apple. Felidia had beets, apple, passion fruit, ricotta, pistachio “al pane.”

As for desserts, The Gotham Bar & Grll pleased with its vanilla parfait with fresh mango, passion fruit and coconut sorbet. I found very special Abigail Kersch’s “Fosters” ice cream sandwiches and pineapple passion mint julep. The black cocoa tiramisu offered by Don Angie was mouth-watering.

Sarabeth pleased with its rich triple-chocolate chocolate pudding generously topped with whipped cream that had to be plunged through to get to the chocolate. Gramercy Tavern treated the crowd to its passion fruit meringue pies.

All of the above skims the surface and just represents what I was able to sample. The full list of participating chefs and restaurants included:

Matthew Tiscornia, Abigail Kirsch

Jason Weiner and Alex Nieto, Almond

Markus Glocker, Bâtard

Floyd Cardoz, Bombay Bread

Daniel Boulud, Aaron Bludorn, Café Boulud

Bruno Bertin, Cuisine Solutions

Angie Rito, Scott Tacinelli, Don Angie

Ivy Stark, El Toro Blanco

Costas Spiliadis, Estiatorio Milos

Fortunato Nicotra, Felidia

Yvan Lemoine, Gitano, The Jungle Room

Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar and Grill

Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern

Miro Uskokovic, Gramercy Tavern

Manish Mehrotra, Indian Accent

Jonathan Waxman, JAMS

Maria Loi, Loi Estiatorio

Kyung Up Lim, Michael’s

Abram Bissell, The Modern

Matt Hoyle, Nobu 57

Bill Telepan, Oceana

Greg Baxtrom, Olmstead

Zene Flinn, Park Avenue Winter

Ashfer Biju, Perrine

Philippe Bertineau, The Polo Bar

Michael Lomonaco, Wayne Harley Brachman, Daniel Rutledge, Porter House

Marcus Samuelsson, Red Rooster Harlem and Marcus B&P

Jae Lee, Betty Peña*, Rice & Gold

Sarabeth Levine, Sarabeth’s

Jeff Miller, Storico, Constellation Culinary Group

Bill Peet, Tavern on the Green

Sherry Yard and Greg Power, The Tuck Room

Suzanne Cupps, Untitled

Michael White, Arthur Lee, Vaucluse

Some 40 of New York City’s outstanding chefs are participating, with tables featuring tastings of their restaurant specialties, and some 100 C-CAP students and alumni from high schools in New York and other cities assisting in the servings. As in the past, the event will be held at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers. The date in Tuesday, February 26, from 5:45 to 9.00 p.m. Those who have attended in previous years know the pleasure of wandering among the tables and tasting the wide array of food offered. It is a challenge to see how much a person can sample from all of the opportunities available. Wines are also served.

The 2019 event chair is Brian Poplin, President and CEO of Elior North America, lead sponsor of the benefit. Those participating include Chef Chair and C-CAP board Co-Chair Marcus Samuelsson and Michelin star chefs Abram Bisssell, Aaron Bludorn, Daniel Boulud, Markus Glocker, Alfred Portale and Michael White, as well as C-CAP alumni Yvan Lemoine from Gitano and The Jungle Room, and Betty Peña from Rice & Gold.

Over the years C-CAP has given out more than $53 million in scholarships awarded through culinary competitions. The organization was founded in 1990 by culinary educator and cookbook author Richard Grausman, now Chairman Emeritus.

“C-CAP changes lives by arming underserved high school students with the skills they need to succeed in the culinary arts,” says Marcus Samuelsson. “C-CAP helps thousand of students across the country through education and career readiness opportunities . As a chef and longtime supporter of C-CAP’s work, I have seen first-hand how this program benefits its remarkable students and the industry’s growing demand for skilled talent. C-CAP’s benefit makes a huge difference in the lives of so many students.”

Ripert, chosen as this year’s honoree, not only has achieved distinction as co-owner of Le Bernardin, but is Vice Chairman of City Harvest, which works to bring together New York’s top chefs and restaurateurs to raise funds and increase the quality and quantity of food donations to New York’s neediest. He has also mentored C-CAP students and alumni.

Ripert was born in Antibes, France. He moved to Andorra, the small country just over the Spanish border, as a child. His family instilled a passion for food in the young Ripert, and at the age of 15 he left home to attend culinary school in Perpignan. At 17, he moved to Paris and cooked at the legendary La Tour D’Argent before taking a position at the Michelin three-starred Jamin. After fulfilling his military service, Ripert returned to Jamin under Joël Robuchon to serve as chef poissonier.

In 1989, Ripert was given the opportunity to work under Jean-Louis Palladin as sous-chef at Jean Louis at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Ripert moved to New York in 1991, working briefly as David Bouley’s sous-chef before Maguy and Gilbert Le Coze recruited him as chef for Le Bernardin. He is one of only a few chefs in America to consistently receive three Michelin stars and has been top-rated in the Zagat Survey over the last 10 years.

In September 2014, Ripert and Le Coze opened Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, named for their wine director Aldo Sohm. That same month, the two expanded Le Bernardin’s private dining offerings with Le Bernardin Privé, a space above Aldo Sohm Wine Bar that can accommodate a range of events. In addition, Ripert partnered with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to open Blue in Grand Cayman, the Caribbean’s only AAA 5 Diamond restaurant.

VIP admission tickets to the benefit are $1,000. General admission tickets are $600. (https://ccapinc.org/events/c-cap-annual-benefit-2019/)

Participating chefs and restaurants include:

Matthew Tiscornia, Abigail Kirsch

Jason Weiner and Alex Nieto, Almond

Markus Glocker, Bâtard

Floyd Cardoz, Bombay Bread

Daniel Boulud, Aaron Bludorn, Café Boulud

Bruno Bertin, Cuisine Solutions

Angie Rito, Scott Tacinelli, Don Angie

Ivy Stark, El Toro Blanco

Costas Spiliadis, Estiatorio Milos

Fortunato Nicotra, Felidia

Yvan Lemoine, Gitano, The Jungle Room

Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar and Grill

Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern

Miro Uskokovic, Gramercy Tavern

Manish Mehrotra, Indian Accent

Jonathan Waxman, JAMS

Maria Loi, Loi Estiatorio

Kyung Up Lim, Michael’s

Abram Bissell, The Modern

Matt Hoyle, Nobu 57

Bill Telepan, Oceana

Greg Baxtrom, Olmstead

Zene Flinn, Park Avenue Winter

Ashfer Biju, Perrine

Philippe Bertineau, The Polo Bar

Michael Lomonaco, Wayne Harley Brachman, Daniel Rutledge, Porter House

Marcus Samuelsson, Red Rooster Harlem and Marcus B&P

Jae Lee, Betty Peña, Rice & Gold

Sarabeth Levine, Sarabeth’s

Jeff Miller, Storico, Constellation Culinary Group

Bill Peet, Tavern on the Green

Sherry Yard and Greg Power, The Tuck Room

Suzanne Cupps, Untitled

Michael White, Arthur Lee, Vaucluse

Videos of Bernstein conducting are fascinating, and those chosen range from his younger years through his later triumphs. In addition, there are annotated Bernstein scores.

Also included is a collection of memorabilia harking back to his family, his growing up period and schooling. One can examine a report card from his days at Harvard (not particularly exceptional grades on that one), from which he graduated with honors.

Selections of Bernstein’s correspondence are included, and of special interest is a long letter that he wrote to his mother. An early family upright piano is on display, and there is his later concert piano. A formal outfit that he wore as conductor is shown, and there is even a collection of luggage that he carried on his world travels.

One sees posters of the musicals that he wrote during his multifaceted career that included composing for Broadway as well as opera. We also see evidence of his role as an educator and of his long association with Tanglewood.

One section is particularly intriguing—examples from a file that the FBI kept on him. In addition to the pages you can read, there is a whole stack of pages from that file. A controversy swirled around Bernstein when he hosted an event connected to the Black Panthers. Of course, that was just one of many instances of Bernstein demonstrating his social concerns. At the 40th anniversary of dropping the nuclear bombs on Japan, he conducted a “Journey for Peace” tour. When the Berlin Wall came down, he conducted “Berlin Celebration Concerts.”

There is a series of caricatures that the artist Al Hirschfeld drew of Bernstein, each an example of how Hirschfeld could capture the essence of his subject with a minimum of lines. Many photographs of Bernstein at various stages of his life and career are included.

One should take ample time for a visit as there is much to see, read and contemplate. On walking through the exhibition, one can get very nostalgic about what a great man Bernstein was in the world of music for so many of his extensive contributions and the stature that he achieved world-wide.

As a further celebration of his centennial the Library for the Performing Arts has scheduled a series of public events during December and in 2018. Examples: On Thursday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. there will be a screening of “On the Waterfront,” the only film for which Bernstein wrote a score; on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. a program will be “Bernstein Family Memories,” with Bob Santelli, curator of the centennial exhibition, conversing with Bernstein family members and special guests.

Stadler, whose first solo exhibition was held in 1962 at Bennington College, is recognized for combining color and minimalist art, as exemplified in this collection. Some of the works on display, nearly all in acrylic on canvas, are attractively bold, while others are sensitively subtle.

In surveying his paintings, one can appreciate Stadler’s ability to blend a variety of colors with his abstract imagery. One favorite is “Twilight,” which he did in 1973. Another is “Wild Character,” painted in 1979. Meadowrise (1983) is another dazzler, as is “Exotic Night.” (1982).

Mari Stadler, who was married to the artist, has dedicatedly worked to keep his art in the forefront, and Valerie Stadler, his daughter, has directed a film, “Albert Stadler: Color,” which explores his achievements. The film includes comments by Mari Stadler, Christine Berry and Sanford Wurmfeld, artist and Professor Emeritus of Hunter College.

On the way in I encountered a young woman who was helping to welcome the nearly 1000 guests attending, and when I inquired about her background, she enthusiastically told of having been given a C-CAP scholarship that enabled her to have lived in Paris and studied at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu. The experience has already changed her life. (Before founding C-CAP, chef and author Richard Grausman, now C-CAP's Chairman Emeritus, represented Le Cordon Bleu in the United States.)

The honoree this year, José Andrés, has been lauded for his achievements as a culinary innovator, author, educator, TV personality, humanitarian and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup & minibar by José Andrés. Imposing and exuberant, Andrés in accepting the award spoke words of hope and encouragement to the assemblage. “We must be sure that we don’t leave anybody behind, ” he asserted, praising C-CAP for all it does. He said that by always pressing ahead a big difference can be made in so many lives.

The Honors Award to Andrés was presented by Chair Ken Himmel, President & CEO of Related Urban, C-CAP Board Co-Chair and chef Marcus Samuelsson, and Richard Grausman. During the evening the event honored Grausman in celebration of his 80th birthday, with the crowd joining to sing “Happy Birthday” to him. WCBS-TV News Anchorman Maurice DuBois was Master of Ceremonies. Sotheby’s auctioneer Eli Rodriquez conducted an auction of special attractions that helped raise the funds, and there was also a silent auction.

Speeches and ceremony aside, the special pleasure of attending is the opportunity to sample signature dishes from some of the most prominent restaurants and chefs in New York. The tables stretched across the room, the wine flowed and lines formed. I did my share of tasting, not everything of course, as the choices are too vast, although I talked to one woman who was on a personal mission to sample each available dish. I don’t know if she succeeded.

In my tour I found the grilled octopus with red wine, macerated onions, fresh herbs, lemon and oiive oil served by Loi Estiatorio excellent, and I chatted with owner Maria Loi, whom I know from having patronized her restaurant. Felidia served an intriguing shrimp with blood orange “agrodolce” with fennel, basil seeds and pistachio. Café Boulud was represented by smoked Alaskan salmon with horseradish yogurt, beets and pumpernickel. I liked Park Avenue Winter’s concoction of smoked mushrooms and Urbani Perigord truffle with hazelnuts on corn johnnycake.

There was Asiate’s fois gras royale with lychee and pumpkin seed crumble. I enjoyed Oceana’s swordfish paillard with Milanese salad. Almond served Moroccan-style lamb meatballs with salsa verde and smoked feta. The Tuck Room’s brioche-encrusted crab cake was superb. The Modern served gently seared prawns with brown butter and almonds. I could go on and on.

As for desserts, I liked Gramercy Tavern’s old fashioned coconut cake doughnuts with passion fruit glaze. Triple chocolate chocolate pudding was the seductive, rich offering of Sarabeth’s. Fusco delighted with tiramisu “ag2ffogato.”

The following is a list of participating chefs and restaurants: Philip DeMaiolo, Abigail Kirsch

Jason Weiner and Alex Nieto, Almond

Cyril Renaud, Asiate

Markus Glocker, Bâtard

Daniel Boulud, Aaron Bludorn, Cesar Gutierrez*, Café Boulud

Carla Hall, Carla Hall

Melissa Rodriguez, Del Posto

Fortunato Nicotra, Felidia

Scott Conant, Fusco

Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar and Grill

Miro Uskokovic, Gramercy Tavern

Manish Mehrotra, Indian Accent

Maria Loi, Loi Estiatorio

Kim Up Lim, Michael’s

Abram Bissell, The Modern

Matt Hoyle, Nobu 57

Bill Telepan, Oceana

Zene Flinn, Park Avenue Winter

Ashfer Biju, Perrine

Thomas Keller, Per Se

Philippe Bertineau, The Polo Bar

Michael Lomonaco and Wayne Harley Brachman, Porter House

Delfin Jaranilla, Quality Eats

Sarabeth Levine, Sarabeth’s

Marcus Samuelsson, Streetbird Rotisserie

Sherry Yard and Greg Power, The Tuck Room

José Andrés, ThinkFoodGroup

Thomas Chen, Tuome

Yvan Lemoine*, Union Fare

Chris Santos, Vandal

Michael White, Vaucluse

*C-CAP Alum

I have continued to write about C-CAP tasting benefits through the years chaired by Grausman (now Chairman Emeritus) and have reported on the remarkable $53 million in scholarships and the inspiring stories of students who have gone on to earn distinction in the food service world and bear out the importance of the C-CAP mission. I have watched TV segments of Grausman conducting high school cooking competitions and the excitement involved.

Now it is once again time for a C-CAP food tasting benefit. This year the honoree will be José Andrés, internationally recognized culinary innovator, author, educator, television personality, humanitarian, and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup & minibar by José Andrés. The annual culinary event will take place on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 from 5:45-9:00 p.m. at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, the long-time benefit venue. Elior North America is the lead sponsor of the event, which will feature culinary tastings prepared by over 30 of the city’s noted chefs, including Chef Chair and C-CAP Board Co-Chair Marcus Samuelsson and Michelin Star Chefs José Andrés, Abram Bissel, Daniel Boulud, Markus Glocker, Alfred Portale, Thomas Keller, and Michael White, as well as C-CAP alumni Cesar Gutierrez from Café Boulud and Yvan Lemoine from Union Fare. Assisting the chefs will be more than 60 New York City C-CAP high school students and alumni.

“C-CAP changes lives by arming disadvantaged high school students with the skills they need to succeed in the culinary arts,” says Marcus Samuelsson. “C-CAP helps thousands of qualified students across the country through education and career placement opportunities. As a chef and longtime supporter of C-CAP’s work, I have seen first-hand how this program benefits its remarkable students and the industry’s growing demand for skilled talent. C-CAP’s Benefit makes a huge difference in the lives of so many students.”

The Chair for this year’s benefit is Kenneth A. Himmel, President & CEO of Related Urban. “We are thrilled to honor José Andrés for his remarkable contributions to the industry, for making the world a better place, and for his commitment to culinary innovation,” says Himmel.

José Andrés was named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People” and “Outstanding Chef” by the James Beard Foundation. A pioneer of Spanish tapas in the United States, he is known for his avant-garde cuisine and his award-winning group of 28 restaurants throughout the country and beyond. His innovative minibar by José Andrés earned two Michelin stars and with that, José is the only chef globally that has both a two-star Michelin restaurant and four Bib Gourmands. Andrés’ work has earned numerous awards including the 2015 National Humanities Medal, one of 12 distinguished recipients of the award from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

WCBS-TV News Anchorman Maurice DuBois will be the Master of Ceremonies. The event is coordinated by Gourmet Advisory Services; Harriette Rose Katz will be overseeing the chefs. The featured C-CAP alumni speaker will be Gabrielle Calle, who received C-CAP scholarships to attend the Culinary Institute of America and to study and work in Madrid. She has advanced in her career at such venues as Gotham Bar & Grill and Union Square Cafe, and she is currently sous chef at Pier Sixty.

Past recipients of the C-CAP Honors Award include: Michael Anthony, Daniel Humm, Richard Parsons & Alexander Smalls, Michael White, Tony May, Michael McCarty, Michael Lomonaco, Marcus Samuelsson, Drew Nieporent, Alfred Portale, Lidia Bastianich, Thomas Keller, Charlie Palmer, Danny Meyer & Michael Romano, Daniel Boulud, Jacques Pepin, Egidiana & Sirio Maccioni, Nina & Tim Zagat, and Saul Zabar & Stanley Zabar.

The C-CAP Benefit is open to the public. VIP Admission Tickets are $1,000 and include a signed cookbook from a celebrity chef. General admission tickets are $600 (limited availability).

Participating chefs and restaurants include:

Philip DeMaiolo, Abigail Kirsch

Jason Weiner and Alex Nieto, Almond

Cyril Renaud, Asiate

Markus Glocker, Bâtard

Daniel Boulud, Aaron Bludorn, Cesar Gutierrez*, Café Boulud

Carla Hall, Carla Hall

Melissa Rodriguez, Del Posto

Fortunato Nicotra, Felidia

Scott Conant, Fusco

Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar and Grill

Miro Uskokovic, Gramercy Tavern

Manish Mehrotra, Indian Accent

Maria Loi, Loi Estiatorio

Kim Up Lim, Michael’s

Abram Bissell, The Modern

Matt Hoyle, Nobu 57

Bill Telepan, Oceana

Zene Flinn, Park Avenue Winter

Ashfer Biju, Perrine

Thomas Keller, Per Se

Philippe Bertineau, The Polo Bar

Michael Lomonaco and Wayne Harley Brachman, Porter House

Delfin Jaranilla, Quality Eats

Sarabeth Levine, Sarabeth’s

Marcus Samuelsson, Streetbird Rotisserie

Sherry Yard and Greg Power, The Tuck Room

José Andrés, ThinkFoodGroup

Thomas Chen, Tuome

Yvan Lemoine*, Union Fare

Chris Santos, Vandal

Michael White, Vaucluse

*C-CAP Alum

(For more information visit www.ccapinc.org; follow C-CAP on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @CCAPINC ; Event hashtag: #ccapbenefit.)