City Harvest Raises $1.3mil At 19th Annual Bid Against Hunger Event

New York, NY – At an event held at the Metropolitan Pavilion Wednesday, City Harvest, New York City’s leading food rescue organization, raised $1.3 million to fight hunger and feed New Yorkers. This was the organization’s 19th Annual Bid Against Hunger event – a walk-around action and restaurant tasting – that included some of the city’s top restaurants and expert chefs.

Amongst this year’s restaurant participants were Beauty & Essex, Red Rooster, Landmarc, Le Bernardin, Picholine, Rao’s, Pok Pok NY, Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C., Talde and Dos Caminos. A few of the notable attendees and chefs were Questlove, Dominique Ansel, Eric Ripert, Marc Murphy, Ivy Stark, Marcus Samuelsson, Geoffrey Zakarian, Amanda Freitag and Frank Pellegrino among others.

Philanthropists and charitable contributors were offered opportunities to bid on prizes in both a live and silent auction. To kick-off the live action, QuestLove and Dominique Ansel took to the stage with one of New York City’s most sought-after delicacies; a box of one dozen cronuts from Dominique Ansel Bakery. Winning bid – $14,000.

Other auction lots included: A private meal for 20 prepared by Chef Marc Murphy in the private dining room of Landmarc at the Time Warner Center. Winning bid – $16,000.

A Cayman Cookout for two, which included two tickets to the Caribbean’s premier epicurean event: The 2014 Cayman Cookout weekend, a four-night stay in an ocean-front room at The Ritz-Carlton, and a private stingray excursion with renowned Chef Eric Ripert. Wining bid – $20,000.

A Historic Harlem walking tour for 20 with Chef Marcus Samuelsson, “the king of American comfort-cooking” and owner of Red Rooster and Ginny’s Supper Club, Harlem. The tour also included dinner at Ginny’s Supper Club. Winning bid – $22,000 to Chef Marcus Samuelsson after outbidding Chef Eric Ripert’s $20,000.

And an intimate wine tasting at the world-famous Le Bernardin with wine class and canapés for 15 hosted by Chef Sommelier Aldo Sohm and wine writer Jay McInerney and a later dinner for two, featuring a menu prepared by four-star Chef Eric Ripert. Winning bid – $42,000.

City Harvest is a non-profit food rescue organization that has been feeding hungry New Yorkers for more than 30 years. City Harvest collects excess food from restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufactures, and farms and delivers it free of charge to food banks throughout the New York City. If you are interested in supporting the efforts of City Harvest, you can do so by calling (646) 412.0643 between 9am to 5pm EST, Monday through Friday or by visiting http://www.cityharvest.org/donate-funds.