Taste of Hope event in New York raised $250,000

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NEW YORK – The American Cancer Society‘s 14th Annual Taste of Hope event, held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City, last month, raised over $250,000, in its mission to eradicate cancer.

The sold out annual event, which over the years has raised $1.8 million for its cause, saw more than 700 guests and attendees sampling food and beverages from more than 70 top restaurants, philanthropic chefs, leading winemakers and spirit brands, in New York City.

The glamorous and well-organized event, produced by Mark D. Friedman and Jamie Koff, and hosted by WCBS TV Channel 2’s Chris Wragge, recognized several individuals. The culinary honorees were Michael Lomonaco, Chef and Partner of Porter House Bar and Grill; Ralph Scamardella, Chef and Partner of TAO Group Restaurants; Otto Cedeno, Founder of Otto’s Tacos as the Corporate Honoree; and Dana Cowin, former Editor-in-chief of Food & Wine magazine, as the Survivor Honoree.

This year’s Volunteer Host Committee included Alysia Reiner, Danny Burstein, Harry Carson, David Alan Basche, Rebecca Luker and Clarke Thorell.

The variety of samples, including delicious and innovative sea food, vegetable concoctions, and tasty meat sliders, apart from a separate dessert section, came from some of the best known restaurants in the Big Apple, including: a Little Brittle Heaven, Baby Brasa, Barbounia, Ben & Jacks Steakhouse, Benjamin Prime, Bonsai Kakigori, Boulud Sud, Butterfly Bake Shop, Calle Ocho, Hunt & Fish Club, Jing Fong, Jora, L’adresse, LAVO, Loi Estiatorio, Magnolia Bakery, Motel Morris, Mr. Crabby’s Craft Kitchen + Bar, Nick’s Lobster House, Nobu Fifty Seven, Ortzi NYC, Otto’s Tacos, Parkway Bakery & Tavern, Patina Restaurant Group, Sarabeth’s, Serendipity 3, STK Steakhouse, Surfish Bistro, Sweetcatch Poke, TAO, The Algonquin Hotel, The Sea Fire Grill, The Smith, Toloache Restaurant, Tommy Bahama, and Treat House.

There was also a silent auction with prizes donated from leading organizations, including Tory Burch, Intersect by Lexus, Wine Spectator, New York Health and Racquet Club, Rebecca Minkoff, Balenciaga, Google, and SoulCycle, to name a few.

Attendees were regaled by some music on stage in the center, apart from presentations to honorees, as they satiated themselves on the delicacies set up on tables around it, inside the gargantuan hall.

Yellow Chilli coming to New Jersey

The Yellow Chilli, a popular brand in India under the parent company Sanjeev Kapoor Restaurants Pvt. Ltd, is coming soon to Oak Tree Road, in Edison, New Jersey. At present, the flourishing brand has over 40 outlets in India and overseas.

The chain, founded by the renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor, creates delicious Indian food with a unique twist, crafted with utmost perfection using freshest of ingredients, in an impeccably designed ambience with subtle and aesthetic interiors, according to press materials.

The cuisine of Yellow Chilli is inspired from the Indian subcontinent with popular picks from its royal heritage. Be it the signature Tomato Basil Soup, Lalla Mussa Dal (black lentils simmered overnight), Nalli Rogan Josh (lamb shanks in yogurt gravy), Dum Gosht Biryani (long-grained rice slow-cooked with tender mutton and aromatic spices)  or Gulab-e-Gulkand (rose petal compote stuffed gulab jamuns), each creation is innovative, promises the restaurant chain. Food is prepared with natural flavors and colors and no usage of MSG.

The Yellow Chilli, joining a bevy of other restaurants in the Little India section of the state, will also have an exotic bar menu, with a range of choices, including: Peru Pyala (guava juice, lemon, mint and chilli, shaken signature style), Twisted (cool mélange of orange, lemon, apple, cranberry), Aam Panna (Indian style raw mango cooler), Ooooooops! (vodka with lychee, cranberry and lots of crushed ice) and Skullbreaker (fiery blend of whisky, vodka, Tabasco and pineapple juice).

Eid sweets from Patel Brothers

The popular grocery store Patel Brothers had a special treat this year, to celebrate Eid: packet of Motichur Laddu.

On a recent visit to the Patel Brothers store in Norwalk, Connecticut, at checkout, the cashier handed over a box of the delicious sweets to me.

Over the years, I’ve had samples of food and beverages, including tea, from exhibitors, at the Norwalk store. This was the first time however, free sweets were doled out.

Great gesture from Patel Brothers! One can only hope they carry forward this tradition to celebrate some other popular Indian festivals, including Diwali and Christmas.

(Sujeet Rajan is Executive Editor, Parikh Worldwide Media. Email him: sujeet@newsindiatimes.com Follow him on Twitter @SujeetRajan1)