Last Tuesday it was my pleasure to attend The Great Chefs Event sponsored by The Vetri Foundation for Children to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, in their continuing support for childhood cancer research. Alex’s Lemonade Stand has contributed over $40 million dollars and is currently funding over 150 research projects.
As an Italian, food equates to love, it shows people you care, and it comforts and celebrates life and family. The event exemplified this ideal, with the Great Chefs coming together for one common cause. It was a culmination of expertise, joy, community, and concern for the growing number of children who suffer with cancer.
It was an amazing lineup of familiar faces from local and international fame. We were also thrilled to have Philadelphia’s own Chef Michael Solomonov, this year’s recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef mid-Atlantic. It was great to see my home girl Chef Jennifer Carroll of 10 Arts, Philadelphia. One of the most prominent committee members in attendance was Comedienne Wanda Sykes.
Some of the most memorable tastes of the evening included lamb sliders with tomato sauce by Chef Michael Olivier, and a wide range of desserts such as churros with dipping sauces – chocolate and dulce de leche – by Chef Sue Torres from Suenos, New York City. Chef Suzanne Goin made homemade graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate then torched each one individually to create the most delectable s’more I’ve ever eaten – rich and creamy. Every nook and cranny in my mouth was jumping for joy. It was the perfect bite.
There was such a sense of camaraderie among the chefs, brought together by their commitment to erase cancer from the lives of children by raising awareness of healthy eating, in addition to research funding. Thanks to Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin for their concerted effort to make this year’s event another success!
