According to Stewart Smith, co-chair of the organizing committee, this ‘is our fourth year of Chefs and the City, which, to date, has generated over half a million dollars helping us to provide our clients who are impacted with hIV/aIdS build healthier lives.’ Smith added that the money translated into empirical benefits that have included 350,000 meals and 10,000 nights of shelter.
Among the chefs presenting were michael Carlson of Schwa, who served quail-egg ravioli and a green curry ice cream, and doran Payne of Rhapsody with his shrimp-and-smoked-duck skewers. also present were two ‘Top Chef’ alumni who are now part of Town and Country: Dale Levitski and Stephanie Izard. Levitski was a runner-up on the show two seasons ago,
while Izard won in the fourth season. Their dish was seared scallops with grape and fennel
salad.
Other dishes included the ‘disco inferno’ course served by pastry chef Ben Roche of Moto. Tiny squares of pizza-flavored cake were topped with mozzarella. Tasters were asked to choose between ‘toppings,’ pop the squares into their mouths and then immediately squirt pepperoni- or roasted mushroom–flavored pastes into their mouths as they chewed. Photos
and text by Yasmin Nair.