NYC Restaurants, Celebrities, Mixologists To Gather At Chelsea 'Taste Of The Nation' Benefit Monday
By Selena Ricks-Good
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Usually it's your own health you drink to, but Monday night you can drink to the well-being of New York's neediest children at "Taste of the Nation."
Share Our Strength, a non-profit organization which combats childhood hunger, will hold a benefit in Chelsea's Centre 548. The event will feature gourmet fare by top chefs from restaurants such as Ai Fiori and Restaurant Marc Forgione.
The party will also include celebrity appearances (Sandra Lee and Amar'e Stoudemire will both be present) and an impressive array of cocktails mixed by bartenders from some of the city's top bars. Mixologists from 1534, Clover Club, Dram, Dutch Kills, Employees Only, Little Branch, Macao Trading Company, Painkiller, PDT and Pegu Club will be serving up signature cocktails throughout the event.
"Our presenting bartenders have some uniquely delicious drinks on the menu, including a frozen rum homage to our city's finest, a savory and spicy rimmed Michelada paired with Daniel Humm's hot dog, and a tequila cocktail named for Andy Warhol's creative incubator, 'The Factory,'" said Francine Cohen, Beverage Chairman for Taste of the Nation 2011.
Cohen said classic cocktails such as gin and Fever Tree tonic will also be served, and Hudredweight Ice will carve ice for serving Zacapa rum on the rocks.
Tickets start at $225 for general admission and are $425 for VIP. In addition to a one-hour preview of the event, VIP ticket holders will also have access to a VIP Lounge featuring dishes and drinks not included in the main event.
Tickets can be purchased by visiting newyorktaste.org, calling 1-877-26 TASTE (268-2783), or at the event depending upon availability.
Local agencies benefiting from the evening include: City Harvest, Food Bank for New York City, Just Food, NYC Coalition Against Hunger and Nutrition Consortium of NYS.
Centre 548
548 W 22nd Street
centre548.com
Can't make it tonight? Here's the recipe for the NYPD Blue by Painkiller:
In two separate blenders, combine:
Blender 1 (Blue Hawaii)
3/4 oz. Fresh pineapple juice
3/4 oz. Aged rum
3/4 oz. Cream of coconut
Half a pineapple ring
3 drops blue food coloring
Blender 2 (Mango Daiquiri)
1 1/2 oz. Aged rum
3/4 oz. Demerara syrup
3/4 oz. Mango puree
1/4 oz. Fresh lime juice
Blend ingredients with crushed ice. Layer in a Hurricane glass the Mango Daiquiri on bottom and Blue Hawaii on top. Garnish with grated nutmeg, shredded coconut, a pineapple wedge, pineapple leaf and orchid.
Selena Ricks-Good writes about drinks and produces events as The Dizzy Fizz.
