Charity,  Culture,  Dessert,  Drink,  Entertainment,  Events,  Explore with Cassie,  Fashion,  Food,  Latest News,  Style

Great Chefs raised over $800K for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and Vetri Foundation for Children

June 23, 2015 / Comments Off on Great Chefs raised over $800K for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and Vetri Foundation for Children

by Cassie Hepler, photos by Lou Perri

Every year, my stomach and I look forward to the Great Chefs Event. It’s literally a sort of fasting before the feast and makes competitive eating seem like a real sport somehow. The key (to me at least) is to try at least one bite of everything.

This year, I was unable to make it (only I could mess up my neck and back before Dana Hot Yoga class even begins!) but here are the highlights and photo story below.

One of my favorites told me the dish to die for was definitely Michael Solomonov’s sweetbread schnitzel, and she’s always a fan of Big Gay Ice Cream. Below are the stats on how much was raised and which dishes were the most popular.

Key highlights of the evening:

• 1200+ guests in attendance

• 250+ volunteers

• Once again, they exceeded fundraising goals – more than $800,000 raised for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation & the Vetri Foundation for Children.

• Some of the most popular dishes of the night included Charles Phan’s gau choy gau (shrimp & watercress dumpling), Masaharu Morimoto’s hamachi, soba & black barley, corn, pickled red onion & miso, and Nancy Silverton + Dahlia Narvaez butterscotch budino with rosemary pine nut cookies.

• The event was hosted by 6ABC’s Alicia Vitarelli and Marc Summers.

Live Auction highlights:

• $72,000 raised

• Culinary tour of Northern Italy for 6 led by Marc Vetri and Jeff Michaud went for $21,000.

• The latest in the Great Chefs Event auction rivalry between Vetri Family chefs Brad Spence and Jeff Michaud: The winning bid for Brad Spence’s “Beast of Amis” in-home dinner for 10 was $14,000. Jeff Michaud’s Bergamascan feast featuring his mother-in-law, Mama Pina, sold twice for $10,000. Debates about who won this round are ongoing…

Silent Auction Highlights:

• A few fabulous items sold well into the thousands, including: Weekend in Charlotte, NC with Chef Rocco Whalen, including breakfast and dinner at Fahrenheit, as well as tickets to the Eagles vs. Panthers game.

• A weekend in New Orleans for 2 featuring breakfast at Luke, lunches at both Borgne and Johnny Sanchez, and dinners at August, Domenica & Shaya, all Besh Restaurant Group restaurants.

Overall, the silent auction totaled nearly $100,000.

Back for its 10th year, Marc Vetri’s Great Chefs Event took over Urban Outfitter’s corporate campus in the Navy Yard on June 9 from 6-9 pm.  As always, the event brings together some of the best chefs from around the country (and one from Italy) as well as some of the top beverage personalities from the states. This year, the VIP afterparty took place at Lo Spiedo, also in the Navy Yard, to make the transit from the event to the afterparty that much easier. 

IMG_7101 IMG_7102

Signage for the Great Chefs Event
Signage for the Great Chefs Event

IMG_7108

The DiBruno Brothers, of South Philadelphia.
The DiBruno Brothers, of South Philadelphia.
Three Great Chefs Event supporters pose for Explore Philly.
Three Great Chefs Event supporters pose for Explore Philly.

IMG_7104 IMG_7177 IMG_7176 IMG_7175 IMG_7174 IMG_7173 IMG_7170

Among the mor ebeautiful gowns was this worn by a supporter of the Great Chefs Event.
Among the most beautiful gowns was this worn by a supporter of the Great Chefs Event.

IMG_7168 IMG_7166 IMG_7165 IMG_7164 IMG_7163 IMG_7162 IMG_7159 IMG_7157 IMG_7155 IMG_7154 IMG_7153

Liz Scott, of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, addresses the foundation supporters at the Great Chefs Event held at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
Liz Scott, of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, addresses the foundation supporters at the Great Chefs Event held at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
Liz Scott, left, Alicia Vitarelli, 6abc news anchor, and Bob Scott, pose for Explore Philly prior to the start of theprogram.
Liz Scott, left, Alicia Vitarelli, 6abc news anchor, and Jay Scott, pose for Explore Philly prior to the start of the program.

IMG_7147

6anc's Alicia Vitarelli, speaks to the event supporters at the podium.
6anc’s Alicia Vitarelli, speaks to the event supporters at the podium.

IMG_7144

Adam Perry Lang, New York City & LA,, chef at After Party.
Adam Perry Lang, New York City & LA,, chef at After Party.

IMG_7142 IMG_7141

Katsuya Fukushima, Daikaya, Washington, D. C.
Katsuya Fukushima, Daikaya, Washington, D. C.
Michael Cimarusti, Sam Baxter+Connie& Ted's La
Chris Bianco, Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix, Arizona

IMG_7137 IMG_7135 IMG_7134 IMG_7133 IMG_7132 IMG_7131

Jose Garces, of Garces Group, Philadelphia, discusses the evnt with supporters.
Jose Garces, of Garces Group, Philadelphia, discusses the event with supporters.

IMG_7129 IMG_7128 IMG_7127 IMG_7126 IMG_7125 IMG_7124 IMG_7123 IMG_7122 IMG_7120 IMG_7119 IMG_7118 IMG_7117

Timon Balloo,of SUGARCANE Raw Bar , Maine
Jonathan Benno, Lincoln Ristorante, New York, NY
Pretty lady enjoys a small plate at the Great Chefs Event.
Pretty lady enjoys a small plate at the Great Chefs Event.
Matt Accarrino, of SPQR, San Francisco, was an exhibitor at the event.
Matt Accarrino, of SPQR, San Francisco, was an exhibitor at the event.
Brooklyn Beer was an exhibitor at the Great Chefs Event.
Brooklyn Beer was an exhibitor at the Great Chefs Event.

IMG_7112

Three supporters pose for Explore PPhilly during the Great Chefs Event.
Three supporters pose for Explore Philly during the Great Chefs Event.
Server at the Lemonade Stand at the event.
Server at the Lemonade Stand at the event.
A group poses for Explore Philly at the VIP room.
A group poses for Explore Philly at the VIP room.

You May Also Like

An Evening of Drag, Cabaret-Style at the William Way LGBT Community Center

May 2, 2017

Connect to Conquer: Philadelphia’s Union League Hosts YBConnected’s Charity Event

June 27, 2018

At the Horse Races – Preakness at the Piazza for MS

June 3, 2015