5th Annual Spring Benefit: Food Heroes

Thursday, April 25, 2019

The Metropolitan Club

On Thursday, April 25, 2019 Spoons Across America hosted its 5th Annual Spring Benefit: Food Heroes, which was an awe-inspiring evening celebrating the best of the culinary world and supporting children’s food literacy education.   All guests enthusiastically embraced our honorees, and the mission of Spoons Across America. Thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and generously gave their support to help us create a spectacular event.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Spoons Across America Award for Excellence to José Andrés, by our National Spokesperson, Jacques Pépin (the first recipient of our Award for Excellence) to thunderous applause.  José Andrés received this award for his work to improve health, education, jobs, and social enterprise across the world and his dedication to “food exploration” and commitment to children’s food literacy education.

The Award for Excellence was created to honor the extraordinary careers of individuals working in the Culinary Arts, and to acknowledge their commitment to promoting healthy eating, access to quality food, and creative culinary and nutrition-based educational programming.

The Benefit was Co-Chaired by Jeff Bank, Katherine Gage Boulud, and Olga D’Alto, three individuals who are deeply committed to improving children’s relationship with food.

At the Benefit, the second Julia V. Jordan Award for Volunteerism & Public Service was presented to Diane Harris Brown, former Director of Educational and Community Programming, James Beard Foundation, for her work to ensure that children of all backgrounds receive the tools they need to live healthy and successful lives.

The Benefit included a live auction with one-of-a-kind celebrity experiences by Antique Roadshow’s Sebastian Clarke.  Some of the auction lots featured dinner with Jacques Pépin, Dinner at Mar at The Mercado with Andrew Zimmern, a private dinner at De Gustibus Cooking School hosted by Matt Abdoo and Shane McBride of Brooklyn’s famous Pig Beach, Original artwork by Jacques Pépin, and a private dinner in your home by world-famous Daniel Boulud’s  Restaurant Daniel Chez Vous.

For more information about the event, contact James Grosso at james@spoonsacrossamerica.org.