From Farm to Tray Event May 16th 2013 in New York City

 Top New York chefs take on 100 Mile Menu challenge to fight hunger with                                 Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen

New York City, New York,  April 15th, 2013. Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen - the largest emergency food program in New York City - will host 'From Farm to Tray', a sustainable food benefit on May 16th, to raise much needed funds before the busy summer season, when children and families join the ranks of those seeking a nutritious meal at the soup kitchen.

            On the night, chefs from some of New York's best loved restaurants including One If By Land, Two If By Sea, Park Avenue Spring, Freemans, Isa, Peels and Spoonbread, will create a tasting menu with ingredients sourced from within a 100 mile radius - something that Michael Ottley, Director of Operations at Holy Apostles, does every day.

            "People think because we serve over 1,000 meals a day it's quantity and not quality that's important," says Ottley, "but a lot of work goes into making sure our menu is sustainable and nutritious. We serve fresh fruit and vegetables every day, and all dairy produce is sourced within New York State. Over the last two years, we've cut out all processed food from the menu. For some of our guests, this is their only meal - it needs to healthy and nutritious."

            From Farm to Tray will be the first benefit for  Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen to host in over three decades, reflecting the fact that with government funding only covering 8% of the soup kitchen's annual expenses, it is essential to innovate and diversify funding sources to meet the continuous and growing demand for its services.

            'We see new faces on our line every day,' comments Executive Director, Reverend Glenn Chalmers. 'About half of the people who come here are homeless, but for many of them, eating here allows them to stay in their homes. The latest studies show that within low income families, over 40% cut back on food in order to pay their rent.'

            With meal counts topping 1,000 a day, the soup kitchen's commitment to sustainability and nutrition is something that participating chefs taking part have responded to with enthusiasm. 'Creating the 100 Mile menu is a challenge but it's fun,' says Kevin Lasko of Park Avenue Spring. 'And it's for a great cause - I don't know how the soup kitchen does it for so many meals each week.'

             Like the hungry New Yorkers who eat at the soup kitchen every day, guests at From Farmto Tray will dine in the beautiful sanctuary of the landmark Holy Apostles Church, a space that New York Times journalist Anna Quindlen dubbed "the most majestic dining room in New York City". VIP packages are available, offering VIP guests the opportunity to enjoy photo opportunities with chefs from 6-7pm, before general admission from 7pm - 9pm.  Sustainable beverages and cocktails will be served on the night and guests will also have the opportunity to take part in a silent auction benefiting the soup kitchen.

            To find out more visit www.farmtotray.org or call 212-924-0167.

This is a really wonderful event for a great cause and I wanted to let you know it was coming up. A great way to help others and enjoy a foodie night out is what I would call it. 

About From Farm to Tray:

From Farm to Tray is a cocktail reception featuring sustainable food and beverages to benefit Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen on May 16th.

Featured chefs:

-          Colt Taylor, One If By Land, Two If By Sea

-          Kevin Lasko, Park Avenue Spring (Summer, Autumn, Winter)

-          Kurt Kretschmar, Cocktail Caterers

-          Preston Madson & Ginger Pierce, Freemans, Peels & Isa

-          Yvan Lemoine, Season 8 Food Network Star Finalist

-          VIP Cocktail Hour Hosted by Executive Chef Norma Jean Darden, Spoonbread

Event Details:

Church of the Holy Apostles, 296 Ninth Avenue (at 28th Street), New York, NY 10001

·         6-7pm: VIP Reception (photo opportunity with Featured Chefs)

·         7-9pm: General Admission cocktail reception

·         Tickets start at $125. To purchase visit Farmtotray.org or call 212-924-0167

About Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen:

Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is the largest soup kitchen in New York (second largest in the US) and has been a symbol of hope and compassion in the Chelsea section of Manhattan since 1982. Every weekday between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., nutritious, sustainable meals are provided to more than 1,000 hungry New Yorkers who dine in the beautiful nave of the landmark Holy Apostles Church.

The mission of Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is to provide more than just a hot meal and over the last number of years we have extended our services to include counseling, advocacy and referrals. In 2011 alone we held a record number of 8,188 counseling sessions 

*Disclaimer: There has been no monetary compensation for posting this content. Brands mentioned are not affiliates or sponsors of this blog post. The opinions expressed are completely my own based on my experiences.

Sign Up for Daily Emails

Enter your email address: Delivered by FeedBurner