Barbara Adler, Executive Director of the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) and New Taste Event Chair Don Evans announce the return of the fifth annual Whole Foods Market New Taste of the Upper West Side. This year’s line-up features exciting additions to the celebration as well as returning crowd pleasers. Whole Foods Market New Taste of the Upper West Side will include favorite chefs and culinary celebrities, beginning May 16th through May 19th, benefitting the Columbus Avenue BID’s streetscape beautification projects, as well as supporting the Greenhouse Classroom and Citymeals-on-Wheels.
“For the past five years we’ve been celebrating the incredible community and bountiful culinary culture on the Upper West Side. We are pleased again to be able to give back to our neighborhood, extending our reach on a more personal level made possible by the continued success and relationships of the New Taste events” says Don Evans, Event Chair and BID board member.
For three nights, the Whole Foods Market New Taste of the Upper West Side will showcase top chefs and restaurants for a spectacular line-up of festivities. Kicking things off on Wednesday, May 16th, is the new and elegant, Vegetables at Dovetail: An inspired five-course vegetarian tasting dinner by an all-star group of chefs, led by John Fraser, Dovetail; Missy Robbins, A Voce; Ed Brown, Ed’s Chowder House; and Christina Tosi, Momofuku Milk Bar. All net proceeds from this event will benefit the Greenhouse Classroom, a project at the I.S. 44 School, where the New Taste of the Upper West Side is held. The Greenhouse Classroom will educate students about science, while growing organic hydroponic vegetables. Chef John Fraser and Dovetail have a relationship with the project, helping maintain the greenhouse and using its produce at the restaurant.
The festivities continue on Friday May 18th, with the return of everyone’s favorite, Comfort Classics. Co-hosted once again by Travel Channel’s unforgettably wild Adam Richman and joined by his fellow Travel Channel extreme foodie and new co-host, Andrew Zimmern. This high-energy fête will feature amazing and original bites inspired by classic dishes from 35 chefs including Ditch Plains’ Marc Murphy, Sarabeth’s Sarabeth Levine, Café du Soleil’s Matthew Tivy, 5 Napkin Burger’s Andy D’Amico and Indie Food & Wine’s Shaunna Sargent, plus many more. Wine and spirits will be provided by Southern Wine & Spirits.
Saturday night, May 19th will wrap up the weekend with the Best of the West and the VIP Reception presented by First Republic Bank, honoring New York’s legendary food critic, humanitarian and culinary pioneer Gael Greene. The star-studded evening will feature such world renowned chefs as Daniel Boulud, Michael Lomonaco, Jacques Torres, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, alongside 40 more celebrated talents from the Upper West Side, creating signature dishes and spectacular bites. Adding even more excitement to the “high-spirited” night will be The Modern Mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim, serving up his signature cocktails. Net proceeds for the event will benefit the Columbus Avenue BID’s Streetscape Beautification Project, a greening project expected to begin Phase One between West 76th and West 77th this summer; Citymeals-on-Wheels founded by Gael Greene, an organization that provides New York’s elderly with nutritious meals and human companionship, and the I.S.44 Greenhouse Classroom project.
The extended weekend celebrates the wonderful chefs who have made the Upper West Side their home, bringing with them a great diversity of flavors. Event sponsors include Whole Foods Market, New York Post, Southern Wine and Spirits, Columbus Square, First Republic Bank, Manhattan Beer (Captain Lawrence, Blue Moon, Palm), Rosa Mexicano, Savored, Palm Bay, 67 Wine, MVP, Brusco Group, Cascal, Connoisseur, In + Where Magazine New York, Manhattan Magazine, The West Side Spirit, Argo, Best Cheese, DNAinfo.com, Glenwood, The Culture Center and the Long Island Wine Council.
The exciting event roster will include:
Vegetables at Dovetail:
Wednesday, May 16th 2012
6:30 Cocktails; 7pm Dinner
$195 per person
Dovetail Restaurant, 103 W 77th Street just west of Columbus Ave
Chefs John Fraser, Missy Robbins, Bill Telepan, Ed Brown, and Christina Tosi create a five-course fine dining all-vegetarian dinner in continuation of John Fraser’s “Meatless Mondays” at Dovetail. Net proceeds will help support the Greenhouse Classroom project at the I.S. 44 School.
Comfort Classics:
Friday, May 18th, 2012
7:00pm-10:00pm
$95 per person
Under the Grand Tent on Columbus Avenue between W 76th and W 77th Street. Hosted by Travel Channel’s duo Adam Richman and Andrew Zimmern, this high-energy evening will feature over 35 chefs showcasing unique bites inspired by old favorites with cocktails, wine and spirits by Southern Food and Wine.
Best of the West:
Saturday, May 19th, 2012
VIP, $200 per person beginning at 6:00pm
General Admission $125 per person from 7:00pm-9:30pm
Under the Grand Tent on Columbus Avenue between W 76th and W 77th Street.Celebrating the Upper West Side’s most extraordinary chefs and restaurants, while honoring gourmet great Gael Greene -the Best of the West is a culinary lover’s dream. With more than 40 of New York’s most popular chefs, wine and spirits, and live music; this is an event not to miss. A portion of the proceeds benefit Citymeals-on-Wheels. Be sure to order VIP tickets if you’d like to mingle with some of the culinary stars.
Tickets for the Fifth Annual 2012 Whole Foods Market’s New Taste of the Upper West Side go on sale February 20th. Please visit http://www.newtasteuws.com . For more information, call 212-721-5048.
About the Columbus Avenue BID: The Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, representing merchants and property owners along Columbus Avenue from West 67th Street to West 82nd Street. Formed in 1999 in a landmark district, its membership includes a diverse range of retailers, restaurateurs and commercial and mixed-use property owners, comprising all of the commercial establishments. In addition, the Columbus Avenue BID’s district includes the American Museum of Natural History, Theodore Roosevelt Park, The New-York Historical Society and the Rose Center for Earth and Space.
