Michael Solomonov and Marc Vetri Will Headline the James Beard Taste America Dinner
The epic fundraiser for the James Beard Foundation hits Philly this fall, with a new second night featuring more local chefs and bartenders.
Photo by Joel Plotkin
The James Beard Foundation’s seventh annual 20-city Taste America tour hits Philly for the third time in as many years this fall — and they’ve added a second night of festivities highlighting some of the city’s top chefs and bartenders for 2019.
The big night on Friday, November 1st at the Fitler Club starts with hors d’oeuvres from Ange Branca of Saté Kampar, Billy Riddle and Jennifer Carroll of Spice Finch, and Eli Collins of a.kitchen, then a seated dinner prepared by Local All-Star Michael Solomonov, Visiting All-Star Michelle Bernstein of Miami’s Café la Trova, and Host Chef Marc Vetri. A dessert reception will feature sweet treats from pastry specialists James Matty of Suraya, Kate Jacoby of Vedge, and Cadence’s Samantha Kincaid. Restaurateurs Ellen Yin and Aimee Olexy wills serve as co-chairs for the event.
Two days before, on Wednesday, October 30th, the James Beard crew will kick off Taste America in Philly with a brand new event. Porta will host Raising the Bar, where guests can enjoy bites and cocktails from local chefs and bartenders including Resa Mueller and Mike Cher of Lalo, Caroline Hough and Colleen Nealon of Porta, Michael Strauss of Mike’s BBQ, Baology’s Judy Ni and Andy Tessier, Maria Polise of ITV, Aaron Deary of R&D, and Friday Saturday Sunday’s Paul MacDonald. The evening also features a live DJ, raffle prizes, and a garnish wall.
Funds raised from both events will go to support the James Beard Foundation’s Good Food for Good and Food Recovery Network programs, and any surplus food from each evening will be collected and donated to local hunger-fighting nonprofits.
Tickets for Raising the Bar are $75 each, and you can get them here. Tickets for the Taste America gala in Philly start at $350 apiece, with VIP tickets — which get you perks like access to an exclusive pre-event champagne reception with Vetri, an extra-special swag bag, and a signed cookbook from Solomonov — going for $650 each. Get them here.
