Nothing brings people together like a good cause, and no one brings some of the city’s top chefs together like Alan “Battman” Batt. His latest iteration of the Great Gathering of Chefs, which took place at the Prince George Ballroom on April 24th, united, almost one hundred talented chefs from New York City and beyond to celebrate the release of Battman’s newest cookbook, Crossing Borders/Sweet Crossings, and to support the Food and Finance High School, NYC’s only culinary high school.
The display of Battman’s food photography from Crossing Borders/Sweet Crossings.
The afternoon started with beer, pastrami and time for the chefs to catch up in a non-competitive setting. Once everyone ate their fill, the chefs signed fifty copies of Crossing Borders/Sweet Crossings, the proceeds of which benefit the school. The team then readied the room for the fifteen restaurants participating in the tasting portion of our event.
Egg Custard Kunefe Pastry Chef Daniel Skurnick
The room filled with guests who sampled delectable bites from some of the city’s top restaurants and drinks poured by our beverage sponsors. Highlights of the night include the signature clothesline bacon from Woodpecker by David Burke, sushi from Tao and a passion fruit and chocolate marquise from Hakkasan. As guests and participants entered and exited the venue, they were treated to an exhibition of Battman’s exquisite food photography featured in Crossing Borders/Sweet Crossings.
A student from Food and Finance High School, Nan Shipley (Chair of the Board of Directors for the Food Education Fund) and Stanley Zabar.
We were fortunate to have a wonderful group of students from the Food and Finance High School to help with setup and service. To learn more about the school visit foodfinancehs.org. Copies of Crossing Borders/Sweet Crossings, the proceeds of which benefit the school, can be purchased through The Chef’s Connection or on Amazon.
The Great Gathering of Chefs team would like to thank all of the chefs that came to the book signing and all of the restaurants that participated in the event: Barbounia, Black Barn, Butter, El Toro Blanco, Gato, Gramercy Tavern, Great Performances, Hakkasan, Junoon, Lafayette, Nobu, Perrine, Tao, The Wayfarer, Woodpecker by David Burke, ‘21’ Club.
Battman and Chef Ivy Stark of El Toro Blanco
We would also like to thank our generous sponsors who made this night possible: Acqua Panna, Afficionado Coffee Roasters, Capital One Bank, The Chef’s Connection, Chef’s Delight, Fresh Origins Microgreens, Jamesport Vineyards, JB Prince, the Kimberly Hotel, Lucky’s Real Tomatoes, National Peanut Board, Orwashers, Sannino Vineyard, San Pellegrino, Steelite International, Transcontinental Printing, Valrhona Chocolate, WH Linen Rental.
