Drew Nieporent To Be Honored At The 11th Annual C-cap Benefit

On WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2009, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., at PIER SIXTY at Chelsea Piers, television celebrity, Chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit, will help orchestrate a grand walk-around-tasting of culinary creations prepared by New York's top chefs, assisted by high school students, to benefit Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP). The evening's festivities will also include a silent auction that includes once-in-a-lifetime culinary and travel packages.

The benefit has become New York's premiere tasting event. Local residents, businesses and national organizations all come to support C-CAP's work. "Each year our supporters gather at the sold-out event to enjoy culinary creations by New York's top chefs. While enjoying the fabulous food, they are supporting C-CAP's mission to provide underserved high school students with training, scholarships, and jobs in the restaurant and foodservice industry," says Richard Grausman, Founder and President of the 19-year-old non-profit Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP). "We are proud to announce that in 2008 C-CAP awarded over $3 million in scholarships."

C-CAP Benefit 2009 will feature long-time favorites as well as the city's hottest new star chefs. C-CAP alumni working in restaurants around the city will be featured. More than 60 New York City C-CAP high school culinary students are expected to assist the chefs of these renowned restaurants. The chair for the event is Tim Zagat, with vice-chairs Carol and N.Richard Kalikow and Susan and Richard Grausman. Television star Al Roker will be Master of Ceremonies. The event will be coordinated by Harriette Rose Katz Events/Gourmet Advisory Services.

As this year's honoree, Drew Nieporent will receive the C-CAP Honors Award, an original stainless steel sculpture created by artist Philip Grausman. Drew Nieporent, owner of The Myriad Group, has been actively involved with C-CAP providing internships, job shadows and jobs for students, as well as participating in past C-CAP benefits. Drew Nieporent, one of America's most respected and celebrated restaurateurs, is the founder and inspiration behind The Myriad Group which operates Tribeca Grill, Nobu, Nobu Next Door, Nobu 57, Nobu London, Centrico, Mai House and Crush Wine & Spirits. His newest project is Corton, a modern French restaurant with chef and partner Paul Liebrandt, which opened October 1, 2008. A graduate of the Cornell Hotel School, Nieporent's many personal honors include induction into "Who's Who of Cooking in America" by the James Beard Foundation. He also was named the Beard Foundation's Humanitarian of the Year and has been nominated for its Outstanding Restaurateur Award for the last three years. Other honors include Bon Appetit's Restaurateur of the Year, Man of the Year from The Food & Beverage Association, and DiRoNA's Humanitarian Award and Hall of Fame.

Past recipients of the C-CAP Honors Award include Alfred Portale, Lidia Bastianich, Thomas Keller, Charlie Palmer, Danny Meyer & Michael Romano, Daniel Boulud, Jacques Pepin, Egidiana & Sirio Maccioni, Nina & Tim Zagat and Saul Zabar & Stanley Zabar.

Restaurants scheduled to be represented include Abigail Kirsch Pier Sixty, Aquavit, Aretsky's Patroon, Aureole, Beacon, Blue Hill, Buddakan. Centrico, Compass, Convivio, Corton, Craftsteak New York, Daniel, Dovetail, Eighty-One, Felidia, Gilt, Gotham Bar & Grill, Gramercy Tavern, Landmarc, Mai House, Morimoto, Nobu, Nobu 57, Oceana, Olives New York, Park Avenue Winter, Payard P�tisserie and Bistro, Primehouse New York, Porter House New York, Riingo, Sarabeth's, Shun Lee Palace, Tabla, Tribeca Grill, Union Square Cafe and WD-50.

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) Benefit 2009 is open