Hats Off To Chef Alfred Portale At C-cap Benefit 2008

HATS OFF TO CHEF ALFRED PORTALE!

NEW YORK CITY CELEBRITY CHEFS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
TO HONOR CHEF PORTALE AT 10TH ANNUAL BENEFIT FOR
THE CAREERS THROUGH CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM (C-CAP)

NEW YORK, NY, January 9, 2008--On WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2008, 6:30 to 9:00PM, at PIER SIXTY at Chelsea Piers, television celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit, Riingo, and Merkato 55 restaurants, 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 the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP). The evening's festivities will also include a silent auction with over 30 items including once-in-a-lifetime culinary and travel packages.

The Benefit has become New York's premiere tasting event. Local residents and businesses together with 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 18-year-old non-profit Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP). "We are proud to announce that in 2007 C-CAP awarded a record-breaking $3.65 million in scholarships."

C-CAP Benefit 2008 will feature long-time favorites and 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 chefs at the event. The chairs for the event are Carol and N. Richard Kalikow, with vice-chairs Susan and Richard Grausman. Television star Al Roker will be Master of Ceremonies.

As this year's honoree, Alfred Portale will receive the C-CAP Honors Award, an original stainless steel sculpture created by artist Philip Grausman. Alfred Portale, Executive Chef at Gotham Bar and Grill has been actively involved with C-CAP serving as a mentor to students and participating as a judge at C-CAP New York's spring Cooking Competition for Scholarships. Chef Alfred Portale is a true rarity in twenty-first century dining: a culinary master whose heart belongs to the very restaurant where he launched his career twenty three years ago, Gotham Bar and Grill. Portale defined contemporary American cuisine by drawing inspiration from New York's vibrant demographic and is known for his loyalty to seasonal ingredients and artisan's approach to cooking. The celebrated chef has garnered a total of four three-star reviews by The New York Times, a James Beard Outstanding Restaurant Award in 2002 and a James Beard Outstanding Chef Award in 2006.

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

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) Benefit 2008 is open to the public.
Tickets for general admission are $450 (limited availability), tickets for VIP are $600 and $1,000.

For tickets, more information about the event, and sponsorship opportunities,
call 212-974-7111or visit our website at www.ccapinc.org.


PARTICIPATING CHEFS

Chef Chair: Marcus Samuelsson

Chef Alison Awerbach/ Abigail Kirsch PIER SIXTY
Chef Marcus Samuelsson/ Aquavit
Pastry Chef Rachel Lansang*/ Aureole
Chef Waldy Malouf/ Beacon
Chef Dan Barber/ Blue Hill
Chef Lon Symensa/ Buddakan
Chef Joseph Paulino/ Caf? des Artistes
Chef Neil Annis/ Compass
Pastry Chef Karen DeMasco/ Craft
Pastry Chef Mathew Peterson/ db Bistro Moderne
Chef Mark Ladner