Our Highlights
Serving Up Smiles 2016
Over 250 guests were filled with good food and good will at our second annual Serving Up Smiles tasting event which took place on October 24th at CURRENT at Chelsea Piers.
Hosted by “Culinary Bad Boy” Chef Chris Nirschel, this year’s event raised nearly $225,000 for our programs, all benefiting our enCourage kids and families. Guests including NFL Legend Tony Richardson, former NY Giants player Christian Peter, Olympic Medalist Sasha Cohen, and Z100 Host Shelley Rome sampled signature dishes from some of the most coveted restaurants and chefs in NYC. These chefs are an inspiration and their drive is exemplified by the success of their businesses. They really are an inspiration. No doubt, these exceptional restaurants are utilizing high-end equipment, like those of Nella Online, to help create their unique dishes. Anyone looking to enter the business world could learn a lot from them and also from these inspiring Business Quotes.
Throughout the evening Live Wire Entertainment filled the room with incredible music, providing the perfect background for guests as they wined and dined.
Some delicious bites of the night included chilled shrimp ceviche from El Toro Blanco, short rib deviled eggs from Robert, and hot chocolate with melted chocolate cookies from City Bakery. Spirits soared as Disaronno served up a refreshing signature cocktail alongside exquisite wines from sponsors including Enoclassica and the Pinot Project.
In addition to serving up decadent assorted cake bites, Carlos Bakery helped us celebrate one year under our new enCourage Kids brand with a beautiful cake replicating our logo and signature balloon.
Shining a light on our organization and impactful programs, Frank Amodeo, dad of enCourage kid Nicholas, shared the story of how his family got involved in our Escapes program and what our organization means to them.
“With enCourage Kids you don’t feel so alone in your struggles. By creating these events, linking families and organizations together, they help thousands enjoy many recreational activities that we truly need in times of struggle,” Frank explained.
The Amodeos have been a part of enCourage Kids for over 5 years. Through our program they have enjoyed a warm and welcoming support system while bonding with other families that are also going through many difficult times with their children. “We love being a part of this organization. It has truly brought so much joy to our family when we need it most,” Frank shared with the audience.
A big thank you to all of our participating chefs, restaurants, and sponsors for helping us Serve Up Smiles. The night would not have been possible without you!
Butter
Chef Michael Jenkins
El Toro Blanco
Chef Josh Capon
Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse
Chef Admir Alibasic
Robert Restaurant
Chef Luisa Fernandes
Melt Shop
Chef Spencer Rubin
Buns Bar
Chef Viko Ortega
Arcade Bakery
Baker and Owner Roger Gural
Kellari
Chef Dan Nistorescu
Cowfish
Chef David Hersh
Bryant Park Grill
Pastry Chef Anne-Marie Noonan
Café 2 & Terrace 5 at MoMA
Chef Dan Jackson
The City Bakery
Baker and Owner Maury Rubin
Melt Bakery
Pastry Chef and Owner Julian Plyter
Carlo’s Bakery (Cake Boss)
Baker and Owner Buddy Valastro
Wine and Spirits:
Enoclassica, Pinot Project, Post Wine and Spirits, Disaronno, Barterhouse, Soltado Spicy Añejo Tequila and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Thank you to our generous event sponsors: American Airlines, Bank United, Bryant Park Grill, Capital One Bank, Cougar Capital, Feil Family Foundation, Robert Restaurant, Sanders Family, Signature Bank, Lucy & David Ball, Buchbinder & Warren, Excel Global Security, Principal Building Services and Titan Advisors.