Toast to the Children 2012: I'll drink to that!

Having twice attended Toast to the Children as media, this was the first year that I got to enjoy the incredible, star-studded food and wine event as a Children of Bellevue committee member. 

What is Children of Bellevue?

"Children of Bellevue ('Bellevue,' being Bellevue Hospital Center) provides more than just comfort and compassion to the thousands of of children who enter Bellevue Hospital Center each year.  Critical growth, development programs, and other services are delivered to ensure that these children's families, most from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, have access to resources and knowledge deemed vital to raising happy, strong, and healthy children.  Children of Bellevue‘s programs ease the pain, loneliness and fear of hospitalization; help abused and neglected children cope, recover and heal; advance language development of at-risk youth; and nurture psychiatric patients from early childhood through adolescence."

What is Toast to the Children?

Toast to the Children is Children of Bellevue’s largest fundraising event.  Held annually, Toast to the Children raises funds for various children’s programs at Bellevue Hospital Center.  In 2011, Toast to the Children raised over $240,000 dollars through ticket sales, journal advertisements, individual donations, and sale of silent auction items!

At Toast to the Children, guests sample signature dishes from some of New York’s finest restaurants - sip wines from around the world - and mingle with celebrity chefs and fellow foodies.

New York’s most celebrated chefs delight guests with samples from their menus.  This year’s restaurants included:

Barbuto, Blue Smoke, Colicchio & Sons, Craft, Craftbar, Frankies 457 Spuntino, Hearth, The Hurricane Club, Jacques Torres Chocolate, Kin Shop, Lincoln Ristorante, Monkey Bar, Pearl Oyster Bar, Perilla, Rappahannock River Oysters, Riverpark, Saxon + Parole, South Gate, ‘wichcraft

Pretty great organization, isn't it?  OK, so now that you've learned a little bit about Children of Bellevue and Toast to the Children, here's a peak at what you missed from one hell of a fantastic evening at Riverpark...

(Photo: www.foodrepublic.com) Tom Colicchio, Marcus SamuelssonFabulous oysters courtesy of Rappahannock Oyster Co.Hearth's Crostini with fava bean, pecorino salad, and spring onionsRiverpark's grilled mackerel, gingered pea soup with rhubarb & merkenThe Hurricane Club's crispy cones of salmon tartare with cured lemon and noriThe Monkey Bar's wagyu steak with beans and crispy riceBlue Smoke's ruby red shrimp and organic blue corn gritsLincoln's braised pork spareribs with green olives, capers and chili Saxon + Parole's pork "meat pies"'wichcraft's peanut butter & jelly ice-creamwiches~~~

Until Toast 2013!

The Lunch Belle