Gabelli, Bocuse, Boulud, Keller, Duff Goldman: Scene Last Night
Thomas Keller wore an Isaia suit, and Duff Goldman wore Seven jeans and an ostrich-leather jacket to the Culinary Institute of America Leadership Awards Gala last night.
The event at the Marriot Marquis in Manhattan brought out an eclectic crowd to raise money for scholarships. Guests included financier Mario Gabelli, New York City Education Chancellor Cathie Black, interior designer Adam Tihany, and the chairman and co-chief executive of Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (CMG), Steve Ells.
Modeling his outfit on stage, Goldman, the Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes” star, confessed he didn’t learn high style from his one-time boss at the French Laundry, where he worked after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley.
Goldman also apologized to Keller for abruptly quitting that job.
“I was making a sweet mission fig puree, beautiful in color, almost lavender,” Goldman said. “I used rice-wine vinegar instead of simple syrup and I got chewed out, and that night I bailed. I’m sorry.”
Goldman made the dessert for the evening: cardamom and pistachio carrot cake, in the shape of the award statue that all the honorees received.
The real statues went to Paul Bocuse, named Chef of the Century, and Daniel Boulud as Chef of the Year. Tim Ryan, the president of the Culinary Institute, said many trends today can be traced to Bocuse. To illustrate, he produced a photograph of Bocuse showing the rooster tattoo on his arm.
‘Energizer Rabbit’
Le Bernardin Inc. executive chef Eric Ripert, in his toast to Boulud, said one of his nicknames is “the Energizer Rabbit.” Ripert continued: “When we’ve been partying with our friend, he is so often saying, ‘Oh c’mon, it’s only 5 a.m.”
Richard Marriott, the chairman of Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. (HST) and president of the Richard E. & Nancy P. Marriott Foundation, was the only non-chef receiving an award. Still he proudly noted his food-service experience.
“I spent my teen years working in hot shops,” Marriott said, referring to the restaurants that grew out of his father’s curbside food stand.
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
CIA Awards Gala
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Chef Thomas Keller, Natalie Ripert, and chef Eric Ripert.
Chef Thomas Keller, Natalie Ripert, and chef Eric Ripert. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
CIA Awards Gala
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Chefs Daniel Boulud and Paul Bocuse.
Chefs Daniel Boulud and Paul Bocuse. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
CIA Awards Gala
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Steve Ells, the chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle, and one of the hosts of "America's Next Great Restaurant" on NBC.
Steve Ells, the chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle, and one of the hosts of "America's Next Great Restaurant" on NBC. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
CIA Awards Gala
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Mario Gabelli, chairman and CEO of Gamco Investors Inc., Staurt Bloch, chairman of Congressional Bank, and Allison Fahrenkopf Brigati. "I'm married to a foodie," Bloch said. "Food is what caused me to fall in love with her. We were at Harvard, and she cooked dinner for me on an electric plate." The meal was pork chops with cream of mushroom soup.
Mario Gabelli, chairman and CEO of Gamco Investors Inc., Staurt Bloch, chairman of Congressional Bank, and Allison Fahrenkopf Brigati. "I'm married to a foodie," Bloch said. "Food is what caused me to fall in love with her. We were at Harvard, and she cooked dinner for me on an electric plate." The meal was pork chops with cream of mushroom soup. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
CIA Awards Gala
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Duff Goldman, owner of Charm City Cakes and host of "Ace of Cakes" on the Food Network, with the cake he baked for the event. He made the cake in the shape of the award passed out to honorees.
Duff Goldman, owner of Charm City Cakes and host of "Ace of Cakes" on the Food Network, with the cake he baked for the event. He made the cake in the shape of the award passed out to honorees. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
CIA Awards Gala
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Richard Marriott, chairman of Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., and Theodore Balestreri, co-owner of the Sardine Factory in Monterey, California.
Richard Marriott, chairman of Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., and Theodore Balestreri, co-owner of the Sardine Factory in Monterey, California. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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