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 Playing catch up
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Malaak Rock and children at FOCUS: An Evening of photography to benefit City Harvest. |
We’re late in getting this to you but deserves notice for several reasons including the fact that it’s an interesting event. Yum.
This was the third "Paris After Dark" now an annual, sold-out culinary and musical collaboration between composers and master chefs -- all in support of Copland House. This year's event took place on September 21 at Le Bernardin, which was filled to capacity with 130 guests, and presided over by Chef Eric Ripert himself. If you don’t know already, Le Bernardin is incomparable in its culinary choices.
The event referred to the great American composer Aaron Copland's days in 1920s Paris. The evening also launched the 10th Anniversary season of Copland House, the unique creative center for American music based at Copland’s restored, longtime northern Westchester home.
Guests began the evening in the second floor salon, surrounded by a silent auction. Passed canapés included Shitake and Herbs in Phyllo, Marinated Slivers of Salmon with Yuzu Kosho Vinaigrette, Grilled White Tuna with Herbes de Provence and Olive Oil, White Soy-Yuzu Marinated Fluke on “Rice Crispies,” Poached Quail Egg filled with Smoked Salmon and Crème Fraîche, and Asian Tuna Tartare on Endive – all complemented by Champagne Pol Roger, provided, as were all of the sumptuous wines throughout the evening, by Frederick Wildman and Sons.
Following hors d’oeuvres, guests moved to the restaurant’s main dining room, where everyone was seated at long country farm tables accented with luminescent candles and votives, and rustic twig cylinders filled with an array of orchids designed and arranged by Let’s Have an Affair (Warwick, NY). Guests were greeted by an effervescent performance of a 4-hand piano work by Francis Poulenc performed by Copland House Artistic and Executive Director and pianist Michael Boriskin and Emmy Award-winning composer-pianist John Musto.
Chef Ripert talked about how the evening’s musical selections inspired the composition of the 5-course tour-de-force that was about to be served.
The menu included layers of thinly pounded yellowfin tuna, foie gras and toasted baguette, with shaved chives and extra virgin olive oil, served with Zette Blanc 2007 (Domaine de Lagrezette); stuffed zucchini flowers with peekytoe crab in a black truffle sauce, served with Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon 2006 (Domaine Christian Moreau Pere et Fils); bread crusted red snapper, marinated heirloom tomatoes, and basil-scented tomato consommé, served with Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2007; pan roasted monkfish with Israeli couscous tabbouleh in a black garlic and Persian lemon sauce, served with Cuvee Dame Honneur 2003 (Domaine de Lagrezette); and rum scented carrot cake with golden Raisins, sicilian pistachio, and condensed Milk Ice Cream, served with Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2006 (Paul Jaboulet Aine).
Each course was preceded by musical compositions by Copland, his legendary teacher Nadia Boulanger, Virgil Thomson, Ned Rorem, William Bolcom, and Leonard Bernstein. In addition to Boriskin and Musto, the award-winning performers from the Music from Copland House ensemble included violinist Adela Pena, cellist Willhelmina Smith, and baritone Philip Cutlip.
The gala’s co-chairs were Dr. Ezriel Kornel and Kartherine Petitti-Kornel and O. Anthony Maddalena. The event’s Guest of Honor was Rosamond Bernier, founder and editor of the influential French art journal L’Oeil, former European Features Editor of Vogue, longtime Metropolitan Museum of Art lecturer extraordinaire, and lifelong friend of Copland.
Guests included at the eagerly-anticipated event included gala underwriters Carol and Robert Morris, lead benefactors Teri and James Babcock, Copland House Board President and Phelps Hospital Vice President Lawrence Faltz and his wife Elyse, Westchester Arts Council Executive Director Janet Langsam, actress Mary Stuart Masterson, Jaime Bernstein (daughter of Leonard), Deputy County Executive Susan Tolchin and her husband Lawrence Tolchin, Caron and Geoffrey Johnson, Ann and Thomas Scheuer, Fortunate magazine’s Carol Loomis and husband John, Ruth and David Schwab II, Susan Geffen, Marian Hamilton, Bonnie Trotta, Phelps Hospital CEO Keith Safian, Lincoln Center Chairman Emeritus Martin E. Segal, Calvin Tomkins of The New Yorker, Vogue editor-at-large Dodie Kazanjian, Art in America’s editor-at-large Elizabeth Baker, James and Helen Stambler Neuberger, Northern Westchester Hospital Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center’s Alain deLotbiniere, and Neuberger Museum of Art Executive Director Thom Collins. |
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Northern Westchester Hospital Center Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center Medical Director Dr. Alain deLotbiniere, Catherine deLotbiniere, and Copland House Board President Lawrence L. Faltz |
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Copland House Artistic and Executive Director Michael Boriskin, Dr. Lawrence Faltz, Jamie Bernstein, and Gala Co-chair O. Anthony Maddalena |
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Lawrence Tolchin and Deputy Westchester County Executive Susan Tolchin |
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Lincoln Center Chairman Emeritus Martin E. Segal, Guest of Honor Rosamond Bernier, and Edith Segal |
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Carol and John Loomis |
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Lawrence L. Faltz, Katherine Pettiti Kornel, Rosamond Bernier, Ezriel Kornel, and O. Anthony Maddalena |
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Richard Hennessey, Rosamond Bernier, and Elizabeth Strong De Cuevas |
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Gala Underwriter Robert Morris and Mary Stuart Masterson |
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James Neuberger, Neuberger Museum Director Thom Collins, Matt Goodrich, Helen Stambler Neuberger, and O. Anthony Maddalena |
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Dara Meyers-Kingsley and Evan Kingsley |
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Gala Underwriters Robert Morris and Carol Morris with William Bristol and Deborah MacKinzie |
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Le Bernardin Chef Eric Ripert and Michael Boriskin |
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Also better late than never, on the last Thursday of last month over at Lever House, The Animal Medical Center of New York held its “Animals, Art & Food” benefit featuring the latest work from renowned artist, Liza Lou.
Manhattan socialite and Tinsley Mortimer and husband Topper Mortimer joined with AMC executives, committee members, and other dignitaries to raise monies for The AMC’s new Emergency Services Unit.
Liza Lou’s exhibition of her latest major new sculpture, Maximum Security Fence, constructed with thousands of Japanese custom made bugle beads, was on view as AMC committee members were honored for their extraordinary services and a raffle was held raising monies for the Emergency Services Unit.
As one of just two non-profit animal hospitals in the United States, The AMC is New York City's largest facility with over 50,000 patient visits per year and 87 veterinarians on staff serving the tri-state area with routine care, Emergency Services, and treatment for pets suffering from unusual or complex diseases. In the U.S., pets outnumber humans by about 60 million, with 63% of all households owning a pet and 45% owning more than one. With an estimated 73 million dogs and 90 million cats, The AMC’s 24/7 emergency provides life-saving treatment to sick and injured animals in the tri-state area. |
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The Junior committee of the AMC: Alieda Keevil, Alexandra Goelet, Kris Huegel, Christina Floyd, Travis Acquavella, Abigail Lash, Kristin Allen, and Cass Adelman |
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Topper and Tinsley Mortimer |
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Diane Klausner, Kristin Allen, Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, and Charlie Allen |
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Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, Cass Adelman, and Kalyn Johnson |
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Kris Huegel with Peter and Carla Lueders |
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Jim Clark, Maggie Katz, and Allison Aston |
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Alieda Keevil, and Tinsley Mortimer with friends
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Hilary Cole and Stephen Kraus |
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Dr. Philip Fox and Dr. Susan Hackner |
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Travis, Nicholas, and Donna Acquavella |
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Maggie Katz, Kristy Hinz, and Christina Floyd |
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Dominique Punnett, Nicholas Acquavella, Ashton Curtis, and Remington Curtis |
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Austin Shapard, Frank Green, Molly Middleton, and Dr. Phil Fox |
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Merrill Curtis, Annie Hildenbiddle, and Travis Acquavella
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Catch-up. Also last month, down at Skylight Studios on Hudson Street, Rachel Ray, Kevin Bacon, Maalak Rock, Eric Ripert and Timothy White hosted FOCUS: An Evening of photography to benefit City Harvest.
The evening gathered celebrities and top chefs in New York Mr. Ripert, Fernando Marulanda and Kerry Heffernan prepared a tasting menu. The Bacon Brothers played while guests bid on the photography donated by many world-famous photographers.
Maybach, Judith Ripka and Fujifilm sponsored the evening. |
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Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen and friends |
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Kevin Bacon, photographer Timothy White, and Michael Bacon |
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Billy Magnussen |
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Rachael Ray and husband John Cusimano |
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The Bacon Brothers perform |
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The Maybach |
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Judith Ripka models |
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The Animal Care & Control of New York City is the largest animal rescue and adoption organization on the East Coast. They rescue and saved 43,000 animals last year. My late beloved Little Buster found me through them. We had a dozen years of goodness and happiness before he passed away last summer.
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Beth Joy, contestant on “America’s Greatest Dog” |
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Nicole Fiscella from “Gossip Girl” |
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Lisa Singer and Lorenzo Borghese |
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They had a fund-raiser last week and drew a big crowd who had a good time (and lots to eat) and more was done to keep up the good work and get the word out.
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Radio personality Goumba Johny |
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Actor Skipp Sudduth |
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David Best (former contestant on “America’s Greatest Dog”) and radio personality Maria Milito |
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