Careers through Culinary Arts
Program’s 2012 Benefit
Honors Chef Michael McCarty
Event Funds Scholarships and
Programs for
Disadvantaged Youth
New York, New York–Michael
McCarty, Proprietor of Michael’s
NY and Michael’s Santa
Monica was honored at the annual
Careers through Culinary Arts
Program (C-CAP) benefit on Thursday,
February 16, 2012, at PIER SIXTY at
Chelsea Piers to support the
national not-for-profit’s mission of
providing scholarships, education,
and career opportunities in the
culinary arts to underserved youth.
The event was the most successful in
C-CAP’s history raising over
$900,000.
“This year, C-CAP was thrilled to
honor restaurateur, art collector,
entrepreneur, vintner, and chef
Michael McCarty for his remarkable
achievements and contributions to
the culinary industry and his
commitment to nurturing the next
generation of chefs,” says C-CAP’s
founder and chairman, Richard
Grausman. “Having Bette Midler and
Martin von Haselberg as honorary
chairs of this event was a tribute
to Michael’s outstanding career.”
Michael McCarty has left an
unmistakable impression on the food
world with his legendary
restaurants, Michael’s NY and
Michael’s Santa Monica. Often
known as the “Father of California
cuisine,” Michael McCarty remains a
driving force and inspiration in
featuring local and seasonal
produce, meats, and fish in his
ever-flavorful cuisine.
Some of the country’s finest chefs
began their careers at Michael’s,
including Jonathan Waxman, Mark
Peel, Nancy Silverton and Sang Yoon.
“This walk-around tasting event
raised funds to support C-CAP’s
mission of providing scholarships,
education, and career opportunities
in the culinary arts to underserved
youth who are interested in pursuing
careers in the restaurant and
foodservice industry,” says C-CAP’s
president, Susan Robbins. “For more
than 20 years, we have been breaking
the cycle of poverty for hundreds of
qualified students across the
country. We continue to manage the
largest independent scholarship
program and have awarded over $34
million in scholarships.”
More than 800 guests enjoyed an
evening of signature dishes
presented by 38 of New York’s top
chefs with wine donated by The
Charmer Sunbelt Group. More than 60
New York City C-CAP high school
culinary students and graduates
assisted the chefs of these renowned
restaurants. The evening’s
festivities also included a silent
auction including once-in-a-lifetime
culinary and travel packages, and
guests were entertained by the David
Grausman Quartet.
CBS2 News Co-Anchor Kristine Johnson
was the Master of Ceremonies. Sylva
Senat, a C-CAP alumnus and Executive
Chef of Tashan, the new, highly
acclaimed Indian fusion restaurant
in Philadelphia, was the C-CAP
graduate speaker. The
Chef
Chair was Marcus Samuelsson of
Red Rooster.
Guests had the opportunity to meet
Wilma Stephenson and Fatoumata
Dembele, two of the stars of the
Emmy nominated documentary
Pressure Cooker, directed
by Jennifer Grausman & Mark Becker,
which focused on a culinary arts
teacher in Philadelphia and how she
improved the lives of her students
through the C-CAP program.
As this year’s honoree, Michael
McCarty received the C-CAP Honors
Award. Past recipients of the C-CAP
Honors Award include Michael
Lomonaco, Marcus Samuelsson, Drew
Nieporent, Alfred Portale, Lidia
Bastianich, Thomas Keller, Charlie
Palmer, Danny Meyer & Michael
Romano, Daniel Boulud, Jacques
Pepin, Egidiana & Sirio Maccioni,
Nina & Tim Zagat, and Saul Zabar &
Stanley Zabar.
Participating Chefs:
Chef Chair: Marcus Samuelsson, Red
Rooster
Chef Missy Robbins, A Voce
Columbus
Chef Philip DeMaiolo, Abigail
Kirsch PIER SIXTY
Chef George Mendes, Aldea
Chef Jason Weiner, Almond
Chef Toni Robertson, Asiate
Chef Yuhi Fujinaga, Bar Basque
Chef Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto
Chef Waldy Malouf, Beacon
Chef Philippe Bertineau, Benoit
Chef Clifford Crooks, BLT Steak
Chef Dan Barber, Blue Hill/ Blue
Hill at Stone Barns
Pastry Chef Thiago Silva*, Catch
Chef Tom Colicchio, Colicchio &
Sons
Chefs Daniel Boulud and Sandro
Micheli, Daniel
Chef John Fraser, Dovetail
Chef Joey Fortunato, Extra Virgin
Chef Fortunato Nicotra, Felidia
Chef Alfred Portale, Gotham Bar &
Grill
Chef Ayumu Matsuda,
kibō
Chef Maria Loi, Loi Restaurant
NYC
Chef Kyung Up Lim, Michael’s NY
John-Carlos Kuramoto, Michael’s
Santa Monica
Pastry Chef Marc Aumont, The
Modern
Chef Scott Campbell, New Leaf
Restaurant & Bar
Chef Matt Hoyle, Nobu Fifty Seven
Chef Ben Pollinger, Oceana
Chef Kevin Lasko, Park Avenue
Winter
Chef Michael Lomonaco, Porter
House New York
Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Red
Rooster
Chef Matteo Bergamini, SD26
Pastry Chef Sarabeth Levine,
Sarabeth's
Chef Shaun Hergatt, SHO – Shaun
Hergatt
Michael Tong, Shun Lee Palace
Chef Kerry Heffernan, Southgate
Chef Kelvin Fernandez*, The
Strand American Bistro
Chef William Telepan, Telepan
Chef Carmen Quagliata, Union
Square Cafe
In addition, participating C-CAP
Graduate Chefs include:
Mehdi Chellaoui,
Founder & Chocolatier at Dörk
Chocolate
*C-CAP Alumnus