Citymeals on Wheels to host first annual culinary event in Williamsburg

Save the Date and ‘Don’t…eat…’til Brooklyn’ on April 6

March 9, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

A deliverer from Citymeals on Wheels brings a meal to a neighbor. Photo courtesy of Citymeals on Wheels

Share this:

Citymeals on Wheels is cooking up something tasty in Brooklyn. This impactful organization has been providing nourishment to homebound individuals in all five boroughs for over three decades. Citymeals’ volunteers offer not only food, but also companionship to those who desperately need a warm meal and a friendly smile.

When Citymeals delivers a box of food to a grateful recipient, it can make all the difference in the world. The organization is supported by some of the city’s finest restaurants and businesses, and now Citymeals on Wheels is hosting an new event in Brooklyn.

On Thursday, April 6, from 7 to 10 p.m., Citymeals on Wheels and its Young Professional Committee will host “Don’t…Eat…’til Brooklyn.” The night will raise money for the preparation and delivery of meals to New York City’s homebound senior citizens in all five boroughs.

This special event will feature food from some of Brooklyn and Manhattan’s finest eateries including, Virginia’s, Birds & Bubbles, Talde, Huertas, Rock Center Café, B + C Restaurants, The Black Ant, Doughnut Plant, Acme, Rosie’s Korilla BBQ, Sprinkles and several food trucks. Music will be provided by Rhythm in Motion.

Raj Vaidya, head sommelier at DANIEL, and several other top sommeliers in the city will be selecting wine for the bash while bartenders shake up creative cocktails. Citymeals’ Williamsburg warehouse at 307 Kent Ave. will be decked out for the occasion, while partygoers bid on silent auction items.

According to Executive Director Beth Shapiro, “Citymeals on Wheels is a critical lifeline for homebound elderly in all five boroughs, including 5,275 meal recipients in Brooklyn. Our Young Professionals are dynamic and passionate supporters who raise funds and awareness for the work we do, including hosting this event. And one hundred percent of all ticket sales will be used for meal preparation and delivery. I’d like to thank everyone who is supporting this event, especially all the amazing chefs and sponsors who are donating their time and services for what is sure to be a memorable and fun-filled night.”

The seed for Citymeals was planted in November 1981, after longtime New York magazine restaurant critic Gael Greene was so moved by the plight of the frail and hungry in NYC that she decided to do something about it. She was outraged by the notion that there were people in need who were not receiving a proper meal at Thanksgiving.

Greene joined forces with legendary cookbook author and teacher James Beard, and together they quickly raised funds to deliver 6,000 meals that Christmas, and thus established Citymeals on Wheels.

Since its founding in 1981, Citymeals on Wheels has delivered more than 54 million meals to aged New Yorkers. It has become a lifeline for the city’s elderly who can no longer cook for themselves.

Chef Antonio Prontelli of Rock Center Café told the Brooklyn Eagle, “I’ve been involved with Citymeals for many years and it’s always exciting to be a part of their unique events. For me, as a chef, it’s a labor of love to support this amazing charity and elderly New Yorkers who are too frail to shop and cook for themselves.”

Citymeals on Wheels now prepares and delivers more than 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals for more than 18,000 homebound city residents. Last year, more than 15,000 people volunteered nearly 69,000 hours of their time.

Tickets are $85 before March 23 and $95 starting March 23. For tickets, visit citymeals.org/donteattil-brooklyn.

* * *

For more information, email [email protected] or call 212-687-1290. All proceeds will be used for the preparation and delivery of meals.