Join Us to Help
End Childhood Hunger in America
No Kid Hungry Dinner Los Angeles, CA
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Honoring
Dr. John E. Deasy, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District
Michelle Kydd Lee, Executive Director, CAA Foundation
Mary Sue Milliken, Co-Chef/Owner, Border Grill Restaurant & Truck
Co-Hosted by
No Kid Hungry National Spokesperson
Jeff Bridges
and
Share Our Strength's Co-Founder and CEO
Billy Shore
Introducing the launch of
Share Our Strength's
No Kid Hungry Youth Engagement Initiative
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
300 South Doheny Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90048
6:00 PM- Cocktail Reception
7:00 PM- Multi-course seated dinner
HOST CHEF
Ashley James, Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
GUEST CHEFS
Gino Angelini, Angelini Osteria, Los Angeles, CA
Josiah Citrin, Melisse, Los Angeles, CA
Marcel Vigneron, Modern Global Tasting, Los Angeles, CA
BARMACIST
Josh Goldman, Rivera, Los Angeles, CA
FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS
Clover Chadwick, Dandelion Ranch
Contact Lindsay Rachelesfsky at lindsay@skyadvisorygroup.com or 310-497-5573 with any questions.
RSVP required, space is limited.
Through our No Kid Hungry® Campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015— Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in federal nutrition programs, invests in community organizations fighting hunger, teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals, and builds innovative public-private partnerships to end hunger, nationally and at the state and city levels.
HOST A TABLE
**** Executive Chef: $25,000
- Includes ten (10) tickets to the November benefit
- Recognition on Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry Los Angeles Website
- Premier positioning for signage event
- Recognition in media advisories, etc.
- Recognition as Executive Chef sponsor during remarks at the November benefit
- 1 front row table the November benefit
- (tax deductible amount $24,000)
**** Chef de Cuisine: $10,000
- Includes ten (10) tickets to the November benefit
- Recognition on Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry Los Angeles Website
- Premier positioning for signage event
- Recognition in media advisories, etc.
- Recognition as Chef de Cuisine sponsor during remarks at the November benefit
- 1 preferred table the November benefit
- (tax deductible amount $9,000)
**** Sous Chef: $5,000
- Recognition in media advisories, etc.
- 6 tickets to the November benefit
- (tax deductible amount $4,400)
**** Patron: $1,000
- 2 Tickets to the November benefit
- (tax deductible amount $800)
**** Individual Ticket: $500
- 1 Ticket to the November benefit
- (tax deductible amount $400)
“The celebrity culture of LA is not an inspiration for my cooking. It’s more part of the fun.”
Four Seasons Tenure: Since 1997 First Four Seasons Assignment: Chef de Cuisine, Maxim’s de Paris, The Regent Singapore (A Four Seasons Hotel)
Employment History: Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires; Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, México; The Regent Singapore (A Four Seasons Hotel)
Birthplace: Wolverhampton, England
Education: Food and Domestic Arts Degree, Staffordshire College, England
Languages Spoken: English, French and Spanish
Executive Chef Ashley James has more than 25 years of experience at several of the finest establishments across the globe, including France, Spain, England, Argentina, Singapore and Mexico. As Executive Chef of Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, LA’s premier culinary hub for the entertainment industry, Chef Ashley continues to impress the A-list of Hollywood.
In Chef Ashley’s spare time, he is the host of the new PBS television series Cuisine Culture, where he cooks with some of the world’s best chefs on location around the globe, from Daniel Boulud in New York to Shaul Ben Aderet in Tel Aviv. Cuisine Culture proudly won a Taste Award this year for "Breakout Foodie Show of the Year."
Chef Ashley’s team of global artisans assist in executing seasonal experiences highlighting the finest sustainable ingredients throughout the Hotel, including Culina, Modern Italian; Windows Lounge; Cabana Restaurant; in-room dining; and banquets. Recently, Chef Ashley created the “StrEAT” menu at Windows Lounge, featuring a variety of appetizers from street-inspired dishes based on his extensive world travels and the great ethnic cuisines in Los Angeles.
Prior to arriving in Los Angeles, Chef Ashley was executive chef at Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires. During his time in Buenos Aires, the restaurant Le Mistral was awarded the number one restaurant in the country. Chef Ashley was also involved in various media projects from his own 12-episode television show distributed in all Spanish speaking countries and also many other magazine and international publications. Prior to Buenos Aires he was at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico where he was part of the Hotel’s pre-opening team. He began his career with Four Seasons as chef de cuisine at Maxims de Paris at the Regent Singapore.
Prior to joining Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Ashley worked in Europe for 10 years at a number of highly acclaimed Michelin starred restaurants in Paris including the famed Jules Verne at the Eiffel Tower, as well as in Bordeaux, Mallorca (Spain) and of course his native England.
Ashley James graduated from Staffordshire College of Food and Domestic Arts in England. Ashley was named Young Chef of the Year (under 24) in France in 1992. He is a member of the L’Accademie Culinaire Francaise and speaks fluent French and Spanish. His hobbies include running at Runyon Canyon, travelling the globe especially while filming, and experiencing authentic ethnic cuisine.
GUEST CHEFS
Gino Angelini, Chef/Owner, Angelini Osteria, Los Angeles, CA
Gino Angelini was born in1953 in San Clemente, slightly inland from the seaside city of Rimini in Italy’s richest food region, Emilia Romagna. He has devoted his life to food and its preparation from the age of 14.
Gino became, at the age of 23, the youngest chef of a five-star hotel restaurant working for the Ambasciatori and Bellevue Hotels in Rimini from 1973 to 1987. His fame in Italy continued to rise as chef of the acclaimed Grand Hotel des Bains Riccione from 1989 to 1995. In 1980 Angelini was a founding partner of Summertrade, a catering company, of which he is still an associate. He co-founded Italy’s most popular gourmet magazine, “La Madia-Travelfood”, in 1981. Angelini served as President of the Association of Chefs Romagnoli for six years, and was later appointed the Italian Vice Commissioner of the Euro-Toques International from 1987 to 1995
In 1995, Chef Angelini came to the United States as chef of Rex, il Ristorante in Los Angeles. He received acclaim for both his inventive and traditional Italian cuisine. In late 1997, Chef Angelini opened Vincenti Restaurant in Brentwood. Named one of the 25 Best Restaurants by Esquire Magazine and the Best New Restaurant in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Magazine, Vincenti was a critical smash and Los Angeles Times Magazine described Gino Angelini as, hands down, the best Italian chef in LA! Following his decision to stay in Los Angeles, Angelini opened his own restaurant, Angelini Osteria. Since opening in October 2001, the Osteria has become one of LA’s most celebrated restaurants, voted the Best Italian Restaurant in Los Angeles by Zagat 2012. Rivabella, Angelini’s latest fine-dining restaurant in collaboration with IDG, is slated to open in December 2012.
Numerous honors have been awarded to Angelini for his significant work in the culinary arts around the world including the 2007 Artusi Award, the 2011 Galvanina Trophy for Best Chef of the Year, and the 2011 Sigismondo Malatesta d’Oro, Rimini’s highest civilian award.
Gino’s kitchen philosophy is simple and authentic, focused on the products and the region; a kitchen that renews itself without losing sight of the true Italian tradition.
Josiah Citrin, Chef/Owner, Melisse, Los Angeles CA
Josiah Citrin is the Two Star Michelin Chef/Owner of the highly respected Mélisse Restaurant in Santa Monica, California, and co-owner of Lemon Moon Café in nearby West Los Angeles. His inventive cuisine focuses on laser-sharp presentation of California farm-to-table ingredients. It is highlighted by his French heritage and the influence of his years spent in Paris. A respected veteran of the Los Angeles’ gourmet dining industry, Citrin has been written up in numerous publications including Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Esquire, Wine Spectator and The Robb Report. A firm believer in giving back to the community, Citrin contributes his talent and time to various charities on the local and national level. His first cookbook, “In Pursuit of Excellence” was released in the autumn of 2011. It was named Best Cookbook by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group and was one of three finalists for a Benjamin Franklin Award.
Awards include:
- Two Stars by Michelin Guide since 2008
- #1 for Top Food in Los Angeles by Zagat Guide since 2006
- Named one of Top 40 Restaurants in the US by Gayot
- #1 American-French Restaurant for Food in Los Angeles by Zagat Guide since 2003
- Four Stars by Mobile Travel Guide since 2001
Marcel Vigernon, Chef/Owner Modern Global Tasting, Los Angeles, CA
Entrepreneurial Gastronomist
Marcel Vigneron has dedicated his life to gastronomy and honing his skills as a chef. As an artisan who has an affinity for culinary knowledge, he uses a knife as an extension of his hand, the kitchen as a lab, and the earth as a grocery store. Marcel attended the acclaimed Culinary Institute of America in New York, earning both an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management. He then enrolled in the teaching assistant program where he served as the Sous Chef at ristorante Caterina de’ Medici. While only in his twenties, Marcel gained national notoriety while on several culinary competition series where he showcased his avant-garde culinary style to the public. Since then, he has gone on to work all over the globe with world-renowned chefs, including Joël Robuchon and Michael Mina, and most recently under José Andrés as the Executive Sous Chef of The Bazaar at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. Marcel’s resides in Los Angeles and runs his catering company Modern Global Tasting Inc.
HONOREES
Dr. John E. Deasy, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District
John E. Deasy is the superintendent for the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school district in the nation. LAUSD serves over 800,000 Pre-K – through Adult Education students in over 1,000 school campuses.
Previously, he was the Deputy Superintendent for LAUSD. Before returning to the Los Angeles area John served as a deputy director of education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Prior to joining the foundation, Dr. Deasy served as superintendent of the Prince George’s County, Md., Public Schools, during his time he launched a pay-for-performance plan that was approved by the Board of Education.
Previously, he served as superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District in California and of the Coventry Public Schools in Rhode Island where he championed rigorous and ambitious learning opportunities for youth.
Dr. Deasy has been an Aspen Fellow, a Broad Fellow, an Annenberg Fellow, a State Superintendent of the Year, a presenter at numerous state and national conferences, and a consultant to school districts undertaking high school reform and district-wide improvement strategies.
Michelle Kydd Lee, Executive Director, CAA Foundation
Michelle Kydd Lee is the executive director and founder of the CAA Foundation, the charitable arm of the talent and literary agency Creative Artists Agency, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, St. Louis, London and Beijing. Since 1995, the CAA Foundation has used the natural resources of the entertainment community to effect positive social change. In her role, Kydd Lee serves as a consultant to clients, executives and corporations on their philanthropic and pro-social initiatives. She is also the director of culture at CAA, supervising several other divisions of the agency. Kydd Lee has been involved with many charitable organizations and currently sits on the boards of Points of Light and Los Angeles Communities in Schools and the advisory boards of the Ad Council, FEED and IDEO. She is a member of the 2009 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute and is a senior fellow at the USC Marshall School of Business' Society and Business Lab.
Mary Sue Milliken, Co-Chef/Owner, Border Grill Restaurant & Truck
"Top Chef Master" & "Too Hot Tamale"
Mary Sue Milliken is co-chef/owner of the popular, critically acclaimed Border Grill restaurants in Downtown LA, Santa Monica, and Las Vegas, serving upscale, modern Mexican food in a hip, urban cantina setting. She is also co-chef/owner of the gourmet taco truck phenomenon, the Border Grill Truck. A pioneer of world cuisine since the creation of City Café and CITY Restaurant in Los Angeles in the 1980’s, Mary Sue is a preeminent ambassador of authentic Mexican cuisine, setting the standard for gourmet Mexican fare for over two decades. Mary Sue was the first female chef at Chicago's Le Perroquet in the 1970's, going on to train at a Michelin 2-star restaurant female chef owned restaurant in Paris, and later joining a handful of progressive women chefs to found Women Chefs & Restaurateurs.
Partnering with Chef Susan Feniger for over 25 years, Mary Sue is the co-author of five cookbooks, including Cooking with Too Hot Tamales, Mesa Mexicana, and City Cuisine, as well as co-star of Food Network’s TV series, “Too Hot Tamales” and “Tamales World Tour". Mary Sue competed successfully on season three of Bravo's “Top Chef Masters", winning $40,000 for her charity, Share Our Strength, an organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America by 2015 with the No Kid Hungry campaign. She is also passionate about the environment and practices many eco-friendly policies at the restaurants and on the Truck, including a commitment to serving only sustainable seafood as part of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.
For the past twenty years Billy Harris has been wowing audiences around the world. A cousin of Vaudeville great Georgie Jessel, Billy has been performing his entire life. By the tender age of five and a half, he understood how to "work a room"!
Billy’s razor-sharp timing, comedic style and brilliant improvisational skills have made him one of the most sought-after Auctioneer’s in the business.
Billy has raised millions of dollars for Share Our Strength, Autism Speaks, The New York Food Bank, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, James Beard Foundation, ALS Foundation, Junior Achievement, and the Mario Batali Foundation.
When he’s not "performing," Billy, his wife Sharon, daughter Georgie, and dog Missy divide their time between Los Angeles and New York.
