On May 23rd, 2019 the American Cancer Society’s Taste of Hope® event took place at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. This culinary, wine and spirits event featured over 90 participants from some of New York’s most popular restaurants and beverage vendors.
Attendees enjoyed a walk-around tasting of signature dishes from this year’s honorees, chefs Michael Lomonaco (Porter House Bar and Grill) Ralph Scamardella (TAO group), Otto Cedeno (Taqueria Otto’s Tacos), as well as from celebrated restaurants such as Todd English, Nobu 57, Boulud Sud, Patina Restaurant Group, STK, Toloache, Magnolia Bakery, Sarabeth’s, to name just a few.
The fund-raising event also received support from corporate sponsors and from a silent auction of numerous items donated by leading organizations.
About the Evening’s Honorees:
Culinary Honoree Michael Lomonaco is the Chef/Partner of the highly successful Porter House Bar and Grill and cocktail lounge Center Bar, in the Time Warner Center, as well as newly opened Hudson Yards Grill in Hudson Yards. A veteran of the New York restaurant scene, Michael has helmed some of NYC’s most iconic kitchens including ‘21’ Club, Windows on the World, Wild Blue, Noche, and Guastavino’s. Well-known to television audiences, Michael hosted “Epicurious” and “Michael’s Place” on Travel Channel and Food Network, and makes regular appearances on “The Today Show” and “The Chew.” He has published two cookbooks, The ‘21’ Cookbook and Nightly Specials.
Deeply dedicated to community support and charitable causes, Michael co-founded the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund in the wake of September 11, 2001. He also actively participates in fundraising events that benefit important and worthy causes throughout the city, including City Harvest and The Food Bank of New York.
In 2017 and 2018 the restaurant was named as the “Absolute Best Steakhouse in New York” by New York Magazine.
Corporate Honoree Ralph Scamardella spent nearly three decades in the kitchens of the most esteemed restaurants in the world. Today, Ralph serves as Partner and Chef of TAO Group, overseeing all chefs and concepts in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Scamardella began his studies at New York City’s Technology Institute, learning hotel and restaurant management while simultaneously building his culinary skills at The Plaza Hotel’s French restaurant. He then moved on to hone his skills with one of the world’s true master chefs, working under mentor Daniel Boulud at Polo Restaurant.
Paving the way to early distinction, he received a two-star rating from The New York Times at Vanessa’s restaurant, where he served as Executive Chef. Scamardella went on to have a large hand in the success of the opening and driving concept behind Carmine’s, as chef and partner. After nearly 15 years and several successful projects, he left the kitchen to consult for restaurants such as The Strip House, Harrah’s Casino, and Cessca.
Upon joining TAO Group in 2007 as Corporate Executive Chef and Partner, Scamardella opened LAVO Italian Restaurant and TAO Beach in Las Vegas. He then went on to open LAVO Italian Restaurant in New York, as well as TAO Downtown in Chelsea, Bodega Negra at Dream Downtown, The Rickey and Fishbowl at Dream Midtown, the Los Angeles locations of TAO and new brand, Luchini as well as Legasea and Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge at Moxy Times Square. In 2018, Scamardella helped open LAVO Singapore, atop the iconic Marina Bay Sands SkyPark. Most recently, TAO Group’s most recent U.S. expansion introduced TAO Asian Bistro & Nightclub to Chicago, in September 2018.
Culinary Honoree Otto Cedeno is founder of the acclaimed NYC-based taqueria Otto’s Tacos. A former tech startup executive, Otto opened his flagship East Village shop in 2013, paying an homage to traditional Mexican dishes and the no-frills, trusty, taquerias he enjoyed as a child in California. Otto brings New Yorkers California-style fare with fresh masa tortillas and signatures dishes like the now famous deep-fried Gorgon.
Otto’s Tacos has been a part of the American Cancer Society community for the past three years, participating in a viral fundraising campaign of making their tortillas “pink” in October to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Proceeds from pink tortilla sales are donated to American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
Prior to his hospitality career, Otto was the Director of Production for Livestream, the live streaming video platform. He is a graduate of the film program at NYU Tisch School of Arts. Each year, Otto speaks at the NYU Entrepreneurs Festival, is a supporter of Venture for America, and an investor in several early-stage startups including Launcher, a Brooklyn-based aerospace company. As a self-proclaimed science nerd, he hopes to someday serve the first taco on Mars.
Survivor Honoree Dana Cowin, best known for her two decades as the Editor-in-Chief of Food & Wine Magazine, is a tastemaker, talent scout, consultant, author, lecturer and radio show host. During her tenure at the award-winning magazine (1995-2016), she oversaw every editorial aspect of the brand from print to web to books to social media. After Food & Wine, Cowin joined the restaurant group Chefs Club to continue her role as a scout, selecting chefs from around the world to be featured on their curated menus. Cowin moved on to launch DBC Creative, a PR, branding and culinary connection consultancy with clients such as Dig Inn and Neiman Marcus. Simultaneously, she launched “Speaking Broadly,” a podcast, event and content hub focusing on highlighting and linking extraordinary women in the food industry.
A sought-after speaker, Cowin has been the keynote for Bacardi’s Spirit Forward multi-city tour, a judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” a presenter at TedXManhattan, a lecturer at the Food & Wine Classic and multiple other food festivals and events. In 2014 Cowin published “Mastering My Mistakes in the Kitchen: Learning to Cook with 65 Great Chefs and Over 100 Delicious Recipes,” which garnered a spot on many “Best of Fall” lists. She serves on the Board of Directors of City Harvest, a hunger-relief organization, and Hot Bread Kitchen, a workforce development group. For her many contributions to the culinary world, Cowin was inducted in to the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food & Drink.
About Taste of Hope
Taste of Hope® was founded in 2005 by the American Cancer Society as a way to celebrate New York dining while raising funds to support the Society’s mission to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is attacking cancer from every angle.
The American Cancer Society is the largest private funder of cancer research in the United States, with more than $3.9 billion invested in the search for new cures. Research funded by the Society has laid the groundwork for virtually every major breakthrough in cancer prevention, detection and treatment seen in the last six decades. When the society began, only a quarter of all cancer patients achieved 5-year survival. Today, more than 2 in 3 will reach this milestone. Through the years, 47 scientists funded by the Society have earned the Nobel Prize for their findings.
