Autism Speaks 2017 Celebrity Chef Gala Brings Together World-Class Chefs For a Cause

Acclaimed and accomplished chefs from around the country will put their cutting-edge skills to work at the Autism Speaks Celebrity Chef Gala. Now marking its 11th year, the event helps fund vital research, free resources and services that meet the diverse needs of people with autism at every stage of life. It’s part dinner party, part pop-up, part cooking demonstration as Cipriani Wall Street is transformed into a massive open kitchen with stations for nearly 100 chefs and pastry chefs.

Working beside an individual table for ten, each chef creates a signature four-course meal. They design the menu, prepare dishes à la minute, then serve. For the final course, pastry chefs will be whipping, baking and piping their own bespoke desserts.

These chefs, including many graduates of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), represent more than a dozen cities and collectively have earned Michelin stars, James Beard Awards, rave reviews and accolades locally, as well as in The New York Times, Bon Appétit and Food and Wine. They include:

• Michael Armstrong – Bodega Negra
• Shaun McCrain – Copine
• Chad Brown – Hunt & Fish
• Adrienne Mosier – Deuxave
• Didier Elena – Chefs Club
• Jon Nodler – High Street on Market
• Michael Ferraro – Delicatessen
• Jason Pfeifer – Maialino
• Cipriani Wall Street – Team of Chefs
• Shaun McCrain – Copine
• Michael Franey – SaltBrick Tavern
• Adrienne Mosier – Deuxave
• Damian Franqui – Locanda Verde
• Jason Pfeifer – Maialino
• Michael Ginor – Hudson Valley Foie Gras & LOLA
• Doug Psaltis – RPM Steak / RPM Italian
• Joel Harrington – Lido Bottle Works
• Ralph Scamardella – TAO Group
• Michael Kornick – DMK Restaurants
• Justin Shoults – Oak + Rowan
• Andrew Zimmerman – Sepia

Joey Fatone, the multi-platinum *NSYNC recording artist and star of Broadway, film and television, will emcee the evening. Fatone, who is also a restaurateur and an advocate for people with disabilities, has a daughter who is on the autism spectrum.

Honorees include John Ferguson, a partner at Goodwin Proctor LLP who mobilized a team of lawyers, pro bono, to research and develop a free online resource filled with information for families of children with autism. He saw it as an opportunity to share his firm’s expertise to help others find answers.

Chef Gala event chair Brian Harper, an Autism Speaks national board member, is CEO of Rouse Properties, one of the country’s largest regional retail center owners, with a geographically diverse portfolio that spans the United States. Inspired by his son who is on the spectrum, Harper is committed to seeing that each person with autism spectrum disorder has equal access to care and support.

The evening will feature a performance by tenor Lawrence Brownlee. One of the most in-demand opera singers in the world, Brownlee was named 2017 “Male Singer of the Year” by both the International Opera Awards and Bachtrack.com. He has appeared on the stages of the top opera companies around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Covent Garden, The Vienna State Opera and Opera National de Paris. He too has a son with autism.

About autism

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, most caused by a combination of genetic and environmental influences. An estimated 1 in 68 children is on the autism spectrum.

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. We empower people with autism and their families with resources, online tools and information covering the life span. To find resources, join a fundraising walk or make a donation, go to www.AutismSpeaks.org.