I always like to be out and about, but it’s rare that I have the opportunity to don my best two nights in a row. I’m sure you heard about the Costume Institute’s Met Ball (if you haven’t, it’s the fashion industry’s night to get as wild and glamorous as they can be), and Maya and I were beyond thrilled to attend this year’s opening of “Schiaperelli & Prada: Impossible Conversations“.
We both wore Ralph Lauren (Maya looked impossibly stunning) and the scene was just fantastic. Bruno Mars performed (his renditions of “Dirty Diana” and “Roxanne” killed!) and I got to catch up with some of my favorite Knicks players: Amar’e, Carmelo, Tyson. We sat with Chelsea Handler and Andre Balazs, chatted with Kanye and Rick Ross, and I took this gorgeous photo of Maya with Queen B. [click to continue…]
What I love most about being a competitor and a judge on Chopped is that being a competitor actually makes me a better judge. Once that basket opens you can’t get stuck on a concept because the clock is there and the ingredients are there and you have to let the limited amount of time and experience drive you. The adrenaline you have every round makes you so tired afterwards, not because you worked long, but because there’s a lot of emotion that goes through your body. 
I revisited some of those emotions last night during a viewing party we held at Ginny’s. [click to continue…]
When the dead of winter is over, New Yorkers look out for one of the first signs of spring. No, it’s not the spring blossoms blooming outside, nor the St. Germain on the cocktail menus in every restaurant. It’s the first signs of bright colors on New Yorkers and on the runways from the year’s spring collection. Fashion has always brought the seasons to our attention by highlighting our changing moods with the ever-changing trends and colors. But what’s even more inspiring is when fashion leaders bring other causes to our attention as well, like those that can help change people’s lives. One of my favorite examples of this is my friend Isaac Mizrahi and his undying support for Good Shepherd Services.
Last night, I had the pleasure of joining Isaac for his 2nd Annual Spring Party for Good Shepherd Services and to me, it was the epitome of celebrating everything spring and blossoming. [click to continue…]
Here are just a few photos from the Toast to the Children event benefitting Children of Bellevue held at Tom Colicchio’s Riverpark on Tuesday night. A few highlights included the amazing urban garden outside, running into some old friends, and the great effort all the chefs there put into making the night a success. [click to continue…]
The gorgeous spring weather on Saturday was such a treat, and the kids were out in full force at the Tribeca/NYFest soccer tournament at Pier 40. As mentioned, I was asked to participate in their celebrity match and I got to play alongside some pro players and other fellows from the film industry. Saw my friend Kelly Ripa who was there cheering her husband and my teammate Mark.
The guys (and one girl, hey Amy!) started friendly but things got a bit competitive in the second half (but all in good fun). I was even going head-to-head with Detroit Lion Ndamukong Suh at one point! Good thing we’re both Arsenal F.C. fans so I let him off easy. My team, Team Claudio Reyna, ended up clinching the game with three minutes to go and ended up winning 3-2.
But the day really was for the kids—we got to hang out with them and take some photos before the match. [click to continue…]
By: David Roldan
On the second day of my weekend stage, I was able to work in the highly esteemed kitchen of Red Rooster. I had been looking forward to this for a long time and even more so after having dinner there upon my arrival to New York City. I was so impressed by Red Rooster Harlem; the energy coming out of that kitchen was incredible!
The Red Rooster chefs worked well together and I clocked in during one of the busiest times- brunch, on Easter Sunday none the less! The kitchen served over 400 covers that day for brunch alone! I got to help out in each station and see a great deal how each dish was made. I wasn’t the only curious person in the kitchen [click to continue…]
By: David Roldan
Going into it, I was nervous. I thought I wasn’t going to know a lot of their ingredients. But once I stepped into the kitchen, it felt good.
These were some of my fears going into Marcus Samuelsson’s kitchens at Red Rooster Harlem and Ginny’s Supper Club. I was visiting New York City for a long weekend and had the opportunity to stage under Executive Chefs of both kitchens, Michael Garrett and Jeremie Tomzcak. Although Marcus was out of town that weekend to check up on his new restaurant Norda, in Sweden, he still allowed me the chance to visit his restaurants and work under his chefs for the weekend.
A stage is a brief apprenticeship where you donate your time in a new kitchen for new knowledge. The main reason you partake in a stage, or estage, (“st-ah-je”) is because you want to learn under a particular chef of caliber, or a specific trade that you may not know about. Back in the days, there weren’t a lot of culinary schools, so young aspiring cooks would go to the chef of an established restaurant and offer to cook for free or for food. [click to continue…]
Photo: Tim Cooper
It’s been 30 years since the Howard Theater in D.C. closed in 1980, but I was lucky enough to be there when the doors re-opened to spectacular fanfare last Thursday. It’s a theater regarded as the blueprint for the Apollo here in Harlem, and no less applauded for the careers they helped launch. Marvin Gaye, Ella Fitzgerald, the Supremes, Duke Ellington, and Aretha Franklin; these are just some of the famous faces that graced the Howard Theater stage early in their rise to fame.
The Howard Theater reminds me so much of the Apollo for its sense of history and huge impact on the community around it. Everyone connects to the importance of the theater that first opened in 1910, and I can’t emphasize what a privilege it is for the Marcus Samuelsson Group to be involved. We were asked to create dishes for the Southern-style dinners, gospel brunch and standing-room menu at the Howard and we got to experience the reception at Thursday night’s all-star gala. [click to continue…]
Wednesday was a big day for Ginny’s Supper Club. The day started at 7am for a photo shoot (more on that later) and went late into the night as we were humbly graced with an incredible performance by the one and only, Ms. Roberta Flack.
I know what it takes to make a restaurant run great night after night, but I was struck by what it took to perfect one musical performance. The roadie crew and the band had been setting up at Ginny’s since the day before and they were all there at 9am, doing sound checks, fixing the lights, and even hauling in a grand piano for the occasion. [click to continue…]
Yesterday morning I found myself walking from my hotel down to the White House. I decided to walk the short distance because it was a time to spend with my thoughts, and I wanted to take in the moment. I was in D.C. for the White House Easter Egg Roll, invited to do a cooking demo with the Obamas and 30,000 invited guests.
The White House never ceases to amaze me. Although I’d been there many times before, most memorably when I was invited to join Executive Chef Christeta Comerford for the State Dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, I still get chills when I see this historical landmark. I love the process of going through security and showing my passport to receive my credentials. Ask the people who were in line to greet the President—Julianne Moore, Forest Whitaker, numerous sports greats and celebrities—they were as giddy as the children there to meet the Easter Bunny. [click to continue…]
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