Premier Wine Event Funds First “Edible Kitchen” in the Southeast

NEW ORLEANS (November 19, 2008) – The Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s annual Carnivale du Vin, rated a “Top 10” charity wine auction in the nation by Wine Spectator magazine, raised $1.7 million dollars to benefit children’s arts, culinary and education programs in the Gulf South. More than 600 guests attended the premier wine auction and gala at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Saturday, November 15.

To further the growth of the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans at Samuel J. Green Charter School, Chef Emeril Lagasse announced a $200,000 grant from the Foundation to fund the new Edible Kitchen & Cafeteria. Chef Alice Waters was present to receive the grant as a special Carnivale du Vin honoree.

A live auction lot was also dedicated to this effort with guests contributing more than $80,000 to support the Edible Schoolyard and fulfill the school’s garden-to-table mission. The program aims to transform the student lunch model in New Orleans, serving nutritious fruits and vegetables from the school’s grounds and other local sources.

“I am so grateful for the outpouring of support from my friends, sponsors and especially our guests who have helped plant seeds of change in the New Orleans community. The night wouldn’t be possible without the chefs and vintners that helped create this incredible wine and food experience,” said Emeril Lagasse. “I’m happy to have my dear friend Alice Waters’ blessings as we move forward on an exciting new kitchen that will encourage kids to literally eat their homework. In just four years, we’ve changed what children should expect inside and outside their classrooms and what’s on the table at lunch.”

The weekend kicked off on Friday, November 14 as Chef Emeril helped dedicate the Emeril’s Culinary Center at St. Michael Special School. The new center serves as a multi-use space for St. Michael’s academic, social and vocational curriculum and provides a bright new learning kitchen designed for accessible teaching.

Saturday’s Carnivale du Vin gala began with a toast by Paul and Suzie Frank and Carole and Michael Marks, creators of the honorary “Bacchus” bottling, Gemstone “Carnivale du Vin” Cuvee 2005, as Chef Emeril and sommeliers and chefs de cuisine from his ten restaurants poured wine and served hors d’oeuvres during the opening reception.

The five-course Carnivale du Vin wine dinner was prepared by the world’s top chefs including: Mario Batali, Thomas Keller, Michael Mina, Emeril Lagasse and Gale Gand. Each course was paired with wine by master vintners including: Don Carano of Ferrari-Carano, Bob Cabral of Williams Selyem, Larry Stone of Rubicon Estate, Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards and Bartholomew Broadbent of Broadbent Selections. As guests savored the selections, they donned a commemorative pin designed by Ken Friend and learned about the important works of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation – the outdoor classroom at Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, Emeril’s Culinary Center at St. Michael, and the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) Culinary Arts Program.

Spirits were high as the auction commenced, which featured an original Blue Dog painting by famed Louisiana artist George Rodrigue and priceless wine and travel experiences. Popular auction lots included a weekend with Olivia and Archie Manning in New York City for a Giants game and a private dinner prepared by Chef Emeril, and an Italian weekend feast – an eight-course tasting dinner by Mario Batali with wines from Joe Bastianich, which was doubled at the urging of Batali and brought in two bids of $140,000 each. Batali, driven by the audience, spontaneously auctioned his trademark orange clogs for $500. In honor of her new partnership with Emeril, a Martha Stewart auction lot welcomed two guests to a VIP taping of her show, followed by a power lunch in the green room.

For a third year, Sammy Hagar and Emeril invited one lucky bidder to Sammy’s beachside home to help celebrate their birthdays in style in Cabo San Lucas, raising $130,000. The evening was capped off with the uncorking of ultra-premium Cabo Wabo tequila and a rising set by Sammy Hagar and The Wabos, who were joined on stage by Chef Emeril on backup percussion.

Guests from across the U.S. traveled to New Orleans with the support of airline sponsor American Airlines. Event sponsors Wine Spectator and Republic National Beverage Company were honored Friday evening during a welcome reception with wines poured by Dan Kosta of Kosta Browne Winery and Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyard, as guests feasted on local cuisine by some of New Orleans best chefs including John Besh, Joel Dondis and Tariq Hanna, Donald Link, Tory McPhail, Darin Nesbit, Paul Prudhomme, and Susan Spicer. Culinary arts interns from NOCCA also served their signature dishes.