ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

May 2nd 2008

Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio Helps Raise Money For Share Our Strengths

Filed under: campaigns, events, food & drink, television — parrish @ 1:44 pm

I know it’s strange that I’m vegan and my very, very favorite show in the history of the world is Top Chef, but what are you gonna do? True, I squirm a little every time someone says veal demi glace or uses foie gras, but my love of cooking and the chefs creativity keeps me glued each and every week. In fact, (and I’m a little embarrassed to admit this) Top Chef is the only show in my 25 years of living that I’ve watched every single episode of for all four seasons. So you can imagine how starstruck I was when I heard that head judge Tom Colicchio took part in Taste of the Nation Atalanta to help raise money for Share Our Strengths.

Share Our Strengths is an organization that weaves together community groups, activists and food programs to reduce the hunger amongst children in need and provide them with nutritious meals.

The event was held at the Georgia Aquarium and featured gourmet food from 50 of Atlanta’s best restaurants. There was also a live auction that offered a top prize of dinner for 11 at the winner’s home. Rumor has it the bidding got so high that midway through the chefs changed the number from 11 to 14 and Ted Turner, honorary chairperson for the event, offered to match the top bid. By the end, the dinner ended up going for 17,000 dollars which went straight to Share Our Strengths.

Now I know that the evening was full of foods that many of us would consider “not very green”, and yeah, I wish the mainstream culinary world would recognize vegetarian cooking a little more, but the point is that a group of chefs donated their time to help raise money for a bunch of people who really need it. And we can’t forget that animal rights includes all animals…including humans. So comment if you will with threats of vegetarian treason, but like the contestants on Top Chef who stand by their dish, this guy stands by his post.

April 29th 2008

Captain Planet And Chevy Chase, Together At Last

Filed under: campaigns — michael @ 9:08 am

Last Thursday, media mogul, eco-warrior (and future cannibal) Ted Turner held a fundraising event for his Captain Planet Foundation at Producing Director Anthony Pratt’s penthouse atop New York City’s Sherry-Netherland hotel. In attendance were a crowd of deep pockets, Chevy Chase, and his environmentally-focused wife Janie.

According to emagazine, most vegetarians (vegans would have left after five minutes) would have been disappointed in the cuisine being served: tiny grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken satay and mini versions of Mr. Turner’s famed bison burgers. See, Ted is the largest landowner in North America — which also contain the largest herds of bison — something he would like to see a lot more of in the American diet. We’re not sure if Captain Planet know about these plans yet…

But back to the event. From the article,

“Chase and his enthusiastic eco-advocate wife Janie were the celebrity du jours of the evening. They gamely posed for pictures, and Janie discussed the importance of greening the nation’s schools from top to bottom, and educating kids about the process while they’re at it. She mentioned the traveling art show called Cool Globes, which brings attention to global warming solutions by various artist renderings on actual globes. The globes are beautifully detailed and colored, some with striking designs, some with technical wizardry, and the project involves a whole curriculum for classrooms.”

For his part, Chase assume the role of auctioneer and received bids from the audience on signed guitars, photos, and other memorabilia. A dinner with Turner even went for $9K. Hope the winner likes meat.

Check out the rest of the evening over on emagazine.