Citi Taste of Tennis New York 2019
Game on at the Citi Taste of Tennis on August 22nd, Thursday evening in Manhattan. Cipriani 42nd Street was lit with top seeded US Open tennis players and celebrated chefs from the best New York restaurants.
Celebrating the 20th year of the premier event is the kickoff before the upcoming 2019 US Open tennis tournament held at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Before competing for the gold cup and 12.5 million dollar purse, players mingle and nosh with tennis and gourmet aficionados.
The tennis players who came out to play after the week of qualifying rounds were John Isner, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Andy Roddick, Milan Tyson, Gaël Monfils, Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger Aliassime, Marc Murphy, Belinda Bencic, Abi Spears, Vania King, Jamie Loeb, Monica Puig, Donna Vekic, Bethanie Mattek Sands, Kristi Ahn, Danielle Collins as well as former champion boxer Mike Tyson.
The glam Manhattan ballroom went to the next level featured cooking stations of the best international cuisine and cocktails in the Big Apple.
Foodies savored American Cut’s Thick cut bacon bites, Sen Sakana’s Torched Salmon ceviche & addictive cucumber, Chef Morimoto’s Sushi and tuna pizza, Annise Hernandez-Scott of Davio’s truffle gnocchi, Kerry Heffernan’s Grand Banks “nuclear” green gazpacho with almond pesto, Millennium Hotel’s Mini pita Surf & Turf made with crispy lamb, lobster salad, tomatoes and black caviar.
The cocktails sips Daou wines, Diplomático Rum Blood Orange Negroni, Grand Brulot, Zonin Prosecco and Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte were a decadent compliment to the food.
Chefs Richard Blais (Juniper and Ivy), Masaharu Morimoto (Morimoto), Sujan Sarkar (Baar Baar), Edward Lee (Milkwood), Chef Bao Bao (Boaburg), Lamar Moore (The Swill Inn), Rory MacDonald (Patisserie Chanson ), Kerry Heffernan (Grand Banks), Michael Han (Ortzi), Julian Medina ( La Chula and Latineria), Mina Newman (Sen Sakana), Cedric Tovar (Lotte NY Palace), John Stage (Dinosaur BBQ), Neil Cline (British Virgin Islands), Sani Hebaj (Dabble @ The Conrad), Mike Viola (Boars Head), Anastacia Song (American Cut) outdid themselves for each signature plate was a piece de resistance.
On the stage, the all star champion Williams sisters Venus and Serena showed off their competitive cooking skills with a demonstration with celebrity chef and Top Chef alum Richard Blais.
The marvelous DJ Mad Linxx was the Master of Ceremonies and kept the beats coming. Keeping the music hot and sexy,The Rakiem Walker Band and reggae artist Naomi Cowen performed.
After Dark satisfied many a sweet tooth with Patisserie Chanson’s Coconut & Mango “Tennis Ball” mousse cake, Chef Lori Shubert’s mini cupcake sushi and La New Yorkina’s ice cold assorted fruit and creamy paletitas.
The VIP Experience was had in Citigold Lounge As guests kicked off the night with an exclusive Q&A with ATP ranked top 15 and this year’s Citi Taste of Tennis Ambassador John Isner.
The stellar benefit donates a portion of proceeds to the nonprofit New York Junior Tennis and Learning. The Cary Leeds Center Tennis in the Bronx is home to free NYJTL programs which include community and after-school programs. The youth tennis program is offered in all five boroughs of New York introducing young people to tennis and valuable life skills. Having served 85,000 youth of NYC in 45 years, today NYJTL is the largest non-profit youth tennis program.
The summer evening ended with guests properly sated leaving with a sports bag of Remedy Kombucha, Voss Water, Winding Bear Cold Brew, KIND bars and Walkerwoods peppersauce. Match.
