Also this issue:

Penne For Your Thoughts
Not for nothing is this surprisingly good restaurant named for a pasta.
-Maxine Keyser

April 10-16, 2003

food

ChefAID at 10

by A.D. Amorosi

"So I was with Philipe Chin at a bar …" This might not be how you’d expect the story behind one of Philly’s finest, longest-running charity events to begin. A saloon brawl, maybe. But ChefAID? According to chef Jim Coleman, of Coleman at Normandy Farm, this is exactly how he came to co-found the MANNA (Metropolitan AIDS Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance) fundraiser in 1994. Today, with the 10th anniversary approaching, ChefAID has generated more than $500,000 for locals with HIV/AIDS.

Anyway. Desirous of creating a foodie event to benefit an AIDS organization, Coleman and Chin phoned local chef-ing stars Jack McDavid, Kevin Meeker and Robert Bennett to get involved. "It took four months to put together," Coleman recalls. "The first event had more cooks than guests, a brunch and dinner at Philip's. We had 18 people at brunch and 23 people for dinner. We raised some money and had a great time."

What could be a more "natural marriage between an organization that deals with food and people dealing with HIV and a culinary event?" asks Coleman.

Enter MANNA.

"We were operating MANNA out of what is now Pad Thai Shack at South 20th Street," says Executive Director Greg Goldman, whose first ChefAID took place at the Rittenhouse Hotel in 1996. "An event the caliber of ChefAID was a boost to MANNA's bottom line and to our image as an organization. It was an awesome party. Not a traditional stuffy gala -- Eddie Bruce's music blew everyone away, designer Brian Kappra transformed The Rittenhouse, the food was amazing. And all these years later, we're proud that it's one of the only black-tie events where you see an equal number of gay and straight couples dancing their heads off together."

Ten years later -- with more chefs and entrees -- ChefAID sells out before Coleman and co. begin planning it. "There are 30 chefs. It's a great opportunity for us to gather," says Coleman, referring as much to the legendary after-event chefs' parties as to the dinner. ("To make this a memorable ChefAID, I'm staying away from Jack's moonshine at the afterparty," says Goldman. "Damn concoction wiped any memory of 2002's event away.")

The only downside, says Coleman, is that every chef in the city would like to be involved in the lavish six-course meal. "In the old days, we used to have to call people and ask them to get involved. Now people call us."

ChefAID: The 10th Anniversary Black-Tie Extravaganza to benefit MANNA, Sun., April 13, 5 p.m., $300-$750, Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, Broad and Walnut sts., 215-496-2662.