Livin' On A Prayer

by The Daily Front Row

(NEW YORK) If eating out wasn’t quite as delish last night in Manhattan, blame that on every major chef taking the night off to hit Cipriani’s downtown location for the 30th anniversary “Can Do 2013 Awards” dinner and gala benefiting Food Bank for New York City. This year the organization that helps support the nearly 2.9 million New Yorkers who have trouble putting food on the table honored Mario Batali, and his wife Susan Cahn, Delta Airlines, Target, and Diane Sawyer and ABC’s ‘New Hidden America’ team. Another honoree Food Bank founder Kathy Goldman received a standing ovation and was introduced by Selita Ebanks who revealed a personal secret to the crowd. “My family came to this country to pursue the American dream and by the time I was born my mother relied on food stamps and the food pantry so we never went hungry,” Ebanks shared. “She was resilient and determined to make that happen for her children. Food bank programs make that possible.” Some of the foodie luminaries in the room included Rachael Ray, Anne Burrell, Tom Colicchio, Sandra Lee, David Burke, Joe Bastianich, and Ellie Krieger who rubbed elbows with newly appointed Food Bank CMO Amy McFarland, Josh Charles, Kelly Bensimon (having a rare night on the town with her 16-year-old daughter, Sea), and Chelsea Clinton, who presented Mr. and Mrs. Batali with their plate. It was a personal affair for Clinton who came out as a massive fan of the croc wearing chef. “Mario and Susan began supporting the food bank twenty years ago,” Clinton explained. “Twice as long as I’ve been proud to call New York my home. It would not be a hyperbole to say I could not imagine my life in New York or really my life in general without Mario. The first meal that the man I’m very happy to say is now my husband was at Babbo. Thankfully we’ve shared many meals since.” Not enough to wet your palette? How about a few songs by Jon Bon Jovi to wind things down? Doesn’t get much better than “Living On A Prayer” live on a Tuesday night…

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