Food & Travel Spotlight

Nov. 15: Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor Hosts 1st Annual Varli Culinary Awards with Co-hosts Manu Narayan and Pooja Kumar in New York

Posted by Lia Chang - on Monday, 01 October 2012

Nov. 15: Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor Hosts 1st Annual Varli Culinary Awards with Co-hosts Manu Narayan and Pooja Kumar in New York
Manu Narayan Photo by Lia Chang After much-acclaimed success with Varli Magazine, the Varli Food Festival, and the Varli Cook-Off, the Varli brand continues to expand its reach with the first annual Varli Culinary Awards on November 15, 2012, at The Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St. in New York. The evening will be hosted by internationally acclaimed Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, along with Bombay Dream star Manu Narayan (The Love Guru), fresh from his electrifying turn...

LUCKYRICE Festival 2011 in NY includes Daniel Boulud, Susur Lee, Anito Lo, Masaharu Morimoto, May 2-8, 2011

Posted by Lia Chang on Monday, 02 May 2011.

Chef Susur Lee in the lobby of Shang, in the Thompson LES Hotel on January 10, 2009. (Photo by Lia Chang)

Chef Susur Lee in the lobby of Shang, in the Thompson LES Hotel. (Photo by Lia Chang)

The second annual LUCKYRICE Festival, presented by BOMBAY SAPPHIRE and Conde Nast Traveler, kicks off tonight with Dinner with Anita Lo presented by HSBC at Anissa from 7pm-10pm. ($200)

The inaugural 2010 Festival was 100% sold-out; this year’s festival expands to one week from May 2-8, 2011 at various locations throughout New York City. Participants of the LUCKYRICE Festival include members of the LUCKYRICE Culinary Council – Daniel Boulud, Susur Lee, Anito Lo, Masaharu Morimoto, amongst others, to include some of the world’s top restaurants, chefs, and mixologists. Tickets can be purchased at www.luckyrice.com. Proceeds from the festival will again benefit City Harvest.

“We are thrilled to be joined by BOMBAY SAPPHIRE and again by Conde Nast Traveler for the LUCKYRICE Festival this year,” said Danielle Chang, Founder of LUCKYRICE. “I am excited to share Asia’s rich culinary culture with so many New Yorkers and honored to be supported by our esteemed Culinary Council.”

ABOUT LUCKYRICE
LUCKYRICE is an integrated experiential marketing and media company that was launched in the spring of 2010. LUCKYRICE has quickly become the definitive guide to the Asian culinary world, which represents sixty percent of the world’s population. LUCKYRICE understands these cultures and creates a common denominator through the lens of food.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS*
May 2 – 8, 2011 | New York City

Monday, May 2
Kick-Off Dinner with Anita Lo presented by HSBC
Annisa | 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
$200
One of the city’s most beloved chefs kicks off the LUCKYRICE week of festivities with an intimate dinner full of surprise guests and tantalizing things to eat.

Tuesday, May 3
Opening Cocktails with Carol Lim + Humberto Leon of Opening Ceremony
The Bowery Hotel | 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. (VIP 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.)
$50 / $88 VIP
Toast the start of the LUCKYRICE Fest 2011 with a spirited evening of Asian-infused cocktails and style. Hosted by the iconic tastemakers behind the fashion darling Opening Ceremony, this event puts a spotlight on cocktails concocted by the city’s top mixology talents.

Wednesday, May 4
Night Market
Archway Under the Manhattan Bridge, DUMBO | 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. (VIP 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.)
$50 / $88 VIP
Night Market brings festive Asian night markets back to the historic Archway in DUMBO. Serving up traditional Asian street grub as well as more inspired offerings interpreted by local gastrohipsters, experience the quintessential Asian night market experience – with a distinctly Brooklyn flavor.

Thursday, May 5
James Beard House Dinner: Flavors of Macau
James Beard House | 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
$170
One of the most cosmopolitan spots in Asia, the entertainment capital Macau is also home to some of Asia’s finest dining. This evening at the legendary James Beard House pays tribute to Macau’s history as a former Portuguese colony.

Omakase Dinner with Sake + Shochu Soiree with Morimoto presented by HSBC
Morimoto Restaurant | 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
$250
Join Iron Chef Morimoto as he hosts an adventurous Japanese-style “omakase” (chef’s choice) dinner paired with sake, shochu and wines.

Thursday, May 5
Sake + Shochu Soiree with Morimoto
Morimoto Restaurant (downstairs lounge) | 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
$50
Party with Morimoto over Japanese cocktails, sake and shochu. Kanpai!

Friday, May 6
Grand Feast hosted by Kelly Choi presented by HSBC
Mandarin Oriental | 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. (VIP 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.)
$150 / $250 VIP
At this epic celebration of Asian cuisine, travel and feast your way through Asia’s diverse cultures without leaving the majestic Mandarin Oriental ballroom overlooking Central Park. Hosted by Kelly Choi, the Grand Feast celebrates the best of Asian cuisine as interpreted by an acclaimed line-up of master chefs from Asia as well as those from the LUCKYRICE culinary council.

Saturday, May 7
La Fête Chinoise with Daniel Boulud and Susur Lee presented by HSBC
Restaurant DANIEL | 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
$500
Join legendary chefs Daniel Boulud and Susur Lee as the masters of French and Chinese cuisine come together for an unprecedented collaborative Chinese banquet dinner at Restaurant DANIEL. The evening will start with inventive cocktails paired with hors d’oeuvre chinois and will be followed by a gastronomic feast personally prepared and hosted by Chefs Boulud and Lee.

Sunday, May 8
Talk + Taste hosted by Ching-He Huang | Cooking Channel
Astor Center | 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
$50
For culinary aficionados who love to cook and eat, Talk + Taste will feature cooking demonstrations by masters of Asian cuisine as they prepare regional specialties. Join us for a convivial afternoon of tastings, demos and mingling with culinary insiders, hosted by Ching-He Huang, of Cooking Channel’s “Chinese Food Made Easy.”

*programs and schedules subject to change

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