NEW YORK — On a golden fall evening, Food Bank For New York City’s Eat For Good dinner with Dishoom and Elder raised enough to provide 240,000 meals for New Yorkers facing food insecurity, marking a powerful contribution to the organization’s annual 50 Million Meals holiday campaign.
Chef Arun Kumar of London’s beloved Dishoom and Chef Sujan Sarkar of Elder joined forces for a one-of-a-kind evening celebrating the power of food, collaboration, and community.
A Taste of Home
Guests entered Elder through a winding staircase, where pink floral wallpaper, rich green velvet curtains, and pink velvet seats set the scene for cocktail hour. Cardamom-infused espresso martinis, made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, were passed around while guests mingled with the chefs. Tucked away in the back room, an unexpected caviar surprise waited. Then it was downstairs for dinner.
Before the first course was served, Food Bank For NYC President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Gordon took the mic alongside Chefs Kumar and Sarkar to welcome guests and reflect on the collaboration. The two have known each other for 25 years, and they spoke about what it means to come together for a night like this, bringing their shared history and different culinary perspectives to the table for a common cause.
Then Leslie asked guests to pause and think about the first person who ever cooked for them, whether a grandmother, a parent, or another loved one. Food is about more than what is on the plate. It carries memories, traditions, and the feeling of being cared for.
“For many, a home-cooked meal represents some of our earliest experiences of love and belonging — a powerful reminder of what is at stake when our neighbors struggle to put food on the table,” Leslie said.
That set the tone. Dinner opened with papadums and an array of colorful chutneys, the first taste of the bright flavors that defined the menu. The Chilean sea bass was the guest favorite, so tender it practically melted in the mouth, served with a moilee featuring bone powder techa. Roast duck with ghee rice followed, showing off the chefs’ creativity and the way their flavors played off each other.
More Than a Meal
For guests, the evening was about more than an exceptional meal. It was an opportunity to connect with others who share a commitment to supporting New Yorkers facing food insecurity. As Smitha Rao, PR and Media Lead at Amazon, reflected, “To know that we’re making a difference while having this beautiful experience, you just couldn’t ask for a better night.”
That sense of shared responsibility extended beyond the dinner table. Hayley Levinson of American Express captured the spirit of community that makes partnerships like Eat For Good so meaningful, sharing, “At the end of the day we’re all New Yorkers. It’s so important that we all help one another.”
The dinner rolled on with Chicken Ruby and buttery black dal, served alongside homemade naan bread, rich and comforting. Then came a three-course dessert finale, with chocolate peanut chikki delice and raspberry sorbet as the standout.
A Shared Table, A Greater Impact
When the culinary community and its partners come together, a shared love of food can turn into real support for neighbors.
As Food Bank For NYC works toward 50 million meals, every partnership, gathering, and contribution brings more New Yorkers closer to the food they need.
A special thank you to leading sponsors MetLife and Nationwide, and official flight partner United Airlines, whose support helped make the evening possible and kick off a holiday season where everyone in our city has a plate at the table.
Stay up to date on the latest Eat For Good events and discover more ways to show up for New Yorkers.
