Premier Wine Event Funds First “Edible Kitchen” in the Southeast

NEW ORLEANS (November 19, 2008) –  The Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s annual Carnivale du Vin, rated a “Top 10” charity wine auction in the nation by Wine Spectator magazine, raised $1.7 million dollars to benefit children’s arts, culinary and education programs in the Gulf South.  More than 600 guests attended the premier wine auction and gala at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Saturday, November 15.

To further the growth of the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans at Samuel J. Green Charter School, Chef Emeril Lagasse announced a $200,000 grant from the Foundation to fund the new Edible Kitchen & Cafeteria. Chef Alice Waters was present to receive the grant as a special Carnivale du Vin honoree. Read more »

The Emeril Lagasse Foundation is hosting an online charity auction featuring exclusive items and packages to help raise funds for Chef Emeril’s children’s charities.

One-of-a-kind travel and experiences, including many autographed items, are available in an online auction starting Wednesday, October 24 - Wednesday, December 3 through www.charitybuzz.com. Read more »

Proceeds from the Premier Gala and Wine Auction to Benefit Children’s Charities in the Gulf Coast Region

NEW ORLEANS (October 13, 2008) – New Orleans will become the center of the culinary universe as the Emeril Lagasse Foundation celebrates its 4th Annual Carnivale du Vin, which culminates on Saturday, November 15 with a star-studded gala and premier wine auction at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel. Read more »

$325,000 Dedicated to Culinary Training, Education and Schoolyard Gardens

NEW ORLEANS, LA (September 29, 2008) – Emeril Lagasse Foundation (ELF) today announced $325,000 in grants to be awarded to nonprofit programs in the New Orleans area, bringing the Foundation’s total contributions to Gulf Coast organizations to over $2.3 million. The Foundation extends its partnership with the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) to establish the city’s first comprehensive 4-year professional training program in culinary arts for high school students. Other grants will provide New Orleans youth with nutrition, gardening, and food studies, as well as culinary and life skills development. Read more »

Gulf Coast Community Giving Now Exceeds $2 million

NEW ORLEANS, LA (May 1, 2008) – Emeril Lagasse Foundation announced $580,000 in grants awarded to educational programs and summer camps in the New Orleans area, bringing the total contributions to Gulf Coast organizations since Hurricane Katrina to over $2 million. The programs receiving support will provide New Orleans youth with nutrition and culinary education, innovative arts enrichment programs, and life skills development.

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AP Photo/Emeril Lagasse Foundation, Cherly Gerber

Chef Emeril Lagasse Unveils Plans for the Second Floor Expansion at Café Reconcile

NEW ORLEANS, LA (November 2, 2007) – The Emeril Lagasse Foundation announced today plans for the construction of an innovative culinary learning center at Café Reconcile in New Orleans. Located in Central City, Café Reconcile is an eatery where at-risk youth gain social skills and hospitality experience by working in the business. The 2,700 square foot Emeril Lagasse Culinary Learning Center nearly doubles the amount of usable space and continues restoration of the 5-story historic structure. Read more »

Raise a toast to Bacchus and to Crescent City culinary king Emeril Lagasse during the celebrity chef’s third annual Carnivale du Vin fundraiser, which benefits local children’s groups. Named fourth among the nation’s Top 10 charity wine auctions by Wine Spectator, the event, emceed by Harry Shearer (The Simpsons), features such prestigious vintners as Schrader Cellars and Au Bon Climat Winery, along with culinary offerings by chefs Mario Batali (Babbo), Eric Ripert (Le Bernardin), and Rick Tramonto (Tru), among others, and entertainment by the Original Blues Brothers Band. Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel, 2 Poydras St., 212-2222.

PUBLICATION: WHERE NEW ORLEANS
DATE: 11-01-2007

NEW ORLEANS, LA (November 1, 2007) – Preparations are under way in New Orleans for the Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s 3rd Annual Carnivale du Vin which will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2007 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.

The sold out event will feature a four-course seated dinner with wine pairings, prepared by world’s top chefs Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali, Drew Nieporent, Eric Ripert, Aarón Sanchez, Nancy Silverton, and Rick Tramonto; joining leading vintners including Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat, Suzie and Paul Frank of Gemstone Vineyard, Donald Patz and James Hall of Patz & Hall, Suzanne Pride Bryan of Pride Mountain Vineyards, and Carol and Fred Schrader of Schrader Cellars. The evening will conclude with a wine auction and gala, featuring one-of-a-kind art by Burton Morris, culinary, wine and lifestyle packages, with entertainment by jazz musician Jeremy Davenport and The Original Blues Brothers Band. Read more »

This Summer, ELF was proud collaborate and fund a 2-week intensive pilot program for 13 high school students. A guest instructor from Chef Emeril’s alma mater Johnson and Wales University taught the session.

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) is seeking to add a four-year Culinary Arts program to its specialized arts curriculum. In the school’s over 30 year history, each time it has added a discipline, it started as a pilot program in the June Intensive session. Read more »

Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse says he’s more concerned than ever about Gulf Coast children and hopes the more than $500,000 in grants he’s committing for culinary education and summer camp programs will help to enrich lives tattered since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.”These kids are the future. They’re the future of New Orleans,” said Lagasse, after announcing the grants at one of his two New Orleans restaurants. Read more »