They can do it
On April 22, the Food Bank For New York City hosted its annual Can Do Awards Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street. The Food Bank For New York City is the city’s major hunger relief organization. Their main goal is to end hunger within the five boroughs. Hosted by celebrity chef Mario Batali, this event had special appearances by Aziz Ansari, Jim Gaffigan, Jon Bon Jovi, Chris Canty, Rosanne Cash, and many more. We attended the red carpet and got to speak to Chris Canty and Gail Simmons.
Chris Canty:
Q: Can you talk about your thoughts about this organization and their mission?
A: This is a great organization. They do a lot of great work in our community. I love working with children and I am passionate about engaging young people and this organization does a lot for young people. 1 in 5 in New York City rely on a soup kitchen or food pantry and so the mission that the Food Bank has, being able to engage them and support them and their efforts makes a world of a difference and I am happy and blessed to be able to support it.
Q: You said you do some work with kids so can you talk about that a little more?
A: I have a foundation, the Chris Canty foundation, where we try to engage kids on different levels. Certainly there is the academic corner and we try to focus on literacy initiatives, mentorship initiatives, and then also the fitness aspect in making sure kids are physically fit. They are keeping not only their minds healthy but their bodies healthy. We try to get the kids to engage in their respective communities where they live in. And if it is getting kids to go out and support food bank kitchens or volunteer there or if it a park cleanup; whatever we can do we try to get kids to establish a positive relationship in their respective communities. It is all about working with young people to develop them as a whole person. I believe in that, certainly the Food Bank believes in that, and so I am just excited to have that synergy and work with them.
Q: And shifting more towards you, anything new with you in this post season?
A: I spend a great deal of my time this off season, and probably in my second career, talking about football—professional football, on the radio and television. I’m on NBC Sports, I am on the NFL network, I am on ESPN, the radio locally, so it is just a combination of those things. Professional football is a passion of mine, obviously since I have been playing for 11 years, and it is something I will always see myself being around.
Q: Which one do you like better then, talking about football or playing football?
A: You’ll always love playing football more, it’s not even close. Your body just can’t play football forever. Father Time catches everybody and so when I am done playing football, whenever that is, I will transition to talking about it.
Q: With this event centering on food and so many chefs here, can you talk about some of your favorite places to eat in New York City?
A: Del Frisco’s is always a favorite. I am a fan of Catch in the meatpacking district. I am a fan of Il Mulino. Quality Meats. All of the local hotspots. Tao is another place. There are a ton of great places to eat in New York, there is no shortage of them.
Q: What’s your favorite food then?
A: I’m a steak guy. I would probably say that my favorite steak place is a place in Dallas called Nick and Sam’s. When I was with the Cowboys that was my spot to go to and that would be my favorite restaurant to go eat at anywhere in the world.
Gail Simmons:
Q: Can you talk about this organization and your thoughts on their mission?
A: Food Bank for NYC is the vital organism that runs the city. So many people are food insecure; millions of people in the city that I love so much and they help get access to meals, to financial help, to so many programs that so many New Yorkers do without and I feel so privileged because I get to eat for a living and to lend my voice and so I feel responsible to help them support these people in any way I can because this is my home.
Q: Since this is your hometown can you talk about some of your favorite places to eat in New York City?
A: Everyday it changes. Literally there are too many restaurants to possibly name.
Q: Let’s narrow it down to new restaurants that have opened in 2016 that you like.
A: I love Speedy Romeo, I love Pizza Moto, those are places in Brooklyn, in my hood that I am obsessed with right now. I love—just off the top of my head it is overwhelming there are so many restaurants. I love Lilia. Those are randomly three Brooklyn restaurants but those are the three off the top of my head.
Q: Can you talk about what your go-to meal is to cook at home?
A: I just love to throw every single vegetable I have in my fridge on a sheet tray with olive oil and salt, roast it up, and keep them in the fridge so I can make endless meal whether I use them in a salad or in a pasta or I sprinkle it with parmesan or I cook them with eggs—you can use them in a million things.
Q: And shifting more towards Top Chef, can you give any details about the next season of Top Chef?
A: We are shooting in Charleston. We are shooting really soon. Season 14!
Honored for their commitment to hunger relief were coffee maker Lavazza, photojournalist Joey O’Loughlin, and artist and farmer, Dan Colen. The evening raised of $2.4 million dollars.
