The 36th Annual St. Jude Taste of New York Gala returned to The Lighthouse at Pier 61 with an unforgettable night of culinary excellence, powerful survivor stories, and community support for lifesaving pediatric research.
Supporting a great cause never tasted so good! The 36th Annual St. Jude Taste of New York Gala returned to The Lighthouse at Pier 61 on Tuesday, November 18, bringing together Wall Street, New York’s culinary talent, and longtime St. Jude supporters for an unforgettable night to benefit lifesaving pediatric research. Hosted by Emmy Award–winning PIX11 anchor Arrianee LeBeau, the evening blended elevated tasting experiences with heartfelt storytelling, keeping the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at the center of the celebration.
Presented by Paxos, with additional support from Citadel Securities, Delta Air Lines, and more than 25 corporate partners, guests were welcomed into a vibrant culinary showcase featuring bites and sips from some of the city’s most beloved restaurants, including Chama Mama, Dos Caminos, Di Fara, Arthur & Sons, Lucali, Chalong, Bobby Van’s, FYC/NYC, Maggie’s, Pollo Campero, and Pincho Truck, paired with beverage offerings from Village Garage and Catskill Brewery. Specialty stations curated by The Pier Sixty Collection offered a range of menus, from Southern comfort to classic steakhouse favorites and traditional Italian dishes.
One of the evening’s standout moments came from celebrity chef and Food Network star Julia Chebotar, a former Chopped Champion, Kitchen Crash winner, and runner-up on Alex vs. America. Julia captivated guests with a live culinary demo where she prepared her signature crudo, cured in citrus and olive oil and finished with cucumber, parsley, and green onion.
The most moving portion of the night came when two St. Jude survivors, Anna Smith and Courtney Davis, shared their stories. Anna addressed attendees, sharing her journey as a leukemia survivor who has now started a career as a financial analyst after graduating from Northwestern University. She expressed her immense gratitude for St Jude and its supporters for sponsoring the life-changing treatments and research that many children and their families rely on as she did.
Courtney also reflected on her journey, starting when she was diagnosed with sickle cell disease while still in her mother’s womb. Now, 24 years later, Courtney has launched her career as an investment banker on Wall Street after graduating from Cornell University. She has also started her own podcast to continue bringing awareness and fostering community for those battling sickle cell disease. Courtney spoke highly about the long-term hope St. Jude provides to patients worldwide through their advances in research, and she is tremendously grateful to all donors for their generosity in sponsoring the hospital’s mission.
The live auction brought high energy to the room, with courtside Knicks tickets, a prime dinner reservation at Rao’s, and a Turks and Caicos getaway among the top items driving spirited bidding. By the end of the night, Taste of New York proved once again why it remains one of the city’s most meaningful philanthropic events, raising a total of $1.2 million to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
