Verizon served up a night of delicious fun and scrumptious delights for consumers this week in New York City with the incredible Chef Alex Guarnaschelli.
The esteemed Food Network chef and New York Times’ best-selling author hosted an exclusive dining experience at her restaurant Clara. On March 7, Verizon’s loyalty program called Verizon Access opened the doors of the renowned Central Park West restaurant and let their consumers step into the world of culinary magic.

(Courtesy Verizon)
Customers as part of the Verizon exclusive program get to enjoy access to curated experiences like this one, as well as tickets to Knicks and Rangers home games with Club Verizon access—bringing fans closer than ever to the teams, events, and experiences they love.
This unique night in Manhattan showcased that the perks of the program are part of an elevated platform that will keep consumers captivated as well as a sure way to stir in a whole new audience.
The intimate affair gave a few dozen guests a unique moment behind the kitchen doors with the chef. The night rolled out a grand kick off with a live cooking demonstration led by Guarnaschelli.

(Courtesy Verizon)
Standing with her in the grand restaurant and learning about the craft of making handmade gnocchi dazzled guests who were impressed with the insight and knowledge shared about one of her most popular dishes served up at Clara.

(Courtesy Verizon)
Following was a multi-course bespoke dinner designed by the chef, which was paired with Clara’s exclusive wine selections chosen to complement each dish. Serving after serving embraced the experience with a warm glow that tantalized the senses to soaring new heights.

(Courtesy Verizon)
The bespoke menu that was exclusively curated for Verizon included an epic showcase of creativity and passion for feeding the senses in a divine way. The first course of Winter Green salad was served with blood orange dressing and toasted hazelnuts. The second course of Long Island Littleneck Clams Oreganata was served with garlic breadcrumbs and basil. Course three was an out of this world Artichoke Ravioli with crispy prosciutto, sage and brown butter. Course four was a scrumptious Grilled Filet Mignon with cheesy gnocchi and green peppercorn sauce. And to cap it off was dessert with Orange Olive Oil Cake served with whipped mascarpone along with Petit Fours.
The way to connect with culinary expressions was perfect for the company that is out to bring consumers closer together. Guarnaschelli summed it up as beautifully as one of her riveting dishes.
“I think it made sense,” she told Knockturnal after the dinner. “All that we do to stay connected is easy with Verizon. But it starts with community and food and cooking. It’s something we all do, and we don’t do enough of that. I like the idea that Verizon can forge a bond with something communal like this.”

(Courtesy Verizon)
As the glittering night came to an end each guest was thrilled to receive a signed copy of the chef’s cookbook. It was the chef’s kiss on top of an already perfect night. Here is to Verizon making dreams come true and helping us stay connected with nights like this that forever touch our hearts.
Verizon Access creates nights like this along with so much more.
- Access Is the Ultimate Reward: Verizon Access is a complimentary, loyalty program that thanks customers with unforgettable, “money-can’t-buy” experiences
- Exclusive Culinary Moments: From interactive chef-led dinners like this evening with Alex Guarnaschelli to curated tastings and hospitality-driven events, Access delivers insider entry to the worlds of food and culture
- Unmatched Sports & Entertainment Access: Members enjoy opportunities for once-in-a-lifetime moments including tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl, and select National Football League, National Hockey League, and National Basketball Association games, plus major concerts, and luxury retreats
- Free with a Verizon plan: Verizon Access requires no additional fees, it’s a value-add benefit designed to reward loyalty in meaningful, experiential ways
