Bid Against Hunger

City Harvest's highly anticipated Bid Against Hunger took place tonight at the Metropolitan Pavilion. The benefit featured an eclectic group of restaurateurs, skilled chefs (including Eric Ripert, Chair of the City Harvest Food Council), and volunteers serving small bites from over 60 of Manhattan's most popular restaurants and bakeries. While deciding which fabulous foods to devour, eager bidders were given the opportunity to vie for priceless auction items such as "Colicchio And Canapes", an intimate cooking lesson for four in Craft's private dining room with Tom Colicchio coupled with a cocktail party for twelve with B.R. Guest mixologist Eben Klemm.

I worked my way around the room sampling from as many tables as my ever-expanding stomach would allow- all in the name of charity. If I had been bold enough to opt for seconds, I would have made a beeline for Blue Hill's clean flavors and colorful presentation, Alex Guarnaschelli's unconventional pairing of buttery popcorn with creamy butternut squash soup, Landmarc's rich orecchiette alla norcina, Jean Georges' warm crab cake with ginger and lime dressing, and The Modern's nutty pistachio bavaroise with almond praline.

Blue Smoke's mini banana cream pies

Blue Hill's presentation and flavors were exceptional- my favorite of the night

Bar Breton's crepe croque monsieur, black forest ham and gruyere with garlic mayonnaise

Roquefort parfaits with sauternes gelee and walnut crumb from Bar Artisanal

Apotheke's Albert Trummer presented freshly made strawberry fennel and cilantro paso cocktails

Anito Lo of Rickshaw Dumpling Bar and Annisa

Corton's red kuri squash veloute and parmesan

Spiced tuna, marinated beets and harissa aioli from BLT Fish

Mushroom soup topped with truffle cream from Corton's Paul Liebrandt

Creative packaging for China Grill's confucius chicken salad

Ed's Lobster Bar's lobster roll canape

Portobello mousse and peach fennel compote from Dirt Candy

Daniel's lemongrass marinated pineapple with thai-basil foam and a sesame tuile (no Daniel in sight)

Cupcake Cafe's beautifully decorated walnut, chocolate and lemon cupcakes

Craft's roasted sirloin, hot pepper relish and charred onion soubise

Alaskan sablefish, root vegetable salad and carrot coriander vinaigrette from Oceana

Bomboloni from Motorino

Michael Psilakis at Anthos' table

Gordon Ramsay at The London's soy marinated strip loin, pickled daikon and togarashi mayonnaise

BBQ Lamb Buns at Geisha's table

Pistachio bavaroise and almond praline from The Modern

Pork terrine, pistachio puree and pickled mustard seeds from Spigolo

Seasonal's braised beef cheeks and spaetzle

Scott Conant of Scarpetta served tuna and avocado salad

In addition to Hudson Valley moulard, duck foie gras pastrami and burgundy mustard on a black pepper brioche roll, Per Se sent guests away with individually wrapped chocolate chip brownies

VIP Guests were sent home with a goodie bag filled with champagne, a Zagat 2010 restaurant guide, Stumptown coffee beans, and additional treats