Special Event!

Actor, food historian, and author Ian Kelly shares insights on the life of Antonin Carême, the first celebrity chef, who served Napoleon, the Tsar of Russia, and the King of England. Fee includes a ticket to Kelly's one-man show, Cooking for Kings, at the 59E59 Theaters, described by Food Arts Magazine as "the most inspiring play in New York this year" and by Anthony Bourdain as "a magnificent work."

Moderator: Sarah Coffin, co-curator, Feeding Desire

$50 for members; $60 for non-members

José Andrés and Katsuya (minibar, Washington, DC), Homaro Cantu (Moto, Chicago), and Grant Achatz and designer Martin Kastner (Alinea, Chicago) discuss experimentation and iconoclastic new ways of presenting food.

Moderator: Darra Goldstein, co-curator, Feeding Desire

Geoffrey Zakarian (Town, Country), designers Adam D. Tihany and Lois Bloom, and restaurateurs Phil Suarez (Spice Market) and Hakan Swahn (Aquavit) reflect on the role of design and the nature of collaboration in preparing memorable dining experiences.

Moderator: Ellen Lupton, co-curator, Feeding Desire

What makes NYC unique, for both chefs and food lovers? Tom Colicchio (Gramercy Tavern, Craft), Alexandra Guarnaschelli (Butter), and Josh DeChellis (Jovia) elaborate on the peculiarities of NYC's diners and atmosphere and the challenges and benefits of being a chef in this city.

Moderator: Gael Greene, New York magazine restaurant critic and author of Insatiable: Tales from a Life of Delicious Excess

Dessert completes the banquet of talks as pastry chefs Nick Malgieri (Institute of Culinary Education), Bill Yosses (Josephs Citarella), and Gina DePalma (Babbo) discuss how pastry's form derives from the careful and harmonious construction of layers of flavor.

Moderator: Michael Batterberry, Editor in Chief and Publisher, Food Arts magazine