Table to Table Gala 2025: Celebrity Chef Christian Petroni in the Spotlight

Editor’s note: This story originally ran on Jersey Bites’ website.

Food lovers, mark your calendars—Thursday, October 9 is the night Table to Table’s legendary Chefs Gala takes over Edgewood Country Club in River Vale. This over-the-top food lover’s dream brings together 25+ incredible chefs, impeccable wine pairings, local breweries and distilleries, and an exciting live auction—all to support Table to Table’s food rescue mission.

This Chefs Gala offers a unique personal dining experience in the setting of an elegant Gala with unforgettable cuisine, impeccable wine pairings, an exciting live auction, and so much more—all in support of Table to Table’s mission to rescue food, reduce food waste, and relieve hunger in our communities.

This year, the spotlight shines on Chef Christian Petroni—Bronx-born Italian American chef, restaurateur, and TV personality. Known for his infectious energy, love of red sauce, and fan-favorite Food Network appearances (Food Network Star winner, Chopped, Guy’s Grocery Games, Beat Bobby Flay), Petroni has built his career around connecting people through food. His debut cookbook, Parm to Table, drops September 23, 2025.

Not only is Chris’ passion for food, family, and community infectious, he is also strongly aligned with Table to Table’s food rescue mission.”

Heather Thompson, executive director of Table to Table

Who’s Cooking

This is no ordinary gala dinner. Guests will be served tableside by a powerhouse lineup of chefs:

John Michael Beam – Aficionado Coffee Roasters
Brandon Campney – Sterling Inn
AJ Capella – Summit House
Bianca Concepcion and Jeff Galan – Fossil Farms
Michael Cosenza – Mike’s Pasta Shoppe
Mary Cumella and Logan Ramirez – Gioia Mia
Ryan DePersio – Battello, Kitchen Step, Ember & Eagle, and TillingHouse
David Felton – Morris Proper
Leia Gaccione – The Saint Clair
Felix Gonzalez – Viaggio Ristorante
Melany Gonzalez – Saddle River Inn
Alex Gorant – Axia Taverna
Bryan Gregg – Blue Morel
Dan Lipow – Foraged Feast
Lulu’s Truck
Christina Marcelli – Marcelli Formaggi
Off The Hook Seafood
Sal Pisani – Jersey Artisan Co.
Timothy Quinlan – Ava’s Kitchen
Andrew Riccatelli – Bacarosa
Dean Schreefer – Echo Lake Country Club
Robert Sigona – Gelotti
Tom Silvestri – Ora
Melissa Stanard – The Goods
Lawrence Talis – The Committed Pig
Joe Tartamella – Canoe Brook Country Club
Geoff Taylor – The 130 Club
Christina Vene – Cakes of Wrath
Wine pairings provided by Chuck Russo’s Wine and Spirit World

Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries

Frankie Medina – JCR Hospitality, Battello, Kitchen Step, Ember & Eagle, and Tillinghouse
Dirty Pelican
Don Julio
Ghost Hawk Brewery
Sangri
Silk City Distillers
Tito’s
Wilson Daniels Wines

Special Recognition

This year, Table to Table will also induct Edgar Brieva, James P. Bush, the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, Chef Jamie Milkman, and Gerard Woods into the Founder’s Table, which honors extraordinary supporters of the nonprofit’s 26-year mission.

Sponsors

Big thanks to the sponsors making this mission-driven night possible:

• Bronze Sponsor: Charles Schwab

• Presenting Sponsor: American Express

• Grand Sponsor: Crestron

• Platinum Sponsors: Arca Restaurant and Lounge, David & Kathleen Hildes, Inserra ShopRite Supermarkets, Summit Associates

• Gold Sponsor: Restoration Technologies Inc.

• Silver Sponsors: Takasago, Tito’s Handmade Vodka

• Bronze Sponsor: Charles Schwab, Columbia Bank Foundation, YMCA Meadowlands

Why It Matters

Every $1 raised = 10 healthy meals rescued and delivered to New Jersey neighbors in need. Since 1999, Table to Table has provided more than 241 million meals by redirecting surplus food to pantries, shelters, and community hubs.

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Table to Table is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We bring rescued fresh, nutritious food to 303 community partners, including social service organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge. Through this, Table to Table touches a diversity of those in need, including families, children, veterans, and older adults, making good nutrition accessible while serving as a stimulus for other longer-term benefits. Since 1999 we have rescued more than 120,700 tons of nutritious food—enough for 241,400,846 million meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane saved.

Related:

• Annual Chefs Gala: Experience NJ’s Most Spectacular Culinary Event!
• 25 of New Jersey’s best chefs to cook tableside at annual charity gala. See who’s coming.
• National Nonprofit Day: Honoring 25