Table to Table Names Christian Petroni, Popular Italian American Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, and Author, as its 2025 Chefs Gala Honoree

Personal, Multi-Course Dining Extravaganza, Featuring 25+ Notable Chefs, Takes Over  Edgewood Country Club on October 9th

September 4, 2025 – Saddle Brook, NJ – On Wednesday, October 9th, Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, will welcome to its Chefs Gala more than 25 notable chefs who will personally serve their signature multi-course menus tableside for guests. Shining in the spotlight will be this year’s honoree, Christian Petroni, the charismatic Italian American chef, restaurateur, and author. Table to Table’s Chefs Gala will be held at Edgewood Country Club in River Vale, NJ on October 9th at 5:30 p.m. Seats are limited, so reserve your table today!

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. 

“We are delighted to welcome Christian Petroni as our Honoree at this year’s Chefs Gala,” said Heather Thompson, executive director, Table to Table. “Not only is Chris’ passion for food, family, and community infectious; he is also strongly aligned with Table to Table’s food rescue mission and has a deep commitment to nourishing our neighbors in need,” Thompson concluded.

Chef Honoree Christian Petroni

From the age of six, all Christian ever wanted to do was to become a chef. Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, he spent his early years in the kitchen under the tutelage of Andy Pforzheimer and the Barteca Group until opening his own wood-fire Italian restaurant, Fortina. He opened five more successful restaurants in just eight years, becoming one of New York’s authorities on Italian cuisine and the art of red sauce. Christian hit the national stage, winning Next Food Network Star season 14 and became an instant fan favorite through his charm and infectious positivity. He became a recurring guest judge on Food Network shows that include: Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, Guy’s Grocery Games, Diners Drive Ins, and Dives, and Tournament of Champions. Christian founded Gabagool Media, a multi-media and consulting company specializing in content creation, apparel, and providing guidance for chefs and small businesses worldwide. Christian’s first cookbook, Parm to Table, hits shelves Sept. 23, 2025. At his core, Christian loves to connect with people through food and lives to make them feel like family.

Co-Chairpersons Chefs Jamie Knott and Ryan DePersio

Chef Jamie Knott is owner of Saddle River Inn, Saddle River Cafe, Cellar 335, and Madame. He is also a Table to Table Trustee. Chef Ryan De Persio is the Chef/Partner of Battello, Kitchen Step, Ember & Eagle, and TillingHouse. Both are long-time supporters of Table to Table’s food rescue mission.

2025 Chef Gala Participants

John Michael Beam – Aficionado Coffee Roasters

Brandon Campney – Sterling Tavern

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.

Tim 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

At this year’s Chefs Gala, Table to Table will proudly welcome five new members to its Founder’s Table: Edgar Brieva, James P. Bush, Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, Jamie Milkman, and Gerard Woods.

The Founder’s Table was established in 2023 by Table to Table’s Founder Claire Insalata Poulos to recognize individuals, companies, and foundations that have provided extraordinary support to the nonprofit over its 26-year history.

Sponsors for this year’s Table to Table’s Chefs Gala include: American Express (Presenting); Crestron (Grand); Arca Restaurant and Lounge, David and Kathleen Hildes, Inserra ShopRite Supermarkets, and Summit Associates (Platinum); Restoration Technologies Inc. (Gold); Takasago and Tito’s Homemade Vodka (Silver); Charles Schwab (Bronze) and The YMCA Meadowlands (Bronze).

To help Table to Table in their mission to reduce food waste and address food insecurity in New Jersey, you can make a donation today – every dollar you contribute provides resources for the organization to rescue and deliver food for 10 healthy meals. For more information on Table to Table, visit www.tabletotable.org.

About Table to Table

Table to Table (http://www.tabletotable.org) is New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, bridging the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. We work with food businesses of all types to rescue fresh, nutritious surplus food, and deliver it for free to 300+ social service organizations, pantries, shelters, community produce markets and centralized distribution hubs. Through our community partnerships, Table to Table reaches families, children, veterans, older adults, and others in need, improving food security, nutritional access, and better health. 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, while also saving over 544 metric tons of methane from impacting climate change by preventing food waste.

Press Contact:

Maria Sinopoli, Director of Marketing Communications, msinopoli@tabletotable.org