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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.

Table to Table is honoring Chef Christian Petroni at our 2025 Chefs Gala

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 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

Christina Marcelli – Marcelli Formaggi

Sal Pisani – Jersey Artisan Co.

Timothy Quinlan – Ava’s Kitchen

Andrew Riccatelli – Bacarosa

Dean Schreefer – Echo Lake Country Club

Peter Sclafani – Peter’s Seafood Market

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); 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

Table to Table, a North Jersey food rescue nonprofit, will hold its annual Chefs Gala on Oct. 9. Find out which of the state’s best chefs are coming.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared on NorthJersey.com. Click here to read the entire article.

More than 25 of New Jersey’s best chefs are slated to cook multi-course dinners tableside at the annual Table to Table Chefs Gala on Oct. 9, 2025.

The gala is a fundraiser for Table to Table, North Jersey’s largest food rescue organization, and features chefs cooking for and chatting with small groups during the dinner, with wine pairings included. Participating chefs include Leia Gaccione (The Saint Clair), AJ Capella (Summit House), Melany Gonzalez (Saddle River Inn), Andrew Riccatelli (Bacarosa) and others.

“The event is unique and different, it’s not a typical charity event,” said Ryan DePersio, chef/partner of Battello and co-chair of the Chefs Gala. “It’s almost 300 something people that we’re cooking for but 20 people each are getting their own chef. … And it’s cool, like, ‘I’m eating at these restaurants tonight at the gala.'”

The gala will feature an opening cocktail hour and meet-and-greet with the chefs before guess are ushered to the dining room for dinner service. It’s a unique format that Table to Table Executive Director Heather Thompson said offers access to chefs that isn’t typically available otherwise.

“It’s not easy to get tables at these chefs’ restaurants,” she said. “And when you do, you’re not going to have that experience of a chef right next to you watching them work their magic.”

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 from entering the environment.

Related:

Editor’s note: This article first appeared on binje.com.

We asked for nominations of nonprofits we could honor on National Nonprofit Day, saying we would publish the best 25 in an effort to give them some attention —and, perhaps, some much-needed donations. 

We were blown away by the response. Because so, we will honor 50 nonprofits to mark the day.  

Please note, National Nonprofit Day was Sunday – but since we don’t publish on the weekends, we’re waiting for today. 

Location: Saddle Brook
Description: More than 3 billion pounds of food are wasted annually in New Jersey while 1.1 million residents face food insecurity. Table to Table bridges that gap by rescuing surplus, nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste, and delivering it for free to our hungry neighbors. Since 1999, enough fresh food for more than 241 million meals has been delivered.
Leader: Heather Thompson 

Website: http://www.tabletotable.org 

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 from entering the environment.

Related:


Editor’s note: The above screenshot of photos first appeared in 201 Magazine’s August 2025 issue.

201 Magazine ran a piece in their “be social” section about the 10th Annual Table to Table Golf Classic June 9 at Preakness Hills Country Club. Hundreds of golf enthusiasts, supporters and friends turned out for Table to Table’s 10th Anniversary Golf Classic. They gathered for a relaxing day on the green, delicious food, fun contests and more, all to help advance the nonprofit organization’s mission of reducing food waste and feeding neighbors in need throughout Northern New Jersey. Thanks to their generous support, Table to Table will rescue and deliver enough fresh food for more than 1.8 million nourishing meals.

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 from entering the environment.

Related:

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Vicinity Magazine.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, and ArcMorris, a nonprofit that uplifts and empowers individuals with disabilities, are partnering in volunteerism. Through this collaboration, individuals with disabilities use the award-winning Table to Table I-Rescue App to pick up fresh, surplus food that would otherwise be wasted and deliver it to local community partners supporting people facing food insecurity.

“People with disabilities have so much to contribute to our communities. Volunteering with organizations like Table to Table is only one way we are proving that each day,” said Sal Moran, executive director, ArcMorris.

In just a few short months, ArcMorris clients have rescued more than 2,600 pounds of nutritious food from local businesses such as ShopRite (Chester), Whole Foods (Morristown), and Wawa (Parsippany) and delivered it to nearby food pantries, churches, and community centers—benefitting hundreds of neighbors in need.

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 meals—and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 544 metric tons of methane from entering the environment.

Related:

Veer Agarwal has done more to combat food insecurity and food waste in the past year than other do in their lifetimes.

Agarwal is a rising senior and the founder of the ResQFood Club at Livingston High School. He founded the club, and recognized nonprofit organization, to bridge the gap between food waste and food insecurity. He was interviewed on My9’s “New Jersey Now” program with journalist Mark Bonamo. The episode aired Sunday. Veer entered into a partnership with Table to Table last year in order to increase his reach and rescue more food.

“This partnership took us to a whole new level. We were able to operationalize our success,” Agarwal said. “We were trained by Table to Table on how to best pick up and deliver food and were able to track all of our food rescues using the Table to Table I-Rescue App. That app made it much easier to quantify the number of food rescues we completed, the pounds of food we donated, and the environmental impact we’ve had as a result of the rescues. Whenever we needed help, Table to Table was always there to support us.”

Agarwal founded ResQFood with a few friends rescuing food. Since then it’s expanded to 38 volunteers, who have performed 380 rescues and donated 20,000 pounds of nutritious food.

Agarwal was recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Award’s highest honor—the Lifetime Achievement Award thanks to his volunteer food rescue efforts with Table to Table.

Table to Table Executive Director Heather Thompson and Veer Agarwal, founder of ResQFood.

Signing up to be a Table to Table volunteer is easy. Julie Kinner, Table to Table’s VP of Operations, said all you have to do is download the Table to Table I-Rescue app, powered by Food Rescue Hero, on your phone to become a food rescue hero! You’ll complete a simple registration process and volunteer agreement, and then you can get started. The app walks you through every step! This is what Veer and his team uses.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome to volunteer with our food rescue program. However, the driver must have a valid driver’s license, and a valid vehicle registration and insurance. 

Since we launched, more than 350 volunteers have completed more than 9,600 rescues and delivered more than 2 million pounds of donated food that would have been thrown away.

As New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue, our mission is to reduce food waste and provide nourishment to our food-insecure neighbors throughout North Jersey. We rescue millions of pounds of fresh food annually that would otherwise be wasted and end up in landfills, contributing to climate change. We deliver it to partner organizations who support the nearly 1 million people in our area who need it most.

Together, we can reduce food waste in our home and make a positive impact on the planet. Every little bit of effort—no matter how small–leads to change.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the West Orange Chronicle, a publication of Essex News Daily.

The Partners for Health Foundation has awarded Table to Table a $50,000 grant in support of its 26-year-old mission to reduce food waste and feed individuals and families facing food insecurity in West Orange and throughout northern New Jersey.

Table to Table was one of 12 organizations that received grants of the foundation to support direct services and general operations to address health inequities throughout northern Essex County.

“We are incredibly grateful for this generous grant, which supports Table to Table’s mission to keep quality food out of landfills, and provide nourishment to children, families, seniors and veterans who worry about getting their next meal,” said Heather Thompson, executive director, Table to Table. “We are eager to expand our food donor, community partner, and volunteer networks in northern Essex County, allowing us to rescue and deliver more healthy, perishable food that helps improve the lives and health of residents throughout northern Essex County.” Thompson concluded.

Reliable access to free, nutritious food plays a critical role in individual, family, and community health. It lowers risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases that are more prevalent among individuals facing food insecurity; and healthy food access supports stronger academic/work performance and relieves stress for families facing financial constraints.  Unfortunately, the healthiest foods are often the most expensive, and many traditional pantries primarily offer only shelf-stable items, making it difficult for people relying on these distributions to sustain a healthy diet. Table to Table helps bridge this gap by delivering fresh food, a majority of which is fresh vegetables, fruit, and dairy.

Table to Table bridges the gap between food being wasted and people facing food insecurity. The organization brings rescued fresh, nutritious food to 303 community partners, including social services organizations, pantries, shelters, fresh produce markets, and centralized distribution hubs. Food is provided free of charge.

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 from entering the environment.

Related:

The Partners for Health Foundation awards Table to Table a $50,000 grant.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared on montclairlocal.com.

The Partners for Health Foundation has awarded Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, a generous $50,000 grant in support of its 26-year-old mission to reduce food waste and feed individuals and families facing food insecurity throughout northern New Jersey. Table to Table was one of 12 organizations that received grants from the foundation to support direct services and general operations to address health inequities throughout northern Essex County.

“We are incredibly grateful for this generous grant, which supports Table to Table’s mission to keep quality food out of landfills, and provide nourishment to children, families, seniors and veterans who worry about getting their next meal,” said Heather Thompson, executive director, Table to Table. “We are eager to expand our food donor, community partner, and volunteer networks in northern Essex County, allowing us to rescue and deliver more healthy, perishable food that helps improve the lives and health of residents throughout northern Essex County.” Thompson concluded.

“We’re proud to stand alongside nonprofits like Table to Table that make a real difference every day — expanding access to the resources people need to thrive,” said Pam Scott, Executive Director, Partners for Health Foundation. “We look forward to a productive and meaningful partnership,” Scott concluded.

Reliable access to free, nutritious food plays a critical role in individual, family, and community health. It lowers risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases that are more prevalent among individuals facing food insecurity; and healthy food access supports stronger academic/work performance and relieves stress for families facing financial constraints.  Unfortunately, the healthiest foods are often the most expensive, and many traditional pantries primarily offer only shelf-stable items, making it difficult for people relying on these distributions to sustain a healthy diet. Table to Table helps bridge this gap by delivering fresh food, a majority of which is fresh vegetables, fruit, and dairy.

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 from entering the environment.

Related:

Table to Table received a $50,000 grant from the Partners for Health Foundation.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared on montclairlocal.com.

The Partners for Health Foundation has awarded Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, a generous $50,000 grant in support of its 26-year-old mission to reduce food waste and feed individuals and families facing food insecurity throughout northern New Jersey. Table to Table was one of 12 organizations that received grants from the foundation to support direct services and general operations to address health inequities throughout northern Essex County.

“We are incredibly grateful for this generous grant, which supports Table to Table’s mission to keep quality food out of landfills, and provide nourishment to children, families, seniors and veterans who worry about getting their next meal,” said Heather Thompson, executive director, Table to Table. “We are eager to expand our food donor, community partner, and volunteer networks in northern Essex County, allowing us to rescue and deliver more healthy, perishable food that helps improve the lives and health of residents throughout northern Essex County.” Thompson concluded.

“We’re proud to stand alongside nonprofits like Table to Table that make a real difference every day — expanding access to the resources people need to thrive,” said Pam Scott, Executive Director, Partners for Health Foundation. “We look forward to a productive and meaningful partnership,” Scott concluded.

Reliable access to free, nutritious food plays a critical role in individual, family, and community health. It lowers risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases that are more prevalent among individuals facing food insecurity; and healthy food access supports stronger academic/work performance and relieves stress for families facing financial constraints.  Unfortunately, the healthiest foods are often the most expensive, and many traditional pantries primarily offer only shelf-stable items, making it difficult for people relying on these distributions to sustain a healthy diet. Table to Table helps bridge this gap by delivering fresh food, a majority of which is fresh vegetables, fruit, and dairy.

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 from entering the environment.

Related:

August 4, 2025 – Saddle Brook, NJ – The Partners for Health Foundation has awarded Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue nonprofit, a generous $50,000 grant in support of its 26-year-old mission to reduce food waste and feed individuals and families facing food insecurity throughout northern New Jersey. Table to Table was one of 12 organizations that received grants from the foundation to support direct services and general operations to address health inequities throughout northern Essex County.

“We are incredibly grateful for this generous grant, which supports Table to Table’s mission to keep quality food out of landfills, and provide nourishment to children, families, seniors and veterans who worry about getting their next meal,” said Heather Thompson, executive director, Table to Table. “We are eager to expand our food donor, community partner, and volunteer networks in northern Essex County, allowing us to rescue and deliver more healthy, perishable food that helps improve the lives and health of residents throughout northern Essex County.” Thompson concluded.

“We’re proud to stand alongside nonprofits like Table to Table that make a real difference every day — expanding access to the resources people need to thrive,” said Pam Scott, Executive Director, Partners for Health Foundation. “We look forward to a productive and meaningful partnership,” Scott concluded.

Reliable access to free, nutritious food plays a critical role in individual, family, and community health. It lowers risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases that are more prevalent among individuals facing food insecurity; and healthy food access supports stronger academic/work performance and relieves stress for families facing financial constraints.  Unfortunately, the healthiest foods are often the most expensive, and many traditional pantries primarily offer only shelf-stable items, making it difficult for people relying on these distributions to sustain a healthy diet. Table to Table helps bridge this gap by delivering fresh food, a majority of which is fresh vegetables, fruit, and dairy.

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 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.

Press Contact: 

Maria Sinopoli, Director of Marketing Communications 

msinopoli@tabletotable.org 

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