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Tag: table to table chefs gala

James Beard Award winner, who relied on free school lunch as a kid in Bronx, told donors why food rescue matters to him.

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the complete story.

The numbers on hunger in New Jersey are startling. More than 1.2 million people in the state don’t have enough to eat, according to Table to Table.

It’s why organizations such as Table to Table matter.

At Table to Table’s Chefs Gala, Kwame Onwuachi, one of the most accomplished chefs in the country, spoke about growing up in Bronx. When his mother fell on hard times, they went to public schools in the summer for free lunch, something his mother was embarrassed about. He wasn’t, however.

That’s why he was eager to serve as honoree.

“It means so much to me to be a part of something like this,” Onwuachi said to the more than 300 guests at The Rockleigh. “I think the beautiful thing about Table to Table, is that they’re just trying to feed people at the end of the day.”

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 276 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 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

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Chef Kwame Onwuachi wearing glasses and a dark suit standing at a white lectern featuring the "Table to Table" logo, speaking into a microphone with his right hand extended. In the background is a large screen displaying the word "Honoree" and elegant indoor wall sconce lighting.

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the complete story.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, celebrated a milestone night at its 2026 Chefs Gala presented by American Express, raising more than $600,000 to fuel its hunger-relief mission and expansion.

The gourmet event, held Oct. 15, drew over 300 guests and featured James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author Kwame Onwuachi as the Chef Honoree. Onwuachi joined forces with more than 30 of the region’s top chefs, craft brewers, winemakers, mixologists, and distillers — alongside Chef Co-Chairs Jamie Knott and Ryan DePersio — to deliver an unforgettable culinary experience in support of food rescue.

During the gala’s program, Executive Director Heather Thompson delivered major news to supporters: after 27 years of operation, the nonprofit will officially relocate its headquarters to a new facility in Englewood within the coming months. The new headquarters features a dedicated warehouse equipped with two full-sized loading docks, space for volunteer food packing events, and a massive expansion in cold storage capabilities. The upgraded infrastructure will allow Table to Table to store up to 150 pallets of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, 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 276 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 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

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Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on newjerseyhills.com. Click here to read the entire article.

Livingston’s Ilene Isaacs will be welcomed to the Founder’s Table during Table to Table’s upcoming gala.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s first and largest food rescue organization, will celebrate its 2026 Chefs Gala Thursday, Oct. 15 at The Rockleigh.

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 27-year history.

Nothing brought me greater joy and pride a few years into Table to Table’s Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch initiative then to have the Livingston Public Schools participate, with Harrison Elementary the top earner in all of Essex, Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties – and the winner of The Bernard and Geraldine Segal Foundation Award for Student Philanthropy.

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 276 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 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

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Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on binje.com. Click here to read the complete story.

Table to Table, New Jersey’s premier and largest food rescue organization, has announced that James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author Kwame Onwuachi will serve as the official honoree for its upcoming 2026 Chefs Gala.
Presented by American Express, the signature fundraising event will take place on Oct. 15, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Moving to a new, larger venue due to overwhelming popular demand, this year’s gala will be hosted at The Rockleigh in Rockleigh.
Departing from a traditional banquet format, the Chefs Gala brings together nearly 40 of the region’s top culinary talents. Participating chefs will personally prepare and serve multi-course signature menus tableside for attendees, paired with fine wines, live auctions, and networking.
All proceeds directly support Table to Table’s mission of rescuing nutritious food, reducing food waste, and reliving hunger in northern New Jersey.

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 276 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 133,271 tons of nutritious food — enough for 266,542,863 million meals — and delivered it to our neighbors in need, saving over 612 metric tons of methane saved.

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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.

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What started as a small group of volunteers with one van and a mission to feed those less fortunate has grown into a significant force for good. In its 25-year history, Saddle Brook-based Table to Table has rescued enough food to provide more than 310 million meals to neighbors in need.

Throughout 2024, its quarter-century anniversary year, the nonprofit has been holding celebratory events, with its annual Chefs Gala coming up on Sept. 25 at the Edgewood Country Club in River Vale, featuring dinner with wine pairings. The program also honors Chef Jamie Knott of Saddle River Inn, a longtime Table to Table supporter.

To join the celebration, and to find out more about Table to Table, visit tabletotable.org.

Credit: Bergen Magazine

In the midst of our 15 year anniversary, the Chefs Gala still proves to be one of our most exciting and successful events.  Even though Mother Nature stood her ground making travel a bit difficult, it didn’t dampen the excitement and glamour of the event.

As we expand our presence outside of Bergen County, for the first time at Pleasantdale Chateau, we welcomed many new attendees.   The kitchen was filled with the area’s most talented chefs and guests indulged in Italian cuisine that was truly second to none.  To all we say, “Bravo.”

Our celebrity Guest of Honor, Mario Batali, eloquently expressed his commitment to Table to Table and the promise we have made to feed hungry people in this community.   Along with Table to Table board member David Burke, Mario is truly an inspiration to the culinary world and we are so grateful for his support of our work.

Along with extraordinary auction items, fabulous food and wine, and the exceptional ambiance of Pleasantdale Chateau, everyone in attendance contributed to a solution that improves our community and our country.  Through the generosity of our supporters and guests, we are able to deliver nutritious food to more of the neighborhoods that surround us.  It’s the most basic of all human needs and our services could not have such an enormous impact without it.

So as we close the door to a wonderful evening, we open the next with our better than ever annual BBQ event!  Thanks to all who attended the gala and we look forward to seeing you on May 22nd!  Click here now for tickets!

© 2026 TableToTable - All rights reserved. Table to Table is a 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID 22-3646125

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