You always know it’s going to be an incredible foodie night when Waldorf Astoria’s Master Chefs from top properties around the world are involved so I was very excited to get the invitation to attend the Taste of Waldorf celebration in the Waldorf’s stunning Starlight Lounge in New York City and be one the first to try the next signature dish.
Legendary for its culinary history the Waldorf Astoria partnered five of its top award-winning chefs with five James Beard Foundation Rising Star Semi-Finalists to create a new signature dish to be featured in 28 properties around the world.
Talk about a huge task to follow in the footsteps of the beloved Red Velvet Cake, Eggs Benedict and The Waldorf Salad!
Throughout the night each chef team was introduced and we got to try the dish that was in the running and vote for our favorite. Quite the honor. I have to admit coming into this I already had a favorite, the Celery Risotto Alla Waldforf created by Master Chef Heinz Beck and Chef David Posey, because I first met and interviewed Chef Beck in Rome while staying at the beautiful Waldorf Rome Cavelieri and fell in love with his creative and inspiring cuisine so I knew whatever he had his hands in would be brilliant.
It turns out I was right! Chef Beck and Chef Posey won and now their Celery Risotto Alla Waldforf will be added to the history books and menus at 28 Waldforf resorts.
It had to be a close competition because all the other chefs were amazing as well. The chef teams included the Waldorf Astoria Berlin’s Chef Pierre Gagnaire and Chef Chris Kajoika and their Velvety Pumpkin Soup.
Waldorf’s La Quinta Resort & Club’s Chef Jimmy Schmidt and Chef Eduardo Ruiz and their Tierra Y Mar.
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh’s Galvin Brothers and Chef Cara Stadler and their Caledonian Highland Egg.
And Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund’s Chef Jan Van Dyk and Chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley and their Shanghai Suckling Pig.
Congratulations to everyone for continuing the Waldorf tradition of culinary excellence.
This was truly and evening to remember and I can’t wait to see the new Celery Risotto Alla Waldorf on the menus!
