Spring Event: A Taste of Le Bernardin

 On May 3, over one hundred friends of Leake & Watts turned out to support the organization at our Spring Benefit, “A Taste of Le Bernardin.”  When the guests arrived to sample the fine wine and food pairings, they were delighted to find that world-renown Chef Eric Ripert himself was on hand.

Generously underwritten by several members of the Leake & Watts Board of Directors, proceeds from the spring fundraising event benefit the many children, adults and families served by Leake & Watts.  Guests were addressed by Jose Vega, a resident of our Residential Treatment Center and a student at the Leake & Watts Biondi School.  On target to graduate from high school this spring, Jose credits his success to the Leake & Watts teachers and staff, a group that he says always welcomes him and “feels like family.”  Jose spoke of growing more confident in his own ability to succeed, thanks to the many opportunities he has had while at Leake & Watts – everything from learning yoga and making speeches at charity events, to learning better study habits that have put him on track to achieve his diploma.

While helping to support Leake & Watts’ programs and services, guests had the opportunity to enjoy the award-winning food and wine of Le Bernardin, and VIP ticketholders were offered a behind-the-scenes look at Chef Ripert’s kitchen, a rare treat for those interested in the restaurant scene.

Le Bernardin, with its ultra-special recipes and dishes, has been praised as “the ultimate first-class restaurant experience.”  The evening’s menu delighted not only ticketholders, but also Jose, who had never tasted anything like the food at Le Bernardin.  “This was a wonderful experience.  I met a lot of really cool people, including Chef Ripert.  He was telling me about his travels, tasting foods in Jamaica and all these other places.  The food was terrific, too,” said Jose. “I had never had oyster before, and I didn’t like that too much. The beef was amazing, though.  I had four or five plates of it.”

And while Jose was impressed by the food, all of the guests were impressed by the courage he had to share his journey toward high school graduation.  “For me, Jose was the highlight of the evening,” says Crossan Seybolt, President of the Leake & Watts Board of Directors, “When I hear someone like Jose share his story, it reminds me of the importance of all our work on behalf of all the children and teens we serve.”