LA’s Farid Zadi and Rome’s Cristina Bowerman Join NYC Chefs on an All-Star Roster Monday

One of Italy’s most celebrated chefs Cristina Bowerman from Rome’s Romeo, along with the chef who makes some of LA’s best tacos, the North African-native Farid Zadi will join 40 colleagues to cook for the 32nd Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeals — the nonprofit that feeds homebound elderly — on June 12 in the Rockefeller Center skating rink.

“I’m very excited that we have chefs coming from Lebanon and Croatia,” says Citymeals co-founder and Insatiable Critic Gael Greene. “Citymeals created the chef walk around 32 years ago and I think it’s still the best moveable feast in town.” She says the event has raised around a million dollars a year.

With a focus on cuisines of the Mediterranean, the event will include duos and trios playing Greek, Italian, and Turkish music, belly dancers and an area with a bocce court.

Citymeals tries to honor the needs and requests of participating chefs, but this year had to turn down one from Hrvoje Zirojević, who is traveling from his restaurant in Croatia. He wanted to bring a deli meat slicer, but they had safety concerns about a meat slicer being so close to attendees. Eater got a sneak peak at a few dishes being prepared this year, which include:

Alfred Portale of Gotham Bar & Grill: Grilled branzino with roasted cherry tomatoes, olives, ramps, fava beans, herbs de Provence and sauce vert

Celebrity Greek chef Maria Loi of Loi Estiatorio: baklava kyklos with spiced honey drizzle

Michael Psilakis of MP Taverna: Greek salad and tuna tartare with whipped ricotta, garlic, and chive

Marc Forgione of Marc Forgione: nduja ravioli, clams, and green garlic

Joachim Splichal of Patina Restaurant Group (Lincoln Ristorante, Rock Center Cafe): Contemporary Nicoise salad in a can

Markus Glocker of Batard: Miso-braised pork shoulder sandwich with jalepeño and slaw

Daniel Boulud and Travis Swikard of Boulud Sud: Smoked eggplant ravioli confit with tomato, feta cheese, za'atar-mint pesto

Tickets start at a swanky charity event-priced $600 for a regular ticket and can be purchased here.