Food Network Chefs Raise Hunger Awareness with Food Bank For New York City at Annual Can Do Awards

Hear from some of your favorite Food Network stars as they share why it's so important to them to raise hunger awareness in New York City.
Food Network's Jeff Mauro, Rachael Ray, Scott Conant and Anne Burrell

While your favorite Food Network chefs may be famous for their tried-and-true, trustworthy recipes, as well as their jaw-dropping competition shows and inspiring kitchen series, they're also known to give back to the people and causes that are especially important to them. Just last night, many familiar faces, including Rachael Ray, Jeff Mauro, Anne Burrell, Ted Allen, Sandra Lee and Scott Conant, came together at Food Bank For New York City's annual Can Do Awards Dinner in an effort to support those hungry in the city. Like in years past, this soiree, which took place in downtown Manhattan, helps the Food Bank team serve the 1.5 million New Yorkers who depend on the resources available there. "It's just as simple as people sometimes struggle to have the ends meet; it's nothing deeper than that," Food Bank CEO Margarette Purvis told FN Dish. "Every now and again, we all could use some help, and that's what Food Bank does every single day."

FN Dish was on hand as the stars arrived at Cipriani Wall Street and walked the orange carpet, the color of which represents hunger awareness, and we caught up with them about why many who call New York home are so proud to give back to their city. "Being a New Yorker, it's every New Yorker's responsibility to give back," Worst Cooks in America mentor Anne explained. "We have a lot of people living in a small space, so everyone needs to pay it forward." For Chopped judge Scott, it's as simple as working to ensure that "home" is OK. "There's nothing better than taking care of where you live and the people who are in it," according to Scott.

While The Kitchen's Jeff may be a native Chicagoan, he was quick to lend his support to Food Bank, explaining that New York holds both professional and personal meaning to him. "This is my second home. This is where I work; this is where I play a lot. This is, besides Chicago, where I'm most comfortable," Jeff said. In true Sandwich King fashion, he told us that when it comes to Big Apple eats, his best-ever bite is a New York standby: a pastrami sandwich at Katz's Deli. "I am so into that bite of food and the ambiance there," explained Jeff. "It's really hard to replicate, and I've been in most major delis in the country, and that's just the classic."

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