Michael Symon still feels bad about getting chopped last season on Chopped All-Stars, but not because he’s a sore loser. The Iron Chef was competing for Autism Speaks, and says it still gets to him that he wasn’t able to win $50,000 for this charity that’s near and dear to his heart. “You feel like you’ve let down a greater cause, not just your own well-being,” he says. “It beat me up a little bit.”

Michael got his chance to give back by serving as the host of this year’s Autism Speaks Celebrity Chef Gala, which took place Tuesday in New York. More than 90 chefs from coast-to-coast, including fellow Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Next Iron Chef contender Nate Appleman, descended on Wall Street to cook for this worthy cause.

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It was a brunch buffet fit for an army and an army of Paula Deen fans did indeed turn out for her Sunday Jazz Brunch at Gotham Hall in New York City.  From her own Southern Eggs Benedict to delicious dishes from guest chefs, there wasn’t an empty plate in the place. Paula, her sons and her husband addressed the large crowd and thanked them numerous times for their support of the Food Bank of New York City and Share Our Strength: “I appreciate so much y’alls support and helping solve this big problem we have in America…you’ll never realize what it means to me.”

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The crowd at Chelsea Market After Dark is psyched to party with Alton

A star-studded, food-filled weekend of festivities officially kicked off last night with numerous events around New York City. Along with hundreds of fans, we noshed, sipped and chatted with Alton Brown after hours at Chelsea Market—which happens to be Food Network’s headquarters.

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