09.09.2009
New York, NY (September 9, 2009) - This fall, The Plaza’s Grand Ballroom continues its reign as one of the most important venues in the city for high profile charity and social events. Beginning later this month, this newly restored, elegant landmark will host a veritable Who’s Who from the world of philanthropy, entertainment, culture and the arts.
Highlights of the Fall 2009 Season include:
- New Yorkers for Parks honoring the Women of Parks including Better Midler and Ann L. Buttenwieser - September 28
- Museum of the City of New York Gala sponsored by Fendi - October 6
- World Monuments Fund Hadrian Awards Celebration - October 15
- Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation Breakthrough Ball hosted by Charles Grodin and honoring singer Toni Braxton - October 20
- French Institute/Alliance Française Tribute to Pierre Berge - November 2
- The Aspen Institute honors Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos - November 5
- Lighthouse International Fund Raising Dinner - November 10
Chef Chris Harkness of the Grand Ballroom at The Plaza and his 85-person culinary team enliven charitable and social events with their impeccable sense of great food with beautiful presentation.
Menu highlights for the fall season include: Herb Roasted Duck Breast with Sour Cherry Quinoa; Sautéed Katchkie Farm Greens and Roasted Citrus Demi Glaze; Pan Seared Black Cod with Giganta Bean and Katchkie Farm Tomato Stew. Desserts include: Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin Cheesecake and Warm Gingerbread Pudding with Banana Mousse. Visit http://www.greatperformances.com/cpseventsattheplaza/recipes for a selection of recipes.
“As a response to client preferences we’ve eliminated additions like caviar and truffles in favor of perfected, stand alone dishes with excellent presentation,” says Chef Harkness. “We’re focusing on simple, delicious ingredients and heightening them. It is reflective of the increased interest and demand of our patrons for more comfort food and this is just the season to move in that direction.”
“The familiar, yet classic dishes in combination with the New York City landmark status and neo-classical décor of the Grand Ballroom all pull us back to a simpler time making it an ideal location for any special occasion or event,” adds Mike Warren, director of sales, CPS Events at The Plaza,
According to Warren, the recent renovation preserved the original design of the Grand Ballroom while enhancing lighting and new state-of-the-art sound equipment systems to meet the needs of today’s clients. The Plaza Grand Ballroom can comfortably accommodate 450 seated guests and 600 for cocktail receptions.
For more information, menus and photos, please contact Stuart Cohen, Harriet Weintraub or Cate Evans at HWPR 212.935.1558 or hweintraub@hwpr.com.
About Central Park South Events at The Plaza
Central Park South Events at The Plaza is a stand-alone joint venture between two New York state companies, Great Performances and Delaware North Companies, created to manage and operate The Plaza Grand Ballroom and meeting space. Great Performances, New York’s prestigious event and catering company, and Delaware North Companies, one of the world’s leading hospitality and food service providers, opened the landmark Grand Ballroom in January 2008 and have signed a 25-year lease with Elad Properties, owner of The Plaza. For more information, visit www.plaza.com.
About Great Performances
Great Performances brings consummate culinary skill and originality to the table, complemented by personalized attention to detail and exquisite service. The company, founded in 1979 by Liz Neumark as a staffing service for women in the arts, is now an acknowledged leader in the high-profile events arena and has carved out a niche as the foodservice partner of some of the city’s most prestigious cultural institutions, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Sotheby’s. Great Performances is the only catering company nationally to own and operate its own organic farm, Katchkie Farm in Columbia County, New York. The Company pioneered the 100-Mile Menu bringing sustainable food to the forefront of the special events industry. For more information on Great Performances, visit www.greatperformances.com.
About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the world’s leading hospitality and food service providers. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Banknorth Garden. Delaware North Companies is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States with revenues exceeding $2 billion annually and 50,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.
Central Park South Events at The Plaza is a stand-alone joint venture between two New York state companies, Great Performances and Delaware North Companies, created to manage and operate The Plaza Grand Ballroom and meeting space. Great Performances, New York’s prestigious event and catering company, and Delaware North Companies, one of the world’s leading hospitality and food service providers, opened the landmark Grand Ballroom in January 2008 and have signed a 25-year lease with Elad Properties, owner of The Plaza. For more information, visit www.plaza.com.
About Great Performances
Great Performances brings consummate culinary skill and originality to the table, complemented by personalized attention to detail and exquisite service. The company, founded in 1979 by Liz Neumark as a staffing service for women in the arts, is now an acknowledged leader in the high-profile events arena and has carved out a niche as the foodservice partner of some of the city’s most prestigious cultural institutions, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Sotheby’s. Great Performances is the only catering company nationally to own and operate its own organic farm, Katchkie Farm in Columbia County, New York. The Company pioneered the 100-Mile Menu bringing sustainable food to the forefront of the special events industry. For more information on Great Performances, visit www.greatperformances.com.
About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the world’s leading hospitality and food service providers. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Banknorth Garden. Delaware North Companies is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States with revenues exceeding $2 billion annually and 50,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.
Contact(s)
Cate Evans cevans@hwpr.com
Harriet Weintraub hweintraub@hwpr.com
Stuart Cohen scohen@hwpr.com
212.935.1558