Tennis Stars and Top-Notch Chefs Set for the 12th Annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis Event
The world’s top tennis players and chefs will serve-up a kickoff to the U.S. Open on Thursday, Aug. 25 from 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. at the W New York in midtown Manhattan at the 12th Annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis event, to benefit the New York Junior Tennis League. One of summer’s most anticipated New York nightlife events, BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis gives guests the opportunity to mingle with their favorite tennis stars and chefs, while sampling an eclectic mix of specially-designed dishes that earn rave reviews each year.
This year’s lineup includes former U.S. Open and Davis Cup Champion Andy Roddick, Wimbledon Semifinalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, along with top 10 players Mardy Fish and Tomas Berdych. On the women’s side, the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis field is stacked with three of the top 10-ranked players in the world, including Li Na, Francesca Schiavone and Victoria Azarenka. These stars will cook alongside notable chefs from many of the nation’s premiere restaurants, including James Beard award winner Michelle Bernstein from Miami’s Sra. Martinez, Anita Lo of Annisa, Buddakan’s Brian Ray and Humberto Leon & Ashley Palma of STK, among many others.
The star-studded charity event is produced by AYS Sports Marketing. For more information and tickets, call (215) 925-7875 or visit www.bnpparibastasteoftennis.com.
This year’s BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis lineup of scheduled players includes:
►Andy Roddick (USA)
►Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
►Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France)
►Milos Raonic (Canada
►Dominika Cibulková (Slovakia)
►Gilles Simon (France)
►Mardy Fish (USA)
►Francesca Schiavone (Italy)
►Paul Annacone (USA)
►Mark Woodforde (Australia)
►Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic)
►Li Na (China)
►Kei Nishikori (Japan)
►Jarmila Gajdosova(Australia))
►Marin Cilic (Croatia)
►Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic)
►Justin Gimelstob (USA)
►Thierry Tulasne (France)
►Andrea Petkovic (Germany)
►Brad Gilbert (USA)
►Lleyton Hewitt (Australia)
►Yen-Hsun Lu (China
►Darren Cahill (Australia)
The menu of notable chefs/restaurants scheduled to appear include:
►Michelle Bernstein – Sra. Martinez
►Bill Moore – Push Cart Foods
►Anita Lo – Annisa
►Humberto Leon & Ashley Palma – STK
►Daniel Holzman – The Meatball Shop
►David Craine – BLT Bar & Grill
►Michael Chernow – The Meatball Shop
►John Fraser – Dovetail
►Brian Ray – Buddakan
►Peter Andino – Heartbeat
►Marco Porceddu – Asellina
►Maximo Tejada – Rayuela
►Kerry Heffernan – South Gate
►Mario Pagán – Laurel Kitchen | Art Bar
►Brad Farmerie – Public
►Fernando Navas – SushiSamba
►Wendy Israel & Angel Elon – Baking by Design
►Shea Gallante – Ciano
►Michelle Park – Kyotofu
►Marc Anthony Bynum – M Bynum Creations
►Roberto Bellissimo – Zylo
►John Mooney – Bell Book and Candle
►Emma Hearst – Sorella *Marc Vidal – Boqueria
►Gabe Thompson – dell’animaF
►Adrian Richardson – La Luna Bistro
►Luisa Fernandes – The Best Chocolate Cake in the World
All player appearances and chefs are subject to availability.
Teaming up with Roddick as the chef headliner will be James Beard Award winner Michelle Bernstein from Miami’s Sra. Martinez that was dubbed one of the "Best New Restaurants in America" by Esquire Magazine in 2009. Widely respected throughout the industry, Michelle stays busy outside the restaurant by hosting the Emmy-nominated PBS weekly series Check Please! South Florida and making appearances on national television shows ranging from the Today Show, Top Chef, the Martha Stewart Show and many others. In April 2011, Bernstein also launched her new collection of cookware and cutlery sets "Michelle B," on the Home Shopping Network.
This year’s BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis features a number of marquee sponsors, including BNP Paribas as title sponsor, W New York, Rums of Puerto Rico, Diet Pepsi, Riondo, Dunlop, Inside Sports & Entertainment Group, The Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Tennis Media Company, and Turnkey Intelligence.
The BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis event benefits the NYJTL, one of the largest tennis and education-themed community organizations in the United States providing free services to more than 100,000 New York City youth ages six to 18 each year. To reach its goals, NYJTL mobilizes the support of the community, corporate citizens, foundations, organizations and individuals who are committed to achieving net gains for kids on the court and in the classroom.
"We are so grateful to serve as the beneficiary of the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis event for a second year. This is a premier opportunity for attendees to enjoy the company of star tennis players and chefs while making a difference in the lives of our youth." Deborah MacFarlane Antoine, NYJTL president and chief execuitve officer.
Andy Roddick and Katie Lee at last year’s Taste of Tennis event
