1 Chefs Kevin Rathbun, Mario Batali, Gale Gand, and Norman Van Aken joined Emeril to present a decadent five-course meal for 750 guests.
2 Two Mardi Gras Indians danced at the entrance to the party.
3 Winemakers Bob Cabral of Williams Selyem, Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat, and Larry Stone of Evening Land brought the wine.
4 Emeril's beautiful family was ready to celebrate.
5 When photographer Steve Freeman told me to snag a pic with Chef, I couldn't resist.
6 First stop inside the party was a huge raw bar carved in ice that Emeril's chefs had stocked with loads of fresh seafood from the Gulf and beyond.
7 Guests listened to Kermit Ruffins play while sipping a special Pinot Noir cuvee that Bob Cabral of Williams Selyem created just for this event.
8 The hors d'oeuvres included many preparations of oysters, shrimp, crab, mussels, and, as you see here, octopus.
9 The hallway was lined with silent and live auction packages for bidders to inspect, with items ranging from Saints tickets or jewelry to custom blended wines or a vacation with Chef Emeril.
10 Emeril welcomed everyone to the ballroom for dinner, and expressed how grateful he is for the support his foundation would receive.
11 New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu came to thank Emeril for all that his foundation has done for the city.
12 Videos showed the projects the foundation has financed, and three budding culinary students spoke about their experiences in the NOCCA program.
13 Once dinner was through, it was time to raise the big money in a live auction. It started with the sale of Mario Batali's trademark clogs...right off his feet!
14 After the auction ended, Kool and the Gang got everyone onto the dance floor.
15 Chef Emeril joined he band on drums for their biggest hit "Celebration" to close out a great party.
We broadcast live from Emeril's on Thursday to give you a preview, then on Saturday night in New Orleans, more than 750 guests ate a delicious dinner designed by five top chefs, drank many incredible wines, bid on priceless auction packages, and danced to Kool and the Gang to help the Emeril Lagasse Foundation raise $1.8 million at its annual gala, Carnivale du Vin. The photos above tell some of the story, and after the jump you can see videos of the Mardi Gras Indians who started the party, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu offering a witty welcome to the crowd, Mario Batali donning a blonde wig (and this before allowing the auctioneer to sell the clogs right off his feet), and Chef Emeril on the drums for Kool and the Gang's performance of their hit "Celebration."
Two Mardi Gras Indians in full costume greeted guests at the entrance to the party.
Emeril started the night by thanking all his guests and welcoming New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who explained in just a few remarks what makes his city such a special place.
Winemaker Jim Clendenen was honored for his ongoing support of Emeril's foundation, but first he was roasted by a blonde and beautiful Mario Batali. Shortly after this, Mario let the auctioneer sell the orange Crocs right off his feet to raise well over $1,000, and then he spent the rest of the long evening shoeless. It's all for the kids!
After dinner, Kool and the Gang started a set that included all of their classics, like "Jungle Boogie."
The band ended the night with their biggest hit, "Celebration," with Emeril joining in on the drums.
It was a spectacular party for sure, but the cause it supported is what really matters. Check back for more posts this week showing three of the inspiring places where the money the night raised will go: NOCCA, Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, and Liberty's Kitchen.
From: Terri Trespicio | 11/15/10 at 7:54 pm
This is amazing. Emeril hitting the bongos with Kool and the Gang is fun and fabulous. Looks like you guys had a great time.
From: Take a Tour of Edible Schoolyard New Orleans - Martha Stewart Living Radio: The Radio Blog | 11/16/10 at 2:04 pm
[...] Lagasse Foundation is a proud sponsor of the program, and last week while in town for Emeril's Carnivale du Vin I was lucky to join ELF Executive Director Kristin Shannon as she led a tour alongside Kitchen [...]
From: Look Inside Liberty’s Kitchen and New Orleans College Prep - Martha Stewart Living Radio: The Radio Blog | 11/17/10 at 1:36 pm
[...] and today you can take a look at another inspiring program the Emeril Lagasse Foundation and Carnivale du Vin proudly support: Liberty's Kitchen. Executive Director Janet Davas explained how this innovative [...]
From: Eating with Emeril – Lunch at NOLA and Dinner at Delmonico - Martha Stewart Living Radio: The Radio Blog | 11/18/10 at 12:45 pm
[...] eat crazy feasts at Emeril's restaurants while we're there. In addition to the epic meal that was Carnivale du Vin, a group us of had lunch at NOLA and dinner at Delmonico. If these photos make you hungry, you can [...]
From: Eating Around New Orleans – Oysters in the Quarter and Dinner at Donald Link’s Cochon - Martha Stewart Living Radio: The Radio Blog | 11/19/10 at 12:01 pm
[...] my last blog post following our live broadcast of "Cooking with Emeril" celebrating Emeril's Carnivale du Vin, I bring you two more delicious feasts. Most tourists line up at Acme Oyster House, but a tip from [...]
From: See What’s Cooking at NOCCA, The New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts - Martha Stewart Living Radio: The Radio Blog | 6/21/11 at 4:14 pm
[...] in town for a live broadcast of "Cooking with Emeril" celebrating Emeril's Carnivale du Vin, I had the opportunity to visit three of the sites that benefit from the support of the Emeril [...]