HARLEM — Celebrity chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson is pairing his culinary prowess with charity.
Samuelsson has partnered with eBay for Charity for an online auction to give lucky winners the opportunity to wine and dine with him. All proceeds will benefit Citymeals on Wheels, a non-profit that delivers meals to homebound senior citizens.
The auction is currently open and ends at 7 p.m. May 9.
Samuelsson, who owns popular Harlem hot spots Streetbird and Red Rooster, said the non-profit, which he said he has previously volunteered for, is near to his heart.
"Citymeals on Wheels has been incredible in Harlem," Samuelsson said. "This is the time I can give back to them."
Samuelsson’s two auction packages will offer interactive food and wine experiences in Harlem.
The first, which currently has nearly 30 bids, will include a private dinner at Red Rooster, a meet-and-greet with the him, a wine and scotch tasting, autographed cookbooks and four tickets to the Taste at The Stroll, the grand tasting event at the Harlem EatUp! Festival which runs from May 19 to May 22.
The second auction, which currently has 40 bids, includes the same as the first sale except for the wine and scotch tasting — and also a bash for 16 guests, a walking tour of Samuelsson’s favorite spots in Harlem, a private gospel performance dinner at the chef’s table at Red Rooster and a wine pairing.
"Harlem is our home, and as such we celebrate this community and all of its treasures every day, not only through our businesses but also the Harlem EatUp! Festival," Samuelsson said.
