NEW YORK, NY -- The world’s top tennis players and chefs will serve-up a kickoff to the US Open at the 13th Annual BNP PARIBAS TASTE OF TENNIS, to benefit New York Junior Tennis & Learning. 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. Fresh off their gold medal performance in London, the most decorated men’s doubles team in tennis history, Mike & Bob Bryan will headline the event along with women’s world # 1 Victoria Azarenka, and top 20 men’s players Janko Tipsarevi? of Serbia (#8), Gilles Simon of France (#12) and Fernando Verdasco of Spain (#18).
Teaming up with the Bryan Brothers will be culinary expert, food writer, judge on Top Chef and host of Top Chef: Just Desserts on Bravo, Gail Simmons. Widely respected throughout the industry, Gail directs special projects for Food & Wine magazine among her duties, overseeing the annual “Food & Wine Classic” in Aspen, the foremost culinary event in the country. Simmons’ expertise has been featured everywhere from various print publications to appearances on national television shows such as TODAY on NBC, ABC’s Good Morning America, and many others. Gail’s first book, her very own memoir titled Talking With My Mouth Full, was published by Hyperion in February 2012. Gail also gives back to the culinary industry as a member of the food council for City Harvest, a local New York City charity that collects excess food from restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers and farms and delivers them free of charge to some 600 community food programs throughout the city, and as a founding member of Food & Wine’s Grow for Good Campaign to raise awareness for sustainable agriculture programs across the country.
Holding court with Simmons will be many of the city’s hottest chefs, including Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow of The Meatball Shop, Brian Ray of Buddakan, Emma Hearst of Sorella and Marc Murphy of Landmarc.
The star-studded charity event produced by AYS will be held Thursday, August 23rd from 7-10pm at the W New York in midtown Manhattan.