Michael Humphrey
Chair
Francisco Suárez
Vice-Chair
Greg Fedele
Treasurer
Hanka Grabovica
Secretary
Michael D’Eredita
Ana Sylvia Espinosa de los Monteros
Diane Gayeski
Thomas Griffith
Mark Jackson, Sr.
Peter G. King
Don McPherson
Daniel Mera
Maria Murray
Michael O’Connor
Tere Paniagua
Deryn Pomeroy
Vijay Srinivas
Colleen Viggiano
Directors Emeritus:
Shiu-Kai Chin
Robert Daino
Evelyn Ingram
Ronald A. Teplitsky
Presenting Sponsor
Wegmans Food Markets
Dinner Sponsor
William G. Pomeroy Foundation
VIP Cookbook
Sponsor
Vince’s Gourmet Imports
Silent Auction Sponsor
Central Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Table Wine Sponsor
Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery
Signature Cocktail Sponsor
Hearth & Home
VIP Sponsor Bear Creek Restaurant
VIP Wine Sponsor
Billsboro Winery
A/V Sponsor
Mike’s TV, Appliances and Power Equipment
Red Carpet Sponsor
National Carpet & Flooring
Centerpiece Sponsor
Allen Floral Group, LLC
Photo Booth Sponsor
Apex Entertainment Syracuse
Hotel Sponsor Marriott Syracuse Downtown
Parking Sponsor Colonial Laundromat
Swag Sponsor
Dupli Envelope & Graphics
Dessert Sponsor OneGroup
Honorary Sponsor Pewter Spoon Cafe
Lidia Bastianich
Emmy Award-winning Public Television Host, Best-selling Cookbook Author, Restaurateur, and Culinary Entrepreneur
Ron Curtis Jr.
Writer, Producer, and Voiceover Talent
Ron Curtis Jr.
Michael Humphrey, Chair, WCNY Board of Trustees
Evelyn Ingram, Director Emeritus, WCNY Board of Trustees
Mitch Gelman, President & CEO, WCNY
With the Burrell Family & Friends
Stories with Chef Lidia
Ron Curtis Jr.
The silent auction closes at 8:15 p.m.
Follow us on social media to see photos from tonight’s event! Share your photos with us by using #tasteoffame25.
Roasted Squash and Carrot Salad
Oven-roasted squash and carrots with crisp chickpeas, escarole, and balsamic, finished with ricotta salata and toasted almonds.
Skillet Gratinate of Chicken & Mushrooms
Pan-seared chicken breasts layered with shiitake mushrooms, tomato, and fresh sage, finished with a white wine sauce and melted fontina and Grana Padano, accompanied by a creamy barley, kale, and butternut squash risotto.
Beef Short Ribs Braised in Red Wine
Slow-braised beef short ribs in red wine with porcini mushrooms, pancetta, and fresh herbs, served in a rich, velvety sauce alongside creamy barley, kale, and butternut squash risotto.
Ricotta Manicotti with Spinach Filling
Fresh pasta rolled with ricotta and spinach, baked in tomato sauce with melted Muenster and Grana Padano.
Chunky Cherry Bread Pudding
Rich brioche soaked in a creamy custard with Amarena cherries, baked until golden, and finished with toasted almonds and a hint of cinnamon.
Accompanied by varietals from Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery.
DINNER SPONSOR TABLE WINE SPONSOR
1969-2025
Chef Anne Burrell dedicated her life to sharing her passion for food, hospitality, and community. Known for her vibrant personality and signature spiky blond hair, Anne inspired countless aspiring chefs and home cooks through her celebrated career on television, in restaurants, and as an author. A native of Central New York, she proudly brought her culinary talents back home time and again, never forgetting her roots while making an indelible mark on the national stage.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Anne’s legacy shines in the joy she brought to those around her. Whether she was teaching, cooking, or simply sharing a laugh, Anne’s warmth and generosity created lasting memories for family, friends, and fans alike. Her life’s work reflects not only a mastery of the culinary arts but also a genuine love of people, leaving a legacy that will continue to nourish and inspire for generations to come.
• 1.5 oz. Tito’s Vodka
• Fill with Soda Water
• Splash of Grapefruit Juice
1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
2. Add the Tito’s vodka and a splash of grapefruit juice.
3. Top with soda water and stir gently.
4. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and serve.
• 2 oz. Dry Vermouth
• 2 oz. Pink Grapefruit Juice
• 4 oz. Grapefruit Seltzer
1. Pour the vermouth and grapefruit juice into a tall glass.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Top with seltzer and stir with a rosemary sprig.
4. Add the sprig, a slice of grapefruit, and serve.
SIGNATURE COCKTAIL SPONSOR
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich is an Emmy award-winning public television host, best‐selling cookbook author, successful restaurateur, and owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business. Most importantly, she has accomplished all of this by marrying her two passions in life—her family and food—to create multiple culinary endeavors alongside her two children, Joseph and Tanya.
Lidia’s love of food, cooking, and its ability to connect family and friends was nurtured as a child in her birthplace of Istria, which was part of Italy until the region was given to communist Yugoslavia at the end of WWII, the same time Lidia was born. After living under the new harsh regime, Lidia and her family were forced to flee. After a dramatic escape that involved temporary separation from her father in Italy, they registered as refugees and lived in a refugee camp in Italy before they were resettled in the United States when Lidia was eleven. It was here that Lidia’s culinary journey took flight, influenced by her experiences and the diverse cultures she encountered. Her cooking style is a tribute to her grandmother Rosa’s farm-to-table approach, Aunt Nina’s sophisticated techniques in Trieste, and the commercial cooking skills she acquired in a refugee camp kitchen.
After their immigration to the USA, Lidia’s family settled in Astoria, Queens, where, as a teen, she made her foray into the food industry, taking an entry-level job at Walken’s
Bakery, owned by actor Christopher Walken’s parents. It was also in Queens where Lidia and her husband opened their first restaurant, Buonavia, to critical acclaim in 1971.
After opening her third restaurant, Felidia—one of the first women-owned fine dining restaurants in America—legendary chefs Julia Child and James Beard came to dine one evening with Lidia. Soon after this memorable first meeting, Julia invited Lidia to appear as a guest on her famed PBS cooking show, which catapulted Lidia into the world of television. Once she stepped in, Lidia never looked back: creating Emmy Award-winning cooking programming over the last 25 years including “Lidia’s Kitchen,” “Lidia’s Family Table,” “Lidia’s Italy,” and “Lidia’s Italy in America,” as well as the threetime James Beard Award-winning series “Lidia Celebrates America.”
Lidia’s cooking shows air nationwide in the U.S. on public television and CREATE, internationally, and on various digital networks including Amazon Prime, Tubitv, and Xumo. Her cooking segments are also part of her TUTTOLIDIA YouTube channel. Along with her television series, Lidia has published numerous cookbooks, co-authored with her daughter Tanya. Her most recent book is “Lidia’s From Our Family Table to Yours,” which was released in October 2023, a companion to her new 26-part public television series, “Lidia’s Kitchen.” She is also the author of the English and Italian version of her memoir: “My American Dream: A Life of Love, Family, and Food.”
Lidia is a celebrated chef and restaurateur and a founder of Eataly. She co-owns Becco with her son Joseph Bastianich and Lidia’s Kansas City with her daughter, Tanya Bastianich Manuali. Together with Tanya and son-in-law Corrado, she also developed a line of all-natural sauces called LIDIA’S. In March 2023, she released a line of cookware with HSN.
Lidia is a member of Les Dames D’Escoffier and founding member of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, two non-profit organizations of women leaders in the food and hospitality industries. She is also a champion for the United Nations Association of the United States of America’s Adopt- A-Future program, in support of refugee education.
In June 2024, Lidia was honored with the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also earned seven James Beard Awards (Outstanding Chef, Television Food Show, Best Chefs in America, Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America, Specials 2016, Special 2017 and 2018) and two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Culinary Host (2013 and 2018). In 2022 Lidia received the Silver Award from APT for 25 years on Public Television.
The silent auction closes at 8:15 p.m.
1. Bid on your phone by visiting one.bidpal.net/tof25 and registering or text TOF25 to 243725. There is no app required.
2. Register on any page of the auction center by tapping on the “Sign in” link in the top right corner. Registration is required to make a donation or place a bid.
3. Sign in with your email address, Facebook account, or Google account. After selecting your preferred sign-in method, you will be prompted to enter the required information for registration.
4. Select the item you would like to place a bid on.
5. Tap the “Bid” button to open the “Place Your Bid” pop-up window, where you can enter your bid. You can also click the “Watch” button to bookmark the item for later.
6. Enter your bid and then select “Confirm Bid.”
7. In the next window, you will be able to set your Max Bid—the most you are willing to spend on the item. If you don’t want to set a Max Bid, you can simply select “No Thanks.”
8. Please pick up your items at the conclusion of the event in the Upper Lobby. Large items must be picked up at the WCNY-TV Studios, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How can I check my bids or donations?
On the auction page, tap the “Your Activity” button on the menu to review the list of your bookmarked items, bids, and donations.
How do I know if I won an item? Tap the person icon in the top right corner to check the status of your bids. You can see whether you are the highest bidder, if someone outbid you, or if you won the item.
In the same section mentioned above, you will be able to pay for your transactions on the receipt tab.
How can I get my invoice?
Supporters will be texted a receipt when their purchase is completed. There is also an option to email yourself a receipt. WCNY will also send email receipts to guests as needed.
Is there any bid limit on items?
There is no limit on how many items you can bid on or how many times you can bid.
How can I make a donation?
Go to the “Make a Donation” page and select your donation amount. Or enter your amount by selecting the “Other” option, then select the donate button.
Is there sales tax on the item?
Only certain packages are subject to 8% sales tax.
• 110 Grill
• 1911 Established/Beak & Skiff
• 5 Wits - Destiny USA
• Airy Acres Vineyard
• Anthony Road Wine Company
• Apex Entertainment
• Atwater Vineyards
• Baltimore Woods Nature Center
• Barbagallo’s Restaurant
• Bellevue Country Club
• Bet the Farm Winery
• Billsboro Winery
• Bistro 1926 at Drumlins Country Club
• Blue Moon Apothecary & Wellness Center
• Blue Moon Yoga & Movement Studio
• Bonefish Grill
• Brewery Ommegang
• Bull & Bear Roadhouse
• Buttonwood Grove Winery
• Cafe Blue
• California Closets Syracuse
• Carol Watson Greenhouse
• Cayuga County Tourism Office - Cayuga Cuisine
• Cazenovia Jewelry
• Chick-Fil-A
• Chocolate Pizza Co.
• CJS Vineyards, LLC
• Coca-Cola Bottling Co of NY
• Coleman Florist
• The Corning Museum of Glass
• Cosentino’s Ristorante
• Cranky Cat Collection
• The Daily Diner
• Damiani Wine Cellars
• Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse
• Delta Lake Inn
• Delta Sonic Car Wash
• Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
• Donated by the Burrell Family
• Drumlins Country Club
• Elderberry Pond Restaurant
• Everson Museum of Art
• Forge Gone Conclusions
• Forty Weight Coffee Roasters
• Fred Astaire Dance Studio
• Friend & Supporter of WCNY
• Friends of the Central Library
• Glowgolf
• Green Hill Farms
• HABA Toy Outlet Store
• Hand in Health Massage Therapy
• Hearth & Home of Syracuse
• Hofmann Sausage Company
• Horned Dorset Inn
• Hospitality Syracuse Inc dba Taco Bell
• Inspire Moore Winery
• Ithaca Guitar Works
• Kindred Fare
• Kinney Drugs Inc.
• Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub
• del Lago Resort & Casino
• Lakewood Vineyards
• Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars
• Lavender Blue
• Limp Lizard
• LongHorn Steakhouse
- Camillus
• Mackenzie - Childs
• Mangia Restaurant
• Manlius Jewelry & Repair Inc
• Maple Hill Nursery
• Mario & Salvo’s Pizzeria
• Marriott Syracuse Downtown
• Matt Brewing Co.
• Maxie’s Supper Club & Oyster Bar
• Meyers Chocolates
• Mike’s TV, Appliances & Power Equipment
• Mixed Methods
• Montezuma Winery
• NAC Entertainment/ Famous Artist
• National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum
• National Comedy Center/ Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
• Nola’s Restaurant
• Onondaga County Parks
• Pastabilities
• Phoebe’s Restaurant
• Precision Pilates
• Prejean Winery, Inc.
• Randolph O’Neill Vineyard
• Raphael’s Men’s Shop
• Recess Coffee
• Redhouse Arts Center
• The Rev Theatre Company
• Riley’s - Syracuse
• Riverside Artisans
• Robinson Family Jewelers
• Rosamond Gifford Zoo
• Salt City Market
• Sew What of CNY
• Seward House Museum
• Sheldrake Point Winery
• Stasis Float Center
• Stickley Furniture
• Strigo Vineyards
• Studio 245
• Synple
• Syracuse Crate
• Syracuse Crunch Hockey Club
• The Syracuse Orchestra
• Syracuse University Athletics
• The Tailor & the Cook
• Tassone’s Wine Garden
• Taverna Banfi- The Statler Hotel at Cornell University
• Vince’s Gourmet Imports
• Vintage Bling & Other Fabulous Things
• Wegmans
• Weis Vineyards
• Wolffy’s Grill & Marina
• WonderWorks - Destiny
• XO Taco
