Chef Alex Reyes To Participate In The 29th Annual Chefs' Tribute To Citymeals-on-Wheels

NEW YORK, June 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifth Dining, the in-store hospitality partner of Saks Fifth Avenue, has joined Citymeals, the local non-profit dedicated to delivering meals to the city's elderly, to announce the participation of Chef Alex Reyes, Executive Chef of Fifth Dining, in the 29^th Annual Chefs' Tribute and fundraiser for the Citymeals-on-Wheels program, which takes place on June 9 at Rockefeller Center.

The 29^th Annual Chefs' Tribute brings together a "who's who" of culinary stars to raise money and awareness for the Citymeals-on-Wheels program, which has helped provide nutritious meals to New York City's nearly 20,000 homebound elderly residents since 1981.

Chef Reyes joined the effort in support of New York, his new home city. Based at Cafe SFA, at Saks Fifth Avenue, he oversees the existing restaurant as well as culinary development for Sophie's at Saks Fifth Avenue, a new signature restaurant opening in select stores. A graduate of the world-famous Le Cordon Bleu, Chef Reyes trained in Europe, mastering classic dishes of his native Catalan cuisine. Since moving to the United States, his experience includes serving at Jaleo under Jose Andres, at the Caucus Room, where he created menus for President Bill Clinton and other heads-of-state, and at Chez Francois and I Ricchi.

For this year's Annual Chefs' Tribute theme, "Summer By The Sea," Chef Reyes draws on his fine dining experience and Spanish heritage to offer guests his twist on the Catalan classic, "Calcotada," featuring tender grilled lamb and charred spring onion with red pepper romesco sauce and seasonal herb blossoms.

"Calcotada is one of my favorite summer traditions in Catalonia, when communities gather to celebrate the season with a big barbecue of the fresh spring onions," said Chef Reyes. "It is an honor to share a celebratory dish, in support of this cause, among so many of the nation's best chefs."

In addition to preparing 1,100 tasting portions to delight guests at the fundraising event next week, Chef Reyes will spend today preparing and delivering 500 meals to residents as part of the Citymeals-on-Wheels program. Guests of the Annual Chefs' Tribute on June 9 can find him at the Cafe SFA table.

About Cafe SFA

Cafe SFA offers relaxed fine dining on the 8^th floor of the iconic Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store. With bird's-eye views of Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral, Cafe SFA is a favorite midtown business lunch spot and a destination for area shoppers and visitors. Chef Alex Reyes's menu is fresh and seasonal with daily specials served alongside an inventive selection of entrees, salads, and sandwiches. Cafe SFA is operated by Fifth Dining LLC.

About Fifth Dining

Fifth Dining LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centerplate, one of the nation's largest hospitality companies, operates exclusively to serve as the food & beverage partner of iconic retailer Saks Fifth Avenue in the United States, including New York City's flagship store, which features the Cafe SFA and SnAKS restaurants. Fifth Dining is launching a new destination restaurant experience, Sophie's at Saks Fifth Avenue, now open in Chicago with a new location to open in Sarasota Florida October 2014.

About Citymeals-on-Wheels

Feeding and caring for older New Yorkers since 1981, Citymeals-on-Wheels provides a continuous lifeline of nutritious food and human company to the city’s homebound elderly. Citymeals works with community-based organizations to deliver over 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals to 18,000 of our frail aged neighbors.

SOURCE Fifth Dining LLC