Rosie will be on vacation until mid-February—guest blogger Melody Kettle will post in her place.
The rally of chefs and food producers to participate in the event stems from a tragic incident that resulted in the death of chef Florian Wehrli’s eleven-year old son, Amiel. In December of 2013, Wehrli and his wife, Nova, were hosting a Christmas party at their home when their son choked on a cookie. Wehrli and a guest, a nurse at Morristown Memorial Hospital, attempted the Heimlich maneuver until the ambulance arrived. Amiel was taken to Newton Memorial Hospital, then medevaced to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where Amiel was later pronounced dead. Following the death, families from the Frankford School arrived with food and emotional support. Wehrli, who had just begun his new job at Triomphe Restaurant in Manhattan, had not been at his new employment long enough to have health insurance. The community stepped up and raised over $20,000 to help the Wehrli’s pay for Amiel’s medical and funeral expenses. Local chefs, Andre de Waal (Dre’s) and Bradley Boyle (Salt) held benefit dinners to help defray costs.
Mitchell Morrison, a hiking friend of Wehrli’s, as well as the manager of the Sparta Farmers Market, the Winter Farmers Market at Sparta, and coordinator of the Tour de Farm NJ, says, "Florian and Nova are such giving and loving people. The local chefs, the local farmers, the local food producers and all of their friends have pulled together to make this event happen. A beautiful happening."
While this is the second fundraising event following Amiel’s tragic death, this is the first dinner branded “A Meal for Amiel. “ Cocktails start at 5 PM, seating at 6 PM. Proceeds will go to building an interactive classroom/greenhouse for Frankford Township School in Branchville. Tickets could be purchased online. 350 Andover Sparta Rd Andover Township.