Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/4337
38 / the tasting panel / november 2009 T astemakers showed off their talents at the Rising Stars Revue, a tasting gala that celebrated 16 of the city's brightest culinary talents—from chefs and sommeliers to mixologists and restaurateurs. During the event, held on September 22 in the glittery tower of the Man- darin Oriental Hotel at the Time Warner Center, the Rising Stars worked the room by working their stations. A mix of food professionals and foodies enjoyed high-concept cuisine and drink, live jazz and views over Columbus Circle. Produced by StarChefs.com, an online culinary magazine for the trade, the event, in its seventh year, rolled out to Seattle, Napa/Sonoma, New York City and Boston. The organization rewards not only talent in the kitchen and behind the bar, but also industry professionals engaged in the sustainability of their field—from green practices to mentoring. Nominees, typically with fewer than 10 years in the profession and under age 40, are nominated by the StarChefs Advisory Board, which include luminar- ies such as Daniel Boulud, Todd English and Marcus Samuelsson. story and photos by Lana Bortolot Starry, Starry Night Amanda Cohen, Chef at Dirt Candy, winner of the Sustainabil- ity Chef award, served porto- bello mousse with peach fennel compote on truffled crostini. Orson Salicetti of Apo- theke shows off the secret ingredients of his Tomato Basil Martini. New York City's Rising Stars are honored at StarChefs.com gala Maxwell Britten, Mixolo- gist at Freeman's, serves up a Gingerbutter Collins.