Live art and cuisine take center stage at Feastival

The city’s culinary stars took center stage at the 2012 Audi Feastival, the annual fundraising event for Philadelphia Live Arts and Philly Fringe: one of the city’s most culturally eclectic events, now celebrating its 16th year.

Over 900 of Philadelphia’s most avid foodies and arts supporters enjoyed an evening of contemporary cuisine and performances during the third annual Feastival held at Pier 9 along the Delaware River, on Sept. 12.

Eighty-five of the city’s top restaurants came together to support the annual citywide arts program, donating their time, effort, and extraordinary culinary talents. Celebrated dance company, Brian Sanders’ JUNK and Performers from Illstyle + Peace Productions gave guests and chefs alike a taste of the choreographed performances that thrill live arts enthusiasts year after year.

The 2012 Feastival, co-hosted annually by restaurateurs Stephen Starr, Michael Solomonov, and Audrey Claire Taichman, raised $450,000 for Live Arts. Jesse and Beka Rendell and attorney Tony Forte of Saul Ewing co-chaired this year’s event.

One of the evening’s many highlights was a live auction, with former Gov. Ed Rendell. Big-ticket auction items included two six-course dinners for 10. The dinners, prepared by six chefs, would be held at either a private home, Audrey Claire Taichman’s popular demonstration kitchen-classroom COOK, or at the home of Live Arts board president Richard Vague.

The first dinner, prepared by Pierre Calmels of Bibou, Jon Cichon of Lacroix, Jeff Michaud of Osteria, Nick Elmi of Rittenhouse Tavern, Daniel Stern of R2L, and Mitch Prensky of Supper, went for $16,000. The second dinner, prepared by chefs Walter Abrams of Le Bec Fin 2.0, Peter Woolsey of Bistrot La Minette, Terence Feury formerly of Fork, Aimee Olexy of Talula’s fame, Stateside’s George Sabatino, and Zahav’s Michael Solomonov, went for $15,000.