Celebrity Chefs to Serve Free Lunches at NYC Bodegas
CookUnity's 'The Most Legendary Lunch Break' event will feature eight chefs at five locations across Manhattan on September 17.
New Yorkers can enjoy a complimentary lunch on Thursday, September 17, as eight celebrity chefs take over five Manhattan bodegas for an event called “The Most Legendary Lunch Break.” Hosted by meal delivery platform CookUnity, the initiative aims to bring restaurant-quality meals to a more accessible setting.
The event will offer free meals, including dishes like meatball burritos, butter chicken, and Ghanaian peanut stew, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at five participating locations: Bari Bodega (873 Broadway), Madison Square Deli & Convenience (266 W. 23rd St.), New York Pizza and Cafe (369 Madison Ave.), Sam’s Deli (275 W. 4th St.), and Slice N’ Spice Deli & Grill (451 Third Ave.).
Participating chefs include Rocco DiSpirito, Vikas Khanna, Andrew Rea of “Babish,” Einat Admony, José Garces, Miriam Milord, John DeLucie, and Antony Nassif. They will be preparing their signature dishes on-site. In addition to the hot meals, full CookUnity meals will be available for grab-and-go, with microwaves provided for reheating.
Michael Baruch, CookUnity’s head of brand marketing, stated, “We believe people shouldn’t need a reservation or a special occasion to experience food that reflects the craft and distinct point of view of an exceptional chef.”
Rocco DiSpirito, who grew up frequenting corner stores, will be serving his Rocco’s Bronx Bomb Burrito and saffron shrimp risotto. “Standing behind that counter, handing out a recipe I created with Austin Wells of the Yankees … is about as New York as a day gets for me,” DiSpirito commented.
Other notable offerings include "Babish" creator Andrew Rea's spicy chili-garlic noodles and Guinness shepherd’s pie; Vikas Khanna's paneer makhani and roasted butter chicken; and John DeLucie's Mom’s Sunday Sauce Rigatoni and grilled rack of lamb.
Miriam Milord will present her Ghanaian chicken peanut stew and a pumpkin spice cake jar, while Einat Admony will serve chicken shawarma and flat iron steak adobo. José Garces is set to offer a Mission-style vegetable burrito and Cuban-style beef picadillo. Antony Nassif’s contributions include pork pernil and a Mediterranean farro-and-kale bowl.