Guests at Cancer Research Institute Benefit Go Through the Kitchen at The Four Seasons Restaurant

Last night, New York City’s social elite came together at The Four Seasons restaurant for the 32nd annual “Through the Kitchen” benefit for the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). This is the only event for which The Four Seasons closes to the public and invites guests to walk through its world renowned kitchen.

More than 250 guests donned aprons and helped themselves to dishes named for the evening’s theme, “Celebrating the Art of Dance,” before making their way to the Pool Room, where 25 elaborately decorated  tables evoked famous dances from around the world, from ballet to breakdancing and beyond. The event raised $1.2 million to benefit CRI’s Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.

Cancer Research Institute trustee Lauren Veronis conceived Through the Kitchen 32 years ago, at that time a benefit for the Irvington Institute for Immunological Research, which merged with the Cancer Research Institute in 2007.

“Lauren Veronis created a uniquely festive event in a beautiful setting with some of the best food New York City has to offer, all to raise money for an important cause,” said Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, PhD, chief executive officer and director of scientific affairs for the Cancer Research Institute. “It’s become one of New York’s most anticipated charity events, and we are thrilled to see this kind of support for CRI’s mission.”

Some of the other featured dances at last night’s party included Belly Dance, Can Can, Flamenco, Hora, Hula, The Jerk, Mexican Hat Dance, Polka, and Swing, among others. Menu items included TIME WARP wraps, MAMBO shrimp, DISCO brisket, WATUSI salumi, MACARENA and cheese, blackened FLAPPER snapper, J-LO mein, TAP-ioca pudding, and HARLEM SHAKEs.

Celebrated auctioneer Jamie Niven of Sotheby’s auctioned off three paid internships at Bloomberg for $15,000 each, a table at Rao’s for $14,000, and raised a whopping $417,000 in additional funds to support CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellows.

Since Through the Kitchen’s inception, the event has raised more than $10 million—half of that within the past five years alone—to fund promising young scientists focused on studying the immune system and its power to conquer cancer. Among the nearly 1,300 fellows funded through the Cancer Research Institute’s Irvington Fellowship Program is one recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and many current heads of major research centers and laboratories at top universities throughout the world. These scientists and doctors have made remarkable discoveries and have pioneered life-saving new treatments for cancer and other diseases.

Guests at last night’s party include the Honorable Michael Bloomberg and Diana Taylor, Joy and Regis Philbin, Susan and Tony Bennett, Elaine and Ken Langone, Jo Carole and Ronald Lauder, Jeanne and Herb Siegel, Jennet Conant and Steve Kroft, Darren Walker, Tory Burch, Laura and Lloyd Blankfein, Debra and Leon Black, Aggie Gund, Julian H. Robertson, Nancy Brinker, Rita and Charles Bronfman, Marlene Hess and James Zirin, Perri Peltz and Eric Ruttenberg, Lauren and John Veronis, and Jamie Niven.

Special thanks to event co-chairs Christine and John Fitzgibbons, Denise and Michael Kellen, Jo Carole and Ronald Lauder, Jamie Niven, Margaret and Andy Paul, Perri Peltz and Eric Ruttenberg, Betsy and Paul Shiverick, Jeanne and Herbert Siegel, Diane and Tom Tuft, and Lauren and John Veronis.

Photos available at PatrickMcMullan.com.