(Photo by Donald Bowers/Getty Images for AYS)
(TGATP Note: Two weeks ago, a ginormous fat guy on the 5th Avenue crosstown bus, who had probably experienced a few too many “Tastes of” everything, stepped on my foot fracturing my sesamoid bones! Thus, for the first time since the launch of That Girl At The Party, I had to miss one of my favorite events of the US Open, the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis. However my spies say it was as great, if not better, than year’s past!)
An annual kickoff to the US Open, the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis gives guests the opportunity to mingle with their favorite tennis stars and chefs while sampling an eclectic mix of specially-designed dishes that earn rave reviews each year. Fresh off their gold medal performance in London, the most decorated men’s doubles team in tennis history, Mike & Bob Bryan headlined this year’s the event along with Wimbledon Champion Serena Williams, women’s world # 1 Victoria Azarenka, and top 20 men’s players Janko Tipsarević of Serbia (#8), Gilles Simon of France (#12) and Fernando Verdasco of Spain (#18). Also joining in on the festivities were TGATP favorite and mega-hottie New Yorker James Blake, the #24 ranked player in the world American Mardy Fish, Marin Čilić of Croatia, Michael Russell of the USA, Mirjana Lučić of Croatia, Tommy Haas of Germany, Mark Woodforde of Australia and Milos Raonic of Canada.
Culinary expert, food writer, judge on Top Chef and host of Top Chef: Just Desserts on Bravo, Gail Simmons teamed up with the Bryan Brothers. Holding court with Simmons were many of the city’s hottest chefs, including Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow of The Meatball Shop, Brian Ray of Buddakan, Emma Hearst of Sorella and Marc Murphy of Landmarc.
The 13th Annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis benefits New York Junior Tennis & Learning, which is the largest tennis and education-themed community organization in the United States providing free services to more than 100,000 New York City youth, ages six to 18 each year. To reach its goals, NYJTL mobilizes the support of the community, corporate citizens, foundations, organizations and individuals, who are committed to achieving net gains for kids on the court and in the classroom.
