Bill Clinton, Mario Batali Attend Food Bank Dinner

Bill Clinton, Mario Batali Attend Food Bank Dinner

Former president, 'Molto' chef among stars raising money to fight hunger in New York
by Sara Bonisteel

Former President Bill Clinton joined "Molto" chef Mario Batali Tuesday to help raise money to fight hunger at the Food Bank for New York City's Can-Do Awards Dinner.

The sixth annual dinner -- held at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on the city's West Side -- honored rocker Jon Bon Jovi.

"I find it remarkably pathetic that the richest country of all time has hungry people," Batali told Bloomberg ahead of the dinner. "It's perplexing that basic needs of food, health and education aren’t met by our society."

Food Bank Draws Stars

NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Helena Christensen attends the 6th annual Can-Do Awards dinner and auction hosted by the Food Bank for New York City at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 21, 2009 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Helena Christensen

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NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Actor Josh Charles attends the 6th annual Can-Do Awards dinner and auction hosted by the Food Bank for New York City at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 21, 2009 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Charles

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NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Fashion designer Kenneth Cole and Maria Cuomo Cole attend the 6th annual Can-Do Awards dinner and auction hosted by the Food Bank for New York City at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 21, 2009 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kenneth Cole;Maria Cuomo Cole

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Jon Bon Jovi attends the Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 21, 2009 in New York City Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards Dinner - Inside Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers New York, NY United States April 21, 2009 Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com To license this image (16667628), contact WireImage.com

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com

Jon Bon Jovi, Mario Batali and Mariska Hargitay attend the Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 21, 2009 in New York City Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards Dinner - Inside Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers New York, NY United States April 21, 2009 Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com To license this image (16667632), contact WireImage.com

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com

Jon Bon Jovi, Mario Batali and Bono attend the Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 21, 2009 in New York City Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards Dinner - Inside Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers New York, NY United States April 21, 2009 Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com To license this image (16667622), contact WireImage.com

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com

Former President Bill Clinton and Bono attend the Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 21, 2009 in New York City Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards Dinner - Inside Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers New York, NY United States April 21, 2009 Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com To license this image (16667610), contact WireImage.com

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com

Bono and Former President Bill Clinton attend the Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 21, 2009 in New York City Food Bank For New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards Dinner - Inside Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers New York, NY United States April 21, 2009 Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com To license this image (16667607), contact WireImage.com

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com

Clinton and Batali joined other stars of the food world -- including Rachael Ray, Emeril Lagasse, Katie Lee Joel, Tom Colicchio and Anthony Bourdain -- as well as rockers Michael Stipe and Bono and actor Stanley Tucci to help raise cash for the bank.

Batali thinks the big-name exposure is working.

"Last year, I toured the Food Bank’s warehouse and it was two-thirds empty," Batali told Bloomberg. "This year, I toured it with Jon Bon Jovi, and the supply was much better. People from the Food Bank call suppliers using my name, and it really works."

Mario Batali

Chef Mario Batali is seen riding his Vespa on Oct. 14, 2008, in New York City.

Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images

Chef Mario Batali attends the Food Bank for New York City's Sixth Annual Can-Do Awards at Abigail Kirsch's Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on April 21, 2009 in New York City.

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage for BWR

Chef Mario Batali, center, plates a pasta dish in the kitchen of Del Posto, his Italian restaurant in New York, in this Feb. 8, 2006, file photo. Despite a dispute with its old landlord that led to threats of eviction and a costly legal battle, the restaurant, owned by celebrity chefs Batali and Lidia Bastianich, will remain open. The building has a new owner, and with the purchase, Joseph Bastianich, Lidia's restaurateur son, said on June, 12, 2007, that the litigation was terminated.

Tina Fineberg/AP

Mario Batali sighting on March 11, 2009, in New York City.

Christopher Peterson/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic

Chef Mario Batali and Susi Cahn attend the launch of 'Spain ... On The Road Again' at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute on Sept. 21, 2008, in New York City.

Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

Celebrity chef Mario Batali helps celebrate the opening of the new Uncle Ben's Kids Cafe in Carson, Calif., by conducting a cooking demonstration for the children on May 28, 2008. The opening of the Kids Cafe is part of a multi-year partnership with Uncle Ben's and the Kids Cafe program of America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network. Last year Uncle Ben's announced a $1 million donation to open Kids Cafe locations in communities in which Mars, Inc., does business with a purpose of providing free meals and snacks to low-income children.

Chris Polk/FilmMagic

Chef Mario Batali poses for photographers during red carpet arrivals at the premiere of the film 'Infamous' in New York on Oct. 9, 2006. Directed by Douglas McGrath, 'Infamous' is a film about Truman Capote.

Stuart Ramson/AP

Chef Mario Batali attends preparations for a Thanksgiving feast at Covenant House New York on Nov. 25, 2008, in New York City.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Mario Batali attends the Tiger Woods Block Party .

Lester Cohen/WireImage

Mario Batali attends the 2008 Brooklyn Academy Of Music Spring Gala at The BAM Howard Gilman Opera House on April 9, 2008, in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Jason Kempin/WireImage

04-22-2009

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stevesgaga 08:40:13 PM Apr 22 2009

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Whats stopping you from helping them then spiderchic. Just get up and buy food and give.. thats what many do. Unless you are saying bring inthe guv to fix everything while you whine?

ner823 08:11:01 PM Apr 22 2009

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He should get off that Vespa and try walking

raqi121 07:54:41 PM Apr 22 2009

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Unfortunately some foods banks allow ppl of any income to use them. Thus taking away from those in need. If i know ppl that do that than there must be many others doing that nationwide. Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!

justthecape 07:52:56 PM Apr 22 2009

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Also ...it appears that Mariska may be in pain ...but I suppose if I were next to Mario I would be a bit uncomfortable and in pain as well.

justthecape 07:49:28 PM Apr 22 2009

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I must admit that I am a big fan of the Food Network. However, at the same time I must also say that I find Batali to be a lot of things ...but a celebrity is not one of them. I think his cooking at best is ok and his restaurants are middle of the row. Take his limited talents and strange personality and I say "thumbs down" and wish the Food Network would take him and a couple of other chefs and send them packing. Soory Mario ...but frankly you suck!

reeseman0 07:49:02 PM Apr 22 2009

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cmc0254 wrote: we have 2 food banks in Toledo one the person makes about 33,000 a year. The other the director makes about 150,000 a year and has his son run it for another 50,000 reeseman0 responds: Someone makes 150 grand a year in TOLEDO?!?!

reeseman0 07:45:13 PM Apr 22 2009

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rikrobo wrote: The "poor" in our country would be considered rich in countries that really have poor people. reeseman0 responds: Yeah. Tough break, huh? Too bad they don't live in those OTHER countries. Hell, the official poverty line in the U.S. today is $21,200 a year for a family of four. That's a little more than a 400 bucks a week. I don't know about you, but I'd have a tough time supporting a wife and two young 'uns on that paltry sum.

demonrockgod0 07:44:34 PM Apr 22 2009

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Uh ponytailcon what do you expect a chef to look like? I mean thats his job. He is sposed to taste the food he cooks. I always say "Never trust a skinny chef". I do think they could of used some of the money that they used to fund the event to fund the cause but if they are going to get celebs involved then they have to have a good meal to do it i guess.