NEW YORK, October 19, 2005— On October 17, the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE®) raised $18,000 for Share Our Strength’s Katrina Relief Fund. Writer Calvin Trillin and Chef Susan Spicer were among the guests of honor to address the audience, who enjoyed a five course New Orleans-inspired menu prepared by ICE® chefs.

““ Even though ICE® is in the middle of New York City, many of our staff and students have strong culinary memories of New Orleans,” said ICE® President Rick Smilow. It was rewarding to contribute to Share Our Strength’s relief fund for Katrina victims.”

Over the course of the evening, Trillin, Spicer, professor and author Dr. Randy Fertel, provided entertainment in the form of remarks, anecdotes, and music. As a staff writer for The New Yorker and the author of over eight books, Trillin frequently writes about food, travel, politics and the south. Spicer is the executive chef and partner in restaurants Bayona and Herbsaint in New Orleans, and won the 1993 the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef, Southeast Region. Fertel is the son of Ruth Fertel, founder of the New Orleans-based Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain. He is at work on his first book, The Gorilla Man and the Empress of Steak, which is a memoir about his parents, food, and growing up in New Orleans.

Musical entertainment, courtesy of artists Judy McLane, Joel Higgins, and Michael Lavine, also filled the evening. McLane is an award-winning actress and singer currently playing the role of Tanya in Mamma Mia! on Broadway, while Higgins is a seasoned, bi-coastal TV and stage actor turned composer and producer and Lavine is an internationally known pianist, singer, and musical director.

Share Our Strength is providing financial support to the food banks in New Orleans, Mobile, Baton Rouge, and Dallas, and will provide targeted funds to families of foodservice workers who have lost their employment in the wake of the hurricane.

The Institute of Culinary Education is New York City's largest and most active center for culinary education. Founded in 1975 by Peter Kump, the school offers highly regarded 6- to 11-month career training programs in culinary arts, pastry and baking and culinary management. ICE® also runs the largest program of hands-on recreational cooking and baking classes and wine education in the country, in addition to hosting over 400 corporate and private cooking parties a year. ICE® is located at 50 West 23rd Street, New York NY 10010 and online at www.iceculinary.com.

Since its founding in 1984, Share Our Strength has raised over $180 million to support more than 1,100 anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs worldwide. Share Our Strength believes that it takes more than food to fight hunger and supports comprehensive efforts to address the immediate and root causes of hunger and poverty.For more information on Share of Our Strength’s work, please visit www.shareourstrength.org.