Paige Spiranac to host charity event at Alpine CC featuring celebrity chefs, sports stars

It isn't every day that 60 chefs gather in one place.

Come May 8, at least that many professional cooks, a good number nationally renowned, will be playing golf and tennis at the Alpine Country Club in Demarest to help raise money for City Harvest, New York City’s largest food rescue organization. And, by the way, some world-renowned athletes will also be teeing up and swinging rackets for the cause.

"We have people coming from all over," said Herb Karlitz, a Demarest resident who is the event's mastermind. "This is amazing. And it's happening right here, in Bergen County."

Karlitz, CEO and president of Karlitz & Co., a 32-year-old culinary marketing and events business that has been involved in some 10,000 chef events, is a longtime member of the Alpine Country Club, a former board member of City Harvest, and a serious oenophile, food lover and cook (do try making his chopped liver; it's divine).

Here are the names of just a few of the chefs scheduled to attend the Celebrity Chefs & Friends Golf and Tennis Tournament: Todd English (a slew of restaurants around the world); Geoffrey Zakarian (TV personality, culinary consultant and cookbook author); Ming Tsai (MingsBings), Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern); Marcus Samuelsson (Hav & Mar and Red Rooster); Alfred Portale (ex-Gotham Bar & Grill; now Portale Restaurant); Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto); and Melba Wilson (Melba's).

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Celebrated North Jersey chefs and restaurateurs will also be in attendance, including Dan Richer of award-winning Razza in Jersey City; Kenny Callaghan of recently opened Boots & Bones in Jersey City; Giuseppe Agostino of Verana in Norwood; Jack Tabibian of Jack’s Lobster Shack in Edgewater, Montclair and Tenafly; and Jonathan Broadwater of Czen Restaurant in Englewood.

The host for the event is former professional golfer and model Paige Spiranac, who was named "Sexiest Woman Alive" by Maxim magazine last year.

Last year, the event raised enough money for City Harvest to provide nearly 850,000 meals to New Yorkers in need.

"We aim to raise even more this year," Karlitz said.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paige Spiranac to host charity event at Alpine Country Club