The Link Stryjewski Foundation is happy to announce the musical lineup for its 5th annual Bal Masqué fundraiser, set for the weekend of January 17 and 18, 2020 at The Sugar Mill in New Orleans. The celebration of Caribbean, Cajun and New Orleans carnival will feature Tribu Baharú, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Roots of Music, and DJ El Camino.
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation is pleased to announce the chefs participating in its 5th annual charity Bal Masqué weekend events on Friday, January 17 and Saturday, January 18, 2020 in New Orleans. Bal Masqué weekend kicks off each year with a special Chefs’ Dinner at Calcasieu, the Link Restaurant Group’s private event venue above Cochon. This year at the Bal Masqué Chefs’ Dinner on Friday, January 17, Chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski will be joined by Chef Nancy Oakes (Boulevard, Prospect, and as of fall 2019, Tosca, San Francisco) and Chef Nancy Silverton (Osteria Mozza, Pizzeria Mozza and chi SPACCA, Los Angeles). “I’ve always admired Nancy Oakes’ commitment to the San Francisco community, especially her involvement with Meals on Wheels, and Nancy Silverton’s inspiring philanthropic spirit has shined for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation events for the last ten years,” said Link. “As two of the greatest chefs in the U.S. who are working to better their communities, it is a privilege to welcome them both to New Orleans to join us in making this a better community, as well.”
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation has announced its dates for the 2020 charity Bal Masqué. Set for Saturday, January 18, 2020, the Link Stryjewski Bal Masqué will follow a special Chefs’ Dinner on Friday, January 17. “Bal Masqué was conceived by chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski as a celebration of so much we all love about New Orleans—food, music, creativity and community,” said Emery Van Hook Sonnier, Foundation Director. “Pulling all of that together in support of the future of our city, our young people—it creates something both uplifting and humbling.”
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation is pleased to announce its list of chefs participating in the 2019 charity Bal Masqué. Set for Saturday, January 19, 2019, at the Sugar Mill in New Orleans, the Link Stryjewski Bal Masqué will follow a special preview Chefs’ Dinner on Friday, January 18, 2019 at Calcasieu hosted by Chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, co-founders of the Link Stryjewski Foundation, and joined by Chef Andrew Carmellini, Chef Owner of Locanda Verde, The Dutch, Lafayette, and Leuca (New York City). As executive chef and partner of A Voce, Carmellini won a Michelin star. He has earned several James Beard Foundation Awards, including Rising Star Chef and Best Chef in New York City, and was named a Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine. He has also written two cookbooks with his wife Gwen Hyman, and created the NoHo Hospitality Group, which encompasses 14 food and dining outlets. “Andrew is a good friend and one of the most well-respected chefs in the country, by both diners and chefs,” states Link. “We are honored to have him join us for this spectacular evening of food and fundraising.”
New Orleans, Louisiana – The Link Stryjewski Foundation is thrilled to announce that it has once again secured the Haitian band RAM to headline its Bal Masqué fundraiser, set for the weekend of January 18th and 19th, 2019 at The Sugar Mill in New Orleans. The celebration of Caribbean, Cajun and New Orleans Carnival will feature RAM, the drum-roots-driven powerhouse band from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. RAM will be joined by The Vermilionaires, Cha Wa, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, and The Roots of Music. “We are so excited to bring RAM to Bal Masqué once again, not only because they brought the house down last year, but because of our shared culture and history,” states Chef Donald Link, Co-Founder of the Link Stryjewski Foundation with Chef Stephen Stryjewski. “I am about to embark on a trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to participate in the first edition of GEDE FEST, an innovative event that combines the arts, culture, history and gastronomy of Haiti and New Orleans. We are historically linked to this sister city and I am thrilled to represent New Orleans at this multicultural event.” In addition to Bal Masqué, the Link Stryjewski Foundation presents its Chefs’ Dinner with celebrity chef Andrew Carmellini on the evening before the main event. The limited seating dinner will be hosted at Calcasieu on Friday, January 18th, with a four-course menu prepared by Chef Carmellini alongside Chefs Link and Stryjewski. Specific details about the culinary and cocktail offerings at Bal Masqué, and the celebrity chefs presenting them, will be released at a later date.
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation is pleased to announce its dates for the 2019 charity Bal Masqué. Set for Saturday, January 19th, the Link Stryjewski Bal Masqué will follow a special Chefs' Dinner presented by a “to-be-announced” guest chef on Friday, January 18th. The event celebrates New Orleans' Creole carnival traditions. “Those who know our group well know that we love to throw a good party. Bal Masqué is not the more typically formal Mardi Gras ball or black tie fundraiser.” states Emery Van Hook Sonnier, Link Stryjewski Foundation Director. “We encourage guests to get creative with their masks, headdresses and costumes, for those going all out.”
New Orleans, Louisiana—Chef Nancy Oakes, Executive Chef and Owner of Boulevard Restaurant and Prospect Restaurant in San Francisco, will be the host chef at this year’s Link Stryjewski Foundation Bal Masqué Chefs’ Dinner. Oakes will cook the annual dinner alongside Chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski on Friday, January 19th, 2018, at Calcasieu. The 2018 Bal Masqué will take place on Saturday, January 20th at the Sugar Mill. Oakes will prepare a four-course dinner paired with wines for the exclusive charity dinner.
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation is pleased to announce its list of chefs participating in the 2018 charity Bal Masqué. Set for Saturday, January 20th, 2018, at the Sugar Mill in New Orleans, the Link Stryjewski Bal Masqué will follow a special Chefs’ Dinner on Friday, January 19th at Calcasieu hosted by Chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski, co-founders of the Link Stryjewski Foundation.
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation is proud to announce the musical lineup for the Second Annual Bal Masqué, set for January 7, 2017 at the historic Orpheum Theater in New Orleans. Dr. John & the Nite Trippers will headline the evening, following performances by Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Cha Wa, and the Roots of Music. The gala fundraiser is a celebration of New Orleans’ Creole carnival roots, capturing the spirit of a classic Bal Masqué with music, dance and food.
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation is pleased to announce the chefs participating in its 2017 charity Bal Masqué. Set for Saturday, January 7, 2017, at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans, the Link Stryjewski Bal Masqué will follow a special preview dinner on Friday, January 6th at Calcasieu.
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation, a non-profit organization created by Chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski to address the persistent cycle of violence and poverty, as well as the lack of quality education and job training opportunities available to young people in our city, has announced the recent hiring of Emery Van Hook Sonnier as the Executive Director. Sonnier’s resume includes 18 years of operations, programming, advocacy, and communications and marketing experience in both the private and non-profit sectors.
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation is pleased to announce its dates for the 2017 charity Bal Masqué. Set for Saturday, January 7, 2017, at the Orpheum Theatre in New Orleans, the Link Stryjewski Bal Masqué will follow a special preview dinner on Friday, January 6th at Calcasieu hosted by returning celebrity chef Mario Batali. “We are particularly excited about the plans for the second annual Bal Masqué, especially the return of Chef Batali—his participation was tremendously important in our efforts the first year,” states Link. “The funds raised at this event are vital to ensuring the children of New Orleans attain every opportunity to flourish and succeed, which is our main goal.” The Link Stryjewski Foundation was created to address the persistent cycle of violence and poverty, as well as the lack of quality education and job training opportunities available to young people in New Orleans.
New Orleans, Louisiana—Link Stryjewski Foundation is happy to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. Businessmen Gary Solomon and Scott Rodger are joining current board members Heather Lolley, Humberto Suazo, Bill Hammack and Julia Reed, who have served since the foundation’s inception in 2015. The non-profit organization was created by Chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski to address the persistent cycle of violence and poverty, as well as the lack of quality education and job training opportunities available to young people in our city.
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation is spearheading a fundraising initiative to “Send a Kid to Camp this Summer.” Co-Founders of the Link Stryjewski Foundation, Chef Donald Link and Chef Stephen Stryjewski, will match funds raised during this drive, to cover the cost of summer camp for up to 50 children for one week at Kingsley House or the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP). The hard costs for each camp is approximately $300 per child per week. “The Link Stryjewski Foundation was created to provide support to organizations that directly work to end the cycle of violence and poverty, as well as the lack of education for the young people of New Orleans,” states Link. “Kingsley House and the YEP are community leaders in that fight, so we want to do our part to support them and their missions.” To make a donation to the “Send a Kid to Camp this Summer” initiative, visit www.linkstryjewski.org/summercamp. Donations are tax deductible.
New Orleans, Louisiana—The Link Stryjewski Foundation is proud to announce it raised $150,000 to help nourish and educate the youth of New Orleans at its inaugural Bal Masqué on January 9th, 2016. The Link Stryjewski Foundation chose Kingsley House and the Youth Empowerment Project as its first beneficiaries, and they will each receive $75,000 at a check presentation on Thursday, March 24, 2016 at Cochon Restaurant. The Link Stryjewski Foundation was created to address the persistent cycle of violence and poverty, as well as the lack of quality education and job training opportunities available to young people in New Orleans.
