A STAR CROSSED TRIBUTE
to the life & legacy
of Richard Capizzi.
Richard Capizzi
Tribute Dinner Feb. 19 with
Chefs Keller, Benno, Gallante, Rouxel at Lincoln Ristorante
Chefs Thomas Keller, Shea Gallante, Jonathan Benno, Artem Orlovskyy and Chad Palagi who led the tribute dinner in homage to their beloved friend, while Pastry Chefs Sebastien Rouxel, Stefanie Morgado, Kara Blitz, Katie Backlund and Scott Cioe collaborated on desserts.
The tribute dinner was conceived by Delaware North’s Patina Restaurant Group as a means to honor Capizzi’s family, launch a scholarship fund in Capizzi’s name at the Culinary Institute of America, and served as a means to unite a community of professionals who loved and respected him and his legacy.
Chef Artem Orlovskyy led the evening with his Potato Torta
with Hen egg mousse and shaved black truffle.
Chefs Thomas Keller and Chad Palagi.
Richard Capizzi was an acclaimed pastry chef from Long Island who was honored this past Sunday, February 19th, 2023 at Lincoln Center’s Lincoln Ristorante, where he had honed his craft over the last ten years. He was gifted across all the pastry arts. Yet, despite all of the esteem, he is remembered most because of his mentorship, his generosity, and his grace towards those he crossed paths with, professionals and friends alike.
“Richard was a tremendous talent and tremendous human being who graced our teams at Per Se and Bouchon Bakery. We owe to Richard how we make our Bouchons, how we make our confections, and so much else at the bakery. His legacy is everywhere.”
You can see how much someone was cherished by the degree in which others show up in the end. Aside from the fact that everyone on the docket of this dinner are highly awarded and acclaimed, they were also dear friends who worked side by side with Capizzi, day in and day out. Each told stories of inside jokes, coffee runs, special techniques, and bits of wisdom - insights that you only gain over long periods of time in the trenches together. In the end, Sebastien Rouxel remarked, with great earnest, how he is still awaiting a text message that he knows will never come.
Chef Thomas Keller plating the antipasti with Chef Chad Palagi.
Japanese Hamachi with Regiis Osa ossetra caviar with green apple and cucumber.
Chef Jonathan Benno and his Brasato, red wine braised beef short rib, cavolo nero, March Hen Mills polenta, and shaved black truffles.
Everyone gave hands to plating each dish to running meals to each guest.
Poignantly noted, this dinner was a moment in time that may not ever happen again. A moment that may possibly be the only time everyone present from the front of house to the back of house would ever work side by side again. So here you have, pictured throughout, a star crossed alignment of culinary professionals cooking together in remembrance of their beloved friend.
Dessert by Chef Sebastien Rouxel, a Noisette Chocolat; milk chocolate crémeux, praline croustillant, and hazelnut nougatine. The curls around the pastry were a direct inspiration from and homage to Richard Capizzi, a style he himself taught Rouxel.
Chefs Thomas Keller, Shea Gallante, Jonathan Benno, Artem Orlovskyy and Chad Palagi led the tribute, while Pastry Chefs Sebastien Rouxel, Stefanie Morgado, Kara Blitz, Katie Backlund and Scott Cioe collaborated on desserts. Just as we look into the past when we look up at the night sky, this evening will shine ever more brightly in the minds of those who remember Richard Capizzi because of the solidarity and beloved sentiments of his friends.