Chef’s Lab x Harlem Loves Italian Food
Monday, March 23rd
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm (6:00 pm VIP)
VIP Tickets include a meet and greet with the Chefs.
Refettorio Harlem
39 W 119th St (Harlem btw 5th and Lenox)
NY, NY
The evening celebrates the influence of Italian culture in Harlem with a menu prepared by Silvia Baldini with Chefs Roberto Caporuscio, Luigi Speranza, Raffaele Solinas, Silvia Barban and Damiano Rosella from Istituto 100% Italiano paired with Italian wines. Music curated by Jill Newman Productions.
The Chef’s Lab is an opportunity to showcase the mission and raise support for Free Food’s food assistance and food recovery programs at Refettorio Harlem - currently serving 700 three meals weekly, addressing food insecurity, food waste, and more importantly social isolation with dignity, love and creativity.
Chef Silvia Baldini is a classically trained Italian-born chef and culinary entrepreneur celebrated for her innovative, ingredient-driven approach to food and her win on Food Network’s Chopped. She blends her deep roots in Italian cooking with globally inspired techniques through her creative food group Strawberry and Sage. With a passion for simple, mindful cooking and storytelling through flavor, Silvia continues to inspire food lovers around the world.
The event is sponsored and supported by I Love Italian Food, House of Made in Italy, Istituto 100% Italiano and the North America Delegation of the Professional Association of Italian Chefs.
About Refettorio Harlem
Refettorio Harlem is a community and cultural hub located inside The Historic EMANUEL AME church on 199th street - founded by Food for Soul, Free Food Harlem and the Church during the pandemic to nourish those facing food insecurity and isolation as we unite to enable a sustainable inclusive food system. Free Food Harlem manages the local initiative, uplifting their food and social justice work, offering hospitality dinners, at no cost for vulnerable guests, serving over 600 meals per week alongside a healthy fresh foods pantry, job training and arts education activities. Their food recovery program in collaboration with a broad coalition of food rescue partners, recovers over 2000 lbs of food from the waste stream, transforming surplus ingredients into meals served at the table or in nourishing 100 people weekly with organic groceries from their fresh choice pantry. In 2024, Free Food Harlem diverted close to 106,000 lbs of food from waste, saving 99,000 lbs of CO2 emissions and returning an economic value of approx. $300,000 back into nourishing the community.
Free Food Harlem is part of Food for Soul’s global Refettorio Network - 12 projects across 9 countries - working to foster social inclusion and promote healthy sustainable food. Founded in 2015, Food for Soul launched the first Refettorio in Milan, Italy in collaboration with Caritas Ambrosiana and a network of artists, designers, chefs, and community leaders. The model would go on to become a global movement of projects and partners - working together to transform the traditional soup kitchen into a place of hospitality, beauty and connection where their collective efforts mobilize awareness and civic engagement to ensure sustainable good food for all.
I Love Italian Food is an international organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing authentic Italian food and wine culture worldwide. Founded in Italy in 2013, in the heart of the Food Valley, it has developed a structured international ecosystem that combines events, strategic communication, professional networking, and education — connecting Italian producers and consortia with chefs, buyers, journalists, and institutions.
With over 200 international events and a digital reach of more than 3 billion contacts, it has become a reference point for the global promotion of Made in Italy in the agri-food sector. Its educational and cultural mission is carried out through Istituto 100% Italiano, the non-profit cultural association of the network, which delivers educational programs for international food professionals and culinary students, promoting knowledge, authenticity, and the value of Italian supply chains worldwide.
House of Made in Italy is a cultural project created to promote Italian identity in the United States of America. In the heart of New York, from June 2025 to July 2026, House of Made in Italy will take shape as a platform of content and experiences that showcase what makes Italy unique: its agri-food heritage, creativity, beauty, design, artisanal craftsmanship, and the quality of its relationships. A true home where regions, producers, institutions, and culture come together. A space designed for professionals, international operators, stakeholders, and the media—where Italy can be experienced through educational events, themed gatherings, masterclasses, and storytelling experiences. House of Made in Italy is a platform for cultural and relational diplomacy: a bridge between Italy and the United States, built on content, quality, and passion.