For Scher, For Sure

Anyone who doubts that New York’s culinary community includes the city’s most generous givers need only look to tonight’s Chefs for Scher event for proof to the contrary. Established in honor of the late Steve Scher, who died suddenly last December, shortly after his fiftieth birthday, Chefs for Scher funds scholarships for aspiring restaurant owners. Scher himself was a co-founder of Main Street Restaurant Partners, a collection of eateries that includes Calle Ocho, BLT Prime and BarBao. He is survived by wife, Aimee (pictured here, second from left), and their infant son, Hudson.

This evening, at the Bowery Hotel, friends and fans of Scher came out in force to remember the man, raising more than $100,000 for his namesake fledgling charity. A walk-around grand tasting, with culinary representation from everyone including Laurent Tourondel, Rocco DiSpirito, Bobby Flay and Marc Murphy, ensured that no guest left hungry, while both live and silent auctions guaranteed that no would-be bidders left with wallets full.

A special badge of honor goes to Gramercy Tavern’s pasty chef, Nancy Olson, whose plans to serve a seasonably suitable strawberry shortcake dessert took a detour (literally) when the truck owned by her local strawberry source was stolen, strawberries and all, before it was able to deliver its precious cargo. “That thief is going to be in for some surprise,” said Olson, who quickly rounded up enough blueberries and raspberries to supplement the few strawberries she was able to get her hands on. New York Insider readers are urged to keep an eye out for this “berry bad” thief. Joked Olson: “Can you imagine….DVDs for sale on the sidewalk under one blanket, strawberries under another!”

For more party pics, click here.