The Can-Do Spirit

Mariska Hargitay, Jimmy Fallon, Rachael Ray, Mario Batali, Rocco DiSpirito and Helena Christensen were among the notables who turned out for the Can-Do awards dinner to raise money for the Food Bank of New York City last night. The evening's special honoree, Jon Bon Jovi, also got to bask in the adulation of President Bill Clinton and U2's Bono. The presence of master of ceremonies Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M, further enhanced the rock royalty quotient. On the red carpet, I asked arriving celebrities about their favorite Bon Jovi song. The most enthusiastic answer by far came from Batali, who without skipping a beat went into  air-guitar mode, belting out "WANTED....dead or alive!!" For all of the fun and games, the night was really about raising crucial funds for this organization, which helps see to it that the 1.3 million New Yorkers in peril of going hungry do not lack places to turn to find sustenance for their families. At present, the charity's reserves are at critically low levels and the organization is doing everything it can to get the word out about the work it can do with even $1—a donation that will supply five meals for a person who might otherwise go hungry. It kind of gives new meaning to the Bon Jovi song "I'll Be There for You."

In Tribute to Emeril Lagasse

He made a name for himself with the Batman-worthy sound-effect "BAM!" but there was no slamming on counters at Miami's Loews Hotel tonight, just thunderous applause, for one of the food world's most beloved and hardest-working chefs. Emeril Lagasse was honored at a tribute dinner presided over by a posse of New York chefs, including Mario Batali, Eric Ripert, Michael Laskonis and Bobby Flay. Another famed New Yorker, Martha Stewart did the emcee honors. The night ended with an impromptu jam session that featured Lagasse on bongos and Miami chef Norman Van Aiken on the harmonica. Sadly, Martha did not grab for the nearest electric guitar. Or a tambourine, for that matter.

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Fit for a King

Fresh from their trip to Pensacola, where they helped commemorate the 450th anniversary of the first Spanish settlement in Florida, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia presided as special guests of honor at a dinner given at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Emceed by New York superchef Mario Batali, the evening provided a royal kick-off to this weekend's South Beach Wine & Food Festival, in Miami. After a lavish food and wine tasting in the Spanish mission-style courtyard of the Biltmore, guests proceeded to the hotel's regal banquet hall, where they dined on courses prepared by several of Spain's most noted chefs, each of whom presented a course. The wizards of cuisine included Pedro Subijana, Daniel Garcia and Francisco (Paco) Torreblanca. Culinary master of ceremonies was José Andrés, whose brand of molecular gastronomy continues to captivate diners in our nation's capital and most recently, at Bazaar in Beverly Hills. Among the celebrity guests who turned out to sample la comida españa were singers Julio Iglesias and Gloria Estefan. Neither one performed, which we thought was a shame. The king and queen would surely have enjoyed a mash-up of "To All The Girls I've Loved Before" and "Rhythm is Gonna Get You."

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For the Love of Lunchboxes!

New York Insider TV hit the red carpet at the Lunchbox Auction kickoff at Milk Studios last night. A charity event benefiting the Lunchbox Fund of South Africa and the Food Bank for New York City, the event pulled together the talents of more than eighty celebrities, each of whom were provided an unadorned lunchbox and encouraged to give it their own distinctive design. Among the boldface names who participated: Martha Stewart, Liv Tyler, the New York Giants, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tony Bennett and Cameron Diaz. The results of their work will go to the highest bidders at an auction taking place on-line and running through December 18. Prices at $100. To browse and bid, visit here. Celebs who turned up for last night's preview included Austin Powers himself, Mike Myers, R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, superchef Mario Batali, writer Salman Rushdie, actress Julia Stiles and designer Richie Rich. New York Insider's question of the evening: What lunchbox did you have as a child?: Richie Rich: Batman and Robin Michael Stipe: The Munsters Mario Batali: Spiderman (with hot soup in the Thermos) And if Austin Powers had had a lunchbox? "It would have been covered in velvet." —Mike Myers Who was on your lunchbox when you were a child?

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The Best Italian Restaurants? Fuhgeddaboutit

Zagat, compiler of the likes and dislikes of America's restaurant-goers, nightclubbers, business travelers, golf players and movie denizens, has just released "America's 1,000 Top Italian Restaurants." New Yawk being New Yawk, we've laid claim to over 150 of them—more than any other city. Not a surprise in a city filled with chefs with names like Batali and Carmellini. Among the Manhattan eateries that made the list include NewYorkInsider faves San Domenico, A Voce, Gennaro, Vice Versa (responsible for the delectable pasta dish pictured above), San Pietro and Del Posto. With 27-percent of U.S. diners citing Italian as their favorite cuisine (trailed by American, at a distant second—16-percent), we have a feeling this handy book will more than prove its weight in mortadella. For a limited time, Zagat is offering the guide for free. To claim yours, click here. What's your favorite Italian restaurant? Let us know. (And if you can't wait for your Zagat guide to arrive and want to know whether your red-checked tablecloth go-to place made the cut, drop us a line and we'll give you the scoop.)