The Art of the Experience
.png)
As close as one can possibly be without the invite. An evening of fashion and culinary artistry.
IN PROUD COLLABORATION WITH
THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION
This year’s edition is elevated through our distinguished partnership with the James Beard Foundation — the definitive authority celebrating culinary excellence, innovation, and the future of American gastronomy. An homage to artistry. A celebration of brilliance. The James Beard Foundation's mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America's food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone. They aim to create a vibrant, equitable, and sustainable independent restaurant industry through the "Good Food for Good".
FEATURING FIVE AWARD-WINNING FEMALE CHEFS
For one night only, five celebrated female chefs unite to create a four-course seated dinner inspired by fashion and art.
An Incredible Dinner
Each course a composition.
Each plate a statement.
Elizabeth Falkner is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and culinary innovator whose influence spans fine dining, media, and global brand leadership. A James Beard Award finalist and Board of Trustees member, she has shaped contemporary American cuisine through pioneering restaurants, acclaimed cookbooks, and decades of television presence. Now based in Los Angeles, she continues to lead at the intersection of food, storytelling, and innovation as a filmmaker, consultant, and co-founder of T’MARO Brands.
Elizabeth Falkner
Los Angeles, CA
Board of Trustees of the James Beard Foundation
Casey Thompson is a nationally acclaimed chef known for refined technique, calm authority, and modern American cuisine rooted in seasonality. A CIA graduate trained in landmark kitchens including Restaurant Daniel, she gained national recognition on Top Chef and critical acclaim as Executive Chef and Partner of Folktable in Sonoma County. Recognized by the James Beard Foundation, Casey is respected for her leadership, mentorship, and ability to balance elegance with approachability.
Casey Thompson
Dallas, TX – Sonoma, CA
A Food Network, Top Chef Finalist
Silvia Barban is an Italian-born chef whose cuisine blends deep tradition shaped by elite training in Italy and brought to life in New York City. Trained under Gualtiero Marchesi and seasoned in Michelin-starred kitchens, she gained national recognition on Top Chef and as co-founder of the beloved Larina Pastificio e Vino, Briscola, Tortelli pasta shop. A Food Network champion and acclaimed restaurateur, She continues to reinterpret Italian heritage through celebrated concepts including Briscola Trattoria and Tortelli, with craft, community, and soul.
Silvia Barban
Brooklyn, NY
A Food Network, Top Chef
Allison Fasano is a Brooklyn-born chef whose cuisine blends Italian heritage, resilience, and bold “Nonna-style” comfort. Trained in Calabria and seasoned in Michelin-starred kitchens including Del Posto and Gato with Bobby Flay’s team, she has risen to A Food Network champion, TEDx speaker, and community leader, Allison is known for leading with purpose, generosity, and soul—both in and beyond the kitchen.
Allison Fasano
Bozeman, MT
A Food Network, TEDx Speaker
Bilena Settepani is an Italian pastry chef celebrated for blending classical European technique with modern refinement. Trained in Italy and based in New York, she is the co-founder and pastry chef of the acclaimed Pasticceria Bruno Bakery, renowned for its exceptional breads and pastries. Respected for her precision, restraint, and mentorship, Bilena continues to shape New York’s pastry scene with quiet elegance and uncompromising craftsmanship.
Bilena Settepani
Harlem, NY
Time Out NY Award Winning, Pastry Chef of the Year
On fashion’s most glittering night, as the world’s gaze fixes on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an extraordinary evening unfolds just moments away.
THE EVENT
Two blocks from the Met Gala, YVP hosts an intimate red carpet viewing and dining experience designed for those who understand that luxury is not simply seen — it is felt.
THE MOOD
Electric anticipation. Champagne sparkle. Conversations that linger. This is not simply a watch party.
This is: a social statement, asensory experience, a night suspended between fashion and fantasy.
WHAT AWAITS YOU
• Four-course seated dinner
• Five award-winning female chefs
• James Beard Foundation collaboration
• Champagne all night
• Premium open bar
• Elite guest list
• Curated luxury gift bags
Feel free to dress up if you'd like!
DRESS CODE: CREATIVE CHIC
If you feel like playing with your look, this is your moment. Elegant, artistic, bold, or understated: anything goes as long as it feels like you. Inspired by Fashion Is Art, think of it as a gentle nudge to finally wear that outfit you've been saving for just the right occasion. No rules, no pressure, just a gorgeous night.
The YVP Dinner of the Year,
THE ORIGINAL Met Gala Red Carpet Watch Party
The YVP Dinner of the Year, The Original MET Gala Red Carpet Watch Party67 days to the eventMay 04, 2026, 5:30 PM – 10:30 PMNew York, 2 East 79th Street, New York, NY
