Why an Anonymous Person Is Paying $1 Million for Dinner With Eric Ripert (and John Legend)

Would you pay $1 million for a dinner? Well, an anonymous donor did just that during a charity auction last week in New York benefiting the hunger relief organization City Harvest. The prize? Dinner for 20 at the winner’s home cooked by French chef Eric Ripert with entertainment by singer John Legend.

It’s not unusual for foodie-focused auction items to bring in big money. In November in New York, a lasagna dinner with Bruce Springsteen in the rocker’s home went for $300,000. The funds benefited Stand Up For Heroes, which supports returning veterans and their families. Last month, a dinner for 16 cooked by chefs David Chang, Tom Colicchio, and Mario Batali brought in $150,000 for FoodBank for New York City, a group that provides millions of meals for food insecure residents of the city’s five boroughs.

But $1 million? That doesn’t happen every day. The auction took place at the 21st annual fundraising gala for City Harvest, which collects approximately 136,000 pounds of excess food each day from restaurants, grocers, and corporate cafeterias and distributes it to more than 500 community programs. Each year, City Harvest helps feed more than 1.4 million New Yorkers. This year’s gala brought in $3 million overall and the million-dollar dinner was a fundraising first, said a City Harvest spokesperson.

“We were both astounded and moved by the incredible generosity of this donor,“ said Jilly Stephens, executive director of City Harvest. "The bid brought tears to my eyes when I thought about how many hungry New Yorkers we would be able to help. With $1 million, City Harvest will be able to help feed over 3,600 families for a year.”

The unflappable Ripert, one of America’s most celebrated names in food and the chef/owner of New York’s Le Bernardin, was on stage during the auction. What went through his mind when he heard the dollar amount? “A quick moment of surprise and disbelief, followed by feeling overwhelmed,” he said. “Then I just thought how fantastic this is for City Harvest.”

Ripert didn’t know the anonymous bidder, although he does now. He’s staying mum on his or her identity and the details of the dinner. “We’re working closely with the donor to create the most amazing and unique experience for them, and not forgetting an unforgettable performance from John Legend,” said Ripert. “Everything will be very special, obviously!”

Hopefully the donor likes fish, as that’s Ripert’s specialty. No word on whether Legend’s girlfriend Chrissy Teigen, a solid cook in her own right and Sports Illustrated cover girl, will serve as sous chef.

The City Harvest auction was a personal record for Ripert. His previous record for a single dinner auctioned off at a charity event was $250,000.

For more on Eric Ripert, everybody’s favorite French chef:

What’s the one food Chef Ripert won’t eat?

Bonjour, Mate! Visit Melbourne with Chef Ripert