Chef Marcus Samuelsson to Host sofi Awards

Marcus Samuelsson, the internationally acclaimed chef, will host the 41st annual sofi Awards to be presented at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York.

Samuelsson is the chef behind New York’s Red Rooster Harlem, Ginny’s Supper Club and American Table Cafe and Bar by Marcus Samuelsson, and The New York Times’ best-selling author of “Yes, Chef.” He is also a well-known TV food personality and committed philanthropist.

The sofi Awards are considered the top honor in the $75 billion specialty food industry. They recognize excellence in 32 categories. Samuelsson will serve as the keynote speaker and present the awards at a red-carpet ceremony on July 1.

The awards are a highlight of the Summer Fancy Food Show, the largest marketplace devoted exclusively to specialty foods and beverages in North America. It is owned and operated by the Specialty Food Association (formerly known as NASFT). The show will take place June 30-July 2 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

“The sofi Awards represent the best of the best in specialty food,” said Ann Daw, president of the Specialty Food Association. “Marcus Samuelsson is sure to inspire the award-winning food artisans and entrepreneurs who have devoted themselves to creating wonderful products.”

In honor of Samuelsson’s participation in the sofi Awards, he will be donating his speaking fee from the Specialty Food Association to City Harvest, the Fancy Food Show’s anti-hunger charity for more than 20 years. Samuelsson is a member of City Harvest’s Food Council.

At the end of each Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, exhibitors donate in excess of 100,000 pounds of high-quality food to City Harvest. The show donation has long been the largest single donation of perishable food to City Harvest each year.