April happens to be World Autism Month, and TAO Group, a major restaurant and nightlife company, is going above and beyond all month long in an effort to ensure that this condition will hopefully one day be a thing of the past.
Once again, for the entire month of April, all of TAO Group’s restaurant brands nationwide, including TAO Uptown, TAO Downtown, LAVO Italian Restaurant, Bodega Negra, Vandal, Beauty & Essex, The Stanton Social, Legasea and Egghead in New York City as well as nightlife brands such as Avenue, Marquee, TAO Nightclub and LAVO Nightclub will raise money through sales of special “blue-themed” food and drink items in honor of the official color for Autism awareness.
TAO Group will be contributing 10% of the proceeds of each “blue-themed” item to Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, Eden II Programs, a school program offering a center-based full day program for people with autism/PDD, and additional World Autism Awareness initiatives.
“We are thrilled to once again come together as an organization to provide support and raise awareness around World Autism Awareness Month,” said Ralph Scamardella, TAO Group Partner and Chef. “As we continue to advocate for the improved quality of life for children and adults with autism, TAO Cares proudly looks for ways to give back to the communities that inspire us. Our month-long mission for World Autism Awareness Month is a company-wide effort and I am so proud that we continue to come together for our third consecutive year to shed light on a great cause.”
The World Autism Awareness menus will feature the following specials at each designated venue for the month of April:
TAO UPTOWN / TAO DOWNTOWN
Bluefin Tuna Tataki, spring vegetable salad, burnt jalapeno vinaigrette
Salt and Pepper Blue Prawns, chili, crispy garlic and toasted pepper
Blue Layer Japanese Crepe Cake
Lychee Martini Blue Edition Cocktail
LAVO NEW YORK
Blue Prawn Fritto Misto, blue potato chips
Blue Crab Mafaldini, lemon butter, garlic and toasted bread crumb
Blue Cookie Monster Ice Cream Sandwich
Rubina Rosa Blue Edition Cocktail
BEAUTY & ESSEX NEW YORK
Blue Fin Tuna Sashimi, creamy kani crab stick salad, crispy Okinawa sweet potato
Blue Corn Pappardelle, blue crab & Maine lobster, guajillo lobster broth, roasted corn & blistered tomatoes
Blue Velvet Cake Pops
Light It Up Bramble Cocktail
BODEGA NEGRA
Blue Crab Tostada with Chipotle Spiced Yogurt
Blue Don Huevo, dark chocolate molten cake, horchata ice cream, negra modelo caramel sauce
LEGASEA
Blue Crab Toast, grilled filone, pickled fennel, meyer lemon aioli
NY Strip Streak, roaring 40’s blue cheese melt
NY Style Blueberry Cheesecake
Foxy Moxy Blue Edition Cocktail
EGGHEAD
Blueberry Pop-Tart
THE HIGHLIGHT ROOM
Lump Blue Crab Cakes, red chili aioli, avocado cream, lemon frisee salad
Blue Burger, blue cheese, bacon, chipotle mayo, crispy onions
LUCHINI PIZZERIA & BAR
Buffalo Wings, with blue cheese dip
In addition, the following TAO Group nightclubs will also be contributing 10% from bottle sales of Belvedere and Grey Goose the month of April for World Autism Awareness Month: Marquee, Avenue, Vandal Lounge, TAO Downtown, Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge, PHD Rooftop, PHD Terrace, The Rickey and Fishbowl in New York; LAVO, Marquee and TAO in Las Vegas; and Avenue in Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, March 28, TAO Cares hosted a group of students from Eden II Programs at The Gallery at Dream Downtown for a kick-off event. Chef Scamardella led a culinary workshop, where the students enjoyed making their own pizza and salad, followed by a tour of the kitchen.
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