In 2019, chef Dominique Crenn took to Instagram to share news of a jarring breast cancer diagnosis. “Although I am scared, I have an amazing amount of love from my family, friends and my team who all support me and lift me up,” Crenn wrote in a candid post.
Today, Crenn—the only female chef in America with a restaurant, Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, that has landed three MICHELIN stars—is a cancer survivor. She’s also a spirited advocate for a range of inspiring initiatives surrounding the disease: In October 2019, she launched the Bar Crenn Tour de France, a series of dinners and silent auctions benefiting the National Breast Cancer Foundation that showcased cuisine from various regions in her home country of France, culminating in a charitable meal in Champagne.

On October 7, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Crenn will be at the Hard Rock Hotel in New York City for a dinner to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Alongside executive chef Oscar Gonzalez, Crenn will prepare a five-course dinner with wine pairings at NYY Steak, the hotel’s premium steakhouse. There will be curated experiences with one-of-a-kind auction items, and all proceeds will go to the aforementioned charity.

“Each [menu item] starts with small farms and purveyors,” shares Gonzalez, describing the evening’s meal. “There’s a story behind each portion of the presentation.” Many of the small farms and producers the Hard Rock Hotel works with even donated their products, eager to fuel such a monumental night, according to Gonzalez.
“We’re proud to partner with chef Crenn, a breast cancer survivor, who shares our passion in raising awareness and giving back to local charities and communities,” he says.
To purchase tickets to the October 7 dinner at the Hard Rock Hotel New York, head here.