The Pierre, awash in Italian-style decor, was the venue of choice for this year’s annual Food Allergy Ball, honoring David and Julia Koch. Scrumptious displays of chef hats, period piece costumes, orange trees, and human Roman statues were just a few of the highlights at this “Evening of Italian Delights,” which raised over $2.6 mil for Food Allergy Initiative’s research and educational programs.

Guests dined on allergy-free Italian cuisine, accompanied by a performance of Italian opera selections by soprano Ruth Ann Swenson. Renowned chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Mario Batali (who recently opened five-star eatery Del Posto) was awarded for Lifetime Achievement.

Just prior to the FAI event, a 15-year-old Canadian girl with a nut allergy died after kissing her boyfriend, who had eaten a peanut butter sandwich hours earlier. This tragic death is just one example of the necessity of FAI’s mission—to raise public awareness about the life-threatening effects of food allergies. It is estimated that 11 million people in the United States are affected by food allergies, and that 150 to 200 people die annually from their conditions.

Feting foodies: Food Allergy Ball chairs and co-founders Todd Slotkin and Sharyn Mann, chairs Ron Perelman, James and Patricia Cayne, and Mary Richardson Kennedy and Robert Kennedy Jr., restaurateurs Julian Niccolini, Sirio Maccioni, David Burke, Thomas Keller, and David Bouley, Ben and Elke Gazzara, CeCe Cord, Lynette and Howard Gittis, Lori Stokes, Elliott and Roslyn Jaffe, Drew Nieporent, and Harvey Sloane.

A little Italy and a lot of charity…now that’s amore!