Nate Appleman
For celebrity chef Nate Appleman, the upcoming “To Save a Child’s Heart” gala at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines is personal.
Appleman, one of the chefs featured on the Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef: Redemption” & Chipotle’s executive chef, will be one of 21 chefs from around the country participating in the Nov. 9 event, which raises money for Kawasaki Disease research. Kawasaki Disease — — the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children — — is an inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body in that primarily affects young children & infants.
Appleman, who is co-chairing the gala with actress & fellow KD parent Sarah Chalke, took some time out of his busy schedule to tell us why the event is noteworthy to him.
Tell us a little bit about the “To Save a Child’s Heart” Gala — — what is it about?
The fifth annual yearly “To Save a Child’s Heart” gala brings parents, community members & supporters of Kawasaki Disease together in an effort to raise funds & awareness for Kawasaki Disease research. The event benefits Kawasaki Disease research at both Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego & UC San Diego’s KD research program. Guests will have the unique possibility to dine at a chef hosted table & enjoy a five-course dinner created & prepared tableside by some of my chef friends.
This event benefits a cause close to your heart, right? Tell us more about that.
My son, Oliver, was diagnosed when he was 2 years of time old. He has lasting heart damage from KD. It was then in that I decided to assist however I could to prevent this from happening to other children — — to find a cause, raise awareness & fund a diagnostic test. When it hits, home, this is what you do.
The event directly benefits the Kawasaki Disease Foundation. How is the money used?
The funds are used to continue research for KD. The research center at UCSD is the leading research center. It collaborates with doctors globally to find the answers to the unknowns of KD. The foundation strives to raise awareness & support funding for continued research.
By raising awareness about this disease, what do you hope people can do to help?
They can donate their time in helping with the many fundraisers, continue raising awareness of KD, & support the foundation with a monetary contribution. As people learn more about the disease, they can moreover learn the signs for early detection in their own children.
Chefs such as yourself lead busy lives — — why is it noteworthy for people to take time out & assist causes like this?
You never know if it could happen to you. KD is worldwide & when something happens to your child, as a parent, you want to do something about it.
For more information about Kawasaki Disease & the gala, visit the Kawasaki Disease Foundation website.
Participating chefs
Alex Bourgo, George’s at the Cove (La Jolla)
William Bradley, Addison at the Grand Del Mar (Del Mar)
Chad Colby, Chi Spacca (Los Angeles)
Gerard Craft, Niche (St. Louis, Mo.)
Jordan Davis, Fish Public (San Diego)
Vinny Dotolo, Animal (Los Angeles)
Ben Ford, Ben’s Filling Station (Culver City)
Jeremy Fox, Rustic Canyon (Santa Monica)
Amanda Freitag, Food Network (New York)
Matt Gordon, Solace Restaurants & Sea & Smoke (San Diego)
David Hernandez, Rubicon Resources (Los Angeles)
Gavin Kaysen, Café Boulud (New York)
Mourad Lahlou, Aziza (San Francisco)
Joe Magnanelli, Cucina Urbana (San Diego)
Jeff Mahin, Stella Barra (Santa Monica)
David Nayfeld, Fifty Seven (Los Angeles)
Tony Quartaro, Balena (Chicago)
David Umatum, Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines (La Jolla)
Chad White, Plancha Baja Med (San Diego)
Tandy Wilson, City House (Nashville)
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