NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Galatoire’s Restaurant and Galatoire Foundation raised more than $284,000 at its annual Mardi Gras Table Auction, held Monday, Feb. 3, in Galatoire’s first floor main dining room. The event featured an evening of competitive bidding, signature Galatoire’s hors d’oeuvres and complimentary champagne. The highest bid of the night was $22,000 for a table for eight/. In total, 154 seats were auctioned for the Friday before Mardi Gras.
To close out the evening, a private in-home dinner for 10 prepared by Executive Chef Phillip Lopez, including five courses with wine pairings, garnered a winning bid of $16,000.
Combined with the Christmas Auction held in December, a record-breaking $440,000 was raised for this year’s beneficiaries. To date, the table auctions have raised more than $4.3 million for local charities.
“We are continually amazed by the incredible generosity of our loyal patrons,” said Melvin Rodrigue, Galatoire Foundation president, in a statement about the auction. “It is truly inspiring how their unwavering support allows us to leverage the Friday lunches before Christmas and Mardi Gras year after year to give back to organizations that are making New Orleans a better place to live and work every day.”
Annually, Galatoire Foundation holds Christmas and Mardi Gras table auctions to assist in supporting local nonprofit organizations. Money raised during the year’s table auctions benefit Galatoire Foundation and eight other local non-profits, including two table partners: STEM NOLA and Volunteers of America of Southeast Louisiana and six micro grant recipients: Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, Ignatian Volunteer Corps New Orleans, NOCHI, Son of a Saint, The Big Easy Wing of the Commemorative Air Force and The Bright School.
