Top Chefs to Cook for Maryland Marriage Equality

The event will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“Chefs for Equality will feature Washington’s best chefs and great food all for the cause of marriage equality in Maryland,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We are honoured to partner with David Hagedorn in bringing together an unprecedented number of chefs for what promises to be an evening of fine dining with a passion for equality.”

“Marriage equality is an important issue to me personally,” said David Hagedorn. “I’m thrilled to bring together leaders of the culinary community for a very special night to uphold Maryland’s law giving all its citizens the right to marry the one they love.”

Hagedorn is particularly excited by the seven Personal Chef tables (available for auction right now on the chefsforequality.org website), where award-winning chefs will work in pairs to cook five-course menus for tables of eight right in the middle of the action.

These duos include: Spike Gjerde and Erik Bruner-Yang; Cathal Armstrong and RJ Cooper; Michel Richard and Bryan Voltaggio; Vikram Sunderam and Nicholas Stefanelli; Ris Lacoste and Jamie Leeds; Enzo Fargione and Peter Smith; and Victor Albisu and Amy Brandwein. A top-flight sommelier will offer each Personal Chef table an exclusive wine pairing.

“Bidding will no doubt be vigorous for these unique offerings,” says Hagedorn.

Attendees will be greeted by a bevvy of beverage options from acclaimed area mixologists, including Derek Brown of The Columbia Room, Gina Chersevani of Eddy Bar, John Harris of Firefly, Rachel Sergi of Jack Rose and Todd Thrasher of TNT. Guests will also enjoy creative tasting stations from 25 DC area restaurants, including BLT Steak, Cork Wine Bar, Estadio, Kaz Sushi Bistro, Mintwood Place, Cedar and Pearl Dive Oyster Bar. Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis of Amaryllis Floral + Event Design generously donated their services to design the entire event, whose theme revolves around the concept of two people joining together. Wedding-worthy fashions, donated for auction by clothiers such as Michael Andrews Bespoke, will be modelled as tableaux vivants throughout the event.

Tickets for Chefs for Equality are $300 and can be purchased at chefsforequality.org. All proceeds will benefit the Human Rights Campaign Political Action Committee’s fight for marriage equality in Maryland.

In addition to the main event, an after-party will be held at Graffiato Restaurant at 10 p.m., featuring small plates by Mike Isabella, Scott Drewno of The Source and Teddy Folkman of Granville Moore’s, as well as cocktails from top mixologists. Tickets for the after party are $50.

CHEFS FOR EQUALITY DETAILS:

WHAT: An evening of food, cocktails, fashion and music to benefit marriage equality in Maryland.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 24, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, 1150 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC

WHO: David Hagedorn, Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis of Amaryllis Floral + Event Design and top Washington chefs and mixologists, including:

Victor Albisu, Taco Bamba

José Andrés, ThinkFoodGroup

Sebastien Archambault and Peter Brett, Blue Duck Tavern

Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve

Kyle Bailey, Birch and Barley

Justin Bittner, Bar Pilar

Jeff Black, Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

Danny Bortnick, Firefly

Devin Bozkaya, Westend Bistro

Amy Brandwein, Chef AmyB

Erik Bruner-Yang, Toki Underground

Jeff Buben, Woodward Table

RJ Cooper, Rogue 24

Logan Cox and Alison Reed, Ripple

John Critchley, Urbana

Scott Drewno, The Source

Enzo Fargione, Elisir

Teddy Folkman, Granville Moore’s

Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen

Dean Gold, Dino

Todd and Ellen Gray, Equinox

David Guas, Bayou Bakery

Scot Harlan, Green Pig Bistro

Michael Harr, Food, Wine & Co.

Mike Isabella, Graffiato

Jim Jeffords, Evening Star Café

Haidar Karoum, Proof / Estadio

Billy Klein, Café Saint-Ex

Ris Lacoste, Ris

Jamie Leeds, Hank’s Oyster Bar

Andrew Little, Sheppard Mansion

Tiffany MacIsaac, Buzz Bakery

Dennis Marron, Poste Moderne Brasserie

Jon Mathieson, BLT Steak

Cedric Maupillier, Mintwood Place

Aaron McCloud, Cedar

Harper McClure, The Federalist

Mary Lee Montfort, Mary Lee’s Desserts

Terry Natas, Carmine’s

Kaz Okochi, Kaz Sushi Bistro

Christophe and Michelle Poteaux, Bastille

Nora Pouillon and Todd Woods, Restaurant Nora

Leslie Poyourow, Fancy Cakes by Leslie

Michel Richard, Central

Kimberly Robinson, Makin’ Whoopie

Peter Smith, PS 7’s

Alli Sosna, Allison Sosna Group / Microgreens

Emily Sprissler, Mayfair and Pine

Nicholas Stefanelli, Bibiana

Vikram Sunderam, Rasika

Zoe Tsoukatos, Zoe’s Chocolate Company

Jeff Tunks, Passion Food Hospitality

Bryan Voltaggio, Volt

Rob Weland, Cork Wine Bar

Robert Wiedmaier, Marcel’s

David Winer, Eatwell DC

Demetrio Zavala, Lincoln

Featured Mixologists

Adam Bernbach, Proof / Estadio

Derek Brown, Columbia Room

Gina Chersevani, Hank’s Oyster Bar

Jeff Faile, Fiola

Jon Harris, Firefly

Corey Polyoka, Woodberry Kitchen

Rachel Sergi, Jack Rose

Andrew Shapiro, Green Pig Bistro

Bryan Tetorakis, Rogue 24

Todd Thrasher, TNT Bar

Rob Yealu, The Federalist