Chefs For Marriage Equality Will Cook Up a Storm on October 24

Ris Lacoste could be your personal chef at Chefs for Equality Fundraiser

By Olga Boikess

A Who’s Who of DC area chefs, mixologists and pastry wizards are going all out at a blockbuster Chefs for Equality fund-raiser for the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) efforts to promote marriage equality. Maryland governor Martin O’Malley will join the party, hosted by fashion icon Tim Gunn, happening on Wednesday, October 24 at the Ritz Carlton/West End.

Guests will be greeted by a bevy of beverage options from acclaimed area mixologists, including Derek Brown (Columbia Room), Gina Chersevani (Hank’s Oyster Bar), John Harris (Firefly), Rachel Sergi (Jack Rose) and Todd Thrasher (Eammon’s/TNT). Along with the cocktails, there will be tasting stations from some 25 acclaimed DC restaurants, a DJ and a chance to bid on exciting auction items.



At personal chef tables (available for auction right now), award-winning chefs will work in pairs to cook five-course menus for tables of eight - right in the middle of the action. Among the pairs are Spike Gjerde (Woodberry Kitchen) and Erik Bruner-Yang (Toki Underground); Michel Richard (Central) and Bryan Voltaggio (Volt); and Ris Lacoste (Ris) and Jamie Leeds (Hank’s Oyster Bar).

A marriage design theme will include wedding-worthy fashions modeled as tableaux vivants throughout the event, as well as wedding cake displays from eight celebrated DC pastry chefs. Organized by prominent food columnist and cookbook author David Hagedorn, the gala's proceeds will benefit the HRC’s Political Action Committee’s fight for marriage equality in Maryland.

Tickets are $150 and can be purchased here. Also available is entrance ($50) to an after-party at Graffiato that will feature small plates by Mike Isabella, Scott Drewno (The Source) and Teddy Folkman (Granville Moore's), as well as cocktails from top talents (6:30 PM event; 1150 22nd Street NW;  707 Sixth St. NW).