For the seventh consecutive year, HRC Foundation and prominent food writer David Hagedorn with Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis of Amaryllis Floral + Event Design are bringing together the capital region’s top culinary talent for Chefs for Equality, Washington, D.C.’s premier food event. The evening of food, cocktails, and music to benefit the fight for full LGBTQ equality will be held on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 for the first time at the Washington National Cathedral — a beacon for equality throughout the Washington, D.C. area. In addition to the impressive fare, live and silent auctions benefiting the HRC Foundation will be held.

“Chefs for Equality is an opportunity for the D.C. culinary community to come together to enjoy incredible food and drinks while re-dedicating ourselves to the fight for full LGBTQ equality,” said David Hagedorn, food writer and Chefs for Equality Co-Chair. “This year’s theme, Deliciously Defiant, encourages attendees to resist the hateful policies and rhetoric of Trump-Pence Administration, which threatens freedom, especially that of LGBTQ people, women, people of color, immigrants and others daily. It makes the work done by the HRC Foundation — and the funds raised at this event — all the more critical.”

The jewels of the Chefs for Equality crown are the 11 personal chef tables — an opportunity to dine with celebrity chefs for a lavish five-course meal right in the middle of the action during the event. Celebrity chef groupings for these tables can be found here.

The centerpiece table seats 16 guests, matched with Washington’s most celebrated fine dining chefs, including Amy Brandwein, Centrolina; Caitlin Dysart, Centrolina; Kevin Tien, Himitsu; Robert Wiedmaier, Marcel's; Gerald Addison, Maydan and Compass Rose; and Christopher Morgan, Maydan and Compass Rose.

As they have for the previous six years, Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis of Amaryllis Floral + Event Design will transform the Chefs for Equality venue into a wonderland, while serving as two of the event’s premier sponsors.

Chefs for Equality will also once again feature the “5/10/15 Speed Diner,” — 5 dishes/10 chefs/15 minutes — curated by chef Erik Bruner-Yang and supported by Gauri Sarin of the Streetsense Eat+Drink Team, with a specialty cocktail prepared by mixologist impresario Adam Bernbach of Estadio. For $50, Chefs for Equality ticket holders can purchase a 15-minute time slot for a seat at a 20-person diner-style counter, created by Amaryllis Floral + Event Design. Once seated, each guest has 15 minutes to enjoy a specialty cocktail and a mini five-course tasting menu prepared and served by five pairs of celebrity chefs. Slots are available at 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 o’clock. To buy seats at the counter, email chefstickets@hrc.org. (Tickets for Chefs for Equality must first also be purchased).

All proceeds will benefit the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s nationwide educational work for LGBTQ equality. The HRC Foundation works to educate the public and provides training and model policies that alter the fundamental nature of the institutions governing the everyday lives of LGBTQ people everythwere. The HRC Foundation touches every aspect of LGBTQ life with programs that target our most sensitive and vulnerable interactions: helping with equal access to adoption and foster care; creating respectful and supportive school environments; helping healthcare providers increase LGBTQ competency; engaging in dialogue around LGBTQ equality in faith communities; helping corporate America adopt inclusive workplace policies and practices; and leveraging our domestic work to have an international impact. The critical work of the HRC Foundation enhances the lived experiences of LGBTQ people and their families by changing hearts and minds across the country and beyond.

Tickets for Chefs for Equality can be purchased at hrc.im/ChefsTickets. The full list of participating chefs, pastry chefs, bakers, and mixologists can be found at ChefsForEquality.org.