Top Chefs Gather in Support of LGBT Equality

7/30/2014

WASHINGTON – For the third consecutive year, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, and prominent food writer David Hagedorn are once again bringing together more than 100 of Washington, D.C.’s top chefs, pastry chefs and mixologists for Chefs for Equality, an evening of food, cocktails, fashion and music to benefit the fight for marriage and LGBT equality. The event will be held Tuesday, September 23, 2014 beginning at 6:30 p.m. In addition to the impressive fare, an extraordinary auction will be held in support of LGBT equality.

As they have for the previous two years, Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis of Amaryllis Floral Event + Design will transform the Ritz-Carlton’s ballroom spectacularly to conform to this year’s theme: “Virginia Real”, a nod to the latest state with marriage equality. With the decision by the federal appellate court, the ruling represents the 19^th consecutive federal court victory for marriage equality. The full 4th Circuit can be asked to review the panel’s decision or the case could go directly to the Supreme Court.

While there has been great momentum toward marriage equality, same-sex couples can legally marry in only 19 states and the District of Columbia, while 31 states still have a law or constitutional amendment restricting marriage to the union of one man and one woman.

In addition to 80 chef and mixology stations, Chefs for Equality also features eight personal chefs tables, an opportunity to dine with a pair of superstar chefs and a personal sommelier for a lavish five-course meal at the very front of the stage during the event. The extraordinary chef pairings include Peter Chang of Peter Chang China Café and Scott Drewno of The Source; Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen and Jeremiah Langhorne formerly of McCrady’s in Charleston, SC; Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve and Robert Wiedmaier of Marcel’s; Mike Isabella of Graffiato and Victor Albisu of Del Campo; Jamie Leeds of Hank’s Oyster Bar and Ris Lacoste of Ris; Vikram Sunderam of Rasika and Tony Conte of The Oval Room; Jason Alley of Comfort and David Guas of Bayou Bakery; Bryan Voltaggio of Volt and Tarver King of Patowmack Farm.

In addition to the eight tables for 8 is one stunning table for 16, helmed by the formidable foursome of Fabio Trabocchi of Fiola; Patrick O’Connell of The Inn at Little Washington; Eric Ziebold of Cityzen; and Frank Ruta, formerly of Palena. Michel Richard has joined to provide the dessert course for the table. Mark Furstenberg of Bread Furst will provide the bread for all personal chef tables.

Each personal chef table has a special connection with Virginia and will feature signature Virginia food and drink.

“We are excited to bring attention to the fact that marriage equality is still a very real issue,” says David Hagedorn. “We have the greatest chef community in the country, many of them in Virginia. To have such a dazzling array of talent stand up for marriage equality so generously is truly humbling.”

Tickets for Chefs for Equality are $150 and can be purchased at chefsforequality.org. Additionally, tickets for the after-party at Mike Isabella’s Kapnos restaurant can be purchased separately for $50. All proceeds will benefit the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s nationwide work for LGBT equality.

CHEFS FOR EQUALITY DETAILS:

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

WHEN: Tuesday, September 23, 2014

WHERE: Ritz Carlton, 1150 22^nd Street NW, Washington, D.C.

TICKETS: $150 and can be purchased at www.chefsforequality.org

WHO: Chefs for Equality will feature David Hagedorn and top area chefs and mixologists from restaurants 1789, 2 Birds 1 Stone, 2941 Restaurant, Alba Osteria, Barborsville Vineyards, Barrel, Bastille, Bayou Bakery, Beauchert's Saloon, Birch & Barley/Bluejacket, Black Restaurant Group, BLT Steak, Border Springs Farm, Boss Shepherd’s, Bourbon Steak, Café Dupont, Café St. Ex/Bar Pilar, Carmine's, Cedar, Cityzen, Columbia Room, Comfort, Daikaya, DC Empanadas, DGS Delicatessen, Del Campo, Dolci Gelati, Evening Star Café, Fiola Mare, Firefly, Food Wine & Co., GCDC, Graffiato, Granville Moore's, Hank’s Oyster Bar, Inn at Little Washington, Iron Gate, Jack Rose, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab, Kapnos, Le Diplomate, Makin' Whoopie!, Mandu, Marcel’s, MeatCrafters, Mockingbird Hill, Osteria Morini, Peter Chang China Café, Patowmack Farm, Pinstripes, Pizzeria Orso, Poste, Rappahannock Oyster Co., RareSweets, Rasika, Red Apron, Red Truck Bakery, Restaurant Eve, Ris, Roofers Union, Shake Shack, Stratford University School of Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry, Table DC/Menu-Market/Bistrobar/Kitchen, The Daily Dish, The Hamilton, The Inn at Little Washington, The Oval Room, The Red Hen, The Source, The Swiss Bakery, Tico, Toki Underground, Trummer's on Main, Urbana, Vinoteca, Volt, Water & Wall, Woodberry Kitchen and Zentan.