Chefs For Equality – a Cause Worth Eating For!

I have really great news for DC Fundraisers and Foodies in our Nation’s Capital – DC has reached Foodie Destination! OK, so maybe there are still quite a few events with poor food and bad drinks, but after recently attending the Capital Food Fight, the Washingtonian Brunch & Bloody’s event and Wednesday, October 24th’s Chef’s For Equality event, I noticed many of the same restaurants and chefs showcasing different sides of their culinary ability. The bad news is I didn’t get a list of dishes from last night’s event – I was spending too much time tasting, drinking and a bit of hobnobbing – but let’s just say there wasn’t a bad dish! What made this event extra Foodie was that there was also a Cocktail focus and some of the top Mixologists in our region like Todd Thrasher and Adam Bernbach went all out to impress the crowd.

The Evening’s cause was to raise awareness and votes for Same-Sex Marriage Rights in Maryland – since I support same-sex marriage but I’m really focused on Food and Drink Events, here are the details on the politics of the event from the Human Right’s Coalition. Also, Washingtonian had a nice article with some Chef gossip and the details on the political cause. Other Articles include the Washington Blade which mentions MD Gov. O’Malley’s speech at the event, Tim Gunn from Project Runway was a speaker at the event as well, you can read more at MyFoxDC’s Coverage. I’m all for political causes and fundraisers, but I feel it’s my duty to stay focused DC’s culinary experiences.

Below is a list of participating chefs and Mixologists as well – I was able to copy the links to most of the restaurants so it’s also a nifty way to find out more about each establishment. I’ll try to update the dishes if I can get a list of them, but alas, this is mostly a Publicity post right now – I REALLY like to include more food information – Cheers!

Participating Chefs

Find out more about DC’s top culinary chefs participating in this special event.

• Victor Albisu, Taco Bamba – is currently holding Pop-ups at
• José Andrés, ThinkFoodGroup
• Sebastien Archambault and Peter Brett, Blue Duck Tavern
• Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve
• Jon Arroyo, Founding Farmers
• Kyle Bailey, Birch and Barley
• Ian Bens, Juniper
• 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
• Travis Croxton, Rappahannock River Oysters
• Noah Dan, Pitango Gelato
• Scott Drewno, The Source
• Enzo Fargione, Elisir
• Teddy Folkman, Granville Moore’s
• Mark Furstenberg, Bread Furst
• Georgetown Cupcake
• Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen
• Dean Gold, Dino
• Todd and Ellen Gray, Equinox
• David Guas, Bayou Bakery
• Thomas Hall, 901 Restaurant
• Scot Harlan, Green Pig Bistro
• Michael Harr, Food, Wine & Co.
• Jerry Hollinger and Zena Polin, The Daily Dish
• 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
• Jody Manor, Bittersweet
• Dennis Marron, Poste Moderne Brasserie
• Jon Mathieson, BLT Steak
• Cedric Maupillier, Mintwood Place
• Aaron McCloud, Cedar
• Harper McClure, The Federalist
• Raynold Mendizabal, Fujimar
• Clayton Miller, Wit and Wisdom
• Mary Lee Montfort, Mary Lee’s Desserts
• Wes Morton, Art and Soul
• Terry Natas, Carmine’s
• Kaz Okochi, Kaz Sushi Bistro
• Nelson Paz, The Ritz-Carlton, DC
• Padua Player, Susan Gage Caterers
• Christophe and Michelle Poteaux, Bastille
• Nora Pouillon and Todd Woods, Restaurant Nora
• Leslie Poyourow, Fancy Cakes by Leslie
• Beau Ramsburg, Rettland Farm
• Michel Richard, Central
• Kimberly Robinson, Makin’ Whoopie
• Omar Rodriguez, Oyamel Cocina Mexicana
• Craig Rogers, Border Springs Farm
• Lara Stuckey, Fluffy Thoughts Cakes
• 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
• Paul Yeck, Jaleo DC
• Steve Yoon, Sushi Rock
• Demetrio Zavala, Lincoln

Featured Mixologists

• Adam Bernbach, Proof / Estadio
• Derek Brown, Passenger / Columbia Room
• Gina Chersevani, Hank’s Oyster Bar
• Jeff Faile, Fiola
• Matt Ficke, Columbia Room
• Jon Harris, Firefly
• Corey Polyoka, Woodberry Kitchen
• Michael Searles, Virtue Feed & Grain
• Rachel Sergi, Jack Rose
• Andrew Shapiro, Green Pig Bistro
• Colin Sugalski, Toki Underground
• Bryan Tetorakis, Rogue 24
• Owen Thomson, Volt
• Todd Thrasher, TNT/PX Restaurant/The Majestic/Society Fair/Virtue Feed & Grain
• Ari Wilder, Fujimar
• Rob Yealu, The Federalist

Charlie “I Drink on the Job” Adler