Ready for some cheffy name dropping?
NoVA chefs Matt Hill (Ruthie’s All-Day), Tracy O’Grady (Green Pig Bistro), Katherine Thompson (Thompson Italian), Seng Luangrath (Padaek) and David Guas (Bayou Bakery) will be among the culinary stars whipping up decadent dishes at this year’s Chefs for Equality event on Oct. 30 at the National Building Museum in D.C.
Now entering its 11th year (and returning after a 3-year Covid hiatus) the foodie extravaganza convenes a veritable who’s-who of the DMV’s brightest dining stars to cook for a cause—the fight LGBTQ+ equality—with proceeds benefiting the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation.
This year’s bash, themed “Plate of Emergency,” raises the alarm on intensified attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, particularly incidents targeting people who are transgender and non-binary. More than 150 local chefs, bakers and mixologists are contributing their talents to the effort.
“The chef community stands at the ready to turn up the heat and fight even harder to protect and promote equality,” says event co-chair David Hagedorn. (Hagedorn is also Arlington Magazine‘s dining critic.)
It’s doing so with fanfare. Hungry guests can look forward to more than 40 tasting stations, many of them staged by Northern Virginia restaurants. Arlington’s Sloppy Mama’s Barbecue will be serving pulled pork and pimiento cheese, while Tysons izakaya Wren will be whipping up crispy gyoza chips topped with king salmon sashimi, Asian pear, kizami wasabi and smoked trout caviar. Also in the mix: hometown favorite Lebanese Taverna and Joselito Casa de Comidas, a sister restaurant to Javier Candon’s Spanish restaurant SER in Ballston.
And of course, the drinks will be flowing, with clever cocktails from 24 mixology stations, plus five beer and wine suppliers, among them Virginia’s Caboose Brewing Co.
One of the fundraiser’s crowning events is a display of show-stopping cakes created by local pastry chefs. Virginia eateries contributing to this year’s desserts spread include Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, Great American Restaurants, Ice Cream Jubilee and Falls Church bakery The Happy Tart.
For party-goers willing to splurge, the offerings also include 13 private chef tables, where diners can enjoy lavish five-course meals (each course prepared by a different celebrity chef) with wine pairings. That’s where you’ll find toques such as Matt Hill and Katherine Thompson donning aprons alongside fellow trendsetters Danny Lee and Scott Drewno (Chiko), Peter Chang, Cathal Armstrong (Mattie & Eddie’s), Victor Albisu (Taco Bamba), Christopher Morgan (Joon), Tim Ma (Lucky Danger) and Kevin Tien (Moon Rabbit, Hot Lola’s), to name a few.
Bayou Bakery and The Salt Line will be among those providing brunchy bites and cocktails for an interactive Drag Brunch Speed Diner (to be accompanied by a live drag show). A “Queerlada Shop,” staged by Cuban café Colada Shop, will offer Latin-inspired dishes, pastries and drinks.
The bash also includes live and silent auctions, a champagne and caviar bar, goodie bags and an after party.
For a complete rundown of participating chefs, restaurants and other event details, visit chefsforequality.org.