HRC's Eighth Annual Chefs for Equality to be Held at Washington National Cathedral

by Elliott Kozuch

The evening of food, cocktails and music to benefit the fight for full LGBTQ equality will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2019.

For the eighth consecutive year, the HRC Foundation and prominent food writer David Hagedorn, along 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’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 22, 2019, for the second consecutive year at the Washington National Cathedral -- a beacon for equality for all. In addition to the impressive fare, the event will feature live and silent auctions. All proceeds benefit the HRC Foundation.

“At Chefs for Equality, over 150 of Washington’s greatest chefs, bakers and mixologists create spectacular food and drinks in the name of full LGBTQ equality,” said David Hagedorn, food writer and Chefs for Equality Co-Chair. “This year’s theme, Stirred, Not Shaken, means that rather than be cowed by attacks on our most marginalized communities -- including immigrants, the transgender and non-binary community, people of color and women -- the chef community will fight even harder to protect and promote equality.”

Chefs for Equality features a pre-reveal reception, 50 tasting stations, 20 dessert stations, 20 mixologists and a Champagne lounge. A highlight of the event are 13 personal chef tables, where celebrity chefs prepare a breathtaking five-course meal with wine pairings at lavishly decorated tables for eight, 12 or 16 guests. Celebrity chef groupings for our 2018 tables can be found here.

Chefs for Equality will also once again feature the “5/10/15 Speed Diner” -- 5 dishes/10 chefs/15 minutes -- curated by noted chef Erik Bruner-Yang and supported by Gauri Sarin of the Streetsense Eat+Drink Team. For a $50 add-on, Chefs for Equality ticket holders can purchase a 15-minute time slot at one of four seatings (6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m.) at a 20-person diner-style counter created by Amaryllis Floral + Event Design. Each guest will enjoy a specialty cocktail and a mini five-course tasting menu prepared and served by five pairs of celebrity chefs.

The HRC Foundation touches every aspect of LGBTQ life. Their programs promote: equal access to adoption and foster care; creation of respectful and supportive school environments; increased LGBTQ competency for health care providers; LGBTQ equality in faith communities; adoption of inclusive workplace policies and practices in corporate America; and leveraging their domestic work to have an international impact.

Tickets for Chefs for Equality can be purchased at ChefsForEquality.org.