Fashion icon Tim Gunn to emcee event featuring marriage equality advocate
Gov. Martin O’Malley

WASHINGTON– Today the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced that Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who signed marriage equality into law earlier this year, will be the featured guest at Chefs for Equality. In addition, the event will be emceed by fashion icon and television personality Tim Gunn. Chefs for Equality, an evening of food, cocktails, fashion, music and an extraordinary auction, will raise awareness and critical funds just weeks before voters decide the fate of marriage equality in Maryland. The event will be co-hosted by HRC and prominent food columnist and cookbook author David Hagedorn. Chefs for Equality will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Music will be provided by DJ Shea Van Horn.

“Chefs for Equality will feature Washington’s best chefs and great food all for the cause of marriage equality in Maryland,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We are honored to partner with David Hagedorn in bringing together an unprecedented number of chefs for what promises to be an evening of fine dining with a passion for equality.”

"I'm honored to be part of HRC's Chefs for Equality event as we work to protect marriage equality at the ballot box in Maryland," said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. "As Marylanders VOTE FOR QUESTION 6 on Election Day, Maryland will become the first state in the nation to successfully defend marriage equality at the ballot box, but we cannot do it without the hard work and support of so many including the Human Rights Campaign."

“Marriage equality is an important issue to me personally,” said David Hagedorn. “I’m thrilled to bring together leaders of the culinary community for a very special night to uphold Maryland’s law giving all its citizens the right to marry the one they love.”

Hagedorn is particularly excited by the nine Personal Chef tables (available for auction right now on the chefsforequality.org website), where award-winning chefs will work in pairs to cook five-course menus for tables of eight right in the middle of the action.

These duos include: Spike Gjerde (Woodberry Kitchen) and Erik Bruner-Yang (Toki Underground); Cathal Armstrong (Restaurant Eve) and RJ Cooper (Rogue24); Michel Richard (Central) and Bryan Voltaggio (Volt); Vikram Sunderam (Rasika) and Nicholas Stefanelli (Bibiana); Ris Lacoste (Ris) and Jamie Leeds (Hank’s Oyster Bar); Enzo Fargione (Elisir) and Peter Smith (PS7s); Victor Albisu (Taco Bamba) and Amy Brandwein (Chef AmyB); Nora Pouillon and Todd Woods (Restaurant Nora) with Haidar Karoum (Estadio/Proof); and Cedric Maupillier (Mintwood Place) and Devin Bozkaya (Westend Bistro). A top-flight sommelier will offer each Personal Chef table an exclusive wine pairing.

Bidding for these tables, which includes the price of the eight Chefs for Equality tickets, will no doubt be vigorous. “They are truly unique offerings and I know the chefs plan to pull out all the stops for them,” says Hagedorn.

Attendees will be greeted by a bevvy of beverage options from acclaimed area mixologists, including Derek Brown of The Columbia Room, Gina Chersevani of Eddy Bar, John Harris of Firefly, Rachel Sergi of Jack Rose and Todd Thrasher of TNT. Guests will also enjoy creative tasting stations from 25 DC area restaurants, including BLT Steak, Cork Wine Bar, Estadio, Kaz Sushi Bistro, Wit and Wisdom, Cedar and Pearl Dive Oyster Bar.

Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis of Amaryllis Floral + Event Design generously donated their services to design the entire event, whose theme revolves around the concept of two people joining together. Wedding-worthy fashions, donated for auction by clothiers such as Michael Andrews Bespoke and Carine’s Bridal Atelier, will be modeled as tableaux vivants throughout the event. The areas top pastry chefs will offer as dessert that evening cutting from elaborately designed wedding cakes.

Tickets for Chefs for Equality are $300 and can be purchased at chefsforequality.org. All proceeds will benefit the Human Rights Campaign Political Action Committee’s fight for marriage equality in Maryland.

In addition to the main event, an after-party will be held at Graffiato Restaurant at 10 p.m., featuring small plates by Mike Isabella, Scott Drewno of The Source and Teddy Folkman of Granville Moore's, as well as cocktails from top mixologists, including Jon Arroyo of Founding Farmers, Ari Wilder from Fujimar, Michael Searles from Virtue Feed and Grain and Gina Chesevani of Eddy Bar. Tickets for the after-party are $50.

CHEFS FOR EQUALITY DETAILS:

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

WHEN: Wednesday, October 24, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, 1150 22^nd Street NW, Washington, DC

WHO: David Hagedorn, Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis of Amaryllis Floral + Event Design and top Washington chefs and mixologists, including:

VICTOR ALBISU, TACO BAMBA