Chef Nora Pouillon was called a lot of things Monday night, “the first lady of organic food,” “a glorious middle finger against corporate food of the day,” and “the patron saint of Florida Avenue.” The evening, though dubbed a Chef Roast, was actually a string of gushing toasts from those who have known Nora throughout her trailblazing career in organic food, including the Inn at Little Washington’s Patrick O’Connell. When it came time for the chef/owner of Dupont’s Restaurant Nora to speak, she shared “I thought I’d be baked, broiled and roasted, but instead people said such nice things about me.”

The evening benefited the Chef Action Network, a non-profit organization tied to the James Beard Foundation, which tackles critical food issues and sustainability. Tickets for the sold-out event started at $300, and there were close to 400 attendees. We snapped Linda Roth Associate’s Linda Roth with Chef Nora during cocktails. A true cast of characters prepared the four-course seated dinner including Chef Haidar Karoum, Chef Scott Drewno, Chef Cathal Armstrong, and Chef Mike Isabella. Future roasts are in the works.