Last night, we went to the March of Dimes' 20th annual Signature Chefs Gala at The Ritz-Carlton DC.
Local culinary talents came together to serve a sampling of a tasty dish for a friendly competition; the guests voted for their favorite. We loved Mandu chef Danny Lee's Korean shrimp cracker, Water & Wall chef John Leavitt's duck tongue banh mi, and Dino's Grotto chef Dean Gold's deviled eggs with crispy prosciutto. We snapped Visual Systems Group's Joe Cavucci and First Savings Mortgage's Jeff Blackburn and his wife, Kristin.
Mixologists also got in on the fun, serving specialty cocktails with unique names like Bourbon Steak's "victory goes to the swift," Jack Rose's "highland folk-lour" and Chaplins' "pearl necklace." Here, Garder World Federal Services' Robert Lakin, his wife, Cassandra, and Rapiscan Systems' Iven King.
The votes were tallied, and the people's choice award went to Del Campo chef Victor Albisu, who served ink smoked lamb sweetbread dumplings, panca miso, candied chilis and calamari. Here, Zwillgen's Kelsey Harderode, Anna Myers and Scott Hampton.
Proceeds will go towards the March of Dimes' initiative to end premature births and to help mothers have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies. Here, Northwestern Mutual's Christi Main, Merito Group's Dondi Saunders and Pivotal Moments' Jeana Foster.
