Top Chefs from Washington, D.C. Area to Lend Culinary Skills at 14th Annual St. Jude Gourmet Gala

Preparations are underway for the 14^th annual St. Jude Gourmet Galapresented by The Heisley Family Foundation on Feb. 21 in Washington, D.C. The gala is guaranteed to satisfy the savviest of palettes while raising support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®, one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of childhood cancer and other deadly diseases.

Date:                Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Time:                5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Location:          National Building Museum

                         401 F Street, NW

                         Washington, D.C.

Led by Honorary Chair and Chef Geoff Tracy, more than 40 top chefs from the area’s finest restaurants will lend their culinary skills to create a memorable experience for more than 750 business, financial and political leaders.

“It’s an honor to share our talents at an event that will help St. Jude find answers to save the lives of countless children,” said Tracy. “On a lighter note, the gala presents the perfect setting for collaboration among some of the industry’s best and a friendly competition to produce the perfect dish.

Attendees will vote for their favorite dish of the evening to determine which chef is the winner of the Taster’s Choice Award. Last year’s award recipient was Chef Scott Drewno from The Source by Wolfgang Puck who prepared spicy tuna tartare-filled sesame miso cones with shaved bonito and tobiko. Additionally, guests may choose to participate in live and silent auctions, featuring items such as a trip to Memphis to tour St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

To date, the St. Jude Gourmet Gala has raised approximately $3 million for the hospital, which opened its doors 50 years ago. St. Jude relies primarily on the public’s generosity to support its lifesaving mission. It costs $1.7 million to operate the hospital every day, with more than 75 percent of that funding coming from the public through fundraising events like the Gourmet Gala. And in keeping with its mission, families never pay St. Jude for anything. St. Jude covers the cost of treatment, travel, lodging and food for each patient and a family member.

The following D.C. area restaurants will present delicious tastings at the 14^th annual St. Jude Gourmet Gala:

Adour                                                Avalon Caterers                               Bar Pilar    

BGR The Burger Joint                          Bistro Bis                                        BlackSalt Restaurant      

BLT Steak                                           Blue Duck Tavern                            Bourbon Steak      

Brabo                                                 Brasserie Beck                               Café Atlantico     

Café Saint-Ex                                      Cakelove                                       Capital Grille of Washington DC         

Central                                               Charlie Palmer Steak                      Chef Geoff's                 

CityZen                                              CommonWealth                              Eamonn’s      

Edward Marc                                       Equinox                                         Estadio      

Fiola                                                  Firehook Bakery                              Founding Farmers      

Gastropub                                          Georgia Brown’s                              Graffiato      

Hank’s Oyster Bar                               Harth                                             Indique     

Indique Heights                                  Jaleo                                              J&G Steakhouse       

J. Paul’s                                             KAZ Sushi Bistro                              Lebanese Taverna        

Lia’s                                                  Lima Restaurant & Lounge                Love Café    

Maggiano’s Little Italy                         Marcel's                                          Masa 14           

Matchbox                                           Michel by Michel Richard                  Michel Richard Citronelle    

Mussel Bar                                         Oyamel                                          Paolo’s Ristorante     

Park Hyatt                                          Peacock Café                                  Potomac’s Founding Fathers       

Proof                                                 PX                                                  Restraurant Eve    

Restaurant Nora                                 Ris                                                 Rogue 24                     

Ronald Reagan Building – Intl.            Trade Center                                    Santa Lucia Estate Coffee     

Sou’Wester                                        Taberna del Alabardero                    The Majestic    

The Source by Wolfgang Puck             Vermilion                                         Vidalia      

Watershed                                        Westend Bistro                                 Willow Restaurant          

Zaytinya                                           42° Catering