The 33rd Annual Chef’s Best Dinner & Auction returns to the Marriott Marquis on June 8, 2026. Furthermore, gourmet tastings transform into life-saving meals.
A Charity Event Voted Best in DC
Food & Friends has perfected this formula across three decades. Moreover, the recognition speaks volumes. In fact, the event earned the 2025 Best Charity Event title from the Washington City Paper Reader’s Poll. As a result, Chef’s Best draws business leaders, philanthropists, and food enthusiasts under one roof.
Every ticket purchased fuels a remarkable mission. Every bite shared sends ripples through the DC region. Ultimately, proceeds prepare and home-deliver two million free, medically tailored meals. Additionally, the program serves 6,000 individuals living with serious or chronic illness, plus their dependents and caregivers.
Thirty-Plus Restaurants Bring Their Signature Dishes
The chef lineup reads like a love letter to DC’s dining scene. Participating restaurants include NUE Vietnamese, Rooster and Owl, Pisco y Nazca, Supra, Hank’s Oyster Bar, Rocklands Barbeque, Maydān, Centrolina, The Fountain Inn, Stracci Pizza, Carmine’s, Vera in Ivy City, Lapis, The Royal, Truluck’s, Pennyroyal Station, Lucha Rosa, Tonic in Foggy Bottom, Medina, Liberty Tavern, Santa Lucia Nicaraguan Coffee, Q Caterers, Wegmans, Binge Bar H Street, The Duck and The Peach, Marib, My Kabul in Laurel Maryland, and Lulu’s Winegarden.
Chef Mauricio Chirinos of Pisco y Nazca serves as Chef Chair, bringing authentic Peruvian flavors shaped by his travels across South America.
How to Attend or Support the Mission
Tickets are priced at $500 and sponsorships start at $1,500. The Gourmet Chef Tastings Reception runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., followed by dessert, program, and live auction at 8:15 p.m. Attire is business cocktail. Get tickets, sponsor, or donate here.
The Washington Lobbyist proudly champions DC events that nourish both palates and purpose. Reserve your seat today and turn one extraordinary evening into thousands of meals delivered with dignity!
LOCATION: Marriott Marquis DC, 901 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 Tickets: $500 | Sponsorships starting at $1,500 Contact: Jenna Smith, Special Events Director — jsmith@foodandfriends.org | (202) 269-6826
