#1 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
The 35th annual celebration of area restaurants welcomed more than 2,300 attendees to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on July 30. Prior to entering, guests walked along a display with the names of Rammy Chef of the Year honorees from the past 20 years, reminiscent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Guests were served food from the embassies of Korea, Argentina, Peru, and Chile. Produced by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, the ceremony featured the handing down of 21 awards. Chef of the Year honors went to Tarver King, of Restaurant at Potowmack Farm, while Hazel nabbed the Restaurant of the Year award. Next: Summer 2018
#2 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
The 12th annual food fest will feature chefs Guy Fieri, hometown favorite José Andrés, Carla Hall of The Chew, and Rammy winners. Set to feature samplings from more than 50 area restaurants in its Grand Tasting Pavilion, the event also will include 200 specialty food exhibitors in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and is produced by E.J. Krause & Associates. Interactive offerings during the event include the BBQ Bash, hosted by Top Chef finalist Marjorie Meek-Bradley, chef of Smoked & Stacked. Sponsorship is provided by the Lincoln Motor Company, Cooking Light, Geico, Yelp, and others. Next: December 9-10, 2017
#3 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #4)
Following 2016’s cancellation due to Winter Storm Jonas, the ninth annual event was held January 28 and 29 at the Newseum. On the first night, about 900 guests visited tasting stations from 57 restaurants, mixologists, and others. Sponsors JetBlue and Whole Foods, respectively, provided a lounge with two cocktails—the Window and Aisle—and game-day food in a nod to February’s Super Bowl. On the second night, 70 chefs from around the world, including 49 from Washington, hosted dinners in 35 homes for 600 guests. Collectively, $600,000 was raised for a duo of charities: D.C. Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table. The affair was founded and hosted by a trio of James Beard winners: chefs Alice Waters and José Andrés and cookbook author Joan Nathan. Next: January 27-28, 2018
#4 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #6)
A shift to R.F.K. Stadium Festival Grounds from Pennsylvania Avenue allowed for a bigger food festival on October 7 and 8, with more than 65 area restaurants participating and 50 wines serving on the Taste of D.C. Wine Walk. Entertainment was on three stages, including one with culinary demonstrations from regional chefs. The area’s biggest Oktoberfest celebration took over a section of the festival grounds, while a Kids Zone was added. A chili-eating contest was held, along with a tailgate party featuring a chili cook-off, barbecue dishes, and beer. The event was presented by Events D.C. in partnership with Brainfood, a nonprofit youth organization focused on educating and empowering local children. Next: Fall 2018
#5 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
Raising more than $30,000 for the Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation, some 12,000 foodies and wine aficionados gathered on National Harbor’s waterfront April 29 and 30. Produced by Trigger Street, the event featured chef demonstrations by Scott Drewno of the Source by Wolfgang Puck, Victor Albisu of Del Campo and Taco Bamba, Seng Luangrath of Thip Khao, Marjorie Meek-Bradley of Smoked & Stacked, and Rock Harper of RockSolid. Live music was provided by Bobby McKey’s Boombox, Johnny & the GI’s, and Texas Chainsaw Horns. Next: April 28, 2018
#6 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #7)
Held on both Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues, the June event featured plates of beef brisket, pork, chicken, and lamb prepared by some of the nation’s top barbecue joints for about 100,000 guests. Entertainment included three stages featuring performances by 30 bands, the World’s Largest Traveling Grill, Nathan’s Competitive Eating contests, area sports teams, and more. A military cook-off, in which all branches of service took part, benefited the U.S.O. of Metropolitan Washington. The Capital Area Food Bank also received aid from the event, which has been called a “Top 10 BBQ Event” by the Travel Channel. Next: June 23-24, 2018
#7 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #8)
Presented by the H.R.C. Foundation and event creator David Hagedorn, the sixth annual edition brought in food and drink stations courtesy of 150 local chefs, pastry chefs, and mixologists. Held September 19 for the first time at Dock5 at Union Market, the event featured nine personal chef tables where attendees could share a five-course meal with celebrity chefs including Marjorie Meek-Bradley, Katsuya Fukushima, Pichet Ong, Edward Lee, Tarver King, and Bryan Voltaggio. Also on tap were 18 multi-tier wedding cakes in protest of an upcoming Supreme Court case involving a Colorado baker who refused the business of a same-sex couple, citing religious beliefs. A new event this year was the 5/10/15 Speed Dinner, where guests could buy tickets for 15-minute time slots to enjoy a mini five-course tasting prepared by five pairs of celebrity chefs. All proceeds benefit the foundation’s nationwide L.G.B.T.Q. equality education efforts. Next: Fall 2018
#8 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (new to the list)
For D.C. Central Kitchen’s November 16 fund-raiser at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, more than 80 area restaurants fed 1,200 guests while four local chefs battled. Judges were chef Joseph “JJ” Johnson, CNN’s Ana Navarro, Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, and television personality Adam Richman. Founded and chaired by chef José Andrés, the fight raised $638,000. It was co-hosted by chef Spike Mendelsohn, Tregaye Fraser, and Fanny Slater of Food Network’s Kitchen Sink. New this year was a mobile app for guests to learn about the dishes being served, participating restaurants, and more. Sponsors—feted in a pre-event gathering—included Smithfield Foods, American Airlines, Whole Foods,, and others. Next: Fall 2018
