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Capital Food Fight is Back!

Chefs from Cranes, Leni, Oohh’s and Aahh’s, and The Point DC Face Off During DC Central Kitchen’s Baddest Night of Doing Good on April 7th, Presented by craigstable

After going virtual in 2020, DC Central Kitchen’s iconic Capital Food Fight returns live and in person for a raucous night of fighting hunger on April 7th at The Anthem, presented by craigstable. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 18th at www.capitalfoodfight.org.

We are thrilled to be finally returning to The Anthem and celebrating the 18th Capital Food Fight with our family of supporters this April. Our city’s people and restaurants have been through so much, and this year’s event will celebrate what we have accomplished and overcome together while looking toward a brighter future” says DC Central Kitchen CEO Mike Curtin. “We are so grateful for this year’s presenting sponsor, craigstable, the hunger-fighting coalition formed by legendary philanthropist Craig Newmark. craigstable’s support was instrumental to our record-setting delivery of 6 million emergency meals during the pandemic.” Newmark is also a leading supporter of DCCK’s transformational new 38,000 square foot headquarters, the Klein Center for Jobs and Justice, which is set to open on Buzzard Point later this year and more than double DCCK’s training and meal production capacity.

First hosted in 2004 by DC Central Kitchen Board Chair Emeritus José Andrés, Capital Food Fight has long been a favorite event of food lovers, TV stars, and philanthropists alike. Some of the District’s biggest culinary names have battled on the Capital Food Fight stage over the years, and 2022 will be no different! Cranes Chef/Partner Pepe Moncayo, Chef Brittanny Anderson from Leni, Oohh’s & Aahh’s Chef Oji Abbott, and The Point DC’s Executive Chef Benjamin Lambert will face off in head-to-head cook-offs on the main stage featuring secret ingredients. Each dish will be judged by a panel of culinary icons, including Top Chef’s lead judge, restaurateur, and James Beard award-winning chef Tom Colicchio, Food Network star and renowned chef Maneet Chauhan, Top Chef season 10 winner and star of truTV’s Fast Foodies Kristen Kish, and James Beard award-winning chef and TV personality Andrew Zimmern.

Celebrity chef and DC-based restaurateur, Spike Mendelsohn, and local media personalities Tommy McFly and Kelly Collis return as the evening’s host and MC’s, respectively, to keep things entertaining from the main stage with one of DC’s most in-demand performers, DJ Neekola, on the decks all night long as attendees feast on delicious bites from more than 50 of the DMV’s best restaurants.

Tickets are available for purchase at www.capitalfoodfight.org starting on Friday, February 18th at 9 am. General admission tickets are $325, with VIP access going for $550. VIP ticket holders will have exclusive access to the second floor with balcony seating and full open bar. All proceeds from the event, including donations and silent auction, go to support DC Central Kitchen’s ongoing mission to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities.

Special thanks to the 2022 Capital Food Fight presenting sponsor craigstable (Craig Newmark Philanthropies), along with showcase sponsors CoBank, DoorDash, and Occasions Caterers. This year’s pantry is sponsored by Whole Food Market with additional secret ingredients provided by Bowery Farms, Keany Produce, and Land O’ Lakes. Further appreciation goes to our executive chef sponsors, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clark Construction, CPR Multimedia Solutions, Raytheon Technologies, Wells Fargo, and Appliances A Better Way (ABW), and sous chef sponsors, Bank of America, AARP Foundation, PNC, and Aramark. For a full list of 2022 sponsors and information on remaining availability, please visit capitalfoodfight.org/sponsors.

Capital Food Fight is a 100% vaccinated event. All attendees and staff must present proof of vaccination at the door. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.capitalfoodfight.org.

ABOUT craigstable/Craig Newmark Philanthropies

After his success with craigslist, Craig Newmark felt that those who do well should take less and give more. To that end, he established Craig Newmark Philanthropies & craigstable to share in ways that are meaningful and contribute to the common good, supporting groups that are doing good work defending the values this country aspires to, like fairness, opportunity, and respect. Find out more at craignewmarkphilanthropies.org.

ABOUT DC CENTRAL KITCHEN

DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. Our approach provides hands-on culinary job training while creating living-wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed in our city. We serve scratch-cooked farm-to-school meals in DC schools; deliver fresh, affordable produce to corner stores in neighborhoods without supermarkets; provide delicious catering; and operate fast-casual cafes that also provide on-the-job training. DCCK has been featured in national media including The Washington Post, The Atlantic, National Geographic, PBS NewsHour, and more. To learn more, visit dccentralkitchen.org or follow @dccentralkitchen on Instagram and @dcck on Twitter.

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EDITORIAL NOTE:

There will be a limited number of media passes available to this year’s event. To request passes or discuss promotional opportunities, please contact Director of Communications Mel Gold at mgold@dccentralkitchen.org.

Photos from past Capital Food Fights are available upon request.