Join FRESHFARM For a Silver Anniversary Celebration Under the Stars!
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The Feast, Washington, DC's original farm-to-table fundraiser, celebrates FRESHFARM's 25 transformative years at a stunning new venue with an unmatched chef lineup and exclusive live auction packages. It all takes place Wednesday, October 19th from 6pm to 9pm, you won’t want to miss what is one of DC’s foodie-insider celebrations of the year. And the bonus? A discount code for Edible DC readers!
Edible DC spoke with FRESHFARM’s Director of Communications, Juliet Glass, to learn more about all the details of this year’s must-go-to event.
Edible DC: Last year’s Feast was a big departure for FRESHFARM; instead of a seated dinner you re-imagined the event as a casual, rooftop reception. Which direction are you going in for this very special year, FRESHFARM’s Silver Anniversary?
FRESHFARM: We wanted to build on the success of last year's Feast format, so this year's fête will be similar—an outdoor cocktail reception serving locally sourced cocktails and appetizers. For the first time, we are hosting the event at Potomac View Terrace near the National Mall. This new location is stunning and attendees will get unparalleled views of the District's most iconic sights: the Capitol Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Potomac River and other icons of the DC skyline.
Edible DC: In addition to the new venue, what else is being unveiled for FRESHFARM’s Silver Anniversary celebration?
FRESHFARM: This celebration will be worthy of our milestone year. We’re thrilled to introduce the Founders Awards, honoring the legacy of co-founders Ann Harvey Yonkers and Bernadine Prince by acknowledging the transformative contributions of community members and organizations to support FRESHFARM’s mission. For this inaugural awards year, we’re awarding the Founders Award for Innovation & Change to District of Columbia Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, recognizing her tireless advocacy around child health, school-based well-being, and building an equitable food system in the District. We are also thrilled to award City National Bank with the Founders Award for Spirit of Service for their longstanding support of FRESHFARM and their critical guidance during the pandemic helping FRESHFARM secure a Paycheck Protection Program loan that was absolutely critical to our survival. The loan helped FRESHFARM chart a sustainable path forward and allowed us to continue to serve the community during an unprecedented public health emergency.
Edible DC: One of the most exciting things about the Feast is the amazing food prepared by DC’s most acclaimed chefs—can you share who is cooking this year?
FRESHFARM: This year is going to be so much fun. The chef cohort runs the gamut from returning Feast chefs to newcomers, but what unifies the group is a passion for cooking with the seasons and for honoring the growers behind the ingredients. So far the lineup includes: culinary legend Cathal Armstrong, chef/owner of Kaliwa who served as Feast coordinating chef for several years; Matt Baker of the Michelin-starred Gravitas and Michele’s; Five-time James Beard Award nominee and returning Feast chef Amy Brandwein of Centrolina and Piccolina; returning Feast chef Kat Petonito, top toque of Capitol Hill hot spot The Duck & The Peach along with her pastry chef Rochelle Cooper; James Beard Award finalist Haidar Karoum, chef/owner of Chloe; Washington native and Nina May co-owner/executive chef Colin McClimans; Aisha Momaney, pastry chef at Baker’s Daughter, Gravitas and Michele’s; returning Feast chef and FRESHFARM producer Daniela Moreira of Call Your Mother, Timber Pizza, and Mercy Me; and returning Feast chef Rob Rubba of the plant-forward, Michelin-starred Oyster Oyster who just earned a coveted spot in Food and Wine’s “Best New Chefs in America” 2022 round-up.
Edible DC: Wow, an all star lineup. And what about the drinks program, what do you have planned?
FRESHFARM: We work with an amazing network of local distillers and brewers that sell at our farmers markets. We are so honored that several of them are Feast beverage sponsors, so that the drinks will be just as rooted in Mid-Atlantic flavors as the food. Capitol Cider House, Cotton & Reed, District Made Spirits by One Eight Distilling, Don Ciccio & Figli, Republic Restoratives Distillery, and Right Proper Brewing Company will each host their own drink station and pour bespoke, District-made libations.
Edible DC: The Feast Live Auction is always one of the best nonprofit auctions in the city, what are some planned items for this year?
FRESHFARM: We’re really excited about the auction, featuring truly unique travel and culinary experiences. Packages this year feature a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Galapagos Islands, donated by the Embassy of Ecuador, as well as other international and domestic travel and dining experiences. Other highlights include an intimate, at-home dinner party prepared by chef Gerald Addison, a DC native and co-owner and co-executive chef of Bammy's, and past co-owner and co-executive chef of Compass Rose and Maydan; and an Eastern Shore weekend escape curated by co-founder Ann Harvey Yonkers.
Edible DC: Sounds great! Where can readers get tickets and what do they include?
FRESHFARM: Tickets are $250 and include unlimited food and drinks, and Edible DC readers get $50 off using the code EDCFeast. All proceeds support FRESHFARM’s work to create a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable food future in the Mid-Atlantic region. Claim your ticket now and join us in celebrating the countless people that believed in building a better local food system when we started in 1997, and worked tirelessly to make FRESHFARM what it is today!
FRESHFARM is a nonprofit based in Washington, DC, that works to create a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable food future. We develop innovative ways to solve critical problems across our regional food system and connect people to their food through hands-on education, farmers markets, and food distribution programs. The largest area farm market organization, FRESHFARM operates nearly 30 farm markets across DC, Maryland, and Virginia which are inclusive community spaces to enjoy local food, improve health, and support local farmers and food producers.
For more about the FEAST, to buy a ticket or make a donation, go here.
