As the Mubadala Citi DC Open began matches in the District, the city also got served some tennis tastes with the return of Citi Taste of Tennis at La Vie on Sunday evening.
The celebration was hosted by WTA Tennis Pro Jessica Pegula and Tennis Channel’s Nick Monroe alongside Chef Kevin Tien.
And a court of pro tennis players was spotted in attendance, including Gael Monfils, Elena Svitolina, Belina Bencic, Marcelo Arevalo, Lloyd Glasspool, JJ Wolf, Robin Haase, Maximo Gonzalez, Alexis Galarneau, Ugo Humbert, Petra Martic, and more — all sampling cuisine from restaurants around the city.
From La Vie’s elegant Southwest Waterfront set-up, guests enjoyed jackfruit tacos and braised beef slides courtesy of Chef Mac & Chef Pinke (Flavorture), Shawarma Grill Lamb Chops courtesy of Chef Juan Rivera (La Vie), Short Rib Paratha Tacos courtesy of Chef Bader Ali (Gerrard Street Kitchen), as well as delights from Chef Alessandra Begggiato (Dolci Gelati), Chef Jassi Bindra (Amrina The Woodlands), Chef John Mooney (Bidwell), Chef Scheyla Acosta (Cashion’s Rendezvous), Chef Shorne Benjamin (Saint Lucia Tourism), Chef Javon Cummins & Mixologist Dameain Williams (Barbados Tourism), Chef Keem Hughley (Bronze), Chef James Thomas (Café Riggs), Chef Ugo D’Agnese (Dolci Gelati), Chef Ryan Hackney (Chaos), and Chef Satha Boyd (NARA-YA).
Plenty of Segafredo Zanetti Coffee espresso cocktails, Zonin bubbles, and VOSS bedazzled bottles added extra sip and sparkle to the soiree as attendees mingled with their favorite tennis stars and danced to the tunes of Najah Lewis, musician BJ Simmons, and DJ Mad Linx into the night.
