It has been said that nothing brings people together like a good meal. And Common Threads’ First Annual Washington DC “World Festival Culinary Event” proves that old saying still rings true.
Guests from the political world joined the nonprofit and corporate sectors on Wednesday at the Carnegie Institution. Founded by Oprah’s former personal chef Art Smith, Common Threads works to prevent childhood obesity by teaching over 1,300 children across the nation the knowledge and skills of healthy cooking and eating. Through these lessons, Executive director Linda Novick O’Keefe says families are “engaged and empowered reclaim the family meal.”
The District’s most celebrated and talented chefs set up stations for guests to sample mouthwatering food. Chef Scott Drewno from The Source by Wolfang Puck provided a delicious seafood dish as Chef Jamie Leeds from Hank’s Oyster Bar cooked up scrumptious dry rubbed pork chop for guests to enjoy. Bravo’s Top Chef DC Winner Kevin Sbraga beamed over his mix of beetroot gazpacho with goat’s milk cheese and caviar while fellow Top Chef Carla Hall (above right) offered a tempting and spicy platter of vegetable tamales. Susan Soorenko of Moorenkos Ice Cream served scoops of locally-made coconut almond ice cream.While guests munched, Common Threads alumni, like 11-year-old Ogemdi Ukwuani, received hands-on training from DC’s celebrity chefs. A sixth grader, Ogemdi is already a pro at “rock and roll chop” – chopping food at lightning speeds – thanks to Common Threads.
