Pink Tie Party

Washington’s petal partiers will gather for the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s signature Pink Tie Party fundraiser on Wednesday, March 20 from 7:00 to 11:00pm. The Party, held on the first day of spring and the Festival, kicks off the 2013 celebration of the 101st anniversary of the gift of trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC, held through April 14. Venezuelan-born chef, restaurateur, television host and published author Lorena Garcia hosts the event.  One of the country’s leading Latina chefs, Lorena’s passion and charisma is the perfect complement to an evening that celebrates innovation and creativity, also seen throughout the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

The seventh annual fundraiser, presented by Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and ESCADA Cherry in the Air, kicks off the season of the blossoms at the Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel (999 Ninth Street, NW).  Guests embrace the Party’s theme donning pink ties and springtime styles.  Host chef Lorena Garcia has been a judge on NBC’s “America’s Next Great Restaurant,” a guest chef on the season finale of Bravo’s “Top Chef All-Stars,” and has competed on season four of Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters.”  In August 2012 she opened her second traveler’s restaurant, Lorena Garcia Tapas at the Atlanta Airport, in the wake of her flagship Lorena Garcia Cocina in Miami.  Her first cookbook, Lorena Garcia’s New Latin Classics, was published in September 2011. Active in the community and a staunch advocate to fight childhood obesity, she created the Big Chef, Little Chef program that explores healthy cooking through hands-on workshops for families. She has also recently collaborated with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to bring fresh, healthy and tasty recipes into thousands of school cafeterias across the country.  The programs are examples of her commitment to health and well-being of America’s families.

In a delicious start to spring, top restaurants and esteemed chefs throughout metro-DC create enticing cherry, blossom, spring and Festival-inspired dishes for the Party. More than 35 restaurants participate, including Ambar, Art and Soul, Bistro Bis,Charlie Palmer Steak, El Centro D.F., Farmers Fishers Bakers, Founding Farmers,LINCOLN, The Majestic, Masa 14, Teddy & The Bully Bar, Todd Gray’s Watershed Restaurant, RIS, Vidalia, Woodward Table, and ZENGO.

A spectacular silent auction contributes to the evening’s fundraising efforts, including alluring weekend getaways as well as unique dining, concert, sporting, and theater experiences.  Proceeds benefit the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, to support its events and programs that are largely free and open to the public.  Admission, $200 per person, can be purchased online at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/pinktie.