DC Central Kitchen Capital Food Fight

DC Central Kitchen, with support from Presenting Sponsor Tyson Foods, is hosting its annual Capital Food Fight Thursday, November 6 at The Anthem. The event benefits DC Central Kitchen’s ongoing work to fight hunger and poverty through job training and job creation in our nation’s capital. Guests will enjoy a thrilling stage show featuring four rising stars of DC’s culinary scene, tastes from more than 70 restaurants and bars from across the region, and appearances from some of the biggest names in food.

What:                 Capital Food Fight 2025

When:                Thursday, November 6, 2025

Doors open at 6pm; Battles begin at 6:30pm

Where:              The Anthem, 901 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Tickets:            Available online at capitalfoodfight.org

This is a 21+ event

Chef Spike Mendelsohn and Tommy McFly head a notable lineup of celebrity judges, including Chopped judge and Iron Chef competitor Amanda Freitag, Hawaiian cuisine innovator and James Beard Award winning chef & restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi, Top Chef All-Star Eric Adjepong, Mr. National Ryan Zimmerman, and television personality and New York Times cookbook bestseller Rocco DiSpirito. They will be judging offerings featuring secret ingredients created during thrilling head-to-head culinary battles on stage between 2025 RAMMY Rising Chef of the Year Surseh Sundas of Daru and Tapori, Chef Julie Cortes of Kayu (formerly at Michelin Bibb Gourmand recognized Kaliwa), Chef Matt Price, aka “Mr. Make It Happen” of Fraiche, and Fava Pot’s Owner and Chef Dina Daniel.

Main Event tickets, which include unlimited bites from more than 70 restaurants, open bar, and entertainment activations throughout the venue, are $350. A limited number of exclusive Front Row Experience tickets are available for $725, which include access to a stage-front lounge area featuring small bites and drinks from The Bazaar by José Andrés + Jaleo, Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants, Fish Shop helmed by 2023 CFF Champion Ria Montes, and more. Tickets are available online at capitalfoodfight.org.

Some of this year’s silent auction highlights include a jazz & dining trip for two to New Orleans, a golf trip to Monterey, California for two, a suite for 18 at Capital One Arena, Owners Tickets for a Washington Capitals game, courtside seats for a Washington Wizards game, dinner for six at home catered by Chef Fabio Trabocchi, dinner for two at The Inn at Little Washington, and a handful of amazing staycations. The silent auction will be open to the public starting on Thursday, October 23 for everyone who wants to support DC Central Kitchen, even those who can’t attend the event on November 6.

Special thanks to this year’s Presenting Sponsor Tyson Foods, as well as our Pantry Sponsor Wegmans, and Showcase Sponsors CoBank, Instacart, and Lineage Foundation for Good; Executive Chef sponsors ADM, Bloomberg Philanthropies, DoorDash, and Elevance Health; and Sous Chef sponsors AGNC, AARP Foundation, CareFirst, Clark Construction, Cuisine Solutions, Guest Services, Hilton, Nestle, PNC Bank and Singer. With additional thanks to Keany Produce & Gourmet, B&W, and Meat & Livestock Australia who are providing this year’s secret ingredients for the culinary battles. For a full list of this year’s sponsors, please visit capitalfoodfight.org/sponsors.

All proceeds from Capital Food Fight, including tickets, silent auction, and additional donations, support DC Central Kitchen’s essential programs, from providing culinary job training to previously unemployed adults to serving scratch-cooked school meals to delivering fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables to corner stores. For more information about DC Central Kitchen, visit dccentralkitchen.org.