Exciting Chef Talent Coming to Philadelphia for the 12th Annual Great Chefs Event
1,200 foodie philanthropists gather in Philadelphia for the culinary event of the year. Tickets on sale now.

On Tuesday, June 20, more than 40 of the best chefs from across the country and around the world will convene in Philadelphia for the 12th Annual Great Chefs Event. The event will benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and Vetri Community Partnership. More than 1,200 guests will gather from 6-9 p.m. at the beautiful Urban Outfitters, Inc.’s corporate campus in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard for the culinary event of the year. The party will continue into the night at the equally in-demand After Party at Lo Spiedo for chefs, sponsors and VIP ticketholders. General admission and After Party Access tickets are currently on sale at vetricommunity.org and AlexsLemonade.org.

As in years’ past, Marc Vetri has hand-selected the list of participating chefs, calling on friends and respected colleagues from LA, NYC, Chicago, Italy and more. The chefs will donate their time, talent and food, creating delicious samplings indicative of their own personal styles. Participating chefs include both veterans of the event, as well as several noteworthy newcomers. Among the new participating chefs this year are Hugh Acheson of 5 & 10 in Athens, GA; Frank Castronovo & Frank Falcinetti of Frankies Spuntino & Prime Meats in Brooklyn; Derek Dammann of Maison Publique in Montreal, QC; Evan Funke of Felix in LA; Sara Jenkins of Nina June in Rockport, ME; and Ryan Poli of The Catbird Seat in Nashville. Returning chefs include Paul Kahan of Blackbird, avec, The Publican and Big Star in Chicago; Alex Guarnaschelli of Butter in NYC and television personality on The Food Network; and back for the first time since 2013, Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes in Baltimore and star of The Food Network’s Ace of Cakes and Cake Masters.

Several of this year’s participating chefs have also been named finalists in the 2017 James Beard Foundation Awards, including Outstanding Restaurateur, Ken Oringer (Toro, NYC) and Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Service, Michael Solomonov (Cook n Solo, Philadelphia). Also present will be regional Best Chefs finalists: Michael Cimarusti (Connie & Ted’s, LA), Andy Ticer + Michael Hudman (Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Memphis) and Greg Vernick (Vernick, Philadelphia).

The country’s best winemakers, brewers and mixologists will also be present, including Joe Campanale (Annona), Summer Wolff (Indie Wineries, NYC), Stacey Swenson (Dante, NYC), Jesse Vida (BlackTail, NYC), Neal Bodenheimer (Cure), Bill Covaleski (Victory Brewing Company), Tom Kehoe (Yard’s Brewing Co.), Tom Peters (Monk’s Café, Russian River Brewing Company), and Carol Stoudt (Stoudt’s Brewing Company).

In addition to the stellar selection of food and drink, guests will have the opportunity to bid on silent and live auction items. Auction items include one-of-kind culinary experiences, such as private dinners with participating chefs, hard-to-get concert tickets, autographed memorabilia and much more.

At the Great Chefs Event After Party at Lo Spiedo, VIP ticketholders and sponsors of the event will have the exclusive opportunity to rub elbows with all of the event’s talented chefs in a laid back setting. After Party guests can also count on additional bites from BBQ master Adam Perry Lang, Adam Arrison (Sodexo) and Philly favorites Michael Solomonov (CookNSolo) and Jose Garces (Garces Group). The event will also feature specialty cocktails and entertainment.

History of the Great Chefs Event:
Twelve years ago, Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin met Liz and Jay Scott, who were carrying on the work that their amazing daughter Alex had started, to help find cures for all kids with cancer. They were moved by Alex’s story and by the perseverance with which Liz and Jay honored her vision. As many do, they walked away from that conversation asking, “What can we do to help?” Their answer was to host the first Great Chefs Event which brought eight local chefs and 100 guests to The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, raising $50,000 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Vetri and Benjamin, meanwhile, inspired by the impact of their efforts, founded Vetri Community Partnership in 2008 to give back in the area they know most about— healthy food and nutrition for Philadelphia’s youth. The event has been a dual fundraiser for both organizations since 2010 and has inspired culinary fundraisers to fight childhood cancer in NYC, Chicago and LA. Last year, the Great Chefs Event raised nearly $800,000.

Sponsors for the 12th Annual Great Chefs Event include Urban Outfitters, Inc., Advanced Staging, Color Reflections, 452 design, Courtyard by Marriott, Cashman & Associates, Joss Realty + National Real Estate Development, NFI + The Sid & Sandy Brown Foundation, David Stoudt + Martine Lamoreux, Vibrant Development Group, LLC., STARR Restaurants, Permit Capital Advisors, LLC, CHOP – Department of Pediatrics, Love City Brewing Company, The Lurie Family Foundation, Pearl Properties, Melissa & Daniel Tasse, Andrea Biondo, CliftonLarsonAllen, Cozen O'Connor, Kathy + Dan Dugan, Bill + Mary Dankulich, The Ferman Family, Mary Ann + Jes Lawson, Brian Mietz, M&T Bank, Garrett Snider, The Chefs’ Warehouse, Jeff Warden + Heather Chalmers, Bryn Mawr Trust, Law Offices of Craig A. Altman, Chip + Phillis Marshall, Paperless Solutions, Inc., Baldor, DiBruno Bros., Julius Silvert, Samuels & Sons.

Sponsorship opportunities begin at $1,000 and include early access to the event and admission to the After Party. For information on how to become a sponsor, contact Genevieve Lynch at Vetri Community Partnership at [email protected] or 215-600-2630.

General Admission tickets are $350.00 per person; After Party Access tickets include general admission and access to the exclusive After Party and cost $525.00. To purchase tickets, visit vetricommunity.org or AlexsLemonade.org.

2017 Participating Chefs
Hugh Acheson – 5 & 10 – Athens, GA
Timon Balloo – SUGARCANE Raw Bar Grill – Miami + Las Vegas
Franklin Becker – hungryroot.com – NYC
Jonathan Benno + Joshua Smith - New England Charcuterie - Boston
 John Besh – Restaurant August – New Orleans
Chris Bianco – Tratto, Pizzeria Bianco – Phoenix, AZ
 Cesare Casella – Casella’s Salumi Special – NYC
 Frank Castronovo + Frank Falcinetti – Frankies Spuntino & Prime Meats – Brooklyn, NY
 Michael Cimarusti – Providence, Connie & Ted’s – LA
 Derek Dammann – Maison Publique – Montreal, QC
 Kevin Fink – Emmer & Rye – Austin, TX
 Neal Fraser – Redbird – LA
 Katsuya Fukushima – Daikaya – DC
 Evan Funke – Felix – Los Angeles
 Alex Guarnaschelli + Michael Jenkins – Butter – NYC
 Sara Jenkins – Nina June – Rockport, ME
 Donnell Craven-Jones – EAT Café – Philadelphia
 Paul Kahan – Publican Quality Bread – Chicago
 Jenn Louis – Ray – Portland, OR
 Joseph Manzare – TRES – San Francisco
 Tony Maws – Craigie on Main – Cambridge, MA
 James Liuzza – Di Bruno Brothers – Philadelphia
 Drew Nieporent + Shane Lyons – DISTILLED – NYC
 Ken Oringer + Tony Messina – Uni – Boston
 Charles Phan – The Slanted Door – San Francisco
 Ryan Poli – The Catbird Seat – Nashville
 Douglas Quint + Bryan Petroff – Big Gay Ice Cream – NYC + Philadelphia
 Marco Rossi – Ciareghino – Bergamo, Italy
 Jonathon Sawyer – The Greenhouse Tavern – Cleveland
 Kevin Sbraga – Sbraga – Philadelphia
 Michael Schwartz + Bradley Herron – Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink – Miami
 Jon Shook + Vinny Dotolo – Animal – LA
 Nancy Silverton + Dahlia Narvaez – Mozza – Los Angeles
 Daniel Stern – R2L – Philadelphia
 Bill Telepan – Oceana – NYC
 Andy Ticer – Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen – Memphis
 Greg Vernick – Vernick Food & Drink – Philadelphia
 Jonathan Waxman – Barbuto, Jam’s – NYC
 Rocco Whalen – Fahrenheit – Cleveland

Featured Beverage Personalities
1. Joe Campanale – Annona Wines
2. Summer Wolff – Indie Wineries/Iuli
3. Jesse Vida – BlackTail
4. Neal Bodenheimer – Cure
5. Stacey Swenson – Dante
6. Bill Covaleski – Victory Brewing Company
7. Tom Kehoe – Yards Brewing Company
8. Tom Peters – Monk’s Cafe / Russian River Brewing Company
9. Carol Stoudt – Stoudt's Brewing Company

After Party at Lo Spiedo
1. Adam Arrison – Sodexo – Philadelphia
2. Jose Garces – Garces Group – Philadelphia
3. Adam Perry Lang – Serious Barbecue – NYC + LA
4. Michael Solomonov – Cook n Solo – Philadelphia