June 5: Patrick O'Connell of Inn at Little Washington, Richard Sandoval of Zengo and some 60 other culinary stars will serve their best dishes at this dramatically staged dinner and auction benefiting Food & Friends, an organization providing services for people living with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses (6–9:30 PM; $225 per person; Washington Hilton, 1919 Conn. Ave. NW; www.foodandfriends.org).
June 7: Food enthusiasts can watch eight top area toques, including Oceanaire’s Rob Klink and Charlie Palmer Steak’s Bryan Voltaggio, compete for best crab cake honors at this cook-off that will be judged by prominent chefs and media personalities. Wannabe chefs join in on the fun by entering their own prized recipes in the amateur contest division, but everyone gets to sample the chefs' entries and a buffet from host Phillips restaurant – plus sip Bloody Marys and wines – at this fund-raiser for the charitable projects of the American Institute of Wine & Food/DC Chapter (6:30–9 PM; $75 per person; $60 for members; 202-333-0421).
June 17: Chefs and restaurateurs will trade kitchen whites for black ties or boas as they join a host of media personalities at an annual gala honoring the DC restaurant scene; the event kicks off with a cocktail hour followed by a dinner/dance and awards ceremony, with part of the proceeds going to the scholarship program of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (6 PM; $250 per person; Marriott Wardman Park, 2660 Woodley Rd. NW; 202-331-5990; www.ramw.org).