To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the James Beard Foundation is hosting a series of food festivals and special dinners nationwide.
Here in Washington, DC, a benefit dinner is being offered on September 28th for which James Beard Award winner Jeffrey Buben will bring a select group of chefs – including Ann Amernick (Palena), Ann Cashion (Johnny's Half Shell) and Roberto Donna (Bebo Trattoria) – into his Vidalia kitchen to prepare an epic multicourse meal (6 PM reception, 7 PM dinner; $250 per person; 1990 M St. NW; for tickets, contact Anthony Hesselius at 703-417-2703).
There's free fun to be had too. The James Beard festivities continue the next day at Williams-Sonoma, where chef R. J. Cooper III and others will be hosting a free, all-ages food festival featuring cooking demos, book signings, artisanal food tastings and kids' educational activities (11 AM–4 PM; 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-237-1602).