Art Smith Celebrating Obama Inauguration with a Chef’s Ball

Art Smith courtesy Hernan F. Rodriguez

Oprah-confidant and two-time Top Chef Masters contestant Art Smith isn’t going to wait until February for the restaurant season’s next reason to celebrate. His Washington, DC restaurant, Art and Soul, will be the late-night spot to celebrate President Obama’s next swearing-in with a “Chef’s Ball” on January 19th. Co-chaired by Art and Soul executive chef Wes Morton, the event will also include five other DC chefs—including Top Chef All-Stars finalist Mike Isabella of Graffiato, Kapnos and G, and Hell’s Kitchen Season 3 winner Rock Harper of DC Central Kitchen.

A $75 donation includes food and beverage, while $125 gets guests in early for a VIP reception, with the proceeds benefitting the charities of all of the chefs’ choices, including Common Threads, The James Beard Foundation, The Cambodian Children’s Fund, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Washington D.C.’s Jewish Community Center and D.C. Central Kitchen. Not only is the event for all manner of good causes, it’s the last chance to catch Art and Soul before it closes for renovation two days later. Click here for tickets and info.