D.C. Top Chefs' Bites Better Than Bark; Washington Humane Society's '11 Sugar & Champagne Affair Sweetest Yet!

Be sure to check out all 117 of our photographs from this event HERE!

WEST END -- With four-legged best friends in tow, hundreds of animal lovers converged at The Ritz-Carlton on 22nd Street Tuesday evening, for the tenth annual 'Sugar & Champagne Affair' benefiting the Washington Humane Society.

Hosted by Chef Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray, this celebration of all things sugary and sweet (with the occasional savory exceptions) has established itself as one of the city's most anticipated culinary events of the year.

'Sugar & Champagne' invites some of the area's most celebrated chefs to showcase their (primarily) dessert talents before an audience of both two-legged and four-legged foodies, while simultaneously honoring the Society's Humane Law Enforcement Officers, Animal Control Officers, and Humane Educators, who patrol the District 24/7 in the crusade against animal cruelty.

They were all there. Bourbon Steak, The Source, Marcel's, Restaurant Eve, PS 7, Art and Soul, Central Michel Richard, and, of course, Gray's own Equinox. The list seemed virtually endless as more than 50 of D.C.'s top restaurants, bars, and food and beverage importers filled the ballroom of the posh downtown hotel.

And there were no 'second-stringers' in the crowd last night. Scott Drewno, Adam Sobel, Robert Wiedmaier, Ed Jiloca, Peter Smith, R.J. Cooper, Clinton Terry, Gina Chersevani, Simo Ahmadi, Art Smith, Carla Hall, and dozens of their peers were all personally to be found behind their respective establishment's burners, fryers, bars, and buffet tables.

Serving double duty as both host and chef, Todd Gray even somehow managed to find the time to cook a few batches of bites himself!

Moreover, four food trucks -- CapMac, DC Empanadas, DC Slices, and Red Hook Lobster Pound -- had pulled-up curbside to the Ritz for the event, in an acknowledgement of the increasing importance such mobile restaurants are playing in the District's food scene.

And with all of the food, drink, and talent graciously donated by the sponsoring hospitality establishments, 100% of the proceeds from Tuesday night's celebration benefited the Washington Humane Society directly.

That will surely buy a lot of kibble!

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To learn more about the WHS or to make a donation, please visit the organization's website.

Be sure to check out all 117 of our photographs from this event HERE!