Red, White & Brut

Last night's French International Culinary Institute's fete at the Washington Club promised lots of Moet & Chandon champagne, samplings from our area's top French chefs, a chance to meet the kitchen gods themselves, art, a silent auction, a raffle for bottles of bubbly,  cookbook signings and did I mention champagne? And it delivered to a crowd who paid up to $75 a ticket. Chef Michael Chretien of redDog Cafe proffered his French/American mac and cheese featuring chevre and gorgonzola; Chef Patrick Orange of La Chaumiere had samplings of pate on crudite (light as air and delicious). He said his knee was bothering him--an old hockey injury from years of playing in high school--who knew? Chef Jacques Haeringer of my family special-occasion favorite, L'Auberge Chez Francois signed his cookbook for me while I dug into the tray of signature cookies at the signing table. All the food- basil vichysoisse, pate, macaroons-- was magnifique; the many gracious chefs, including Michel Richard of Citronelle and Central, Hugh Cossard of Food Expression and Peter L'Heureux of Cuisine Mondiale (to name a few) made  for a wonderful evening full of friendly toasts, art, food and fun. Vive le France!