Common Threads Host it’s First D.C. Female Chef Takeover

On Tuesday, November 13, Common Threads held its first D.C. Chef Takeover dinner at the old Naval Hospital, Hill Center DC to help raise funds for Common Thread’s Washington DC-based nutrition education and hands-on cooking programs for under-resourced communities. The night celebrated female talent in the D.C. metro area as several of the region’s most celebrated female chefs and culinary personalities presented creative and nutritious dishes exclusively developed for the event to support the organization’s mission of healthy eating and diversity through food.

Participants included:

• Ana Bran-Leis – Taqueria del Barrio
• Mikala Brennan – Hula Girl 
• Ruth Gresser – Pizzeria Paradiso 
• Johanna Hellrigl – Doi Moi
• Jamie Leeds –  Hank’s Oyster Bar
• Bonnie Moore – Willowsford
• Tracy O’Grady – 1789
• Valerie Zweig and Taryn Pellicone – Prescription Chicken
• Michelle Poteaux – Bastille Brasserie & Bar

Ruth Gresser, chef of Pizzeria Paradiso spoke about how “food is food”. People should use ingredients that are food and not ingredients. “If you can’t pronounce the name of something, don’t put it in your food.” She explained the importance of using ingredients and that will keep you eating right and nutritious. Gresser continued to explain that it is not the role of a chef to make others eat healthy, but when a chef has an interest in healthy and nutritious value of food, they showcase that to the world and others can become interested as well.

Common Threads organization was created to bring health and wellness to children, families and communities through cooking and nutrition education creating a community of learners that embrace healthy cooking, healthy eating and healthy living as both a life choice and a human right. This year Common Threads provided hands-on cooking skills and nutrition education to 98,268 children, parents, caregivers, and educators at schools and education sits.

There were even some student chefs at the event showcasing their homemade Beet Crostinis.

Common Threads also partnered with PepsiCo and its nutrition operation Food for Good to support its #BackpacksforGood campaign, encouraging attendees to help fill backpacks of shelf-stable food that will be sent to Martha’s Table, a Common Threads D.C. program partner. Aligning in Common Threads’ mission to healthy eating, PepsiCo’s Food for Good tackles child hunger by making nutritious food more accessible for low-income families.

Common Threads put on a great DC Chef Takeover, honoring women in the food industry and raising funds for healthy cooking and nutrition education programs.

To read more about Common Threads, check out their website.

Thank you Common Threads for your great work and an awesome event!