Gourmet Gala

The 31st Annual March of Dimes Gourmet Gala was a fundraising dinner with a unique Capitol Hill flavor. Celebrity chefs, including Members of Congress and other Washington dignitaries, participated in a competitive cook-off during the cocktail reception. Each served guests hors d’oeuvres based on their own recipe. View Congress Members' recipes.

The event included the presentation of six awards and also celebrated the March of Dimes 75th Anniversary and its accomplishments from polio to prematurity. View photos of Gourmet Gala 2013.

This year’s winners are:
• BEST IN SHOW: Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) and Marty Hinojosa’s Guacamole

• BEST PRESENTATION: Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) and Jeanie Lamborn’s Garden of the Gods Mixed Green Salad with Crispy Parmesan Tuiles

• HEALTH AND HAPPINESS: Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX) and Suzanne Conaway’s Spinach Balls

• AMERICAN REGIONAL CUISINE: Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Carolyn Coburn’s Bison Sliders

• EASIEST PREPARATION: Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) and Bobbi Barrasso’s PIG “TAILS”

• PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Congressman Alan Nunnelee (R-MS) and Tori Nunnelee’s Slow Cooker Grits with Bourbon Mushrooms

Celebrity chefs:

U.S. Senators/Spouses: The Honorable John Barasso, Wyoming; The Honorable Mark Begich, Alaska; The Honorable Roy Blunt, Missouri; The Honorable Richard Burr, North Carolina; The Honorable Dan Coats, Indiana; The Honorable Tom Coburn, Oklahoma; The Honorable John Cornyn, Texas; The Honorable Lindsey Graham, South Carolina; The Honorable Johnny Isakson, Georgia; The Honorable Carl Levin, Michigan; The Honorable Jim Risch, Idaho; The Honorable Pat Roberts, Kansas; The Honorable Tom Udall, New Mexico;.

U.S. Representatives/Spouses: The Honorable Robert Aderholt, Alabama; The Honorable Sanford Bishop, Georgia; The Honorable Vern Buchanan, Florida; The Honorable Steve Cohen, Tennessee; The Honorable Mike Conaway, Texas; The Honorable Joe Crowley, New York; The Honorable John Dingell, Michigan; The Honorable Lloyd Doggett, Texas; The Honorable Bill Flores, Texas; The Honorable Phil Gingrey, Georgia; The Honorable Ruben Hinojosa, Texas; The Honorable Jack Kingston, Georgia; The Honorable Doug Lamborn, Colorado; The Honorable Robert Latta, Ohio The Honorable Tom Latham, Iowa; The Honorable Dave Loebsack, Iowa; The Honorable Mark Meadows, North Carolina; The Honorable Jeff Miller, Florida; The Honorable Alan Nunnelee, Mississippi; The Honorable Ed Pastor, Arizona; The Honorable Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico; The Honorable Bill Posey, Florida; The Honorable Tom Price, Georgia; The Honorable Hal Rogers, Kentucky; The Honorable Mike Rogers, Michigan; The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard, California; The Honorable David Scott, Georgia; The Honorable Lee Terry, Nebraska; The Honorable Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania; The Honorable Filemon Vela, Texas; The Honorable Ted Yoho, Florida.

Other special guests include: Speaker John Boehner; Bret Baier, anchor from FOX News Channel; The Honorable Saxby Chambliss, Georgia; The Honorable Gene Green, Texas; Dr. Jennifer Howse, March of Dimes President; Elizabeth Roosevelt Johnston, Great-granddaughter of March of Dimes founder, President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Gala Co-Chairs: Mrs. Julianne Chambliss (Georgia) and Mrs. Helen Green (Texas). Finance Committee Co-Chairs: Bryan Anderson (Southern Company) and Marc Gonzales (USTelecom Association). View the Gourmet Gala fact sheet for more information, including a complete list of commitee members.

Celebrity Judges: Paul Zucconi, Celebrity Judge Chair and founder - La Colline Restaurant; Ris Lacoste, Ris; Roger Wiles, Bistro Français; Joey Zucconi, Belga Café.

Regional Sponsor: LOCKHEED MARTIN, MICROSOFT and AIRLINES FOR AMERICA

Additional Sponsors: Aflac, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Chevron, ComcastNBCUniversal, FedEx, Grant Thornton LLP, Merck, Pinnacle West Capital Corp., Sanofi, Shell, United Parcel Services, Verizon, DirecTV, Dominion Resources, Home Depot, Loews Corp., Marathon Oil Corp., National Association of Realtors, TE Connectivity, United Technoogies Corp. and the sponsors listed below.

Media Sponsors: CQ Roll Call and Washington Life

Our local sponsors