Taylor Gourmet Founder Orchestrates Star-Studded Chef Event at MGM

An annual charity event to fund pediatric cancer research that in the past put out warehouse club snack trays this year plans to serve high-end fare from Rammy Award-winning chefs including Haidar Karoum and Victor Albisu.

Taylor Gourmet co-founder Casey Patten, culinary chair of the 13th annual Chance for Life event scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 10, at MGM National Harbor, has been involved with the fundraiser since day one.

“There were guys who brought shrimp from Costco, cheese plates, and I brought hoagies from Taylor,” he says. “It’s been a very amazing experience but there was a food piece missing out of the element.”

The first people he called in his quest to upgrade the menu were friends Danny Lee (Mandu, Chiko) and Scott Drewno (Source, Chiko).

The full lineup of participating chefs and restaurateurs, expected to be announced on February 9, snowballed from there: Albisu (Del Campo, Taco Bamba); Karoum (Chloe); Kyle Bailey (Salt Line); Michael Friedman (Red Hen, All-Purpose); and Katsuya Fukushima (Daikaya, Haikan, Bantam King) will handle the food, while drink maven Gina Chersevani (Buffalo & Bergen) coordinates a “gambling driven” cocktail program, says Patten.

The event will kick off with an all-day, 700-person poker tournament hosted by 14-time World Series of Poker winner, Phil Hellmuth, followed by the chef’s tasting, then a surprise live performance and after party.

All proceeds from tickets — $500 for the poker portion and $250 for the tasting and after party — go towards vital pediatric cancer research at Children’s National Health System and the mission of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

“We have been able to build culinary dream team,” says Patten. “No one gets a buck for doing it. A lot are taking out of their own pocket to make it happen — it’s all about the donation of time and food for a cause.”