Capital One Center will host its second annual Culinary Week from July 27 to 31 in Tysons, Virginia, pairing seven ticketed food and drink events with a mission to raise money for World Central Kitchen, the disaster-relief nonprofit founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés.
Last year, the event raised more than $10,000 for the organization, which has served over 600 million meals in response to crises worldwide. All proceeds from this year’s events will again benefit the nonprofit.
Tickets range from $70 to $95. Organizers say strong interest is expected and encouraged guests to book early.
The week offers plenty for the DC-area man looking to sharpen his skills in the kitchen or behind the bar. Hands-on classes and demos cover sushi, pizza and cocktails, led by chefs and mixologists from the center’s growing roster of restaurants.
Things kick off Monday, July 27, with a sushi-making class at Wren inside The Watermark Hotel. Executive Sous Chef Scott Han will walk guests through the art of maki and nigiri rolls, with sake on hand throughout the 5 to 7 p.m. session.
On Tuesday, July 28, Michelin Bib chef Matteo Venini leads a pizza-making class at Stellina Pizzeria. The Lake Como native will show guests how to craft their own Neo-Neapolitan pies, paired with Italian wine and cocktails. That same evening, Jose Salgado, winner of last year’s Cocktail Contest, hosts a private craft cocktail class at the Naisho Room, the hidden lounge at The Watermark Hotel.
The week’s two marquee events land midweek. On Wednesday, July 29, the Battle of the Chefs takes over The Perch Great Lawn from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Seven executive chefs will compete for the crowd’s vote based on taste, creativity, presentation and storytelling. The outdoor reception, billed as “A Sunset Showdown,” takes guests on a tour through Italy, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, the Mediterranean and beyond.
Thursday, July 30, brings the Cocktail Contest at Ometeo, the Tex-Mex spot named the Restaurant Association of Washington’s 2024 Restaurateur of the Year. Six mixologists will battle for audience votes at the restaurant’s outdoor bar and patio, mixing drinks inspired by global flavors. Also on Thursday, Sisters Tysons hosts a Dine & Demo dinner featuring a four-course menu built around certified Thai rice varieties, with Chef France demonstrating how to make crab curry mousse steamed in banana leaves.
The week wraps Friday, July 31, with a lunchtime pizza class back at Stellina, again led by Venini.
Guests will also get a preview of the culinary talent behind La Omri, a Mediterranean restaurant set to open at the center in late 2026. The concept comes from the team behind Georgetown’s Villa Yara, and its name translates to “to the love of my life.”
Capital One Center is located at 1803 Capital One Drive in Tysons. Tickets for all events are available through the center’s Eventbrite page.
Whether you’re planning a date night, a team outing or a solo crash course in knife work, Culinary Week offers a rare chance to eat well and give back in one stop.
