by contributor Wendy Gordon
Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan
Hope Sweet Hope
It’s a tradition. What has been a dessert fete extraordinaire every year at Citronelle in Georgetown, Michel Richard’s annual Sweet Hope dessert event to benefit St. Jude’s Research Hospital took place at Central Michel Richard this year—but as usual there was nothing half-baked about it.
Over 300 guests flocked to the bistro on Pennsylvania Avenue with the price of admission, an unwrapped toy, to be sent to the children at St. Jude’s—a gift for all in this season of giving.
The restaurant served up everything from chocolate cookies and hot cocoa to macaroons, tarts, Richard’s legendary chocolate bars and more from Central’s kitchen; long tables with such a embarrassment of confectionary riches, the mind boggles.
Photo credit: Wendy Gordon of Michel Richard (R)
Photo credit: Wendy Gordon
Photo credit: Wendy Gordon
This event was as much for the generally adult restaurant crowd as for the kids. An ‘elfin’ balloon sculptress fashioned birds, swords, hats and more for the smaller members of the occasion’s entourage while the Georgetown Visitation Madrigal Singers from Georgetown Visitation school added seasonal musical interludes.
Although the party was scheduled from 1-3 p.m., dinner guests were also offered a dessert sampler with proceeds going to St Jude’s, augmenting the afternoon’s donations.
A pet cause of Chef Richard, founded by actor Danny Thomas, the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. No child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
