As a slight detour from restaurants and cooking, I wanted to share with you a pretty awesome magazine that recently launched, Jarry. A magazine for gay men who love food. Or as their website puts it: "Jarry brings together a community of gay chefs, eaters, artisans, writers, photographers, artists, and industry influences, and celebrates the art of gay domesticity." I discovered Jarry through their Kickstarter campaign and received the first issue last month, it's more than just a magazine, it's more like an almanac of food with great recipes, stunning photos and some pretty attractive chefs - Anjelica Houston's personal cook anyone?
Read MoreDining: Peking Gourmet Inn
There are plenty of ways to prove you've lived in the DMV to call it home, but unless you've eaten at Peking Gourmet Inn in Falls Church I think you need to pass the baton. In a nondescript strip-mall off of Leesburg Pike, with its red and yellow signage, Peking Gourmet looks like any other Chinese restaurant. Except the people waiting outside., there are always people waiting outside. Forget Rose's Luxury, this is the original restaurant people waited in line for.
Peking Gourmet is a machine like operation, it's larger than it looks and its walls are adorned with photos of famous people who have eaten there, above the doorway is both Presidents Bush and family, including Jeb! The restaurant churns over tables with amazing efficiency, but not pushy were the waiters are standing over you with a check. In fact, it's the house specialty that actually takes time, fine tuned to precision - the Peking Duck.
Read MoreTravel: Chicago
There's more to experience in Chicago than any one weekend can allow, many people go for its architecture but I went for its food. And it'd take me many more weekends to get a true sense of what the city has to offer, alas, I only had two days so I scoured online and asked for recommendations, but I think the best way to experience the city is to crash with a friend and hijack their weekend. I was fortunate enough to stay with a friend (thanks Josh) who enjoys food as much as I do, and despite only having lived in Chicago for a year he was well versed in where to go and what to eat. So that's what we did.
Read MoreEvents: You Eat, We Donate
It's been four years since Chefs for Equality made its debut, and still remains one of the best events on the DC calendar, and not just food events. On October 20th chefs and mixologists from across the region will gather at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC to raise money and awareness in the continuing fight for equality, this years theme is "RFRain from Discrimination!"
If you can't make it to the actual event you can show your support by heading to one of DC's local eateries: Taylor Gourmet, Shake Shack, Cava Grill and &pizza, for during the month of October they will each be donating proceeds from certain menu items to Chefs for Equality.
Taylor Gourmet: 10% of proceeds from the sale of its risotto ball appetizer
Shake Shack: for every "Pumpkin Pie Oh My" concrete sold they'll donate $2
Cava Grill: a portion of proceeds from each of its seasonal Greek minestrone soup sold
&pizza: for each Kiss + Fire pizza sold they'll donate a portion of the proceeds
Chefs for Equality takes place on Tuesday, October 20th at The Ritz-Carlton, West-End. General admission tickets are $200 and can be purchased here.
Image: Chefs for Equality/HRC