National Zoo To D.C.: ‘We Want To Have You For Dinner.’

NORTHWEST -- Ravenous two-legged animals of a more human variety roamed the grounds of the Smithsonian National Zoo on Thursday evening, during the institution’s signature springtime food tasting benefit dubbed ZooFari.

Photo: Joy Asico / REVAMP.com
Hundreds of the city’s top restaurants, bars, and cocktail programs joined together for the warm weather fundraiser that supports the Zoo’s conservation, research, and education programs.

Photo: Joy Asico / REVAMP.com

Photo: Joy Asico / REVAMP.com
In addition to supping and sipping on culinary creations from the likes of Bandolero, Bar Pilar, Equinox, Estadio, FUJIMAR, Marcel's, Michel Richard Citronelle, Plume at The Jefferson Hotel, PX, Rosa Mexicano, and even Whole Foods Market, ticketholders were treated to a smorgasbord of entertainment options, including live music, animal demonstrations, and a silent auction.

Judging of the ‘Sweet Eats Challenge’ was clearly a somber affair (Photo: Joy Asico / REVAMP.com).

Team #3’s award winning confection (Photo: Joy Asico / REVAMP.com).
Capital One Bank sponsored an especially popular ‘Sweet Eats Challenge’, which pitted teams of talented pastry chefs against one another in a contest that sought to establish the best zoo-themed cake, as elected by “Top Chef” finalists Spike Mendelsohn, Mike Isabella, and a variety of other prestigious judges (Team #3 won btw).

Photo: Joy Asico / REVAMP.com

Photo: Joy Asico / REVAMP.com
Slithering in on the fun (that’s what lizards do, right?), GEICO also created a special ‘Gecko Exhibit’ that let attendees meet the company’s mascot himself, in addition to playing games for the chance to walk home with a $500 gas card, among other prizes.

Photo: Joy Asico / REVAMP.com
It was enough to make Washingtonians go ape over all the fun...