WASHINGTON 鈥� With breathtaking views of Georgetown, the Potomac River and Theodore Roosevelt Island, The Kennedy Center鈥檚 River Terrace is a favorite gathering spot for preshow selfies and intermission musings.
But on Sunday night, the overlook was a working kitchen.
More than 100 cooks bustled about the tented terrace, pushing stainless steel carts past long tables lined with nearly 2,000 glass plates, all waiting to be topped with circular towers of tuna and black truffle tartare 鈥� the first course of the formal dinner that followed the 41st Kennedy Center Honors.
鈥淭his has been weeks of planning and engineering to get to this moment,鈥� said Ed Brown, chef and president of Restaurant Associates, the culinary company that oversees The Kennedy Center Honors dinner, and has for the last 30 years.
鈥淎nd we [will] start thinking about next year鈥檚 tomorrow,鈥� he said.
Many are familiar with the televised version of the Kennedy Center Honors 鈥� the nation鈥檚 lifetime achievement awards for those in the arts. But most don鈥檛 know that after the red carpet walk and star-studded tributes, the audience of A-list celebrities, politicians and distinguished guests all sit down for a multicourse meal in the Kennedy Center鈥檚 Grand Foyer.
And after this year鈥檚 awards, everyone dined on licorice-braised short ribs, squash puree and baby white turnips. Two-tier, silver-plated dessert trays rounded out the evening.
鈥淭his is a restaurant-quality dinner,鈥� said Brown, who has overseen Michelin-star kitchens and food service for venues such as the Lincoln Center and for events such as the U.S. Open.
鈥淭he food is simple and elegant, and that matches the event.鈥�
The Kennedy Center is a public memorial that hosts guided tours, free concerts 鈥� even weekend yoga. Its accessible and varied programming is a bonus for visitors, but can prove tricky when the lobby needs to transform into a lavish dining room for 2,000 in a matter of hours 鈥� complete with floral centerpieces, crisp linens and menu cards fit for Cher.
It鈥檚 a task that takes Tom Durkee, Restaurant Associates鈥� director of catering at The Kennedy Center, months of planning and a staff of more than 300 to execute.
鈥淭he pressure is always high, but our staff is very used to it,鈥� said Durkee, who initiated the dining room setup at The Kennedy Center around 10:30 p.m. the night before the event.
Sunday morning, the team arrived to finish the job, and they stayed until the early hours of Monday morning to pack it all up.
鈥淲e have to [break down] tonight because The Kennedy Center is, of course, a memorial and it opens at 10 a.m. tomorrow,鈥� Durkee said.
Serving high-profile people is the norm for Durkee and his team. Hands don鈥檛 shake when plates are set down in front of honorees such as Reba McEntire, and nerves don鈥檛 rattle when pre-dinner calls come in with special requests.
鈥淭he days of Rolling Stones and all that stuff are over. I think a lot of the focus now is really on healthy living, and that鈥檚 what the celebrities are doing, so our challenges now are fulfilling those needs, and so finding obscure items that are healthy, organic and vegan,鈥� Durkee said.
Salmon and acorn squash were a few alternative dishes on-hand at the dinner for those who opted out of the short ribs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big deal and it鈥檚 a privilege to be a part of this event for so long,鈥� Durkee added.
For more on the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors, check out 草莓传媒’s interviews with honorees on the red carpet. The recorded broadcast will air on CBS Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. ET.聽聽
