Last year’s Chef’s Best Dinner. (Photo courtesy of Food & Friends)

The 21st annual Chef’s Best Dinner and Auction, presented by ING, is Monday at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave., N.W.).

Guests will get tastings from some of the region’s culinary stars while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support children and adults facing HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses.

“Fifty-five of Washington’s greatest chefs preparing dinner for 1,500 of Washington’s best guests. All gathered to raise more than $800,000 to provide one million meals,” said Craig Shniderman, executive director of Food & Friends.

The Celebrity Chef Chair this year is Patrick O’Connell, the executive chef and proprietor of The Inn at Little Washington. Some of the other celebrity chefs involved are Kate Jansen from Willow, Michael Gassett from Logan Tavern, Vincenzo Belviot from la Tomate, Penny Karas and Tess Wolf from Hello Cupcake and more.

There will also be live and silent auctions featuring travel opportunities such as seven nights in Sydney, Australia, a week in Costa Rica and weekends in New York and San Francisco as well as other items like a cooking class with O’Connell, a case of rare wine or exclusive artwork.

There is a VIP reception for sponsors and special guests that begins at 5:30 p.m. and the main event starts at 6:30 p.m.

Individual tickets are $250 or $225 if purchased through a table host.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit foodandfriends.org/chefsbest.