Great chefs once again gather to support Alex’s Lemonade

There’s a charity food event almost every weekend in Southern California. But there’s only one L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade. Hosted by Suzanne Goin, Caroline Styne and David Lentz, it always draws some of the nation’s best chefs.

This year’s event, scheduled for Sept. 20 at UCLA’s Wilson Plaza, looks to be no exception. Already signed up are cooks from all over the country, including Michael Anthony from Gramercy Tavern in New York, Chris Bianco from Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, Donald Link from Cochon and Herbsaint in New Orleans, Barbara Lynch from No. 9 Park in Boston, Russell Moore from Camino in Oakland, Nancy Oakes from Boulevard in San Francisco, and Marc Vetri from Vetri in Philadelphia.

And that’s just the out-of-towners. Local chefs include Roy Choi (Chego, Pot, etc.), Michael Cimarusti (Providence, Connie & Ted’s), Tom Colicchio (Craft), Scott Conant (Scarpetta), Ben Ford (Ford’s Filling Station), Jeremy Fox (Rustic Canyon), Neal Fraser (BLD), Ray Garcia (Fig), Ludo Lefebvre (Trois Mec, Petit Trois), David LeFevre (MB Post, Fishing with Dynamite), Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill), Zoe Nathan (Huckleberry) and Michael Voltaggio (INK).

This is the fifth Southern California event to benefit Alex’s Lemonade, a foundation devoted to funding research into childhood cancer. Last year, more than 1,000 people attended, raising more than $500,000.

Alex’s Lemonade was founded in 2000 when 4-year-old Alex Scott, who had cancer, announced that she wanted to start a lemonade stand to help fund research into the diseases. It has now raised more than $80 million to fund more than 450 pediatric cancer research projects.

Tickets for the event are $195, and there is a special $1,200 VIP ticket that includes early admission and a special chef’s dinner the night before.