Recap: Capital One Center Culinary Week to Benefit World Central Kitchen
Capital One Center hosted its inaugural Culinary Week to benefit World Central Kitchen July 14th – July 18th, offering nine unique culinary-centric experiences at each of the award-winning restaurants. Thanks to the many sold-out events and generosity of guests, Capital One Center raised $10,000 for World Central Kitchen.
Capital One Center has become a dynamic entertainment center and dining district, with five restaurant openings in the past 18 months, including a new “hidden bar”. Culinary Week participating restaurants and bars represented high-quality local operators, and have received many accolades, including:
- Wren: Meaning “Love” in Japanese, Wren is The Watermark Hotel’s sophisticated yet approachable concept featuring Japanese street food fused with modern American elements. Awarded Virginia’s Restaurant of the Year by the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association in 2022, and the 2025 Best Hotel Restaurant by DC’s Best of Luxury Travel Awards.
- Ometeo: Rooted in Tex-Mex tradition and heightened by a passion for local seafood, Ometeo leans into the dichotomy of the Texas border cuisine and strong coastal influences. Awarded the Restaurant Association of Washington’s Restaurateur of the Year (awarded to Ometeo’s management team, Long Shot Hospitality).
- Stellina Pizzeria: Stellina Pizzeria is an upscale casual Italian concept featuring Neo-Neapolitan pizzas, homemade pastas, and desserts with style and dynamic energy. Awarded the Top 50 Artisan Pizzerias in the World (2024), and recognized with a Bib Gourmand the Michelin Guide for five consecutive years.
- Sisters Tysons & Flore Cafe: Opened in November 2024, Sisters Tysons & Flore Cafe have become a quick favorite among the foodie influencer community, known for its elevated approach to Thai street foods, high tea experience, dessert and cafe concept, and visual aesthetics in full bloom.
- Starr Hill Brewpub: The second addition from Starr Hill at Capital One Center, Starr Hill Brewpub complements popular live-music destination Starr Hill Biergarten at The Perch. The America-themed menu offers 20+ beers, cocktails, ciders and wines, and award-winning brews, with programming ranging from live music to trivia.
- Perch Putt’s Rhum Roost: Rhum Roost is a playful tiki bar at Perch Putt (18-hole mini golf experience 11 stories in the sky at The Perch) and features frozen libations and unique cocktails.
- Naisho Room: A new “hidden bar” at The Watermark Hotel with a secret location…if you know, you know…
The culinary experiences offered during Capital One Center’s Culinary Week were great for teambuilding, summer socials, date nights – and even for parents looking for a fun summer activity with their children.
A few highlights of the week’s activities:
- Battle of the Chefs with four restaurants competing for the audience’s vote based on taste, creativity, presentation, and storytelling. This curated experience took guests on a culinary journey through Italy, Japan, Thailand, and Mexico, with artisanal dishes representing each restaurant. Wren’s Chef Yo took home the prize with his American Wagyu Flap Loin and a banana cream and miso caramel pâte à choux. It was a lively event with a DJ, emcee, and special appearances including the Tysons Community Alliance Executive Director, Katie Cristol, who unveiled the new Tysons East Restaurant Guide showcasing the many dining opportunities near the McLean Metro Station.
- Capital One Center’s Cocktail Contest was another opportunity for the audience to cast their vote, featuring cocktail craftsmen from five award-winning restaurants who competed based on creativity, presentation, and storytelling. Naisho Room’s Jose Salgado took home the winning title with his smokey, umami Mezcal “The Last Pandan.” During this two-part experience, guests could enjoy beverage samples at Wren, and a preview of the newly opening Naisho Room.
- Additional Culinary Week classes ranged from making Summer Rolls and Mocktails at Sisters Tysons to Sushi Making at Wren, to multiple Pizza Making classes at Stellina Pizzeria with Michelin-Bib Chef Matteo Venini (kid-friendly classes for parents and children, and classes for adults with Italian Cocktails) — and Ometeo’s Borderlands Cookbook & Tasting Dinner with acclaimed author, chef, and James Beard Award-winner Hank Shaw in collaboration with Chefs Kyle Bailey and Gabe Erales.
- The week concluded with a Culinary Crawl offering curated tastings at Starr Hill Brewpub, Sisters Tysons, Ometeo and Stellina Pizzeria. During this capstone event, Capital One Center announced the $10,000 fundraising milestone for World Central Kitchen.
“It was truly a pleasure working with the Capital One Center team during such a successful Culinary Week. We are so grateful to have been part of such a meaningful and well-executed initiative, and also really appreciate the opportunity to not only deepen our relationship with Capital One, but to raise awareness about our mission with so many incredible individuals and restaurants. Thank you for making that possible and for being such a thoughtful and generous partner every step of the way.” Melanie Collins Diaz, World Central Kitchen.
Proceeds from Capital One Center Culinary Week Benefit World Central Kitchen
Founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen (WCK) is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises. A model of quick action, leveraging local resources, and adapting in real-time, WCK has served more than 500 million nourishing meals around the world. Learn more here.
Capital One Center is a 35 acre mixed-use development in the heart of Tysons, VA. Anchored by the headquarters of Capital One, Washington DC's hometown bank, and home to its over 12,000 associates in the region, Capital One Center is quickly transforming the skyline and the cultural landscape of Fairfax County. This 3 million sq. ft. development is a vibrant arts & entertainment destination which includes a large skypark, The Perch—complete with Starr Hill Biergarten, food trucks, and an 18-hole miniature golf course, Perch Putt—and a 300-all-suite hotel, The Watermark Hotel, numerous retail and dining options, and most notably a world-class corporate events and performing arts center, Capital One Hall. In 2023 Capital One Park opened doors to a baseball stadium which hosts college, high school, and tournament games.
