Richmond-area chefs serve up heart-healthy bites at charity event
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond-area chefs served up heart-healthy bites to hundreds of people Monday night during a special American Heart Association charity event emceed by one of 8News' own.
The evening of Monday, March 23, the American Heart Association -- a nonprofit that works to improve heart health nationwide -- held its annual VIP Chef's Challenge at Triple Crossing Brewery in Richmond's Fulton area.
The event, which featured 8News' own chief meteorologist Matt DiNardo as its emcee, is a culinary competition designed to promote heart-healthy eating while raising money for the nonprofit.
Top chefs from a variety of local restaurants showed off their culinary skills, crafting bite-size pieces of salmon, chicken or vegan fare in hopes of winning over the more than 200 attendees.
StormTracker8 chief meteorologist Matt DiNardo at the 2026 VIP Chef Challenge with the American Heart Association. (Photos: Matt DiNardo/8News)
The 2026 VIP Chef Challenge with the American Heart Association. (Photos: Matt DiNardo/8News)
The 2026 VIP Chef Challenge with the American Heart Association. (Photos: Matt DiNardo/8News)
The 2026 VIP Chef Challenge with the American Heart Association. (Photos: Matt DiNardo/8News)
The 2026 VIP Chef Challenge with the American Heart Association. (Photos: Matt DiNardo/8News)
The 2026 VIP Chef Challenge with the American Heart Association. (Photos: Matt DiNardo/8News)
The 2026 VIP Chef Challenge with the American Heart Association. (Photos: Matt DiNardo/8News)
The 2026 VIP Chef Challenge with the American Heart Association. (Photos: Matt DiNardo/8News)
The 2026 VIP Chef Challenge with the American Heart Association. (Photos: Matt DiNardo/8News)
The chef challenge also serves as a way for the American Heart Association to thank its many sponsors for their support.
John Lewis and Joey Bartholomew, the co-chairs of the upcoming Central Virginia Heart Ball, also expressed their thanks for how much work has already been done to make the ball bigger and better than it's ever been.
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Currently, the American Heart Association is working to raise $1.5 million for the Central Virginia Heart Ball, which will take place on Saturday, April 25 at Main Street Station.
This is DiNardo's third year emceeing the VIP Chef Challenge. He donates his time to the cause because the American Heart Association's services and research are something he firmly supports, as he lost his stepfather to a stroke a few years ago.
