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Silent Auction

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Date: Saturday, September 19th, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Venue: Greater Philadelphia Expo Center

Projected Attendees: 400+

Please join us for the 2026 Bite for the Fight Food Festival benefitting the Fight On Makenna Foundation. Featuring a dine-around style tasting event with signature bites from 20+ restaurants, cooking demos from area chefs and restaurants, craft cocktail demos from premium distilleries, special guest appearances by Chef Brian Duffy, with chef demos from Chef Ariene Duarte and Chef Kenneth J. McDuffie, a silent auction…and special demos and meet & greets with nationally recognized celebrity chefs!

For more information, please visit our FAQs page

For all sponsorship inquiries, contact:

RICHARD MASSI President & Co-Founder

Email: rmassi00@gmail.com

Email: bite4thefight@gmail.com

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Silent Auction

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The Chefs

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Chef Brian Duffy is one of the most passionate human beings in the hospitality world. After honing his skills under James Beard Award-winning Chef Jean Marie LaCroix at The Four Seasons, Chef Duffy founded the Duffified Experience Group (DEG). He's been featured on Food Network's BBQ Brawl as a Competitor and Fan Favorite, was a guest judge on Beat Bobby Flay and was an Expert Chef on the hit TV show, Bar Rescue.

Chef & Emcee Brian Duffy

Chef Kenneth J. McDuffie is a renowned celebrity chef, restaurateur, and culinary educator whose passion for food and dedication to his craft have inspired audiences worldwide. Raised with a love for soulful flavors passed down from his great-grandmother, Esther Smith, Chef McDuffie has built a career rooted in tradition, innovation, and excellence. He gained national recognition as a contestant on Season 19 of FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen and on Food Network’s Chopped, where he showcased his bold flavors, creativity, and resilience under pressure. His talent has also earned him opportunities to cook and cater for countless celebrities, cementing his reputation as one of the most dynamic chefs of his generation.

Chef Kenneth J. McDuffie

Ariane Duarte is a chef, entrepreneur, and culinary producer whose career has been built on instinct, precision, and a deep belief in the power of hospitality. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she trained in some of the country’s most demanding kitchens, including The Terrace and Vine in New York City, Star Canyon in Dallas, and Trio in Chicago. Those early years shaped her approach to food: bold, confident flavors grounded in discipline and execution.

A proud New Jersey native, Ariane has always carried that spirit into her work – her style is direct, unpretentious, and built on real connection.

Chef Ariane Duarte

Chef David Schorn is the Regional Executive Chef for Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar, overseeing culinary operations across eight locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He leads the development of seasonal menus and culinary programs rooted in local sourcing, sustainability and scratch preparation.

An award-winning chef with experience spanning the East Coast, Chef David has operated and consulted culinary programs for Global brands, multi-unit start-ups, and independent concepts.

Chef David approaches menu design with focus on seafood, live fire and plant based seasonal cooking, utilizing globally inspired flavors and an absolute love of artful plating.

At Harvest, Chef David combines his passion for seasonal cuisine with a commitment to menu development, culinary operations, talent acquisition and development teams and community.

Chef David Schorn

Here are the Top 10 Things to Know before the 2026 Bite for the Fight Food Festival:

All Bite for the Fight Food Festival attendees must be 21 or older.
The event tickets are “virtual” (there are no paper tickets). Please have your information and QR Code ready, and our staff will check you in when you arrive.
The event starts promptly at noon; all ticket holders can arrive when the gate opens.
The Bite for the Fight Food Festival will occur at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center & Fairgrounds. Once you arrive onsite, we will have plenty of signage and staff to point you in the right direction of the event area and parking. Just look for large white tent!
Dress casual. Our theme color is purple (Makenna’s favorite color).
Food Festival – remember, this is an all-you-can-taste event! So, don’t be shy.
Taste as much as you’d like, then vote for the Best Bite. The voting for Best Bite will end at 3:00 pm.
Many of our food and beverage vendors will also sell their products on-site, allowing you to taste and shop.
Silent Auction and Raffle —Create/update your OneCause account and save your credit card information before coming to the event. Click here to register/update your account.
Last but certainly not least, we have a jam-packed list of special guests appearing at the event…so we don’t want you to miss any of the action! See below for our Main Stage and VIP Tent schedules for your reference:

VIP Tent Meet & Greet Schedule