Six award-winning James Beard celebrity chefs from around the nation are slated to prepare their signature specialties during the 16^thAnnual Housewares Charity Foundation Gala, Monday, March 4, at the Hilton Chicago. Participating chefs are Hugh Acheson of Five & Ten; Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo; Sarah Grueneberg of  Spiaggia; Emily Luchetti of Farallon and Waterbar;  Maricel Presilla of Cucharamama, Zafra and Ultramarinos; and Jacques Torres of Jacques Torres Chocolates.

Acheson, Bayless, Grueneberg and Presilla will each prepare an appetizer and entrée for their quadrant of the ballroom, and Luchetti will make dessert while Torres prepares bonbons.

Honorees for this year’s gala are: Kathryn Bufano, president and chief merchandising officer of Belk, who will receive the Lifetime Humanitarian Award, and Keith Jaffee of O2 Cool, who will receive the Humanitarian of the Year Award.

The event will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the HCF’s legacy charity. The HCF board also has directed that contributions be made to two charities in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy: the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and Long Island Cares, Inc.—The Harry Chapin Food Bank. The gala is held annually in conjunction with the International Home + Housewares Show.

To reserve seats for the 2013 HCF gala, contact Paul Murphy at 508-272-0717, visit the website at www.housewarescharity.org or make reservations onsite at the Show Store on Level 2.5 of the South Building