Celebrity Chef Kuldeep Makhni (Chef Mak) of London is visiting the Washington, D.C., area to teach a private cooking class with Chef Joel Thevoz of Main Event Caterers. The private class was an auction item at the Ninth Annual March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction of D.C, which was held in November 2005.

The cooking class will cover two curricula: North Indian Frontier Cuisine and simple entertaining through fusion cooking. Chef Mak will discuss the spices used in his dishes, with perhaps a little added dishing on the royalty and celebrity guests he's served.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2006

Main Event Caterers, 3870 South Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington, Va.; (703) 820-2028

Chef Mak is the former owner of top restaurants in London, including Lancers; former personal chef to the King of Nepal; recipient of the Sword of Honor from the King of Butan; guest chef at The White House and frequent curry chef to Buckingham Palace, serving Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana. He has also cooked for several U.S. celebrities, including Meg Ryan, Steven Spielberg and Sylvester Stallone. Chef Mak is planning a book featuring favorite recipes of his most famous clients, scheduled for publication in 2007.

Chef Mak supports the mission of the March of Dimes, which is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. He lost two babies to premature birth.

Loews Hotel was the successful bidder for this private cooking class, which was offered during last year's March of Dimes fund raiser. Loews is bringing in clients from across the U.S. to attend the class.