Cooking up a fund-raiser

Four high-profile chefs took over the Four Seasons Hotel last night, facing off in an "Iron Chef"-like competition using only food bank ingredients. (The contest was a fund-raiser for the Greater Boston Food Bank, part of its Super Hunger Month benefit campaign.) At the stoves were chefs Anthony Susi, of Sage, Gabriel Frasca, of Nantucket's Straight Wharf, Will Gilson, of the Garden at the Cellar, and Evan Deluty, of Stella. Judges included WEEI's Glenn Ordway, Revolution player Steve Ralston, and chef Brooke Vosika of the Four Seasons, with "Phantom Gourmet" Dan Andelman handling the emcee duties.

Born-in-Massachusetts brothers Ben and Jon Foster are pitching in to help their aunt, Susan Zuker, of Newton promote her Conquer Cancer cause. The actors, both screening films at Sundance this week, are wearing her charity's hats to film events; the organization also just rolled out new T-shirts on its website. "Their grandmother is going through cancer now and they're extremely supportive," Zuker said. "They're young Hollywood, but great young Hollywood." Ben is at the festival with "The Messenger" (starring Woody Harrelson), while Jon is promoting "The Informers," with Billy Bob Thornton and Kim Basinger. Zuker started Conquer Cancer after losing her husband, Michael, to the disease five years ago. So far, she's raised about $250,000 for local cancer organizations, all through the sale of a $40 charity license plate.

The women of NESN turned out for a charity event at Sara Campbell's South End boutique Tuesday night. Kathryn Tappen, Heidi Watney, and Jayme Parker contributed a sports ticket and gift certificate-filled goodie bag for an online auction, which kicks off Tuesday and benefits the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign. The party was hosted by NESN and the Boston Bruins, who will hold a Go Red Night on Tuesday, when the team takes on the Washington Capitals.

Olives owner Todd English sure picked a good time to open a new restaurant in D.C. A stream of Tinseltown types stopped into Cha both before and after Tuesday's inaugural parties. We're told Matthew Modine, Alan Cumming, Alfre Woodard, Wendie Malick, Gloria Reuben, Dana Delany, Josh Lucas, Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Tim Robbins all dropped by. Kid Rock arrived late and closed the place, doing a few tunes for the bartenders with backup singer Thornetta Davis and guests. Other nightcrawlers included REM's Mike Mills, Wyclef Jean, and Pink Floyd percussionist Gary Wallis. . . . Meanwhile, addressing the crowd at the New England Inaugural Ball, James Taylor said he was bewildered by the Bush presidency. "What was that? I mean, what was that?" said Sweet Baby James. "It's going to take us a long time to figure what that was all about." . . . Getting out of Washington proved to be no easy task yesterday, even for famous folks. We're told disco queen Donna Summer was running late for her flight at Reagan National Airport, and someone on the '70s star's behalf tried to get her bumped up in the line. No deal. "Donna who?" replied the ticketing manager. Ouch.

In the "are-they-or-aren't-they?" debate over whether Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen are really engaged, Us Weekly lands in the "no" column. The mag reports that a close Brady pal said "the engagement rumors are not true." The source predicts a proposal will come eventually, however. "She's definitely The One," the pal said. "She really makes him comfortable and just happy."

We hear Gary Croteau from Salon Mario Russo recently dropped by the Four Seasons to coif "Today" show host Meredith Vieira, who was in town for a wedding. . . . Actor Benicio Del Toro, in town to promote his new movie, "Che," was seen checking out of the Nine Zero Hotel yesterday. But before he could catch his cab he was mobbed by three ladies who insisted on hugs, autographs, and a lengthy conversation.

Curt Schilling fans can rest easy: The legendary bloody sock-wearing pitcher isn't going anywhere. Though no longer with the Sox, Schilling will spend more time on WEEI radio, home of his blog, 38pitches.com, and his weekly writings. He's expected to join Glenn Ordway on "The Big Show" every Thursday, beginning today. "This is my first spring training without baseball," the pitcher said in a statement. Schilling will blog live during six Sox games this season.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or 617-929-8253.