An impressive array of chefs -- 12 savory and 12 pastry -- will gather in Orlando at the Ritz-Carlton to honor their colleague, Jerome Girardot, pastry chef at the Ritz-Carton in Washington, D.C., who committed suicide in February.

“A Night of Extreme Tastes” will feature the talents of such notable cooks as Food Network’s Ace of Cakes star Geoff Manthorn, Food Network Challenge host Keegan Gerhard, Bravo’s Top Chef contestants Jeff McInnis (season 5) and Mike Voltaggio (season 6), Norman Van Aken, Melissa Kelly, and two-time world pastry champion and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin executive pastry chef Laurent Branlard. The Dec. 3 event is a benefit to raise funds for the education of Girardot’s children, Noah, 5, and Luke, 3.

The 24 chefs will cook at stations while guests wander and sample. Tickets are $95 per person and are available online at the Jerome Girardot Fund. The event is from 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes, 4012 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando.

Here’s a list of participating chefs:

Norman Van Aken, Chef/Owner
Norman's Restaurants

Jeff McInnis, Chef de Cuisine/Top Chef New York
The Ritz Carlton South Beach

Mike Voltaggio, Chef de Cuisine/Top Chef Las Vegas
The Dining Room, Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa

Laurent Pillard, Corporate Chef
Sleek Corporation/Hubert Keller

Robert Ciborowski, Executive Chef
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

Garett Gooch, Chef de Cuisine
The Ritz Carlton Amelia Island

Joe Palma, Chef de Cuisine
West End Bistro by Eric Ripert

Melissa Kelly, Chef/Owner
Primo Restaurants

Philippe Ruiz, Chef de Cuisine
La Palme d'Or, Biltmore Hotel

Sean Woods, Executive Chef
The Ritz Carlton Orlando

Mark Beaupre, Executive Chef
J.W. Marriott Orlando

David Serus, Executive Chef
The Ritz Carlton Washington D.C.

Clay Conley, Chef de Cuisine
Azul Restaurant/Mandarin Oriental

Laurent Branlard, World Pastry Champion/Executive Pastry Chef
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

Geoff Manthorn, Executive Sous Chef/Co-star Ace of Cakes
Charm City Cakes

Keegan Gerhard, Pastry Chef/Host of Food Network Challenge
D Bar Desserts

Frederic Loraschi, Chocolatier/Owner
Chocolats Frederic Loraschi

Sebastien Thieffine, Executive Pastry Chef
The Ritz Carlton Naples Resorts

Ewald Notter, World Pastry Champion/Owner
Notter School Orlando

David Ramirez, Executive Pastry Chef
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort

Frederic Monti, Corporate Pastry Chef
Pregel America

Norman Love, Chocolatier/Owner
Norman Love Confections

Jerome Landrieu, Chocolate Academy Director
Chocolate Academy Cacao Barry

Stephane Cheramy, Executive Pastry Chef
J.W. Marriott & The Ritz Carlton Orlando

Dimitri Fayard, World Pastry Champion/Owner
Vanille Patisserie