John Tesar's Guest Chef Series Launches June 1

Meat empresario John Tesar is preparing to welcome a mighty impressive lineup of guest chefs next week. Beginning Monday, June 1, Knife and the Highland Hotel will host five nights of special dinners to benefit (RED), the Bono-founded charity dedicated to fighting AIDS.

Here's what the week's lineup has in store:

• Monday: Aaron Franklin, the Austin-based brisket master who needs no introduction (this dinner is sold out, but six additional tickets are currently being auctioned off)
• Tuesday: Alex Stratta, recently opened Tapas by Alex Stratta in Las Vegas; James Beard Award winner for Best Chef Southwest in 1998
• Wednesday: Naomi Pomeroy, chef-owner of Portland's acclaimed Beast and Top Chef Masters alum
• Thursday: Tim Rattray, chef/pitmaster/co-owner of San Antonio's The Granary
• Friday: Kris Morningstar, chef-owner of L.A.'s acclaimed Terrine

The dinners won't be held inside the hotel restaurant but rather, an upstairs room that will be decked out in all-red decor, and the hotel itself will also be lit up red all week long. With most of the dinners limited to just 40 people, Tesar promises the events will be "very intimate." Tickets are $150 per person, but that includes drinks and gratuity, and half of the ticket price goes directly to the charity.

And if you're lamenting the fact you missed out on tickets to Monday's Aaron Franklin dinner, stay tuned: Tesar has hinted that a handful of additional tickets will be made available sometime this week.

Scope out menus for each dinner, below:

RED Dinner With Aaron Franklin

Red Dinner With Alex Stratta

RED Dinner With Naomi Pomeroy

RED Dinner With Tim Rattray

RED Dinner With Kris Morningstar