Federal Fritter & Bistro

Chef Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff are the power couple behind Equinox Restaurant and multiple ventures in catering, resorts, and museum restaurants. This newest venture opened in the winter of 2021. Located one block from the ocean, Federal Fritter & Bistro is a 35 seat "little gem" proudly in the heart of downtown Rehoboth Beach. The couple has been in business together for almost 25 years and continue to expand their offerings. Chef Todd is a leading advocate for sustainable farming, a sought-after mentor, and an influential leader in the world of gastronomy. Graduating with honors from the Culinary Institute of America, Todd earned five nominations for the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic” Award. Todd assisted then White House Chef Sam Kass with developing one of Mrs. Obama's signature initiatives - Chefs Move To Schools. . He was the first chef to be invited to speak in the White House Rose Garden with First Lady Michelle Obama before an international audience of chefs and foodservice professionals. Chef Gray was appointed by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to serve as one of the inaugural State Department Chefs.
A DC native, Ellen is a trailblazer among the region’s restaurateurs, named Manager of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and received the Women Chefs and Restaurateurs Golden Fork Award for Front-of-the-House Excellence. Along with Chef Gray, she pioneered plant-based fine dining and zero waste efforts at their restaurants and catering operations. Ellen’s environmentally focused stewardship has been recognized by the media and by esteemed organizations including the National Restaurant Association and the Culinary Institute of America. A dedicated community leader and activist, Ellen created and chaired numerous galas and events raising millions of dollars for local and national animal welfare and environmental organizations. The two also developed successful concepts with the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Hilton Garden Inn’s Watershed Restaurant & Quince Hospitality at the Museum of the Bible. Chef Gray was the consulting chef for the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center for over a decade. He assisted with the opening of Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg Virginia for over 11 years. Ellen has a 30-year background in sales, marketing, restaurant/catering operations, and wholesale food distribution.