Winners of the 2022 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge Announced
The Return of Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge Brings Delicious Competition
Washington, D.C. - After a two-year hiatus, attendees of the 2022 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge kicked off the inaugural International City Food Festival, traveling the world with their taste buds, sampling bites and beverages from 39 participating D.C.-based foreign embassies. Embassy chefs showcased the unique flavors, food products and beverages of their home countries in a culinary showdown that was bigger than ever before. Chefs competed to win the coveted People’s Choice Award, chosen by guests’ votes, as well as the Judges’ Choice Award, selected by a panel of influential members of the cultural and culinary communities.
Chefs Xianlong Yang, Yuechao Zhao and Song Lin representing the Embassy of China took home first place in the Judge’s Choice category with their fish flavored shrimp balls and mapo tofu. Chef Alam Mendez representing the Embassy of Mexico won second place in the category with pork belly “tamalitos” with guajillo salsa and nopal (cactus) salad. Placing third, Chef Trevon Stoute representing the Embassy of Barbados served a popular plate of crispy pork mille feuille.
Judges’ Choice podium, from left to right, Chef Alam Mendez, emcee Nycci Nellis, Chef Trevon Stoute, Chefs Xianlong Yang, Yuechao Zhao and Song Lin (Photo Credit: Events DC)
Attendees of the night had the opportunity to vote for their favorite embassies as they tasted their way around the globe. Chef Erwin Villarias representing the Embassy of The Philippines took home first place with chicken inasal and majin ube. Second People’s Choice to Chef Muhammad Asghar and Cultural Attache Maliha Shahid from the Embassy of Pakistan with chicken tikka and gulab jamun. And Chef Boris Ghazarian representing the Embassy of Armenia placed third with seasoned lamb and vegetables over rice, pomegranate sorbet and labneh ice cream with saffron.
People’s choice podium, from left to right, Chef Erwin Villarias, Chef Muhammad Asghar, Nycci Nellis, Cultural Attache Maliha Shahid and Chef Boris Ghazarian. (Photo Credit: Events DC)
This year Mixologist AJ Johnson representing The Dominican Republic took home the Best Beverage Award presented by LIFEWTR chosen by the judges. Johnson shook up the competition with a cocktail featuring Brugal Extra Viejo, Chinola liqueur, sherry, orange, mint syrup and cinnamon.
Events DC Chief Creative Officer Jinhee Kim shared “This year’s challenge was bigger and better than ever before. It was great to see so many embassies turn out with such pride for their native cuisine and culture after a few years away. Congratulations to all the chefs and mixologists who competed - this event is only possible because of them. Here’s to many more years of friendly and delicious competition.”
Media ready photos of the event are available here. All photos can be credited to Events DC.
The 2022 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge was made possible with help from partners:: Astound Business Solutions, Breakthru Beverage Group, Events DC, Heineken, Alexandria Jaguar Land Rover and LIFEWTR.
ABOUT EVENTS DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia,
delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital.
Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee
experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the
attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities.
Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the
District’s hospitality and tourism economy that hosts more than 1.7 million visitors and generates more than $400 million annually in direct economic impact and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the RFK Stadium-Armory Campus (RFK Campus), including Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and the Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Stay current on the 190-acre RFK Campus Redevelopment Project at www.RFKFields.com . Events DC also built and serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. Events DC manages Gateway DC, R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center and Entertainment & Sports Arena all conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com and find us on social media – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Events DC), and Twitter (@TheEventsDC) — and on our new hub for live and on-demand event programming on GATHER by Events DC
at www.gatherbyeventsdc.com .
About the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard
The courtyard at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery is located in a National Historic Landmark Building in Washington, DC. One of the grandest interior event spaces in the city, it is equally beloved as an intimate place to have a cup of coffee or to meet a small group of friends. The landscape design complements the texture and contemporary quality of the new glass canopy designed by Foster + Partners, while reflecting the material, character, and classical spirit of the historic buildings. A dynamic composition of marble planters appears to float alongside a scrim of water, which is allowed to traverse the entire length of the courtyard.
###