This is What Makes DC Different: The DC Embassy Chefs Challenge
The 2022 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge kicked off the inaugural International City Food Festival, which had over 1200 attendees' tastebuds traveling the world by sampling bites and beverages from 39 D.C.-based foreign embassies. Emcee'd by our own, Nycci Nellis, the 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 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.
And the Judge's Choice Winners winners are:
-Chefs Xianlong Yang, Yuechao Zhao and Song Lin representing the Embassy of China took home first place with their fish-flavored shrimp balls and mapo tofu.
-Chef Alam Mendez (of Maiz 64) representing the Embassy of Mexico won second place with pork belly “tamalitos” with guajillo salsa and nopal (cactus) salad.
-Chef Trevon Stoute representing the Embassy of Barbados served a plate of crispy pork mille feuille and took third place.
The People's Choice Award winners are:
-Chef Erwin Villarias representing the Embassy of The Philippines took home first place with chicken inasal and majin ube.
-Chef Muhammad Asghar and Cultural Attache Maliha Shahid from the Embassy of Pakistan won second place with chicken tikka and gulab jamun.
-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.
AND, drinks were poured and an award was given:
This year Mixologist AJ Johnson representing The Dominican Republic took home the Best Beverage Award by shaking up cocktails featuring Brugal Extra Viejo, Chinola liqueur, sherry, orange, mint syrup and cinnamon.
It was a night that we won't forget ~
And the Judge's Choice Winners winners are:
-Chefs Xianlong Yang, Yuechao Zhao and Song Lin representing the Embassy of China took home first place with their fish-flavored shrimp balls and mapo tofu.
-Chef Alam Mendez (of Maiz 64) representing the Embassy of Mexico won second place with pork belly “tamalitos” with guajillo salsa and nopal (cactus) salad.
-Chef Trevon Stoute representing the Embassy of Barbados served a plate of crispy pork mille feuille and took third place.
The People's Choice Award winners are:
-Chef Erwin Villarias representing the Embassy of The Philippines took home first place with chicken inasal and majin ube.
-Chef Muhammad Asghar and Cultural Attache Maliha Shahid from the Embassy of Pakistan won second place with chicken tikka and gulab jamun.
-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.
AND, drinks were poured and an award was given:
This year Mixologist AJ Johnson representing The Dominican Republic took home the Best Beverage Award by shaking up cocktails featuring Brugal Extra Viejo, Chinola liqueur, sherry, orange, mint syrup and cinnamon.
It was a night that we won't forget ~
