Diplomatic Relations: Industry Night, February 28, 2024

Over the years I have had the incredible pleasure of emceeing the Embassy Chef Challenge, and with that came the ability to chat with embassy chefs, ambassadors, their families, and attaches. You may remember during the last round, I went to several of the embassies and cooked with their chefs. Oh my goodness, it was so much fun, I learned so much, and it gave me the opportunity to share their histories, culture, and of course, cuisine! If you don’t know, Events DC’s Embassy Chef Challenge is a gathering of embassy chefs from around the world, showcasing the flavors of their home countries in this delicious culinary competition. And the chefs take it seriously! This experience is so DC … in fact DC is truly the only place in the country where an event like this can be executed with such dramatic flair. Mark your calendars for March 7th~

Now… where am I? I’m in the Cuban Embassy. Isn’t that amazing? For so long, this gorgeous building was not utilized or accessible because of the relations between our two countries. But in 2015 that all changed — I mean isn’t this what it is all about? Maintaining diplomatic relations with others? Now, I understand that there is a Hemingway bar in here — so you know we are going to get all into it. AND, I am so delighted to reestablish my relations with Jinhee Kim - Chief Creative Officer for Events DC - and create a new relationship with David Ramírez - Cultural Attaché for the Embassy of Cuba.

So, normally at this part of the show I take you on my culinary tour of where I have been eating this past week — and your girl has been out, so I’m not going to get all into it — because I have some very special guests sitting here with me — But just a quick list!

-The New La Bonne Vache in Gtown — get on line!
-The New Aventino in Bethesda — make your rez now
-Cork celebrated their sweet 16
-Gravitas & Kappo did a collab dinner
-The Emperor’s birthday at the Japanese Embassy

See that fits — Tuesday I’m at the Japanese Embassy and today, I’m here at the Cuban Embassy. Listen to the full episode here, and watch it all on YouTube, here.