Just yesterday, over 20 unique embassies in the D.C. area representing nations and cultures from all across the globe, came together to compete in the friendly “D.C. Embassy Chef Challenge“, which compares the cuisines to determine which one gets the bragging rights for best food in town! While this challenge isn’t anything more than a fun opportunity for embassy chefs to flex their culinary capabilities for a large audience, performing well in this event is a matter of pride for those who value their nation’s culinary background and want to honor their cultural heritage.
Who won the 2024 Embassy Chef Challenge?
At this year’s Challenge, as they have done in the past before, two separate votes were being held during the event; one was being performed by guests that were counted towards the People’s Choice Award, and the other was a vote being held by a panel of selected food critics and notable chefs, whose votes counted towards the Judges’ Choice Award.
Judges’ Choice Award Winner – 2024 Embassy Chef Challenge
This year the first place for the Judges’ Choice Award went to Chef Jovana Urriola from the Embassy of the Republic of Panama with their authentic “Panamanian Style Afro Caribbean Chicken Tamale Dumplings” securing her the top spot!
In second place, was the Embassy of The People’s Republic of China whose chefs, Lin Song, Lu Tao, Li XiaoFeng, Jia Wehhni, and Zhu Xianglin, were able to secure high placement in the Judges’ Choice Award voting with their “Sichuan Spicy Fish, Kung Pao Shrimp Balls, Sichuan Cold Spicy Noodles and Snowy Mooncakes”.
In third place for the Judges’ Choice Award was the Embassy of the Dominican Republic, represented by Chef Aris Comprés from Los Hermanos restaurant in Washington D.C., who served a ‘Traditional Dominican Roasted Pork with casabe and yucca’.
People’s Choice Award Winner – 2024 Embassy Chef Challenge
Guests who attended this year’s Embassy Chef Challenge and voted for their favorite embassies selected collectively gave the first place for the People’s Choice Award to Chefs Damain Leach and Ann Marie Leach of the Embassy of Barbados, for their “Curry Lamb, Breadfruit Coucou, and Bajan Sweet Bread”.
In second place for the People’s Choice Award was Chef Bandar Alhenaki from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, who served “Jareesh, Dates Cake, Pistachio Cake, and Truffles”.
In third place, was the Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand whose chef, Chef Wattanaphong Kongwattana, served a crowd-pleasing “Beef Massaman Curry and Pla Goong”.