WASHINGTON, D.C., USA - In partnership with the World Trade Center Washington, D.C. (Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center), Cultural Tourism D.C. held its annual Embassy Chef Challenge on May 15th, 2014. Fifteen world-class embassy chefs from Botswana, El Salvador, Italy, Jamaica, Nepal, Venezuela, Republic of Congo, Iraq, Poland, Trinidad and Tobago, Russia, Uzbekistan, Norway, Thailand, and Turkey battled for first prize in D.C.’s Premier International Culinary Competition.

Each embassy offered small plates of their country’s signature delicacies to over 400 guests. The evening began with welcoming remarks from Tim Cox, Cultural Tourism D.C.’s board chair, Andrew Gelfuso, Vice President, World Trade Center Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray of the District of the Columbia and Ambassador Capricia P. Marshall, former Chief of Protocol at the State Department. All speakers emphasized the positive role and importance of culinary diplomacy in our world today.

At the conclusion of the evening, a panel of celebrity chefs and food critics selected The Royal Thai Embassy as winner of the Judge’s Choice Award; while the winning ballots for the “People’s Choice Award” were cast to the Embassy of the Russian Federation. Rounding out the evening was a live and silent auction, featuring world-class items steeped in international flavor, including private embassy experiences. The Cuisine contests--part of Passport DC--takes place every year since 2004, giving guests opportunity to experience the culinary arts of competing countries representing six continents. 

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