Peru and the Philippines take home top honors from the annual international culinary competition. (Photo Credit: Events DC)
Attendees of the sold-out 2025 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge gathered to travel the world with their taste buds, sampling bites and beverages from 34 embassies, representing Washington, DC’s diverse diplomatic community. Embassy chefs showcased the unique flavors, food products and beverages of their home countries in a culinary showdown at the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.
The evening featured impressive cultural performances and was hosted by Washington, DC-based restaurateur and former Top Chef contestant, Spike Mendelsohn. The top awards featured included 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.
Chef Paolo Penalosa and Chef Maria Carmel Tagligan representing the Embassy of Philippines at the 2025 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge. (Photo Credit: Events DC)
Guests had the opportunity to vote for their favorite embassies as they tasted their way around the globe. The People’s Choice awards, the most coveted among the chef community, were presented to:
● First Place: Chef Paolo Penalosa and Chef Maria Carmel Tagligan representing the Embassy of Philippines with a presentation of bangus a la pobre served with garlic rice and eggplant salad.
● Second Place: Chef Bandar Alhenaki representing the Embassy of Saudi Arabia with a presentation of lamb kabsa (Known as Saudi Arabia’s national dish) and basbousa, a sweet, syrup-soaked semolina cake.
● Third Place: Chef Dr. Michaele C. Samuel representing the Embassy of Grenada with a presentation of calypso mango shrimp salad.
The judging panel this year consisted of Top Chef Alum and Food Network star Chef Eric Adjepong, food writers Lenore T. Adkins and Tim Ebner, past Embassy Chef Challenge award-winning Chef Francis Otoo representing the Embassy of Ghana, and the Northeast Editor of Eater, Tierney Plumb. The Judges’ Choice awards were presented to:
● First Place: Chef Michael Ciuffardi representing the Embassy of Peru with a presentation of Seco Norteño Ravioli - handmade ravioli filled with cilantro-braised beef served over a delicate loche squash emulsion.
● Second Place: Chefs Xianglin Zhu, Wen Su, and Wenhui Jia representing the Embassy of China with a presentation of pineapple sweet and sour shrimp and osmanthus-scented lotus root threads cake.
● Third Place: Chef Ilham Achmakou representing the Embassy of Morocco with a presentation of pastela with chicken and almond.
The judges also sipped a range of iconic beverages from every continent. Among the cocktails, refreshing mocktails, native wines, beers, coffees and teas, they selected a Best Beverage, awarded to: Chef Mykola Yudin representing the Embassy of Ukraine with a presentation of Black Currant Nalyvka.
Media ready photos of the event are available HERE and will continue to be updated. All photos can be credited to Events DC.
The 2025 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge was made possible with help from partners: Giant, Premium of DC, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Liquid Light and Casamigos.
