Millennial Made: Millennial Week’s Food Face-Off

IMG_9290The Millennial Made: Food Face Off last Friday offered local cooking pioneers the chance to show off a taste of their culinary creations. The event took place at 1776 — the District’s epicenter for start-ups and progressives — as a part of Millennial Week DC.  Guests enjoyed bites from four competing players in DC’s food scene: Eco Caters, Dirty South Deli, Quickstep Catering and Haute Saison.

While chefs and their entourages worked dutifully to serve up mini-plates, hungry guests stood in line chatting and head-bopping to Justin Timberlake throwback jams from the DJ. (In true millennial form several efficient IMG_9293 (1)party-goers split themselves between the food and drink lines to shorten wait times.)

Virginia-based distillery, Catoctin Creek was on hand, supplying a signature cocktail modeled after the Moscow Mule that featured their Watershed Gin variety. When the ginger beer ran out, the bartender improvised as millennials do… satiating guests with sips of white whiskey.

Alcohol wasn’t the only thing to go fast. Jacob Hunter, founder of Dirty South Deli, couldn’t stave off excited attendees who gobbled up his 250 bites in under an hour. He noticed one guest come back for four helpings of his smoked butter poached lobster roll topped with popcorn kernels!

Despite Dirty South’s popularity, the crowd ended up being more interested in turf over surf, giving Quickstep Catering a leg up on the competition. Through popular vote, their carved beef rib eye steak, potato foam, and deconstructed A1 sauce took home the title of best bite.