The 2017 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge presented by TCMA (A Drew Company) will highlight dishes and flavors from all around the world. Embassy chefs will gather on Wednesday, May 24 in the Atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, where they will show off their skills and compete for the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice awards.
The Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge not only encourages culinary diplomacy, but also celebrates the arts of many cultures and highlights some of the area’s amazing musicians, dancers and singers. Throughout the evening, cultural dances and artists will grace the stage along with the headlining band, City of the Sun, an instrumental post-rock trio from Brooklyn, New York.
“We are honored to bring together some of the world’s most culturally-distinct talents in the culinary and performing arts for the second-consecutive Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge,” said Erik A. Moses, senior vice president and managing director of sports, entertainment, and special events at Events DC. “May is International Cultural Awareness Month in DC and we look forward to both celebrating and advancing the city’s cultural diplomacy through cuisine and entertainment.”
Patrons can expect to taste traditional dishes from cultures both common and impossible to find in Greater-Washington such as salmon ceviche and merquén mussels curated by Chef Guillermo Muñoz of Chile. Haitian Embassy chef Cynthia Verna will be preparing a full-spread comprised of creole chicken, yellow basmati rice served with pigeon peas, Roma tomatoes and coconut milk; and a beet and carrot salad with homemade lime dressing. Representing the Embassy of Barbados, Chef Damien Leach will offer a unique spin on tropical fish with his piña colada mahi mahi filet.
Chef Red Garcia of the Philippines will be defending his title with a dish that uses a classic wrapping method called “binalot” – which is a way of wrapping foods with banana leaves, derived from the word ballot, which means “to wrap.” He will have a variety of foods to wrap such as rice, meat, fish, eggs and pickled vegetables. Dishes like kottu roti from the Embassy of Sri Lanka may be new to American diners and guests will have a chance to taste the dish and speak with the embassy’s culinary team about how it is prepared. Chef Anuradha Wijesinghe explains kottu roti as being made with godhamba roti, vegetables, egg or meat and spices.
Embassies will also be offering various native cocktails, beer, and wine to be sampled throughout the evening. Singapore will be serving up the city’s famous “Singapore Sling,” while the Embassy of Bolivia will have a selection of Bolivian wines for patrons to taste. The Embassy of Azerbaijan will be offering a variety of both red and white wines from their emerging high-altitude growing regions.
Chefs from every corner of the globe will be competing, including:
| ASIA | AFRICA | EUROPE | THE AMERICAS |
| Afghanistan Azerbaijan Bangladesh Indonesia Iraq Nepal Pakistan Philippines Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Uzbekistan |
Ghana Kenya Mauritius Morocco Rwanda |
Belgium Cyprus Germany Greece Malta Moldova |
Bahamas Barbados Bolivia Chile Dominican Republic El Salvador Ecuador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Paraguay Peru |
TICKETS: Purchase your tickets and join the cultural event. General admission tickets are $75 and will include all global sips and bites and access to all live entertainment. For $125, VIP guests can enjoy a one-hour early entry to meet all chef’s and network with embassy community elites. For ticket purchases and more information about the event, please visit www.eventsdcembassychefchallenge.com.
WHAT: Embassy chefs from around the world will gather for the 2017 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge presented by TCMA (A Drew Company), to showcase the unique flavors of their countries in a friendly, delicious culinary competition. With more than 30 embassies participating, this year’s event offers attendees a global culinary experience unmatched in Washington DC.
Attendees will have the opportunity to sample a sip and bite from all participating embassy chefs, and cast their votes for the People’s Choice award. The winner will be announced alongside the Judges’ Choice – selected by a group of elite members of the worlds of diplomacy, culture and the culinary arts, who will critique each dish and beverage before placing their votes.
The Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge not only encourages culinary diplomacy, but also celebrates the arts of many cultures and highlights some of the area’s amazing musicians, dancers and singers. In years’ past, performances have included Bolivian folk dancers, Russian violinists, Chinese dancers and Brazilian samba artists. This year’s event will feature a non-stop range of performances to accompany the delicious food and drink that will be served.
Embassy of Barbados, swept the competition in 2015 winning over the people and the judges, and was the Judges’ Choice winner last year, alongside Peoples’ Choice winner Embassy of the Philippines. Both countries will return to the competition this year to defend their titles and win another coveted golden pineapple.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20460
WHO: Chefs from every corner of the globe will be competing, including:
| ASIA | AFRICA | EUROPE | THE AMERICAS |
| Afghanistan Azerbaijan Bangladesh Indonesia Iraq Kazakhstan Japan Korea Nepal Pakistan Philippines Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka |
Ghana Kenya Mauritius Morocco Tunisia |
Belgium Germany Moldova Ukraine |
Bahamas Barbados Bolivia Chile Dominican Republic Ecuador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Paraguay Peru Uruguay |
PRICE: General Admission – $65.00
Includes all the global sips and bites and live entertainment
VIP – $95.00
Includes one-hour early entry to meet chefs, taste their offerings, and network with embassy community elite
For tickets and more information, please visit http://www.eventsdcembassychefchallenge.com/home_2017#tickets
Never afraid to speak her mind, pop culture icon Whoopi Goldberg shares her musings on life and unique observations on current events, coupled with an unscripted audience Q&A, in the Music Center at Strathmore on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 8 p.m. The woman who blessed the internet with the “you in danger, girl” meme is one of an elite group of artists who have won a Golden Globe plus an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT). She is also a prolific producer and well known for her humanitarian endeavors on behalf of children, the homeless, human rights, education, substance abuse, and the battle against AIDS. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 10 a.m.
Born and raised in New York City, Goldberg worked in theatre and improvisation in San Diego and the Bay Area, where she created the characters which became “The Spook Show” and evolved into her hit Broadway show, Grammy-winning album, and the HBO special that helped launch her career.
Goldberg made her motion picture debut in Steven Spielberg’s film version of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, for which she earned an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award, while her performance in Ghost earned her Oscar and Golden Globe awards for Best Supporting Actress. Goldberg has starred in such films as Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Clara’s Heart, The Long Walk Home, Soapdish, Sister Act, Made in America, Boys on the Side, Ghosts of Mississippi, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Girl, Interrupted, and The Lion King, among others. She appeared in the 2015 feature film adaption of Adriana Trigiani’s beloved novel, Big Stone Gap, opposite Ashley Judd, Patrick Wilson, and Jenna Elfman.
Goldberg’s many television credits range from series, mini-series, and talk shows to movies and specials. She currently moderates ABC’s The View, for which she has won a Daytime Emmy.
Goldberg has also produced numerous series, specials, and movies for television, as well as theatrical productions on Broadway and around the world, including the Tony Award-winning Thoroughly Modern Millie and the Tony-nominated Sister Act: The Musical. She produced and made her directorial debut with the Emmy-nominated documentary Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley, which premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival before its critically-acclaimed run on HBO. Goldberg and business partner Tom Leonardis produced the docu-series According to Alex for BET and Strut, an original series which follows transgender models breaking down barriers in the world of fashion, for Oxygen.
Whoopi’s Broadway credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Xanadu. She made her West End stage debut in a special limited run as Mother Superior in Sister Act: The Musical in 2011.
In 1992, Whoopi made her debut as an author with her first children’s book, Alice. She also wrote Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners and the Sugar Plum Ballerinas book series for young readers. Her books for adults include Book, Is It Just Me?, and If Someone Says “You Complete Me”…Run!.
Today, World Central Kitchen opens ticket sales for Dine-N-Dash, the primary annual fundraiser for José Andrés’s international organization focused on smart solutions to hunger and poverty. The June 7 event is a raucous progression with the anticipated participation of more than 30 of Washington, D.C.’s best restaurants, and includes appearances by nationally recognized food celebrities, including Andrew Zimmern.
“We are excited to be having our fifth Dine-N-Dash this year!” Andrés said. “I cannot believe it has already been five years. We have a goal of raising $500,000 for World Central Kitchen, and it is incredible that in our first year we raised $75,000, and now we are hoping to raise a half a million dollars. I am so happy to see how this event has grown.”
Now in its fifth year, Dine-N-Dash aims to raise over $500,000 to support World Central Kitchen’s smart solutions to hunger and poverty, which include food safety and sanitation training, building school kitchens, clean cookstove conversion, and job creation. The D.C.-based brainchild of celebrated chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen operates under the direction of Brian MacNair, mobilizing its Chef Network to tackle issues of poverty and hunger in a growing list of countries that includes Haiti, Cambodia, Zambia, and the Dominican Republic. Chefs like Victor Albisu, Tom Colicchio and Erik Bruner-Yang have travelled with the organization for on-the-ground action and instruction.
“We have a lot of fantastic fundraising events in D.C., but Dine-N-Dash is really something special,” MacNair said. “We don’t hold this in a food hall or event space. We bring our community of supporters into the restaurants to experience not only the chef’s food, but the feel and design of their spaces and the character of the neighborhood. World Central Kitchen is all about connecting a global food community for the betterment of all, and Dine-N-Dash reflects that idea in a really fun way.”
Dine-N-Dash will take place on June 7 from 6-10pm. This year, over 30 restaurants are expected to participate, a huge increase from the six that took part in the event’s first year. Originally located in Penn Quarter, the Charles Schwab-sponsored event is now split evenly between the original neighborhood and the busy 14th Street corridor. Guests select a starting restaurant when they buy a ticket, and from there progress from establishment to establishment at their whim, with each offering a selection of 6-8 dishes and 4-6 drinks. There will be live music at many of the participating restaurants, and a selection of the city’s finest food trucks will ensure that even trips between restaurants will be delicious.
VIP ticketholders will be invited to the VIP–only pre-party pop-up sponsored by MGM National Harbor that brings Andrés’s FISH and the Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse to Penn Quarter at a soon-to-be disclosed location. The pre-party will be hosted by Andrés and attended by celebrity chefs, including Andrew Zimmern and Ted Allen. The pop-up space will open to the public at 7pm.
When: Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Time: 6-10pm
Price: General Admission: $125, VIP: $400
Tickets: Available today at https://dinendash.info/
Participating Restaurants To-Date Include:
- Penn Quarter
- Bantam King
- China Chilcano
- Del Campo
- Denson
- Graffiato
- Jaleo
- MGM National Harbor Pop-up with Fish by José Andrés and Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse
- Oyamel
- Pepe (food truck)
- Proof
- Rocklands (food truck)
- SEI
- Zaytinya
- 14th Street
- Black Jack
- B Too
- Colada Shop
- Dangerously Delicious Pies (food truck)
- Dirty South (food truck)
- Doi Moi
- Estadio
- Ghibellina
- Lupo Verde
- Pearl Dive
- Policy
- Sotto
- T Street Block Party with Taqueria Nacional, Colada Shop and Ice Cream Jubilee
Shakespeare Theatre Company will once again welcome Members of Congress and distinguished Washington influencers onto its stage to perform in Will on the Hill, a lively show infused with comedic references to contemporary politics. Now in its fifteenth year, the much-loved bipartisan event for theatre and political fans alike will return to STC on Monday, June 12 at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) at 7:30 p.m.
Written by Peter Byrne with assistance from D.C.’s West Wing Writers, the event will be directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul and will star 47 Members of Congress and notable Washingtonians led by Maulik Pancholy, best known for playing Alec Baldwin’s intrepid assistant Jonathan on the classic NBC comedy 30 Rock.
“We are grateful that some of the nation’s well-known political faces are so willing to donate their time to help raise funds for our education and outreach programs. While these men and women tread the boards to showcase their acting skills and poke fun at the political landscape they are helping the theatre provide access to the arts for the entire D.C. community,” said STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn.
Proceeds from this event support STC’s many education, artistic and community engagement programs, including in-school workshops and educational resources that inspire new and diverse audiences and deepen the connection to classical theatre in learners of all ages.
About the Cast
The production will feature 30 Rock star Maulik Pancholy. The NBC show garnered 80 awards and 310 nominations. He is also widely recognized for playing Sanjay over six seasons of the Showtime hit series Weeds, created by Emmy Award-winner Jenji Kohan (Orange Is the New Black). He will soon appear on the upcoming CBS series Star Trek: Discovery, which will be the first Star Trek series to air since 2005. He played Katherina in STC’s The Taming of The Shrew in 2016. Rounding out the cast are British Ambassador to the U.S. His Excellency Kim Darroch and many Members of Congress including Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Representatives Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Daniel M. Donovan (R-NY), Jim Himes (D-CT), George Holding (R-NC), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jared Polis (D-CO), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Darren Soto (D-FL), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Michael Turner(R-OH) and Peter Welch (D-VT). Other illustrious cast members include Wa’el Alzayat (Executive Director, EmergeUSA), Gregory Angelo (President, Log Cabin Republicans), Jess Bravin (Supreme Court correspondent, The Wall Street Journal), Linda Chavez (Chairman, Center for Equal Opportunity), Ron Christie (Political Strategist), Steve Clemons (Editor At Large, The Atlantic), Maggie Coons, Bob Cusack (Editor in Chief, The Hill), Jon Decker (White House Correspondent, Fox News), Johanna Derlega (Publisher, The Hill), Karen Dunn (Partner at Bois, Schiller, & Flexner LLP, consultant for House of Cards), Dr. Michael Eric Dyson(Georgetown University professor, host of The Raw Word, and author), Paula Fitzgerald (Executive Director, Ayuda), Taegan Goddard (Publisher, Political Wire), Richard Haass (President of the Council on Foreign Relations), Rick Klein (Political Director, ABC News), Maria Teresa Kumar (President, Voto Latino), Dana Milbank (Columnist, The Washington Post), Erica Moody (Deputy Editor, Washington Life), Grover Norquist (Americans for Tax Reform), Hilary Rosen (Partner and Managing Director, SKDKnickerbocker), Christina Sevilla (Deputy Assistant, USTR), Rina Shah (Political consultant at Run with Rina), Ari Shapiro (Host, NPR), Pamela Lynne Sorensen (Pamela’s Punch), Kelly Jane Torrance (Deputy Managing Editor, The Weekly Standard), Crystal Wright (Communications consultant at Baker Wright Group), and Tim Young (Political Comedian).
* Cast members subject to change.
Aloha, Washington! Radiator is bringing Hawaiian flavor to D.C.’s 14th Street Corridor on Friday, June 23. Aromas of roasted pig in the summer air will direct tiki-lovers to Radiator’s patio for a luau party complete with hula and fire dancing.
For a $50 all-inclusive ticket, on the first official Friday night of summer, Washingtonians can embrace “island time” al fresco with a full tropical spread of Hawaiian classics and frozen tiki favorites. Tommy Bahama shirts, puka shell necklaces, Moana costumes, and comfortable sandals are welcome and strongly encouraged for “hanging ten” in style. Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden will be on the patio firing up his La Caja China with whole roasted pigs. Lead Bartender and native Hawaiian, Sarah Rosner, will be pouring piña coladas and frozen “Eddie Would Go” cocktails with Okolehao (a Hawaiian ti root spirit).
The luau party will be from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Professional Polynesian dancers will be performing hula and fire dancing throughout the evening, with a special dance lesson at 7:00 p.m. for ticket holders.
Tickets are $50, include all food and drink, and can be purchased at this Eventbrite link.
Radiator’s Rotating Rooftop Pop-Up
Shhh…it’s a little D.C. secret that the Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel has a rooftop. This spring and summer, the Radiator team is popping up on the Mason & Rook rooftop with a different monthly theme. April’s “Cocktail” theme was an ode to the 1988 movie, and May’s “Radiator on the Green” theme was a cheeky take on a rooftop country club. Keeping with the luau love, June will be the month of all things Hawaii. The tiki-themed pop-up begins at 5:00 p.m. every day from June 1-30, 2017.
- Cochinita Pibil
- Al Pastor
- Grilled Chicken
- Carne Asada
- Braised Chicken Mole
The 6th Annual Vine on the Waterfront Food & Wine Festival is ready to take to the banks of Alexandria’s waterfront on Saturday, June 24th. The festival will take place from 12:00PM to 6:00PM on Old Town’s waterfront at Oronoco Bay Park and will expand to include both restaurants within Alexandria and other eateries throughout the region.
The festival is a community-based event featuring tastes of local foods and wine, as well as artisans, a Children’s Corner, and live entertainment by the Alan Scott Band and Andy Hawk & The Train Wreck Endings. The event will transform Oronoco Bay Park into a lively festival easily accessible by car, Metrorail or Dash Bus.
Attendees will be able to sample food and wine from a variety of local restaurants and Virginia’s wineries. Local restaurants will compete for the best appetizer, the best main course and the best dessert – judged by notable DC foodie judges such as Jen Richer from 94.7FM The Tommy Show, Molly Ahearn of The List Are You On It & Foodie & the Beast and others to be announced soon.
This year’s participating restaurants and wineries include (as of May 30th, more to be announced on website):
| Wineries:
Horton Vineyards |
| Narmada Winery |
| Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery |
| Rebec Vineyards |
| Dry Mill Vineyards & Winery |
| Fabbioli Cellars |
| Democracy Vineyards |
| Castle Gruen Vineyards & Winery LLC |
| Rogers Ford Farm Winery |
| Cobbler Mountain Cider |
Restaurants/Food Vendors:
| Alexandria Cupcake |
| Dolci Gelati |
| Mason Social |
| Carluccio’s |
| HoneyCakes Desserts |
| Heartland Home Foods |
(More to come)
This is a free event to attend; however tickets are needed to sample food and beverages.
Tickets are $15 (per area, wine area + food area) and can be purchased online at the festival website. After June 16th, the price is $20 (each area) on site.
This year’s festival partners includes: City of Alexandria, Visit Alexandria, Post Properties, The Parker Apartments, Washington Parent Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, Wyndham Vacation Resorts, Inc. For a complete schedule of activities visit www.vineonthewaterfront.com.
EVENT DETAILS
What: Vine on the Waterfront Food & Wine Festival
When: Saturday, June 24, 2017
Where: Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison Street), Alexandria, VA 22314
Time: 12p.m. – 6p.m.
Website: www.vineonthewaterfront.com
Cost: This is a FREE event to attend; however tickets are needed to sample food and beverages.
Tickets are $15 (each area) until June 18 to be purchased online. After June 18th, the price is $20 (each area) on site.
Transportation: Easily accessible via car, Metro rail and Dash Bus
There’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned beach party. Cornhole games, sun and sand, clam bakes….
On June 25th from 11:30 am-9 pm, Drift on 7th brings the beach to its Shaw neighborhood. All the atmosphere, all the fun and games…the only thing missing is the actual ocean. Chef Ferhat Yalcin offers a menu including a clam bake platter for 2 ($50); prime beef cheese burger with fries ($12); Fish and Chips ($14); Fish Tots ($6); hand-cut fries ($3.50); crazy corn ($5); Fried Plantain ($3.50); and a variety of ice cream and sorbets.
Beachy libations will also be available. Seaside classics such as Coronaritas ($8); Jello shots ($5); PBR cans ($5) and frozen drinks ($?) are served in true beach party fashion.
A DJ will spin tunes and on-site beach games will add some extra seaside fun to the day.
Drift on 7th is open Monday through Thursday from 4-11 pm; Friday until 1 am; Saturday from 11:30 am-1 am; Saturday and Sunday brunch from 11:30 am-4 pm. Live Jazz on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 pm and at Sundaybrunch from noon-3 pm. The restaurant is at 1819 7th Street NW right by the Shaw/Howard University Metro station. For reservations and further information, call (202) 350-4350 or log into www.drifton7th.com/reserve
