Woodberry Kitchen’s Spike Gjerde Wins Capital Food Fight

This Veteran’s Day’s live on-stage brawl was a fight to the… dish.   Monday evening, José Andrés and Carla Hall hosted the 10th Anniversary of DC Central Kitchen’s premier fundraising event, the Capital Food Fight.

IMG_5989Popular among foodies — and anyone who eats… anything — the Capital Food Fight features an onstage culinary competition judged by industry notables.  This year, Erik Bruner-Yang (Toki Underground/Maketto), Bertrand Chemel (2941 Restaurant), Spike Gjerde (Woodberry Kitchen/Artifact Coffee), and Anthony Lombardo (1789 Restaurant) faced off for judges Tom Colicchio (Bravo’s Top Chef), Rick Bayless (PBS’ Mexico: One Plate at a Time), Todd English (PBS’ Food Trip with Todd English), and Art Smith (Cookbook author and owner of IMG_6108Art & Soul restaurant), as well as one tie-breaking judge from the audience who donated some $5,000 out of temptation to taste.

As the chefs battled it out, attendees sampled bites from some 75 local restaurants all vying to be judged as well… People’s Choice, that is.  Audience favorites included Good Stuff Eatery’s famous IMG_6191toasted marshmallow milkshakes, Bastille’s sweet potato veloute and Elisir’s italian meatballs.

New this year, and in celebration of the event’s tin (10th) anniversary, Duff Goldman (The Food Network’s Ace of Cakes) brushed off his pans to host the event’s first-ever High Stakes Cakes Competition.

*All images credit Michael Woestehoff, The Ellsworth Agency