Cultural Tourism DC Announces Embassy Chef Challenge

The third annual Embassy Chefs Challenge is set to take place at the Reagan Building next week, pitting chefs from embassies all around Washington against each other in a battle of hors d'oeuvres. Participating embassy chefs — including China, Iraq, Japan, Norway and more — will prepare examples of their cuisine in hopes of winning the hearts of a celebrity judge panel and the event's more than 400 guests. Two former Top Chef contestants are sitting on this year's panel, Good Stuff Eatery's Spike Mendelsohn and the DC season's Tamesha Warren. They join last year's winner Jan Van Haute from the Embassy of Belgium, Washington Post food editor Joe Yonan, and a few other local chefs.

Cultural Tourism DC is hosting the event, its annual benefit, on Tuesday, April 12, at 6:30 p.m. Beyond the cooking competition, there will also be a silent auction offering tours, cooking classes and international travel. Oh yeah, and a private dinner for 10 prepared by Van Haute himself. Tickets are $250 apiece and are available here.

· Embassy Chef Challenge [Official Site]