This weekend, dozens of awarding-winning Chefs came together to perform cooking demos and taste talks at the Walter E. Convention Center in Washington D.C. Named one of the biggest culinary events of the year, MetroCooking DC invited over 20 well-known chefs and exhibited more than 50 local D.C. restaurants to try. This foodie-extravaganza also promoted dozens of breweries, wineries, and distilleries by featuring their signature drinks to sip on and had over 100 local food specialty vendor areas to taste and shop at!
There was a laundry list of famous chefs at the event, including Guy Fieri, José Andrés, Amy Brandwein, Gavin Kaysen, Vikram Sunderam, Russell Smith, and Shaun O'Neale. James Beard Rising Star Award Winner Gavin Kaysen, owner of two restaurants in Minneapolis and alum from the Food Network shows "Chopped" and "Iron Chef," brought large crowds to the stage, making the perfect Cheese Boards with Président Cheese and demonstrating his delicious recipes, including his Beef Sliders and Peanut Butter Cookies. Another celebrity chef, Shaun O'Neale, winner of Masterchef season 7, could be found speaking to foodies about his recipes, being on the Food Network show, and other cooking secrets at the Taste Talk center.
D.C. chefs could be found throughout the culinary event, preparing food at the Grand Tasting Pavilion, demonstrating their signature dishes on the James Beard Cooking Stage, signing their cookbooks, shopping and sampling from local vendors, and sharing their personal cooking tricks to guests! Russell Smith, Executive Chef at The Source by Wolfgang Puck, was busy at the event preparing and serving dumplings from the Source menu to guests. Renowned chef Vikram Sunderam, of Rasika, prepared his delicious vegetarian Cauliflower Bezule and left the cooking stage to talk one-on-one to individual guests about any questions they had about Indian cuisine. José Andrés, famed for bringing traditional Spanish dining fare to Washington D.C, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, and Puerto Rico, entertained everyone on the James Beard Cooking Stage as he asked a young foodie to help him prepare his famous bread and fish dishes.
When guests weren't being entertained by chefs, they got to shop for holiday gifts, delicious treats, and amazing products made locally!
A few vendors that stood out to us this weekend include:
Gray Wolf of Eagle Rock Wild Coyote Hot Sauce - This family-owned business serves gourmet hot sauce made from their own peppers and spices. Their specialty hot sauces include their Tombstone Cilantro sauce, Eliminator sauce, Sudden Death sauce, and their spiciest sauce, Buried Alive.
Georgian Feast - This family-owned business caters authentic Georgian cuisine with fresh, natural ingredients.
A Spice Above - This gourmet food company serves 18 different varieties of all natural, low-carb dips and spreads. Some of their dips include the Tuscan Tomato Basil, the Caramelized French Onion, the Loaded Baked Potato, the Beat the Heat Habanero, and the Gringo Guacamole.
For more information on the MetroCooking DC event, go to: MetroCooking DC
No comments:
Post a Comment