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Embassy of Belgium Chef Jan Van Haute is the winner of the 2010 Embassy Chef Challenge presented by Cultural Tourism DC. Chef Van Haute’s dish, Walk Through Belgian Cuisine, won the top “Judge’s Award,” beating entries from nine of his embassy peers. Event attendees awarded Embassy of Israel Chef Einat Admony the “People’s Choice Award” for her Jerusalem artichoke and chestnut soup, and Embassy of the Republic of Hungary Chef Viktor Merényi won the preliminary “Challenge Sweden” culinary competition held March 7 in the kitchens of Occasions Caterers.

“I am speechless,” says Chef Van Haute. “I didn’t expect to win this contest. The Embassy Chef Challenge is an exciting event. I loved to meet and compete with other chefs. This is also a great moment for the Belgian embassy, and for the Belgian culinary tradition. I am proud to serve as an ambassador for Belgian cuisine.” His winning dish featured pork, Brussels sprouts, mustard, Belgian endive and Leffe Brown beer.

Chef Van Haute has cooked for DC’s Belgian Ambassador for the past year and has cooked for the Royal Family in Belgium and for top-rated restaurants in Belgium, Japan and Australia.

This year Cultural Tourism DC’s Embassy Chef Challenge showcased 10 embassy chefs on March 18 at the House of Sweden, where Ambassador of Sweden Jonas Hafström and his wife, Eva, welcomed more than 400 guests.

Judges for the competition included renowned food experts Chef Nora Pouillon, Restaurant Nora; Chef Michel Richard, Michel Richard Citronelle and Central Michel Richard; Chef Carla Hall, Alchemy Caterers and “Top Chef” finalist, and Joe Yonan, Food and Travel Editor, The Washington Post.

“The chefs and the guests together proved again how marvelous Washington is when we take a moment to get to know each other’s cultures and stories. What better way than through food? We are grateful to the embassies and their chefs for their participation. Everyone was a winner at this event,” said Linda Harper, executive director, Cultural Tourism DC

The Embassy Chef Challenge provides an appetizer for Cultural Tourism DC’s Passport DC 2010, a celebration of international culture held throughout May. Passport DC opens doors to one of Washington’s most distinctive assets – its embassies and world-class cultural scene. Proceeds from the Embassy Chef Challenge support an array of free program and authentic cultural experiences offered by the nonprofit membership organization Cultural Tourism DC.

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