The Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge (DC-ECC) will return to Washington, DC, on July 10, 2025, at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium from 6:00pm – 10:00 pm, bringing together embassy chefs from around the world to showcase their national cuisines in a rich culinary competition and cultural celebration.
The annual event, a cornerstone of DC’s cultural scene, highlights the talents of embassy chefs who compete for the prestigious People’s Choice Awards, and Judges’ Choice Awards, selected by a panel of influential members of the diplomatic and culinary communities.
Attendees will travel the world with their taste buds, sampling authentic bites and beverages from the participating nations. The 2025 edition promises to be a global feast, blending food, music, and cultural performances. The DC-ECC has a storied history of showcasing diverse cuisines, with African nations making notable contributions in past years.
In 2018, Ghana secured two silver awards for Chef Francis Otoo’s jollof rice and lamb, complemented by a lively highlife and Afro Jazz music performance from Nathan Pryce and his ‘Dreams’ band. In 2019, Ghana’s Chef Otoo also won the Pepsi Best Beverage Award for his Ashantie Mule Cocktail.
Morocco’s Chef Moha Fedal cooked Marrakech Tangia made with lamb shoulder sealed in a clay tangia jar to win the Judges’ Choice Award at the 2017. Chef Nazha Kasaraoui also from Morocco won the jury and public prizes at the first ever Embassy Chef Challenge in 2009.
African representation remains a highlight for 2025, with hopes high for participation from countries which have previously brought bold flavours to the competition. The push for greater African involvement has been ongoing since 2018, when the event was introduced to the Benin Embassy in DC, encouraging their participation.
Organizers and supporters alike anticipate African chefs will continue to showcase the continent’s rich culinary diversity, from spicy West African jollof to North African tagines. Beyond Africa, the DC-ECC will feature embassies from regions such as the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Past events have seen standout dishes like Panamanian Afro-Caribbean chicken tamale dumplings, Sichuan spicy fish from China, and offerings from Barbados, Peru, Serbia, Cuba, Ukraine, and Bolivia. Attendees can expect to sample authentic bites and beverages while enjoying cultural performances, such as Panamanian folk dances or Sri Lankan traditional dance, creating a multisensory journey around the globe.
The 2025 DC-ECC will offer general admission tickets priced at $150, granting access to an evening of culinary exploration and live entertainment. A panel of culinary experts, alongside guest votes, will determine the winners of the coveted awards.
Chefs from 25+ embassies and counting will be in the competition. The following countries’ embassies in the U.S. have confirmed their participation including Bahrain, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Mauritania, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe.
As the event approaches, anticipation builds for a celebration that unites diverse cultures through the universal language of food. Organizers and attendees alike hope to see continued and expanded African representation, ensuring the continent’s vibrant culinary traditions shine on this international stage. You can get your tickets to the event HERE.
Written by Oral Ofori
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
