Chilean Chef Challenge!

Tuesday night, we went to the third annual Chilean Chef Challenge at the National Restaurant Association HQ. We snapped the Chilean ambassador, Juan Gabriel Valdes (right), who hosted the delectable evening with foods from Chile and the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. He's with trade commissioner Rodrigo Contreras and one of the competitors, Occidental Grill & Seafood chef Rodney Scruggs.

Seven DC chefs served bite-size tastings that included ingredients like olive oil, spices, fruits and produce, all imported from Chile. Judges and guests voted for their favorite plate. Here, the judge's favorite-food winner, Del Campo and Taco Bamba Chef Victor Albisu (it was a big week for Victor!), who served a salt-baked Chilean salmon, and Embassy of Ecuador's Daniel and Alvaro Hernandez.

The Grilled Oyster Co chef Steve Mason won the the guests vote for the best dish of the night with his delicious merquén smoked mussels with chañar syrup-smoked mussel cream. Here, RAMW president Kathy Hollinger and Right Proper Brewing Co's John and Kim Snedden.

Seven mixologists also competed, and the best cocktail of the night went to Del Campo's Amin Seddiq, who created the Bad Hombre cocktail with cucumber-infused pisco alto del carmen, lime, beet juice and cava. Here, Fox 5 correspondent and emcee Paul Wharton, surrounded by the HUngry Marketplace App's Sadullah Karimi, Pardis Saremi and Chris Baugh.