С голубеньким узором наш пацан! Ерлан Абдрахманов — заведующий производством посольства Республики Казахстан в Соединенных Штатах Америки!
Embassy Chef Challenge 2011
Dear Friends,
The Kazakh Embassy has been very active to showcase our culture and traditions to our American friends. One way of doing so is to support the various initiatives of engaging the diplomatic missions with the American public. With this in mind, our Embassy Chef Yerlan Abdrakhmanov participated in the Embassy Chef Challenge organized by Cultural Tourism DC, an independent non-profit coalition of culture, heritage and community-based organizations. The Challenge was held in two stages.
At the first stage, which took place on March 26, 2011 at the World Bank Headquarters Building, the Chefs from the Embassies of Kazakhstan, Bahamas, Bulgaria, China, Dania, Indonesia, Iraq, Norway, Peru, Sweden and Ukraine were required to cook salmon using the ingredients from Belgian cuisine (winner of the last year’s competition).
The magnificent atrium of the Ronal Reagan Building and the International Trade Center was packed with the guests – officials, diplomats, business executives, public figures, artists and journalists – who came to enjoy the delicious foods cooked by the participants for the second stage or “Reception” of the Challenge on April 12, 2011.
Yerlan cooked Shashlik (also known as Skewered Lamb or Kebab), which is one of the most popular dishes in our region. In Kazakhstan one can taste it in first class restaurants and cafés. It is also sold by the street vendors who roast the skewers over wood, charcoal, or coal. Shashlik is usually cooked on a grill called a mangal.
Immediately after the beginning of event, a long queue appeared at the Kazakh corner beautifully set up with posters on Kazakh cuisine and photographs of Kazakh traditions and nature. All the visitors praised the food, calling it “mouth-watering”, “delicious”, “lip-smacking”. Many even asked for its recipe. For those who are interested, I can share it. The ingredients include boneless lamb, onion, salt, pepper, spices, lemons, greens. To cook, lamb is cut into equal pieces. Onion is also cut into semi-circular ones. Meat is mixed with onion, salt, spices, and lemon juice. Then, the meat is marinated for 2-13 hrs. Afterwards, meat is spitted to skewers and grilled on a red-hot charcoal. Shashlik is served with marinated onion, greens and vegetables.
The foods were evaluated by 8 judges. According to their judgment, Danish Embassy Chef was awarded the first place. The “people’s choice” went to the Chef from Peru, as he has received the highest number of votes from the guests.
Although Yerlan did not win a place, he was definitely among the favorites. For him, it was both fun and useful experience to interact with his colleagues to enrich their own skills. After all, some say t that the best diplomacy is conducted over the table full of delicious food, in a relaxed environment. The competition was about joy and celebration of friendships among the participating embassies and American public.
At the reception, silent auction was organized and many guests bid to buy “Snow Queen” top premium vodka from Kazakhstan and winner of many international awards for its excellence.
The visitors of the Kazakh corner were also given popular books on Kazakhstan such as “Apples are from Kazakhstan”.
You may watch a video clip on the Challenge here.
DENMARK CHEF NAMED WINNER OF CULTURAL TOURISM DC’S EMBASSY CHEF CHALLENGE 2011
Chef Lars Beese, chef for the Royal Danish Embassy, won top honors at the third edition of Cultural Tourism DC’s Embassy Chef Challenge, the annual culinary competition for Washington, DC embassy chefs on April 12 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Chef Beese won both the “Judge’s Choice” award, the top honor of the competition and the “Challenge Belgium” award, the preliminary competition. Chef Beese’s winning dish was a creamy asparagus soup and roast duck breast with apple and plum chutney. Chef Jose Luis Fernandez from the Embassy of Peru, won the “Peoples’ Choice” for his Peruvian ceviche. Embassy Chef Challenge was co-hosted by Cultural Tourism DC and the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
“I want to congratulate Chef Beese, Chef Fernandez, and all of this year’s competitors,” said Cultural Tourism DC Executive Director Linda Donavan Harper. “The chefs presented a wonderful taste of international cuisine and culture. We look forward to showing off many of these embassies again during Passport DC, a month-long celebration of international events and activities in May.”
Cultural Tourism DC
