Top Chefs Take (Culinary) Pride In America!

SOUTHWEST -- From artisanal cheeses to small batch cocktail bitters to free range poultry, the phrase ‘MADE: In America’ was never more appetizing than on Wednesday afternoon, during a special tasting event held at The Washington Design Center.

Team Bourbon Steak.
Held on Independence Day itself, the appropriately titled ‘Take Pride in America’ celebration united seven of the District’s top chefs. Their mandate? To transform the gourmet products being honored as ‘2012 American Treasures’ into a tasty and patriotic menu that guests could sample firsthand.

Mount Vernon Spoonbread.
Chef Adam Sobel and the team from Bourbon Steak had Warm Griddle Cakes with Smoked Onion Jam, Cured Salmon, and Crème Fraiche and Mount Vernon Spoonbread, Cheddar, Bacon, Scallions, and Roasted Corn up for grabs, for example.

Team VOLT.
Similarly, Chef Bryan Voltaggio (fresh off a flight early that morning back from Copenhagen) and the staff from VOLT were serving-up hearty Pastrami Sandwiches garnished with dollops of All-American coleslaw.

Chilled Pea Soup.
And Shaw-based Seasonal Pantry had no trouble finding takers for cups of Chef Dan O'Brien’s Chilled Pea Soup with Honey Pollen Crème Fraiche and Honey Cornmeal Crackers.

The Seasonal Pantry table.
Helping wash down all of that gourmet fare, the Columbia Room’s Derek Brown had mixed-up a refreshing Vermouth Sauvage cocktail, using Vya Sweet Vermouth, Bitterman bitters, cane sugar, and mint.

The Columbia Room team.
While guests most certainly came for the terrific food and drink, the spirit of the celebration rested in the awards ceremony, which recognized each winner for his/her contributions to American commerce and industry.

After all, the land of the free is tended to each day by a sea of hardworking (and sometimes gourmet) citizens!