The Embassy of Sri Lanka to USA in Washington DC with the funding assistance of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, presented Sri Lanka’s unique culinary authenticity at the event of Annual Embassy Chef Challenge, a culinary competition between nations meant to foster “culinary diplomacy held on March 7th 2024 at the Union Station in Washington DC. Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe graced the occasion.
At this well attended annual event of around 1,500 visitors with the participation of 23 Washington DC based Foreign Embassies from five continents showcased their culinary talents with food preparation skills and signature delicacies.
Sri Lanka was represented at the event by the Chef Suranga Gunawardenage of “Sigiri” which is a Sri Lankan renowned restaurant based in New Jersey, receiving public compliments for his spicy Chicken and Cheese kottu due to its unique taste and attractiveness of live cooking demonstrations that led visitors queued up outside the Embassy booth for tasting mouthwatering Sri Lankan dishes. All participating Chefs were required to present one pre-prepared food item for sampling and for consumption by visitors.
At the Sri Lankan culinary stall, an awareness program on Sri Lankan Spices and Ceylon Tea was conducted while providing a unique opportunity to taste freshly brewed cup of Pure Ceylon Tea which received appreciation by the visitors.
The Embassy, seizing the unique opportunity, showcased the country's diverse tourist attractions through the display of vibrant photographic sceneries and the broadcasting of well-chosen tourist-oriented videos. These videos portrayed pristine beaches and green mountain landscapes, highlighting Sri Lanka's tourism ranging from adventure and wellness to wildlife that fascinated the attendees. Moreover, a large volume of tourist promotional brochures were distributed among the visitors.
Additionally, making the event more colorful, many countries presented live cultural dancing performances on the main stage to honor their cultural heritage. A Sri Lankan dancing troupe “Natamu School of Traditional Sri Lankan Dance” based in Maryland, led by Chathuri Wickramaarachchi, staged a unique cultural dancing performance of “Kuweni” that showcased Sri Lanka’s rich traditional dance heritage captivating the large crowd attended the event.
The Embassy Chef Challenge is an event organized by the “Event DC” which is the premier host of conventions, sports, entertainment, and cultural events in the nation’s capital of Washington DC, offering an outstanding platform to celebrate culinary diplomacy to showcase diverse culture of countries through food, beverages and entertainment.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington D.C.
11th March 2024
