{"id":605175,"date":"2019-04-05T02:06:16","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T02:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"
\n

General News of Thursday, 4 April 2019<\/p>\n

Source: <\/strong>Oral Ofori<\/p>\n2019-04-04\n\n

\n

<\/p>\n

\n

General News of Thursday, 4 April 2019<\/p>\n

Source: <\/strong>Oral Ofori<\/p>\n

2019-04-04<\/p>\n

\n

\"Winningplay video<\/span>Winners of the competition in a group photograph<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Best Beverage Award presented by PepsiCo at the April 2 Embassy Chef Challenge (ECC) diplomatic culinary competition won by Chef Francis Otoo of Ghana at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center was one of many prizes clinched by Africa at the event.<\/p>\n

Francis Otoo, a multiple award-winning Executive Chef who was awarded for his \u2018Ashantie Mule Cocktail\u2018 this year also featured his 2nd-place-winning jollof rice with lamb from last year at this year\u2019s ECC which featured a heavy participation from Africa that included Ethiopia\u2019s Tebabu Assefa of the Embassy of Ethiopia in DC who won the \u2018Macy\u2019s Best Dressed award\u2018 for rich cultural display.<\/p>\n

Morocco\u2019s Chef Faycal Zahraoui who prepared Seafood Pastila with Smoked Potatoes was among the award-winning chefs of the night who was ultimately joined on the podium by fellow winners around the world who showcased their delicious culinary delights like winning dishes of a surf and turf pumpkin soup from Haiti, and guava br\u00fbl\u00e9e pork belly from Barbados.<\/p>\n

In praise of Chef Otoo, the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC said that: \u201cGhana Embassy Chef, Francis Otoo did it Again! This time, he won the \u2018Pepsi Best Beverage\u2019 Award for his Delicious Ginger Beverage at the 2019 Embassy Chef Challenge on April 2, 2019, at the Ronald Reagan Building, International Trade Center.\u201c<\/p>\n

Another winning Ghanaian performance that night was led by the band \u2018Nathan Pryce and the Dreams\u2018 who are no strangers to the ECC. Last year, the Ghanaian smooth Jazz musician Nathan Pryce led his band \u2013 The Dreams \u2013 to provide a sparkling performance which was repeated this year to the admiration of fans.<\/p>\n

Chef Otoo who has been a regular participant at the ECC said to TheAfricanDream.net \u201clast year we won two silvers, this year we clinched one gold, but every year for the past 11yrs years that I have participated \u2013 I always win a diamond! This is because the thousands of fans who show up to taste my food and drinks, as well as that of other participants, make the whole experience priceless for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank this year\u2019s champions Chef Javon Cummings of Barbados who won the coveted first place \u2018Golden Pineapple\u2019 in the Judges\u2019 Choice Award and Chef Dimitri Lilavois of Haiti for grabbing first place in the People\u2019s Choice Award and say Africa is proud of them. I also say thanks to the organizers, especially Events DC and TCMA and other great sponsors and supporters who have continued to make this beautiful experience started 11yrs ago by Linda D. Harper the wonderful international experience it has grown to become today,\u201d concluded Chef Otoo in his chat with TheAfricanDream.net.<\/p>\n

Embassy of Ghana personnel at the ECC in support of the Chef were Trade attache Stella Ansah, Diaspora Affairs desk Akosua Baddoo and Angeline Addy of the embassy\u2019s info desk. Editor of Afrikan Post newspaper George Kwasi Bright and other well-wishers from Africa and the Diaspora were present to throw their support behind the Chef.<\/p>\n

For a full list of participating embassy chefs watch this video of the respective award winners as they receive their trophies for foods and drinks prepared in this link https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fdK2GTCrHLs and visit www.eventsdcembassychefchallenge.com for more details about the event.<\/p>\n