Ambassador of Chile salutes DC chefs and restaurateurs at his residence

His Excellency Andrés Bianchi, Ambassador of Chile to the US, and his wife Lily Urdinola, hosted a reception at their residence on Monday, December 5th saluting chefs and restaurateurs of Washington, DC.

“All year-round, chefs and restaurateurs are asked to contribute their talents and time to noble causes and events,” said Ambassador Bianchi. “We wanted to hold an event to treat those who are transforming this city, recipe by recipe, into a truly sophisticated center of international cuisine.”

Since Washington currently has no restaurants offering Chilean cuisine, the Ambassador wanted to introduce leaders in the culinary community to the flavors of Chile. Gus DiMillo and Jeff Tunks of Acadiana/Ceiba/DC Coast and TenPenh; Ellen and Todd Gray of Equinox; Ris Lacoste of 1789 restaurant; Cesare Lanfranconi of Ristorante Tosca and Kaz Okochi of Kaz Sushi Bistro served as co-hosts for the reception.

For the event, the Embassy of Chile flew in one of country’s top chefs, Christopher Carpentier, to prepare some of his homeland’s notable dishes, with a special emphasis on Chilean seafood. Fresh fish, king crab, loco and abalone, are among the country’s most acclaimed products. And Chile’s oysters, scallops and blue mussels have been celebrated as some of the best in the world.

Due to special geographical conditions and sophisticated production technologies, Chile has also become renowned for its excellent quality olive oil, which has received three times the “Lion of Gold,” the most important Italian prize for a Master in the Olive Oil Industry. One of Chile’s renowned organic olive oils, Olave, was showcased at the reception.

Representatives of Veramonte and Morandé wineries presented some of the nation’s most renowned wines, including Chile’s signature wine, Carménère. Among the unique products of Chile, Carménère is winning over wine lovers with its lush, exotic flavors. Once a popular Bordeaux grape, Carménère was wiped out around the world in the late 1870s, except in far away Chile. Today, Chile is leading the world in the revival of this distinctive wine.