Challenge Denmark

Embassy Chef Challenge begins behind closed doors with a private preliminary competition, Challenge Denmark. This cook-off will be held on Saturday, February 12, in the kitchens of Challenge Denmark co-host, Occasions Catering. The Top Chef-style competition challenges each chef to create a main course in two hours with an ingredient revealed in advance — beets — plus a basket of surprise components drawn from Danish cuisine in honor of Embassy Chef Challenge 2011 winner and 2012 judge Chef Lars Beese. The Embassy Chef Challenge reconvenes the night of the benefit, March 8, when all chefs offer their best hors d'oeuvres for a second round of judging at the Ronald Reagan Building. The scores from the Challenge Denmark cook-off and the hors d'oeuvres battle determine the Judge's Choice Award winner. Guests at the benefit vote for the People's Choice Award.