The scene inside the Reagan Building

Blue Ridge’s Barton Seaver was gunning for the title for the third straight year at the 2009 Capital Food Fight, held last night inside the Reagan Building. His competition included not only last year’s finalist, Peter Smith from PS 7’s, but also two Top Chef contestants (Mike Isabella from Zaytinya and Bryan Voltaggio from Volt) and one out-of-town ringer, celebrity chef Michael Mina of Bourbon Steak.

Seaver performed honorably but ultimately lost to Mina the Carpetbagger. But, hey, it’s not about competition, right? It’s a fundraiser for D.C. Central Kitchen, the non-profit with the master plan to attack homelessness and poverty.

Below the fold are more pictures from the event, courtesy of Reflections Photography. Used with permission.

Read More “Scenes from the 2009 Capital Food Fight” »

As a general rule, the Young & Hungry blog is not here to plug every damn product that comes down the pike, but we’ll make an exception for the Women Chefs and Restaurateurs 2009 calendar, which you can purchase for $12 over at WCR’s Web site. It’s a great holiday gift, blah, blah, blah.

The national organization’s mission is “to promote and enhance the education, advancement and connection of women in the culinary industry,” which says way more about the industry, I think, than about WCR. I mean, we’re nearly eight full years into the 21st century, and women still need a specialty group to promote their interests inside the kitchen? The French influence, she is still strong in the restaurant world, oui?

The calendar is D.C.-centric, even though the organization is national. The local chefs, restaurateurs and sommeliers who appear in the calendar include Melanie Parker (Equinox), Ris Lacoste (ris and Rock Creek), Amy Brandwein (Fyve), Barbara Black (Addie’s Restaurant, Black Market Bistro, Black’s Bar & Kitchen, and BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant), Beverly Bates (ici Urban Bistro at Sofitel Hotel), Nora Pouillon (Nora), Ruth Gresser (Pizzeria Paradiso), Jamie Leeds (CommonWealth Gastropub and Hank’s Oyster Bar), Heather Chittum (Hook), and Tracy O’Grady (Willow Restaurant). So do some of their recipes.

Read More “Screw the Boys’ Club Mentality at Restaurants. Buy a WCR Calendar.” »