Ugandan culture, heritage and the uniquely Ugandan Uganda Waragi stood out at the 2024 Washington DC Embassy chef challenge, a global culinary event held at the Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue.
A total of 23 embassies including Uganda, China, Malawi and Morocco among others gathered to compete for the People’s Choice Award and the Judges Choice Award that was selected by a panel of culinary and cultural judges.
The event placed a spotlight on Chef Sentie Kironde, a re-known Boston-based diaspora Ugandan chef. The Chef and his team set up the Ugandan stand at the event serving some of Uganda’s signature cuisines including steamed fresh matooke, katogo of roasted goat meat stew, steamed groundnut luwombo for vegans, garden vegetables, brewed Ugandan coffee and an assortment of Uganda Waragi sundowner cocktails.
The Ugandan stall attracted over 1000 guests who sampled the menu.
The event was organised with the support of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) who coordinated producers of Ugandan products including a Uganda Waragi collection from Uganda Breweries Limited, Ugandan coffee from ORONCAFE and Tooke Flour from the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development.
“Uganda Waragi is the spirit of Uganda and the ethos of the brand is rooted in celebrating our unique Ugandan culture and heritage. We are pleased to support this event which provided an opportunity to take Uganda to the world allowing guests to experience our food, culture and Uganda Waragi, a high quality, rich premium gin made in Uganda,” said Hillary Baguma, Brand Manager Mainstream Spirits at Uganda Breweries.
The cultural exchange established Embassy linkages with other diaspora communities in the United States of America through a showcase of Ugandan cultural, commercial and culinary craft through food and drinks.
The DC Embassy Chef Challenge is an annual celebration of global food and drink organised with support of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACIED) office.