Hungarian chef wins Embassy Chef Challenge

The chef of the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Viktor Merényi won the Embassy Chef Challenge Grand Prix, a gastronomy competition for embassies in the American capital. The 2012 contest featured chefs from more than a dozen embassies.

Created in 2009, Cultural Tourism DC's Embassy Chef Challenge celebrated the talents of culinary artists with a friendly competition for the 4th time early this March. The contest is an excellent opportunity for D.C. residents to taste the works of these accomplished chefs. A panel of celebrity chefs and food critics served as judges throughout the competition.

The chefs’ task was to prepare a dish characteristic of their respective countries. Viktor Merényi’s winning choice was a brisket sous vide (prepared with vacuum, slow cooking process) served with letcho-filled, confit potatoes, sour cream noodles and red wine sauce.

Chef Merényi graduated from the College of Catering, Commerce and Tourism at the Budapest Business School Faculty of Commerce. He is the two-time silver medalist of “Culinary World Cup Luxemburg” (2002 and 2006) and winner of the “Best Creative Foods” category at the Traditional and Evolution High Class “Live Kitchen” competition (2008).

He has had experience in world-class restaurants in Budapest, New York City, and Wexford, Ireland. Chef Merényi received the “Challenge Sweden” award at Embassy Chef Challenge 2010 for his smoked catfish served with chicken-celery salad, mesclun lettuces, cauliflower foam, and beet-root “caviar.”