Los Alamitos, CA – Frieda’s Specialty Produce partnered with Keany Produce & Gourmet to sponsor the secret ingredient at DC Central Kitchen’s Capital Food Fight on November 6th.
Held at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., the event mobilized more than 2,000 attendees who roamed throughout 80 DC-area restaurant stations. Chef Jose Andres, named the 2018 Humanitarian of the Year by the James Beard Foundation, hosted the event. He’s known for his work to end hunger and poverty by using the power of food to empower communities and strengthen economies.
The secret ingredient for one of the battles was Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, exclusively distributed by Frieda’s. Chef Marcelle Afram of Bluejacket created a Stokes Purple® sweet potato spiced funnel cake with a chocolate walnut tahini spread,the winning dish of the battle (pictured above). “I’m making dessert for breakfast”, said Chef Afram of her inspiration behind the dish. Chef Afram battled Chef Kyoo Eom of Dirty Habit who made a spicy crab salad “sushi roll” with the Stokes Purple® sweet potato, garnished with aioli, potato chip and crispy lime.
Other competing chefs included, Adam Greenberg of Coconut Club and Johanna Hellrigl of Doi Moi.
Now celebrating its 16th year, Capital Food Fight was the brainchild of celebrity chef Jose Andres; 100% of the $815,000 raised benefits DC Central Kitchen (DCCK), a nonprofit enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. DCCK’s social ventures include serving scratch-cooked, farm-to-school meals in DC schools, delivering fresh, affordable produce to corner stores in neighborhoods without supermarkets and operating a fast-casual cafe.
About Frieda’s Inc.
Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been inspiring new food experiences for friends, families and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit and dragon fruit to Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.
