Miller & Chevalier Wins Generous Associates Campaign CulinAerie Cooking Competition -- Again!
Generous Associates Campaign
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Update (October 9, 2015): The CulinAire Cooking Competition was covered in Bisnow.

Nick Metcalf (captain), Mike Chittenden, Theresa Androff, Sarah Dowd, Lisandra Ortiz

Nick Metcalf (captain), Mike Chittenden, Theresa Androff, Sarah Dowd, Lisandra Ortiz

On October 1, the gastronome attorneys from Miller & Chevalier held on to their title, winning Legal Aid’s third-annual Generous Associates Campaign CulinAerie Cooking Competition, besting eight other competitors in a hard-fought battle at CulinAerie, a recreational cooking school in downtown DC. The event was graciously hosted and generously sponsored by CulinAerie co-founder Susan Holt, who was also the emcee of the evening, setting for the ground rules for the competition.

Judges Bonnie Benwick, Patrice Olivan, and Teddy Folkman

Judges Bonnie Benwick, Patrice Olivan, and Teddy Folkman

The competition was judged by three celebrity judges: Bonnie Benwick, Food Editor for the Washington Post; Patrice Olivan, long-time Executive Chef at the French Embassy, regular guest chef at the White House, Iron Chef competitor, and host of Cooking Live; and Teddy Folkman, Executive Chef and Co-owner of Granville Moore on H Street, NE and the BAROAK Restaurant in Annapolis and co-founder of DC Beer Week.

Each firm fielded a team of cooks, and had one hour prepare a dish that incorporated this year’s secret ingredient: apples. Teams were scored on presentation, unique use of ingredients, overall taste, and – for a new twist this year – teamwork.

Though the judges reported that all the dishes were attractive and tasty, the Miller & Chevalier team – wearing their winner’s aprons from last year’s competition – was triumphant, receiving the highest overall score for its “Apple & Pork Stack” made with a Fuji apple base, caramelized honey crisp apples with beer and maple syrup, crispy bacon and an apple & Brussels sprout slaw made with apple cider. Just to seal the deal, the team served apple sangria to accompany the dish.

Miller & Chevalier’s winning dish

Miller & Chevalier’s winning dish

The team from Goodwin Procter placed second with its “Apple Harvest Chicken” on top of coconut risotto with Brussels sprout apple slaw and apple chutney, receiving kudos for the excellent preparation of the chicken.

Team Goodwin Procter hard at work

Team Goodwin Procter hard at work

Finishing third, Wiley Rein’s chefs presented the judges with a tasty looking desert they titled “Apple Cinnamon Toast Crunch.” This sweet treat prompted Chef Patrice Olivan to go back for seconds, quite an endorsement given that the judges tasted no fewer than nine dishes.

Wiley Rein’s Apple Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Wiley Rein’s Apple Cinnamon Toast Crunch

All of us at Legal Aid wish to express our profound gratitude to CulinAerie’s Susan Holt, whose willingness to donate her time, space, cooking equipment and food items for the event for a third year in a row reflect her truly generous spirit. We also continue to be incredibly thankful to all of our Generous Associates Campaign participating law firms which together raised a record-breaking $1.367 million in this year’s Generous Associates Campaign.

The nine firms participating in the cooking competition were:

  • Goodwin Procter LLP
  • McGuire Woods LLP
  • Miller & Chevalier Chartered
  • Norton Rose Fulbright
  • Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
  • Venable LLP
  • Wiley Rein LLP
  • Williams & Connolly
  • Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

Below are more photos from the evening:

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