Joe Shumard, organizer of the George Washington Birthday Celebration; Carolyn Dyro, manager of The Hour; Trae Lamond, Chadwick’s owner; and Danny Smith, director of the Cherry Challenge, recognize Chadwick’s for winning Best Beverage again this year with “Sweet Lips” as the created by Woods Morrison. Chadwick’s also won in 2015 with the cocktail “I Cannot Tell A Rye” created by then bartender and now owner Lamond. Photo by Louise Krafft.
The George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee announced the winners of the eighth annual “Cherry Challenge.” The Cherry Challenge took place between Jan. 28 and Feb. 11 in 53 Alexandria restaurants. It featured cherry-inspired dishes, appetizers, drinks, and desserts created by the restaurant chefs. Some of the restaurants have competed in the past, but there were many restaurants new to the competition this year.
The winners:
- Beverage — Chadwick's (http://www.chadwicksrestaurants.com/)
- Appetizer — Sonoma Cellar (http://www.mysonomacellar.com/)
- Entree — Tempo (http://www.temporestaurant.com/)
- Dessert — Taverna Cretekou (http://www.tavernacretekou.com/)
A new award, Frequent Cherry Diner was won by Fred Zevin who tried the most Cherry Challenge dishes this year.
“I really enjoyed this event; it’s been a great two weeks, but maybe not for my waistline,” said Danny Smith, who was the director and primary event organizer for the fifth year.
For the first time, this event was sponsored by the professional accounting and management consulting firm of Halt, Buzas, and Powell and the printing of the more than 2,000 ballots submitted was sponsored by Dale Digital Printing.
Each person who ordered the dish or menu item was supplied with a ballot so that they could judge the menu item on taste, presentation and creativity. Scoring was done by rating both the number of ballots submitted, and how each dish rated in the palates of the citizens who ordered the items. The winning restaurants will receive a certificate and will be honored at a special reception. For more information about the George Washington Birthday Celebration, visit www.washingtonbirthday.net.