The Point’s Ben Lambert Wins DC Central Kitchen’s Capital Food Fight
By April 14, 2022 0 1916
•D.C.’s baddest night of doing good made a triumphant return to The Anthem on April 7 with Chef Benjamin Lambert of The Point DC winning the coveted champion boxing gloves after a thrilling three-round culinary bout. The event raised $750,000 to benefit DC Central Kitchen. The Point is part of Fish & Fire Food Group, which also includes Tony & Joe’s, Nick’s Riverside Grill and Ivy City Smokehouse Tavern.
Lambert faced off against Executive Chef Brittanny Anderson of Leni in the final round, delivering a TKO with his mezcal-poached rhubarb (rhubarb was the secret ingredient) with smashed avocado, blue cheese and aguachile broth. The other competing chefs were: Chef Paris “Sassy” Henry of Oohh’s & Aahh’s, pinch hitting for colleague Chef Oji Abbott, and Cranes Executive Chef and owner Pepe Moncayo.
“The appeal of Capital Food Fight to me is not only highlighting how DC Central Kitchen benefits the city, it’s also about getting to know these other talented chefs who are so inspiring,” said Lambert, adding, “I was so proud to share the win with my son onstage.”
The 2022 Capital Food Fight was a star-studded affair, with long-time friends of DC Central Kitchen Tom Colicchio, Maneet Chauhan, Andrew Zimmern, Mr. National Ryan Zimmerman and event host Spike Mendelsohn returning to the stage. Joining them this year for the first time were Top Chef season 10 winner and star of truTV’s Fast Foodies Kristen Kish, celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito, and Washington Mystics star forward Alysha Clark.
Between battles, DC Central Kitchen CEO Mike Curtin honored Chef Ablawa Ajovon with this year’s Marianne Ali North Star Award for her extraordinary work as the organization’s Culinary Job Training Chef Instructor after graduating from the program herself in 2017. He led the 1,000 guests in a round of applause for the event’s 65 participating restaurants in tribute to the resiliency of the community over the past several years.
The 2022 Capital Food Fight presenting sponsor was craigstable (Craig Newmark Philanthropies), from the Craig who founded craigslist.