We went to Dock 5 at Union Market for the Launch Pad competition finals. We snapped Francisco Ruscalleda, his partner, Cajun Meets Asian's Ross Perkins, Mess Hall community manager Victoria Harris and BakerMan Dan's Dan Kaufman. Launch Pad is a competition among five food businesses competing for the chance to take over a stall at Union Market.
The judges: Revolution's David Hall, The Inn at Little Washington Chef/owner Patrick O'Connell, Ris Chef Ris Lacoste, Daikaya Chef Katsuya Fukushima, Restaurant Nora Chef Nora Pouillon and Rose's Luxury's Aaron Silverman. Food truck Arepa Zone was declared the winner after the fun event.
Mess Hall founder and Launch Pad co-creator Al Goldberg addresses the judges and audience before the competition.
Guests enjoyed tastings from the five finalists. Here, Investment Company Institute's Linyer Zieman, Sinplicity Catering's Chris Gaskill, Atlantic Council's Christopher Lyon and Omni Hotels' Bryan Stiffler.
Chef Dadisi Olutosin and Leon Bournes working the stall for Half Smoke, one of the finalists.
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