They are looking for a good clean fight!
The humble back-of-house staff from two Brooklyn restaurants will cover themselves in glory and in suds at a plate-cleaning competition on May 22 in Greenpoint. The Diamond’s brunch crowd will create dirty dishes for competitors in the All-Brooklyn Dishwashing Duel, who will battle for an ale-filled trophy and eternal glory, said the event’s organizer.
“The trophy will have the name of the greatest dishwasher emblazoned on it, and we will forever know who was the victor,” said Jamie Hook, a Greenpoint devotee of the art of dishwashing.
The duel, which will take place in the Diamond’s back yard, will follow a strict code. After a coin toss, the soapy skirmishers will choose their weapons — sponges or scrub brushes, and their choice of detergent — and face off for three rounds of competition. Judges will determine who wins each round — and who is all washed up — by focusing on volume, precision, or artistry, while an announcer provides color commentary.
Volume is simple to judge — how many dishes competitors can clean in three minutes. But one tricky aspect could wipe out a win, said Hook — keeping the dishes from toppling over.
“It’s an incredibly small dishrack,” said Hook. “There’s an art to stacking.”
The precision round gives each washing warrior three minutes to restore an “encrusted and filthified” dish to sparkling cleanliness.
And the artistry competition will involve cleaning a single wineglass. Bonus points will be granted for costumes and choreography during this final round, said Hook.
The owners of the two eateries in the inaugural event — Greenpoint bistro Le Gamin and Williamsburg’s Motorino pizzeria — dished out harsh words to their rivals.
Motorino’s Matt Palombino, who will join the dish duel on behalf of his employees, said to La Gamin’s owner: “Yo, Frenchie — if you even dream of beating us, you’d best wake up and apologize.”
Le Gamin’s response was succinct.
“Eat soap and die,” said Robert Arbor.
In addition to bragging rights, the dishwashing staff of the winning restaurant will split a cash prize of $150, plus whatever money is raised at the afternoon’s brunch. The winner will also issue a challenge to another Brooklyn restaurant, for another match at a time to be determined. Those who do not respond will find themselves in hot water, said Hook.
“They will have to respond unless they want their honor besmirched” he said. “Honor must be maintained among the dishwashers of Brooklyn.”
Despite the somewhat silly trappings of the duel, participants say it has a serious point — giving attention to the vital but oft-ignored staff who labor in restaurant kitchens, said Le Gamin’s owner.
“Nobody every thought about the dishwasher, and we want to show that they are very important people in the business,” said Arbor. “It’s true! If you have dirty glasses or dirty dishes, it is not a good thing for the restaurant.”
And Hook hopes that the soap-operatic spectacle will elevate the discussion of the domestic task.
“I’m quite sincere about dishwashing,” said Hook. “It’s a domestic art, like quilting, but in a much more mundane form.”
Dishwashing Duel at the Diamond [43 Franklin St. between Quay and Calyer streets in Greenpoint, (718) 383–5030, www.thedi
