D.C. restaurateurs and food fanatics alike turned out in droves for this year’s sold out Capital Food Fight to benefit D.C. Central Kitchen–although it’s unclear whether they were there for the food, the fierce competition or to see how long it would take José Andrés to lose his voice. (For the record: it started to give out sometime after Round 2.) Chef Michael Mina, creator of Bourbon Steak and the only out-of-town chef participating in the competition, took the crown from reigning champ Barton Seaver during a final round that featured coquitos (baby coconuts) as the secret ingredient.

The event, which pitted D.C. chefs against each other in a truncated Iron Chef-style battle, featured hosts Andrés and TV personality Anthony Bourdain; guest judges Eric Ripert, Ted Allen, Carla Hall and Jonathan Umbel; and tasting tables from more than 60 of D.C.-area restaurants. Highlights included Proof‘s tiny dried sausage, fontina and cherry-soaked quince combination, cassoulet from Blue Duck Tavern and beef shabu shabu from Bourbon Steak’s table. (Strikingly similar to the dish Mina made during round one — we’re thinking that as usual, those “secret” ingredients were hardly secret.)

Andrés jumped around the stage shouting, as Ted Allen put it, like “a crazy person” for most of the event, while the two hosts often seemed torn over who to heckle next: the contestants, or each other. There was also a surprise host/judge showdown (judged by a “clap-o-meter” rather than a panel of chefs) mid-way through the competition, where Bourdain and Andrés played sous chefs to former Top Chef contestant Hall, and Hell’s Kitchen Season 3 winner Chef Rock Harper. Totals weren’t in yet, but the event raised a “record amount” of money for the DC Central Kitchen, according to organizers.