Which Famous DC Chef Plays His
(Donald) Trump Card?
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Two huge pieces of news broke this week about DC's beloved Chef and Restaurateur José Andrés.
 Rey Lopez First, there's the trump card. The Donald has tapped Andrés to open a signature restaurant inside the future Trump International Hotel in the Old Post Office Pavilion. After a $200 million facelift the projected opening for the hotel and restaurant is 2016. Andrés' ThinkFoodGroup's hand in the hotel's food and beverage program expands beyond the yet-to-be-named restaurant to include the lobby bar menu and banquet services.  China Chilcano Also this week, ThinkFoodGroup announced that China Chilcano would open the first full week of January. Expect Peruvian cuisine emboldened by flavors from Creole, Chinese and Japanese cuisines paired with one of the biggest selections of Pisco in the country. The colorful restaurant in Penn Quarter features this eye-catching mural by Peruvian artist Cecilia Paredes.
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Celebrating Local Talent: DC's Rising Stars
Dock 5 at Union Market was filled with more culinary talent than an episode of Top Chef Masters Tuesday night. StarChefs.com (an industry trends magazine) held an awards ceremony and tasting gala honoring “Rising Stars” from the DC area, including nearby Richmond, VA, and Baltimore, MD. This year's honorees were joined by past award winners and mentors. We snapped previous winners Bart Vandaele and R.J. Cooper with emcee David Guas and 2014 Rising Star Bryan Tetorakis. After the ceremony, winners were tasked with serving a celebratory bite or sip.
Neighborhood Restaurant Group had no shortage of winners, with Sommelier Brent Kroll, The Arsenal's Kyle Bailey and Red Apron's Nathan Anda. We snapped Brent with his beverage cohorts Greg Engert (who earned Rising Star status not too long ago) and Jeff Faile. Other DC winners included Bourbon Steak's Joel Palma, The Red Hen's Mike Friedman and Kapnos' Mike Isabella. Winners from Virginia included: Chef Austin Fausett from Trummer's on Main in Clifton; Chef Lee Gregory from The Roosevelt in Richmond; and Chef Benjamin Thompson from The Rock Barn in Arrington. We snapped Austin, who chose to serve Virginia peanut foie gras soup with quince mostarda and espelette pepper. In Maryland, Chef Graeme Ritchie of VOLT was recognized, and naturally, Chef Bryan Voltaggio was in the house helping Graeme serve Wagyu short ribs with malt and salsify. A portion of the event's proceeds went to DC Central Kitchen. |
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Hit The Sweet Spot(s)
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Two new sweet shops opened their doors in DC on Monday, and they're both in buzzed-about new communities. RareSweets in CityCenterDC is Pastry Chef Meredith Tomason's first brick and mortar bakeshop. She's a “graduate” of the food incubator Union Kitchen, where she operated a wholesale and catering business. Meredith brings experience working at Tom Colicchio's Craft Restaurant in New York City. We snapped her on opening day holding one of several cakes they serve by the slice. |
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A few blocks over in the burgeoning City Market at O community, sugar fiends got their first taste of Dolci Gelati Café. The Shaw shop is chef/owner Gianluigi Dellaccio's second (the first is in Takoma Park). We snapped him serving a coppe sundae. Other highlights include a customizable gelato pop station, Italian hot chocolate, a case full of decadent pastries, and creative gelato flavors like white chocolate ginger. Gianluigi and his wife, Anatasia, were beaming on opening day because they've come a long way baby. The pair's gelato shop dream began on the back of Gianluigi's Vespa, which was strapped with pints of gelato for delivery. |
Two Words: New Barbecue!
“It's both the easiest and the hardest thing to do,” chef Andrew Evans says. He's talking about cooking BBQ—his life's passion. We snapped him manning his brand new Union Market stall on opening night. It's the third location of “The BBQ Joint.” The first two can be found in Easton and Pasadena, MD. But, Andrew hasn't always cooked ribs and brisket. Prior to the BBQ business, he owned and operated The Easton Inn, where he showcased local seafood and produce, earning many accolades. The same dedication he applied to the Inn goes into his smoking and brining.Try his ‘cue Tues-Fri: 11am-8pm and Sat-Sun: 8am-8pm.
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Up Your Game on Game Day
The Caps season is in full swing, and that means lots of meals near the Verizon Center. Sure, that Crabby Melt from The Green Turtle will do the trick, but two relative newcomers can help you up your food game. A brand-new bar from the team behind Ghibellina and Acqua Al 2 called Denson Liquor Bar sits across the street from The Green Turtle, but it's hard to find thanks to its basement address at 600 F St NW. Once inside the Art Deco retreat, order a classic cocktail like a negroni or a sazerac ($9 during happy hour), plus global snacks that have the potential to fill you up.
 On the other side of the arena is Flight Wine Bar, which recently refocused on its food after nearly one year of operations. This seafood bouillabaisse we snapped is one of its new dishes. Shrimp, scallops and mussels swim in a sake broth. If you want red meat before you rock your red, there's a hanger steak with whipped potatoes, black sesame tahini, tabbouleh and friend shallots. Wash it all down with a creative flight of three wines like “Not Your Grandma's Chardonnay,” “Thought-Provoking Light-Bodied Reds” or “Hipster and Proud of It.”
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