Zagat Buzz: Washington D.C.

Outtake of the Week

BuzzEditor — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:15:00 GMT

Why the attitude? No one else is eating here.

Holiday Tea-Off

BuzzEditor — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:50:00 GMT

Willard Intercontinental Christmas display

Photo: courtesy of the hotel

The Willard InterContinental is getting into the holiday spirit. Every night in December (except December 24–28), from 5:30–7:30 PM, the area's premiere choral ensembles will perform spirited interpretations of holiday classics in the hotel's elegant lobby. The music provides a festive (and free) backdrop for getting together with friends over drinks at the lobby bar, or while enjoying a sumptuous high-tea Chinois at the adjacent Peacock Alley, which has been given a Chinoiserie-inspired ambiance. The set tea features special Chinese blends and Asian flavors – think ginger and fresh fruit petit fours – and will be offered daily through December 30 (except December 25) starting at 1:00 PM, and from January 2–February 14, 2010, Fridays–Sundays, at 2:30 PM ($39 per person, $49 with a glass of champagne; 202-628-9100).

Dining News Elsewhere: Obese Americans, Ramsay Loses His Number Two

BuzzEditor — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:23:00 GMT

– By 2018, 43% of Americans are expected to be obese. [NYDN]
– Gordon Ramsay has lost his right-hand man. [Bloomberg]
– The Senate is considering requiring beef to be tested for E. coli. [NYT]

– Top Chef contestants aren't being paid for the TV dinners that feature their faces (and recipes). [Time]
– First canned pumpkins, now an Eggo shortage looms. [NYDN]
– The art of complaining to a restaurant. [Guardian]
– A modest proposal for fixing restaurant and bar smoking bans. [Eater]
– Related: the science behind banning smoking outside. [Time]
– Ever wonder what it would be like to cook dinner for Thomas Keller? [Esquire]
– Talking cooking with Coolio. [Fork in the Road]
– NBC's newest cooking show, United Plates of America, will give away a four-restaurant chain. [Reuters]
– Hey, so, while you eat that sushi, this guy here is going to swallow a sword. [WSJ]
– Starbucks continues to roll out its unbranded coffee shops. [Diner's Journal]
– If New York loses its lawsuit, Tavern on the Green will become Tavern in the Park. [Crain's]
– Restaurants embrace Twilight. [NRN]
– Martha Stewart is not a fan of Rachael Ray. [ABC News, via EMD and GS]
– The Rolling Stones, the wine. [Examiner]
– Pork belly and other over-served dishes. [Between Meals]
– Students arrested for not paying their tip. [Philly]
– Plastic wishbones: what will the kids fight over? [SE]

Filling Up After the Turkey

BuzzEditor — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:36:00 GMT

Perrys

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

The day after Thanksgiving – aka Black Friday – is traditionally devoted to bargain shopping and turkey sandwiches. For a different bargain, head to Perrys, the eclectic Adams Morgan bistro, which will be getting into the holiday spirit with dining deals offering a culinary change-up of tastes. Over the weekend (November 27–29), dinner guests can select three small plates – think almond soup, salmon tataki, scallops with romesco sauce and lamb confit – and a dessert for $26, or choose from its regular à la carte menu. On Saturday, November 28, a lunch deal offered from 11 AM–3 PM, which includes a choice of two tapas plates plus dessert for $15, will ensure you have plenty of funds left for shopping (202-234-6218; reserve online).

The Passenger Arrives

BuzzEditor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:07:00 GMT

Tom Brown and Derek M. Brown, co-owners of The Passenger

Photo: Jim Webb

The Passenger, a hip, laid-back drinks destination, arrives tonight in the former Warehouse Theater bar space near Mt. Vernon Square, where quaffers can sip a customized cocktail (there’s no set list), beer or offbeat wine and sample snacks like a panini or kimchi hot dog; low lighting, exposed brick and old-timey booths create a transporting vibe, abetted by arty photos of fleeting movement; coming soon: a re-created dining car at the rear, plus a ‘lab’ for co-owner/mixologist Derek Brown.

1021 Seventh St. NW; 202-393-0220

See more new nightlife in Washington, DC

The Passenger

Photo: Jim Webb

Dining News Elsewhere: Koodies, Samuelsson Goes to Washington

BuzzEditor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:23:00 GMT

– Marcus Samuelsson will be working the kitchen at Obama's first state dinner. [Obama Foodorama]
– The fight for Cadbury intensifies. [WSJ]
– Chipotle sets its sights on London, Europe. [NRN]

– Costco drops Coke. [AP]
– Related: Coke bottles, 1899–1986. [Pixdaus]
– Milk producers wish they could sell their product "raw." [NYT]
– Hooters is having trouble in Vegas. [Eater]
– A canned pumpkin shortage looms. [Diner's Journal]
– Putting things in perspective with the Fat Map. [HP]
– Jamie Oliver wants to help you find a date. [Marketing]
– A Shake Shack in Boston looks increasingly possible. [GS:B]
– What a $20 Thanksgiving feast from Walmart gets you. [The Awl]
– A word we'd like to quickly forget? "Koodie." [SE]
– Foods named after people. [Mental Floss and Cakespy, via SE]
– They found water on the moon...can you drink it? [Slate]
– Making mushrooms with coffee grinds. [Chronicle, via Coldmud]
– Making art with meat, some wires, a videocamera and a stove. [EMD]

Lighting Up the Holidays

BuzzEditor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:12:00 GMT

Some of last year's Christmas decorations

Photo: courtesy of the hotel

Christmas seems to come earlier every year. No sooner is the turkey off the table – or the Halloween candy finished, for that matter – than the holiday season kicks into gear. However, for a more reasonable holiday season kickoff, head to the Fairmont Hotel on December 1, when the spectacular tree lighting will fill the West End courtyard with shimmering Christmas trees, glimmering lights and over 30 animated reindeer. The Georgetown Visitation Madrigals will sing holiday classics, Santa will make an appearance and there will be complimentary cookie decorating and refreshments. There is no admission charge, but guests are asked to bring an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots, an organization that gives them to needy youngsters (5–6:30 PM; 202-457-5019).

Getting Into That Beaujolais Spirit

BuzzEditor — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:37:00 GMT

Photo: courtesy of FI:AF

Celebrating the release of the new Beaujolais vintage on the third Thursday in November is a Gallic tradition that local party-goers and wine buffs have long embraced. Here are some ways to partake in French savoir-vivre.

November 18: At Bistrot du Coin, dinner reservations are already sold out, but the real party begins around 11 PM at this Dupont Circle Gallic stronghold. Expect free-flowing Beaujolais Nouveau after midnight (202-234-6969).

November 19: The French Embassy hosts a fete populaire with wine, a buffet campagnard (rustic fare) and live music. Beaujolais Nouveau will be poured, along with other vintages, spurring bidding at a silent auction of French art (6:30–9:30 PM; 4101 Reservoir Rd. NW; $60 per person; for tickets and more information, click here).

November 19–21: Throughout the weekend, in addition to its usual à la carte menu, Old Town's Bastille pairs the new vintage with a three-course prix fixe dinner featuring options such as coq au vin, entrecôte Beaujolaise or salmon with lentils ($39 per person, with glasses of Manoir du Carra production for $8.50 and bottles for $29; 703-519-3776; reserve online).

November 19–25: Mon Ami Gabi will offer Beaujolais-inspired dishes and several Beaujolais Nouveau selections – to invite comparisons – at its Bethesda and Reston bistros.

November 20: L’Alliance Francaise holds its annual Beaujolais Nouveau wine and cheese party – noted for its rollicking French music and welcoming bon vivant atmosphere – from 6:30–9:30 PM (2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW; $25 members, $35 non-members; 202-234-7911).

Dining News Elsewhere: Buzzy Booze, Subway in the Sky

BuzzEditor — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:51:00 GMT

– The FDA is targeting caffeinated booze. [WSJ]
– Meanwhile, its efforts to ban eating raw oysters didn't work out so well. [NYT]
– Burger King franchisees lose 10¢ for every $1 double cheeseburger sold. [NRN]

– A special Subway franchise is set to rise up with the Freedom Tower in New York. [NYP]
– U.S. chicken production is set to fall for the first time in 36 years. [Reuters]
– Champagne sales are a bit flat these days. [NYT]
– Musicians do covers of other bands' hits, why shouldn't chefs cover other toques' recipes? [Guardian]
– Pinkberry's further expansion plans include Boston, DC, New Orleans and Mexico. [Eater]
– Why we read cookbooks. [The New Yorker]
– Want a new drug? Synthetic alcohol isn't out of the question. [Scotsman, via ColdMud]
– Just when we've gotten used to twist-off tops, get ready for wine in a plastic bottle. [Stuff]
– Things a restaurant patron should never do. [Applesauce]
– Related, 10 dirty restaurant tricks. [Slashfood]
– Peace through hummus. [Economist]
– Hard to turn down a "love dessert" made with passion fruit and...Viagra. [NYDN]

Outtake of the Week

BuzzEditor — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:50:00 GMT

Authenticity has never been more perfectly faked.

This Bud's for You

BuzzEditor — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Willow's Kate Jansen with buddy Suzan Basoglu

Photo: courtesy of Best Buddies

On November 17, a star-studded roster of pastry talents, led by Roland Mesnier (ex White House), Michel Richard (Citronelle, Central), Cathal Armstrong (Eve), RJ Cooper (Vidalia) and Kate Jansen (Willow), will each team up with a “buddy” to create and serve a spectacular dessert at a walk-around tasting benefit for Best Buddies, an organization that creates opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Savory hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and wine will also be served, and while eating, guests will be able to check out the auction items and chat with chefs and buddies (7–10 PM; $100 per person; Audi of Tysons Corner, 8598 Leesburg Pike; click here for tickets and more info).

Dining News Elsewhere: Drink Preferences, Raw Oyster Brouhahah

BuzzEditor — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:13:00 GMT

– A whole lot of info on what diners like to drink. [R&I]
– Should the FDA try to prevent you from eating raw oysters? [NYT, Slate]
– Burger King franchisees are suing over $1 double cheeseburgers. [Miami Herald]

– Meanwhile, McDonald's plans for the future. [CNN]
– The backlash to the list of waiter no-nos is on. [XX, Server not Servant]
– How to act around a celebrity chef. [Atlantic]
– The U.K. now has its own version of the Food Network. [Eater]
– Related: Emeril Lagasse is planning a prime-time variety show not on the Food Network. [ABC]
– Mario Batali makes his film debut in The Fantastic Mr. Fox. [WSJ]
– Heston Blumenthal plans a wildly expensive Christmas dinner for a TV special featuring ambergris, aka whale vomit. [Sun]
– Jamie Oliver has seen a backlash for the salt content of his pasta sauces. [Guardian]
– Cooking With Coolio, the cookbook, is now on sale. [EMD]
– Remembering New York City's 1935 ban on baby artichokes. [Diner's Journal]
– Don't be embarrassed to dine out alone. [Between Meals]
– Raising a vegetarian child without the conflict. [LAT]
– Can drunken fruit flies help cure alcoholism? [Wired]
– Looking to find free grub for the rug rats? Try here. [Kids Eat For, via SE]
– Deep-fried turkey disasters. On video. [EMD]

RIS Rising

BuzzEditor — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:17:00 GMT

Ris Lacoste

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

If all goes as planned, Ris Lacoste’s long-awaited, signature dining venue, RIS, should be open in the West End by November 30. Designed to encourage frequent visits from the neighborhood, the moderately priced menu will feature homey rotating specials: Monday brings meatloaf; Tuesday, Paris bistro fare; Wednesday, spaghetti and meatballs; Thursday, signature rack of lamb; Friday, seafood, with guest oyster shuckers; and Saturday offers “Date Night” with steak and potatoes and crème brûlée. Sunday brings a family-style supper, consisting of whatever mom (Ris, that is) feels like making.

The space will offer various settings – cafe, bar/lounge, informal and formal dining areas – that flow gracefully from one to the other, as well as a sweeping patio and private rooms. Its sophisticated design features slate and granite, a marble-topped bar, art glass, chocolate-toned wood, buttery leather sofas and comfy booths. Check Twitter for updates on the opening (2275 L St. NW; 202-730-2500).

Outtakes: Cruise Lines Edition

BuzzEditor — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:28:00 GMT

Each time we perform a survey here at Zagat we inevitably find ourselves with a slew of amusing outtakes that aren't quite fit for print. Which doesn't mean they aren't entertaining. Here are a few of our favorites from our just completed Cruise Lines survey:

A conga line is not conducive to good digestion.

No activities for anyone who isn't an alcoholic seeking random sex.

They cater to the newly wed and nearly dead.

Great if you like hairy chest contests.

A rust bucket filled with rowdy people.

The more you booze, the better you cruise.

Bathrooms so small you have to sit on the toilet sideways.

It does attract a crowd – it's called ‘God's floating waiting room.'

Dining News Elsewhere: Arby's Troubles, Food-Fight Arrests

BuzzEditor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:01:00 GMT

– Trying to save New Orleans' po' boys. [NYT]
– 25 children were recently arrested in Chicago for...a food fight. [NYT]
– The recession has been especially hard on Arby's. [Slate]

– Meanwhile, Uno Express has opened 160 locations in the past 15 months. [BG]
– Consumers expect to spend less on dining out next year. [NRN]
– Starbucks tries a new look out in London. [BrandRepublic, via Eater]
– Obama's pastry chef, the "Crustmaster." [AP]
– Top Chef contestant Dale Levitski takes over Chicago newcomer Sprout. [GS: C]
– Despite being an international restaurateur himself, Gordon Ramsay blasts international restaurant chains. [Daily Record]
– The Food Network seeks America's worst cooks. [Variety]
– Related: What Would Brian Boitano Make? gets picked up for a second season. [EMD]
– Health-wise, is chocolate milk the new red wine? [NYT]
– Related: finally, a scientific reason why red wines (mostly) don't go well with fish. [Economist]
– Actually? French women do get fat. [Reuters]
– Why must restaurant websites be so terrible? [Between Meals]
– An undrinkable beer from the Hindenburg disaster is up for sale. [NYP]
– A tofurky-flavored soda? [SE]

A Foretaste of Thanksgiving

BuzzEditor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:19:00 GMT

On November 19, enjoy a traditional turkey and trimmings dinner (without those pesky relations), accompanied by a variety of wine pairings, at the third annual "Uncorked Thanksgiving Wine Dinner." Held at Clyde’s of Gallery Place, the dinner benefits So Others Might Eat’s efforts to help poor and homeless people. Wine guru Dave McIntyre will guide the tasting of three white and red choices, which will be available for purchase in case you want to take some home for your own Thanksgiving feast. The evening begins with a sparkling wine and appetizers, along with a silent auction at 7 PM; the seated dinner starts at 7:45 PM ($100 per person; reserve by November 16; for information and tickets, go to http://uncorkeddc.org/).

A Taste of Red Curry

BuzzEditor — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:57:00 GMT

A lovely Italianate building in Alexandria's Old Town provides a dramatic backdrop for the modern Asian fare at Red Curry, which draws inspiration from the cuisines of Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam; its proprietors, the Tongrut family of the nearby Mai Thai, have outfitted the huge-windowed, street-level room with a red-glowing sushi bar, while upstairs silk-upholstered booths and a 25-ft. ornamental ceiling add pizzazz.

100 King St., Alexandria; 703-739-9600

See more new restaurants around DC

Celebrate 76 Years of Legal Boozing

BuzzEditor — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:21:00 GMT

On December 5, dust off your dancing shoes and pull out your black-tie regalia, as it's time to commemorate the end of Prohibition at the Second Annual Repeal Day Ball at PS 7's. Popular mixologists like Derek Brown (The Gibson and soon-to-open The Passenger), Gina Chersevani (PS 7's), Todd Thrasher (PX) and Dan Searing (Room 11) will be making cocktails, while the Red Hot Rhythm Chiefs keep the crowd moving and shaking to '30s-era swing. Want more? DC Craft Bartenders Guild members, who are hosting the event, will dress up as the nation’s founding fathers (9 PM–midnight; $100 per person, $150 for VIP tickets, which include 8 PM entrance, special hors d'oeuvres and invites to after-parties; a portion of the proceeds benefits the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans; for tickets, click here).

Turkey Time: Thanksgiving '09

BuzzEditor — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:13:00 GMT

Photo: Ion Sokhos

A Thanksgiving dinner where you don't have to clean up afterward is truly something to be thankful about. The following restaurants are offering meals for gobbling on November 26.

Blue Duck Tavern

1201 24th St. NW; 202-419-6755

This elegantly rustic West End dining room sources ingredients from local growers for its three-course holiday brunch, featuring turkey and trimmings plus hors d’oeuvres and dessert buffets (10:30 AM–3:30 PM; $85 per adult; $42.50 per child six–12; complimentary for children under six).

Charlie Palmer Steak

101 Constitution Ave. NW; 202-547-8100

The progressive American tocque's Capitol Hill steakhouse will be offering a special three-course prix dinner including options like roasted butternut squash ravioli, celery root velouté, turkey with all the trimmings and roasted muscovy duck breast (2–8:30 PM; $65 per adult, $18 per child 12 and under; 202-547-8100; see menu here).

Inn at Little Washington

309 Middle St., Washington, VA; 540-675-3800

At this luxurious Virginia country destination, the holiday turkey is brined with tree branches for an over-the-top six-course feast that starts with soup and canapés, and ends with a trio of pies followed by chocolates and cookies – though if you want, the full à la carte menu is also available (seatings at 1, 4 and 7 PM; $178 per person).

Inox

1800 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA; 703-790-4669

A sophisticated four-course prix fixe will be offered at this stylish Tysons Corner New American – expect dishes like wild mushroom risotto, organic turkey with cornbread andouille stuffing, and thyme and apple crème brûlée with black walnut financier (11 AM–7 PM; $62 per person, $25 per child 12 and under).

Restaurant 3

2950 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA; 703-524-4440

This Clarendon New American with a Southern slant is proudly offering turducken (a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken) as one of the main course options on its three-course prix fixe, along with a regular turkey for traditionalists (1–6 PM; $33 per adult, $15 per child under 10).

1789

1226 36th St. NW; 202-965-1789

In Georgetown this New American's seasonally bedecked Federal-period dining rooms make a festive backdrop for a three-course turkey-and-trimmings prix fixe ($50 per person). There will also be à la carte selections like oyster and smoked bacon gratin with braised salsify ($15), sweet potato gnocchi with toasted walnuts ($13), and fresh ham with roasted pineapple, cheddar casserole, mustard greens and a maple syrup glaze (noon–9 PM).

Sou’Wester

1330 Maryland Ave. SW; 202-787-6990

This Southern-inspired American overlooking the SW waterfront will offer innovative preparations like stuffed turkey neck, roasted breast and leg confit and updated versions of green-bean casserole and other classic sides; in addition, there will be a family-style prix fixe at its communal table (noon–8 PM; $55 per person for prix fixe, minimum eight people).

2941

2941 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church, VA; 703-270-1500

This scenic setting enhances the holiday mood at this Falls Church French, which will serve a three-course prix fixe culminating in decadent desserts like pumpkin pot de crème with gingerbread pudding, cranberry marmalade and pumpkin seed nougatine, and an old-fashioned apple pie (11 AM–8 PM; $65 per adult; children’s menu available for $25).

Zagat To Go, Now On Android

BuzzEditor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:29:00 GMT

Finally, something that both the iPhone and the Droid does: Zagat To Go, our popular smartphone application for finding ratings and reviews of over 40,000 restaurants, hotels, nightlife and shopping worldwide, has come to Google's Android phone OS. And not only can you search for your favorite spots, the home-screen widget will offer you a randomly selected nearby restaurant for you to try. To get the app, which costs just $9.99, point your finger to the Android Marketplace.

Playing Ping Pong

BuzzEditor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:20:00 GMT

Ping Pong Dim Sum, a modern Asian “tearoom” chain from London, is steaming across the Atlantic Ocean to open a Penn Quarter outlet next month. Its mélange of dumplings, sweet/savory small plates, flowering teas and trendy cocktails, served in swank surroundings, seems likely to score with Verizon Center ticket-holders, neighborhood denizens and visitors looking for a relatively inexpensive, yet upmarket, rest stop. Watch a dim sum demo from the restaurant above (900 Seventh St. NW).

Dining News Elsewhere: Kraft Goes Hostile, Food Cart Love

BuzzEditor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:59:00 GMT

– Cadbury has rejected Kraft's hostile £9.8 billion bid. [WSJ]
– McDonald's is set to launch a $1 breakfast menu. [WSJ]
– How did food carts become media darlings? [BlackBook]

– Related: a clever Pratt student comes up with a way to eat street food on the street. [Midtown Lunch]
– Ruby Tuesday has spent upwards of $100 million to upgrade its brand. [NYT]
– The birth of Subway's $5 foot-long. [Bussiness Week]
– Celebrating Veteran's Day with restaurant deals. [NRN]
– It had to happen: a Twitter-based reservation service launches in SF. [GS:SF]
– Frank Bruni's Born Round, the TV show?. [GS:NY]
– David Chang blogs his book tour for GQ. [GQ]
– Did Gossip Girl stop the "speakeasy" trend in its tracks? [The Atlantic]
– Foods that can cause headaches. [Divine Caroline]
– One angry diner. [NYP]
– American fast food you can't get in the U.S. [SquidInk, via Eater]

Outtake of the Week

BuzzEditor — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:53:00 GMT

It was good, but not nearly as good as the employees kept telling me.

Zengo Zen With Tequila

BuzzEditor — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:42:00 GMT

Zengo

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Celebrity chef Richard Sandoval is hosting a four-course tequila-themed dinner at Zengo on November 17. To illustrate the synergy of his Latin-Asian cuisine and Mexico’s agave-based spirit, a different Herradura brand tequila or margarita will be paired with each dish. On the menu: habanero orange hamachi tiradito, seared bluefin tuna with pistachio pipian sauce, achiote- and tequila-braised short ribs and a Mexican chocolate tart with ancho tequila sauce (5–10 PM; $45 per person; 202-393-2929; reserve online).

Dining News Elsewhere: Obesity and Cancer, Bacon-Wrapped Matzoh Balls

BuzzEditor — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:57:00 GMT

– A baguette dropped by a bird stopped the Large Hadron Collider. [Times]
– Linking obesity and cancer. [MSNBC]
– Scripps (which owns the Food Network) sets its sights on the Travel Channel. [EMD]

– Jamie Oliver, upholder of justice. [Telegraph]
– How wine became a "fast food." [Daily Beast]
– Daniel Boulud sets his sights on London. [Bloomberg]
– LA's Orso prepares for a final bow. [NYT]
– A long chat with Gordon Ramsay. [Telegraph]
– Not kosher: Ilan Hall's bacon-wrapped matzoh balls. [Jewish Journal]
– 7-Eleven gets ready to roll out its own wine. [MSNBC]
– Why Guinness can taste different in Ireland (and elsewhere). [Accidental Hedonist]
– Will laser etchings replace fruit and vegetable stickers? [Gizmodo]
– Portion sizes, then and now. [DivineCaroline]
– How exactly does Jell-O work? [BG]
– Meat, the fabric. [EMD]
– Cookie monster cupcakes love cookies. [Leila Cohan]

Celeb Chefs Cover the Market

BuzzEditor — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:18:00 GMT

Central Michel Richard

Photo: Mimi Le

Though fine dining may have cooled off a little as a result of the past year’s economic turmoil, celeb chefs remain as popular as ever. And, fortunately, many of them have opened more casual concepts, allowing diners with tighter budgets to get a taste of their culinary vision. But how do these budget-minded sibs stack up against their high-end counterparts? Read up, and then add your own votes and opinions.

Michel Richard

French-born chef Michel Richard continues to please at the wildly popular Citronelle, but also excels with the more casual concept Central Michel Richard, giving comfort cuisine a high-end twist.

Citronelle

3000 M St. NW
(30th St.)
Washington, DC 20007
202-625-2150; reserve online

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
27	25	26	$104

“The ‘wow’ factor” endures as gustatory “wizard” Michel Richard continues to “work magic” at the Most Popular restaurant in the DC Survey, a “world-class” Georgetown New French where the “endlessly inventive”, “brilliantly executed” cuisine (paired with an “unmatched wine list”) makes for “culinary theater”; “flawless service” and a “posh” setting with a “glassed-in kitchen” encourage a “joyous” “celebration”, but be ready to “pay for perfection”; N.B. for a thriftier if less flashy sampler, try the lounge’s menu.

Key to Zagat Ratings

Central Michel Richard

1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
(11th St.)
Washington, DC 20004
202-626-0015; reserve online

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
25	25	22	$52

At Penn Quarter’s “‘it’” spot, all-star chef Michel Richard (Citronelle) lends his “signature cheeky style” and “culinary chops” to “haute cuisine packaged for everyone” via a “mouthwatering” New American–French lineup that’s billed as “comfort food gone upscale”; with its “informed” service and “smart” looks, it draws “daunting” crowds of bon vivants who exult in “vibrant” scenery, a “hot bar scene” and “super-high quality” that “doesn’t break the bank.”

Eric Ziebold

Known for his nuanced New American dishes at CityZen, Eric Ziebold's changes it up with new arrival Sou'Wester – comfortably bringing the South to DC.

CityZen

1330 Maryland Ave. SW
(12th St.)
Washington, DC 20024
202-787-6006; reserve online

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
28	27	27	$107

“Nothing is compromised” at this “luxurious” New American in the Mandarin Oriental, from the “magnificent”, “nuanced” tasting menus to the “gracious”, “unobtrusive service” to the “stunning” interior design that “defines modern elegance” with its “showcase open kitchen”; “amusing touches” like the “bite-size Parker House rolls” alone are “worth the trip” to “otherwise drab” SW, and it all comes together for a “phenomenal” “treat”; N.B. prix fixe meals (in the dining room or at the bar) start at $50 for three courses.

Key to Zagat Ratings

Sou'Wester

1330 Maryland Ave. SW
(12th St.)
Washington, DC 20024
202-787-6990

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
-	-	-	M

Taking over the former Café MoZU space in the Mandarin Oriental, this American arrival offers Chesapeake- and Southern-inspired fare, plus affordable lunchtime combinations; the handsome, tall-windowed space overlooking the waterfront features restrained farmhouse touches – bare wood tables, decorative jars of housemade preserves – as well as semi-curtained dining niches, an indoor ‘porch’ with rocking chairs and an outdoor patio.

Key to Zagat Ratings

Peter Pastan

Consistently wowing with a daily changing menu at Obelisk, Peter Pastan also manages impress with wood-fired pizzas at 2 Amy's.

Obelisk

2029 P St. NW
(bet. 20th & 21st Sts.)
Washington, DC 20036
202-872-1180

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
27	20	26	$85

It’s “still got it” cheer champions of this “top-flight” Dupont Circle “gem” where chef-owner Peter Pastan’s “heavenly prix fixe” “embraces Italian rusticity” with an “unforgettable” daily changing “parade” of “exquisite” dishes and “well-paired wines”; “irreproachable service” helps make it “everything a special night should be”, but the “unpretentious” townhouse space is “tiny”, so be sure to “make reservations.”

Key to Zagat Ratings

2 Amys

3715 Macomb St. NW
(Wisconsin Ave.)
Washington, DC 20016
202-885-5700

Food	Decor	Service	Cost
25	14	18	$24

Offering “phenomenal” wood-fired pies that are “certified” by the Naples pizza association, as well as “enticing” antipasti and “fantastic” wines, this “fast-paced” “favorite” in Cleveland Park proves that the “simple thrills of a perfect crust and fresh, authentic toppings” “trump everything else”, including “understated decor”, “crammed tables”, “long waits” and occasionally “spotty service”; it attracts “lots of families”, but “adults can take refuge in the bar area”, the “quieter” upstairs dining room (no strollers allowed) or the “nice” outdoor patio.

Key to Zagat Ratings

D'Acqua Docked

BuzzEditor — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:09:00 GMT

As reported by the Washington Business Journal, Penn Quarter Italian fish specialist D’Acqua is closed. Chef-owner Enzo Febbraro is focusing his talents on Forno, his recently debuted pizza, pasta and grill destination in Ashburn, VA. D’Acqua Cafe, his casual panini concession inside the Verizon Center, remains open. Reportedly Febbraro declined to pay a steep rent increase for the fine-dining venture’s location and is looking for another DC restaurant space.

In other closing news, the Rock Creek location in Mazza Gallerie is now “Events by Rock Creek," and is available for private parties only. The original Bethesda location continues to serve health conscious lunches and dinners to the public.

Tasting Top Chefs

BuzzEditor — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:26:00 GMT

Fabio wants to enrich your malfatti with duck confit

Photo: courtesy of Bravo TV

Top Chef fans who yearn to taste the cooking of contenders Fabio Viviani, Carla Hall and CJ Jacobson will get their chance at the James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour Dinner held on November 11 at the Mayflower Hotel. While there won’t be any Quickfire or Elimination contests, each of the former contestants will contribute one of the canapés and one of the courses of the seated dinner. CJ will infuse panna cotta with foie gras; Fabio will enrich malfatti with duck confit; and Carla will cook rockfish in papillote. The hotel’s executive chef, Abdellah Aguenaou, will prepare a fourth course of short ribs, and collaborate with Carla on a Middle Eastern–style dessert. There will also be Stella Artois beer, as well as wine pairings (7 PM; $175 per person; for tickets and information go to www.celebritycheftour.com).

Dining News Elsewhere: An Illy Invasion, Iron Chef in the White House

BuzzEditor — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:12:00 GMT

– Illy is making inroads into U.S. coffee shops. [WSJ]
– Gordon Ramsay is planning to bring the popular MasterChef to the U.S. [THR]
– Sam Kass: assistant White House chef, policy wonk. [NYT]

– Related: Iron Chef America heads to the White House. [NYT]
– After 17 years, Jean-Georges is shutting down Vong. Though maybe not for long? [Eater]
– Learning to compost in Chicago's public schools. [Chicago Tribune]
– More on the affect of calorie counts on menus. [NYT]
– The Kogi Truck folks in LA have their own custom car now. [Mouthing Off]
– Kids menus should grow up. [BG]
– What does your beer choice say about you? [AdAge]
– Yellow Tail isn't the only Aussie wine, y'know. [WSJ]
– One 225,000-ton ship, more than 24 dining options. [EMD]
– Grant Achatz stands sternly in front of an airplane. [GS:C]
– Is it a steak house or a gay bar? [SteakHouseorGayBar]

Mac 'n' Cheese Five Ways

BuzzEditor — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:18:00 GMT

Mac ‘n’ cheese has become the "it" comfort food on virtually every menu in town. It’s given class with artisan cheese (Vidalia; $9, $18.50 with truffles); dressed up with lobster (Nage; $18 at lunch only); and enriched with pork belly (Maple Ave; $7, plus $1 for pork belly). Still we can count on chef Michel Richard to take decadent deliciousness to new levels of cholesterol. The MACUBE ($12), offered in Citronelle’s lounge, is a stack of crispy, fried cubes of cheesy, truffled pasta niblets – served with a dipping sauce of, yes, more cheese. Meanwhile, the hot new Churchkey on trendy 14th Street NW, is serving fried mac 'n' cheese sticks with garlic breadcrumbs and tomato relish, which sounds like a good match for its stupendous beer selection.

Champers for a Cause

BuzzEditor — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:20:00 GMT

The Tour de Champagne pops into DC's Ritz-Carlton on November 6, filling glasses with more than 50 different bubblies from Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger and other prestigious names. Et Voila, Inox and Westend Bistro are among the restaurants that will dish up their specialties at this walk-around gala, while guests scope out the silent auction benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. VIP ticket-holders can also attend “Fin de Soirée,” an after-party with desserts, cognac, music and more champagne (7–10 PM; Fin de Soirée, 9:30–11:30 PM; general admission $115; VIP $150; for information and tickets, go to www.tourdechampagne.com).

Cooking With Coco

BuzzEditor — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:15:00 GMT

David Chang's pork neck with succotash

Photo and recipe: courtesy of Phaidon Press

For its latest cookbook, Coco, Phaidon Press turned to 10 world-leading chefs – Ferran Adrià, Mario Batali, Shannon Bennett, Alain Ducasse, Fergus Henderson, Yoshihiro Murata, Gordon Ramsay, René Redzepi, Alice Waters and Jacky Yu – to each pick 10 contemporary chefs from around the world. In turn, each of those chefs then wrote a menu and recipes for the book. The final product is more than 400 pages of gorgeous photographs, mouthwatering recipes and interesting tidbits from kitchens around the world. Want a taste? After the jump, get the recipe for pork neck with succotash from New York chef David Chang (of the Momofuku empire).

Pork Neck with Succotash
Serves 4
Recipe by David Chang

For the pork neck
300 g kosher salt
270 g sugar
6 liters hot water
2 bay leaves
25 g black peppercorns
6 liters cold water
10 g pink salt
1 pork neck

Mix the salt, sugar, hot water, bay leaves, and black peppercorns.
Mix the cold water with the pink salt.
Add the pork neck and confit 5 hours at 300°F (150°C) covered.
When tender, press between 2 sheet trays. Portion into serving size pieces.
Crisp on a griddle or pan to heat through.

For the succotash
100 g ground (minced) smoked, think-cut pork belly
12 g chanterelle mushrooms
250 g lima (butter) beans
175 g corn (sweetcorn) kernels
Butter for sautéing
1 tbsp tarragon, chopped
4 ml buttermilk
120 g butter
130 g arugula (rocket)

Sauté the pork belly, chanterelles, lima beans, and corn in a pan.
Finish with a pinch of salt and pepper, chopped tarragon, buttermilk, butter, and arugula.

Dining News Elsewhere: PBR For Sale, Wading Into the Tip Pool

BuzzEditor — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:44:00 GMT

– Talking with the troubled Ciprianis. [Vanity Fair]
– The brewery behind PBR and Schlitz is for sale. [NYP]
– Restaurants seek to better manage tip pools. [NRN]

– Western foods are gaining in China. [ABC]
– Where have all the Angostura bitters gone? [Bostonist]
– Who gets all of those 7 PM reservations, anyway? [Between Meals]
– The last days of Gourmet. [Last Days of Gourmet]
– Nation's Restaurant News to go biweekly. [Food Writer's Diary]
– Who needs to tip when you can buy the chef a beer? [GS:C]
– 222.5 pounds? Now that's a big meatball. [MSNBC]
– Could you eat 78 pieces of cutlery? Would you? [Daily Mail, via EMD]
– The manually operated hamburger vending machine. [JapanProbe]

Outtake of the Week

BuzzEditor — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:02:00 GMT

A bit out of the way and not worth finding.

ANTHR BGR

BuzzEditor — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:03:00 GMT

Pop Rocks get a shout-out at the new BGR

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

BGR The Burger Joint’s eagerly awaited Dupont Circle outlet opens Monday. The counter-serve setting is done up in psychedelic rock ’n’ roll decor with distressed brick walls painted electric blue and arty inlaid tabletops displaying pop-culture brands. In addition to the expected specialty burgers, shakes and fries (Yukon gold and sweet potato), grilled asparagus is offered at this location, possibly to assuage the guilt of customers waylaid by tempting burger smells on their way to Sweetgreen, the salad bar next door (1514 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-299-1071).

Zagat Buzz: Washington D.C.

Outtake of the Week

Holiday Tea-Off

Willard Intercontinental Christmas display

Photo: courtesy of the hotel

Dining News Elsewhere: Obese Americans, Ramsay Loses His Number Two

Filling Up After the Turkey

Perrys

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

The Passenger Arrives

Tom Brown and Derek M. Brown, co-owners of The Passenger

Photo: Jim Webb

The Passenger

Photo: Jim Webb

Dining News Elsewhere: Koodies, Samuelsson Goes to Washington

Lighting Up the Holidays

Some of last year's Christmas decorations

Photo: courtesy of the hotel

Getting Into That Beaujolais Spirit

Photo: courtesy of FI:AF

Dining News Elsewhere: Buzzy Booze, Subway in the Sky

Outtake of the Week

This Bud's for You

Willow's Kate Jansen with buddy Suzan Basoglu

Photo: courtesy of Best Buddies

Dining News Elsewhere: Drink Preferences, Raw Oyster Brouhahah

RIS Rising

Ris Lacoste

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Outtakes: Cruise Lines Edition

Dining News Elsewhere: Arby's Troubles, Food-Fight Arrests

A Foretaste of Thanksgiving

A Taste of Red Curry

Celebrate 76 Years of Legal Boozing

Turkey Time: Thanksgiving '09

Photo: Ion Sokhos

1201 24th St. NW; 202-419-6755

101 Constitution Ave. NW; 202-547-8100

309 Middle St., Washington, VA; 540-675-3800

1800 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA; 703-790-4669

2950 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA; 703-524-4440

1226 36th St. NW; 202-965-1789

1330 Maryland Ave. SW; 202-787-6990

2941 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church, VA; 703-270-1500

Zagat To Go, Now On Android

Playing Ping Pong

Dining News Elsewhere: Kraft Goes Hostile, Food Cart Love

Outtake of the Week

Zengo Zen With Tequila

Zengo

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

Dining News Elsewhere: Obesity and Cancer, Bacon-Wrapped Matzoh Balls

Celeb Chefs Cover the Market

Central Michel Richard

Photo: Mimi Le

Michel Richard

3000 M St. NW (30th St.) Washington, DC 20007 202-625-2150; reserve online

1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (11th St.) Washington, DC 20004 202-626-0015; reserve online

Eric Ziebold

1330 Maryland Ave. SW (12th St.) Washington, DC 20024 202-787-6006; reserve online

1330 Maryland Ave. SW (12th St.) Washington, DC 20024 202-787-6990

Peter Pastan

2029 P St. NW (bet. 20th & 21st Sts.) Washington, DC 20036 202-872-1180

3715 Macomb St. NW (Wisconsin Ave.) Washington, DC 20016 202-885-5700

D'Acqua Docked

Tasting Top Chefs

Fabio wants to enrich your malfatti with duck confit

Photo: courtesy of Bravo TV

Dining News Elsewhere: An Illy Invasion, Iron Chef in the White House

Mac 'n' Cheese Five Ways

Champers for a Cause

Cooking With Coco

David Chang's pork neck with succotash

Photo and recipe: courtesy of Phaidon Press

Dining News Elsewhere: PBR For Sale, Wading Into the Tip Pool

Outtake of the Week

ANTHR BGR

Pop Rocks get a shout-out at the new BGR

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

3000 M St. NW
(30th St.)
Washington, DC 20007
202-625-2150; reserve online

1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
(11th St.)
Washington, DC 20004
202-626-0015; reserve online

1330 Maryland Ave. SW
(12th St.)
Washington, DC 20024
202-787-6006; reserve online

1330 Maryland Ave. SW
(12th St.)
Washington, DC 20024
202-787-6990

2029 P St. NW
(bet. 20th & 21st Sts.)
Washington, DC 20036
202-872-1180

3715 Macomb St. NW
(Wisconsin Ave.)
Washington, DC 20016
202-885-5700