epsiode 46: a DC restaurant scene spotlight
the DC restaurant episode! we’re talking about Washingtonian's Very Best list, James Beard nominations, free restaurant matchbooks, and more!
short newsletter for y’all today! some quick notes on restaurant news in DC - amidst some tough times for the city. DC Central Kitchen and World Central Kitchen’s Chef Corps are providing help to rescuers after this week’s deadly plane crash, if you’re interested in providing some support.
Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants 🏅
my favorite time of the year!! (yes I know, I say that a lot. we have to look for bright moments in this hellscape). anyways, Washingtonian magazine came out with their 100 very best restaurants in the DMV list for 2025.
overall, I thought the Top 10 made a lot of sense, with Albi in the #1 spot. others like Pascual were new spots that wowed, or less-new restaurants that have maintained great quality and standards like Gemini. I noticed some places were dropped off the list, like El Presidente and Makan, but was glad to see La’Shukran, Bar del Monte, and Cucina Morini, some new favorites make it onto the list. i’ve been to 34 of the spots on the list, there’s sooo many places I still want to try, and this list just really reinforces that. see my thoughts via screenshot below, and I also made this video on Insta with my rapid-fire thoughts!
DC James Beard nominations 🥇
the James Beard foundation announced semifinalist nominees for their 2025 awards, which included many DC restaurants and restauranteurs. finalists will be announced in April, and winners in June. Paolo Dincga of Hiraya was nominated for Emerging Chef, Amy Brandwein of Centrolina was nominated for Outstanding Chef, and Mita was nominated for Best New Restaurant. Bar Cana was nominated for Best New Bar, and Susan Bae of Moon Rabbit was nominated for Outstanding Pastry Chef. also, seven DC chefs were nominated for the regional award, Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, including Matt Adler of Cucina Morini, Henji Cheung of Queen’s English, Cagla Onal Urel of Green Almond Pantry, and more. full list is located here.
Aditi’s Restaurant Week Progress Report pt. 1 🍝
two down, two to go! i’m doing four restaurant week dinners this week - and yes, this is MY version of a marathon. while y’all are out here running miles, im running 3-course deals! i’ve been to two restaurants this far, and you can see more of my adventures on this Insta highlight and more below.
Cucina Morini, dinner, 3-courses $40: this is a great deal, and i’m glad to see that the food quality at Morini is consistent across restaurant week and normal services. there were three options for each course and it was very vegetarian/pescatarian friendly (no red meat on the menu!) I will be ordering all these dishes again very soon, especially that burrata!
Revelers Hour, dinner, 3-courses $55: a similarly good deal for a nice spot. there were 3-5 options for each course which was cool, and it’s the first time i’ve seen a cheese plate on a restaurant week starters menu! I did enjoy that, our pasta (the garlic knot add-on!) and the hefty portion of coffee marscapone gelato for dessert.
grow your matchbook collection! 🕯️
matchbook souveniers at restaurants are striking up (ha!) notice. printed with a restaurant’s logo or a fun graphic, they’re a fun and free take-home to display in your apartment as a badge of honor. matchbook display boxes were trending on crafty internet spaces (I would know, I have a matchbook frame art in my kitchen) and now they’re resurging in the DC restaurant scene too. Nevin Martell for WCP wrote a piece interviewing local restaurant folks about why they chose to provide matchbook souvenirs. yes, they’re a marketing tool, but as the owner of Republic Cantina suggested, they communicate that a restaurant is paying attention to small touches of a patron’s experience. the matchbooks are definitely aligned with the trend of cozier, less minimalist, nostalgic-type restaurant decor too.
egg prices, bird flu 🥚
as predicted, Trump is now in office and the price of eggs has not magically decreased. wow! who would have thought! the spread of bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter chickens. if the virus is found on a poultry farm, farmers eliminate the whole flock to reduce chance of disease spread, leading to a huge supply shortage of eggs. this has caused prices to rise, and they will likely continue to, as the USDA predicts another 20% rise in prices this year. can you still eat eggs? yes - but only buy refrigerated and pasteurized eggs, and cook them properly, then you will be fine.
Restaurant Review: Bar Cana
a non-restaurant week spotlight onto a buzzy spot: Bar Cana in Adams Morgan. this place got a lot of hype when it opened last year, and the drinks definitely live up to it! i’m excited to go back when they have more live music nights - i’m still thinking about this cachaca and vermouth drink. the food is good, but better for a meat eater, and for a snacks type of vibe.
f*cked up food 🥴
origin of jeans fr fr.
d.c. happenings
openings
Taco Bell H St is now open - and signage is up at U St location too!
Chai Pani coming to Union Market (SO exciting!)
Maman coming to Western Market
Emissary Express opened on P St
Cafe on 9th soft opened in Petworth
Sabeh Cafe & Pastries opening in Columbia Heights in Tynan space
Life Alive Organic Cafe opened in West End (man I got so many ads for this place? why?)
Kaliwa replaced by Pink Tiger on Wharf
El Rey opening in Navy Yard
A Taste of Italy coming to 14th St
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila opened in Foggy Bottom
closings
Baker’s Daughter closed in Ivy City
Mr. Chen’s Organic Chinese closed
other events
multiple ice cream shops (Malai, Jeni’s) celebrating Ice Cream for Breakfast Day on Saturday, February 1
home cooking 👩🏾🍳
i’m back to a (sus) trend of eating out too many times a week, oops. I have been sticking to my classic cottage cheese-and-toast breakfast (she’s a protein girl!!) and salad lunches, i’ve been really into arugula lately! after my marathon of restaurant week dinners are over, i’ll cook for myself, I promise I know how…
thanks for reading everyone - hang in there.
Dang, I liked Kaliwa. Hopefully the new spot is good!