Food and Drink: August 2007 Archives

Hudson to Replace David Greggory We mentioned Hudson back in May, when the first news of the transition in store for David Greggory's Restau Lounge at 21st and M St. NW broke. We get a little more info about this change this week. In the TomChat, we learn that the change will take place sometime next month, and that—contrary to what we've heard before—Chef Greggory Hill will be heading elsewhere. Hill will be replaced by...

We've got more on that Dupont Circle fire we mentioned briefly in the Morning Roundup. As some commenters feared, the building in question does contain everyone's favorite Dupont neighborhood pizza spot, Alberto's, and the fire looks to have done some vaguely serious damage. Apologies for the poor photo quality, but a camera-phone shot was the best we could do so far. What you're looking at is 2010 P Street NW, home to Alberto's, a...

Written by DCist contributor Eric Denman The strip of 18th Street between Kalorama and Columbia is notorious for bars serving cheap beer, takeout joints serving huge slices of pizza, and the resulting explosion of drunken sloppy pizza inhalation. A few places on this strip break the mold, though, and Bourbon is one of them. An outpost of the popular spot in Glover Park, Bourbon is a haven for those seeking to escape the monotony that...

With many people returning to school this week, we thought it might be a good idea to welcome everyone back from vacation with a little refresher course. We’re dubbing this installment of Buyin’ Oeno "Wine 101." We’ve compiled a few basic terms and explanations to help novice wine drinkers comprehend this foreign wine language, but also to help all you other wine enthusiasts brush up. We will be discussing everything from tannins and acidity, to...

The Secret Ingredient: Flaxseed Iron Chef is combing through the restaurant ranks here in Washington once again, this timing tapping Agraria's chef, Ricky Moore, for America's culinary entertainment. Following in the footsteps of D.C. chefs José Andrés, Morou, and Roberto Donna, Moore will be strutting into the kitchen stadium in the near future in an attempt to assert Washington's dominance in the field of one-hour off-the-cuff television cooking. The Washingtonian has an exclusive interview with...

Another D.C. Restaurant Week has come and gone. As much as we like to complain about over-crowded restaurants with “dumbed down” menus, there is still a part of us that finds it alluring, so we still take the opportunity to see what restaurants have to offer. Among the places we ventured out to, there were some hits and a few misses. One place that really hit the right notes with us was Viridian in Logan...

It's annoyingly cutesy, but still potentially noteworthy: before you head out to grab your lunch today, consider that popular sandwich purveyor Potbelly is celebrating it's 30th anniversary with something they're calling "Random Acts of Potbelly." Can we assume this will include random acts of giving away free sandwiches? Let's friggin' hope so. Because random acts of slaps across the face would be a lot less satisfying.

Matchbox Coming to the Hill As if we needed any more proof that Barracks Row is flexing its muscle in bringing business to the Hill. But, we have it anyway. Last week's TomChat gave us the news that Matchbox, the over-popular Gallery Place pizza and mini-burger heaven, has signed a lease for a second location along Barracks Row—521 8th Street SE to be precise. According to Tom, the owner expects the new place to open...

Written by DCist contributor Eric Denman As summer lingers on, the average D.C. resident may be tempted to stay indoors, limit excursions, and camp out in front of the A/C unit with a tongue-numbingly cold, mass-produced lager. There is a better option! A nice Belgian beer can quench your thirst while also satisfying your palate. Although some Belgian styles may be a bit heavy for summer, many of them fit the bill perfectly (Witbier and...

In our first installment of Buyin’ Oeno introduced you to a few “need to have” summer wines. Now that we’ve covered a few topics (and the end of summer is quickly approaching), we feel you’re ready to break out and be a little more daring. Therefore, we have come up with a list of some of you not-so-ordinary summer wines. We are always intrigued when we come across a varietal we’ve never heard of or...

Sorry for the bad video, but it's the only shareable footage we've found so far of the season finale of Hell's Kitchen from last night, which featured chef Rahman “Rock” Harper, Executive Chef at B. Smith’s in Union Station, winning the whole shebang. My oh my, is that some overly dramatic reality game show outcome production -- they have to try to open a door to see if it's locked or not? Sheesh. Rock...

Written by DCist contributor Claire Compton Like the classic summer fling, Restaurant Week has officially left us, leaving us with a bittersweet mix of emotions. The lucky ones are gushing about that new restaurant they discovered and how they were wooed with an impossibly fantastic meal that didn't drain their wallet. Others weren't so lucky. They began the week with a wide-eyed idealism, believing this meal was going to be the one, only to be...

We DCists and our readers have tested a pretty wide selection of this summer's Restaurant Week participants, and we've come to a conclusion: Restaurant Week is at once awesome and disappointing. In sum, Washington's Restaurant Week is a two-faced Janus bastard. In order to have a good restaurant week experience, one must put in a little work. There are restaurants who do RW that are worth a visit, those that completely phone it in, and...

Courtney Mabeus over at The Examiner says that Capitol Lounge should reopen today after getting the go ahead from health inspectors. The bar suffered its second fire in two years on Wednesday, but damage this time, estimated at about $15,000, looks to have been largely limited to the back patio. The Trover Gift Shop on the 200 block of Pennsylvania Ave. SE was also damaged in the blaze, which started in a dumpster behind the...

As far as I know, I am the only DCist Food and Drink staffer who does not have Restaurant Week reservations. It wasn't because I forgot or because I signed up too late to score a reservation to my preferred destinations. Unlike Adam, I am not a big fan of Restaurant Week, and it was a conscious decision to skip out on what might be considered prime time dining for a cheapskate like me. First...

Dr. Granville Moore’s Brickyard officially opened its doors this weekend, and with much avail. Located at 1238 H Street NE, this Belgian influenced pub has a great deal to offer, which was obvious with the number of people who showed up for the “soft opening.” Chris Surrusco, formerly of Rustico’s in Alexandria, is a proprietor and the beer connoisseur. He had estimated about 50 or so covers each night and was pleasantly surprised to see those numbers more than doubled. Unfortunately for us, we didn’t head up that way until the end of the weekend and were unable to get a few items from the menu. We’ll have to try our luck at their official grand opening in September.

The oven-like heat outside reminds us of summers off from school, which in turn got us into a conversation about the fast food we remember from those days. Maybe it's a good thing that the D.C. area, and the city in particular, isn't overrun with these places, but it doesn't mean we don't remember them fondly -- or, for that matter, dearly wish they had a few outlets closer by at times like these. A...

As we've told you already, it's Restaurant Week here in Washington, which means those of us left in town can eat three course meals at some of the best restaurants around for $20.07 at lunch and $30.07 at dinner. As a Restaurant Week proponent, I view this unofficial dining holiday as a chance to try out places I've never been, and think restaurateurs should use the time as an opportunity to reach out to people...

It has only been a few months since D.C. last had a reality TV star/contestant to fall behind -- unless you include our very own Marion Barry and the saga of his various trials and tribulations. But somehow it has escaped our attention that local chef Rahman “Rock” Harper, Executive Chef at B. Smith’s in Union Station, has been competing in this summer’s season of Hell’s Kitchen. The oversight could be due to the fact...

Looking around the web site for The Space, the new private club and concierge service that's opened recently across 9th Street from the Washington Convention Center, you get the sense that its proprietors want you to think it's a stuffy lounge space reserved for the wealthy -- there's the wedding invitation-style scroll fonts, the vague descriptions of what exactly this place is trying to be ("For those who love traveling, living, dreaming and discovering,") and...