When it comes to rice-based Cajun entrees, jambalaya does the heavy lifting, though you can have a big plate of dirty rice served with chicken or andouille sausage at Louisiana Kitchen in Bethesda. In Washington, Art and Soul takes a vegetarian twist to make "Dirty Rice" a main course. more ›

Having lunch with Chef Art Smith is a bit like combining a family dinner, a gastronomic dream and an hour with US Weekly into two hours at a table. DCist recently got the chance to attend a lunch the chef was hosting at his D.C. restaurant, Art and Soul, where he shared some of his favorite dishes from the menu and all the stories of the people he's cooked for that could fit into two hours. more ›

Dish of the Week: Fried Chicken and Waffles more ›

Vietnamese food is one of the quintessential DIY cuisines. Drizzle a little of this or that sauce. Scatter some herbs. Choose some vegetables. You control the sweetness, sourness, spiciness and crunchiness. And one of the best examples is banh xeo, a golden-colored crispy rice crepe loaded with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. It is seasoned very gently with tumeric and salt to maximize personalization though some recipes include touches of coconut milk and curry powder. more ›