We told you a few months ago about a new venture by CityZen's Eric Ziebold at the Mandarin Oriental called South by Southwest. The restaurant is supposed to offer less pricey regional fare. The name was questioned by the City Paper's Tim Carman, so when a number of folks received invitations to save the date for the opening of Sou'wester, we wondered, what's going on here? more ›

For fans of CityZen at the Mandarin Oriental, and those who can't quite afford to splurge for their tasting menu, there is good news. James Beard Award Winner Eric Ziebold is working on South by Southwest, a less expensive restaurant with a "new look, lower prices and flavors reminiscent of Maryland's Eastern Shore." more ›

Despite the stuffy weather, more than 1600 curious guests gathered at the 26th annual RAMMY Restaurant Awards Gala yesterday to honor the cream of this year's culinary crop. Those who braved the weather were treated to the best of D.C.'s fine dining, all exemplifying the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington's commitment towards using regional and locally sourced ingredients, while still showcasing the city as a global dining destination. more ›

While reality fans and food enthusiasts have spent the past week anticipating tonight's Top Chef season finale, the James Beard Foundation - the Academy of the food world - spent Sunday night announcing their picks for top chefs and restaurants of 2007. more ›

For most D.C.-area food nerds, any mention of Eric Ziebold brings the sound of excited titters. As the executive chef of CityZen, Ziebold brings to our area the thoughtful, service-oriented cooking of the world-renowned French Laundry, where he was the restaurant's first-ever sous chef. He also spent time in the kitchens of Spago and Vidalia, and staged in France. In 2005, he was named one of the country's best new chefs by Food & Wine Magazine. more ›

Over the last two weeks, Todd Kliman's chatters have gotten riled up over CityZen's Parker House rolls. A chatter wrote in about his/her experience at CityZen a few months ago with pleasant servers and delicious food. But then he/she complained that his/her party of seven requested a second serving of the Parker House rolls. Apparently the server hesitated and seemed uncomfortable, but said he would check with the kitchen. The chatter said that they did not receive more bread or more information, and as such, the individual expressed that he/she felt ripped off, and had written a letter of complaint that was ignored. This prompted him/her to decide never to return and tell friends not to dine there. more ›

Food and Wine has released their list of best new chefs for 2007, and Komi's chef Johnny Monis has made the cut. Focusing on "modest, low-key restaurants" and chefs who are "obsessed with ingredients," Food and Wine selected ten chefs from across the country who are steadily climbing the vertical food tower of greatness. Well, ten chefs other than Rachael Ray and Sandra Lee, who they somehow managed not to name five times each. more ›

Last fall, DCist assured you that you could sample Eric Ziebold’s cuisine at the CityZen lounge for less than $60. Though our penchant for drinks made it a stretch for us, we could certainly see how less thirsty diners could enjoy a pure eating experience without breaking the bank. more ›

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington recently announced the 23rd Annual RAMMY Award Nominees (.pdf). Four award categories -- Neighborhood Gathering Place of the Year, Hottest Bar Scene of the Year, Power Spot of the Year, and Favorite Restaurant of the Year -- will be selected by the public via ballots in the Post and on the RAMW website May 1. The other categories will be voted on by the judge's panel, which consists of "esteemed Washington food writers and hospitality industry educators." more ›

Food critics can come from any number of places. The Post's Tom Sietsema is a graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown. Frequent Iron Chef America judge Jeffrey Steingarten was formerly a lawyer. Frank Bruni, now food critic for The New York Times, covered politics in D.C. for many years. So is it any surprise that one of the area's most idiosyncratic food reviewers is, by day, a professor of economics? more ›

Add Masaharu Morimoto to the list of renowned chefs coming to the D.C. area. As part of Tysons Corner's Fall 2005 expansion, the Iron Chef will bring a new concept, an upscale Asian-Fusion restaurant called Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro, to the expansion wing of the mall. Other tenants will include the area's only Oakley store, a new Urban Outfitters and a Famous Famiglia. more ›