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 Moore about his upcoming competition. In the interview, he tells us that the farmer-owners of Agraria (the North Dakota Farmers’ Union owns the restaurant) are totally stoked about having their chef on the big stage; though none may be as excited as his three year old daughter, Hunter. Moore describes her as “… a bit aggressive. She’d be running around the stage, screaming, “Go, Daddy!”

We think “Go, Daddy!” should be the official chant of all future chef competitions involving Washington’s toques. Capital Food Fight? Go, Daddy! Brainfood’s Grill-off? Go, Daddy! Ris Lacoste competitng? Go, Daddy! Oh, and in case you were wondering about the title, North Dakota produces 95 percent of the Nation’s flaxseed; thanks 2004 U.S.D.A. agricultural census!

Have a Bourbon Drink or 12
You will be hard pressed to find a better drinking buddy tonight than Freddy Noe, son of Booker Noe, and great-grandson of Col. James B. Beam. For those not in the “Noe,” this is the family that gave us Jim Beam. Whiskey fans can pay homage to Freddy, Master Distiller Emeritus and Jim Beam brand ambassador (uh, where can we apply for that job?), from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday at Bourbon in Adam’s Morgan (2321 18th St. NW).

Photo of Delle and Campbell’s food cart from Matthew Bradley.