As we noted yesterday, today is Patriot Day; so conceived to commemorate the 9-11 attacks—even though we Americans aren’t the greatest at “commemorating,” see: Veterans’ Day, Memorial Day, etc. Just six years on, though, feelings are still raw and memories vibrant. Resiliency is a virtue of our citizenry however, and if nothing else, we can get a hearty laugh out of OBL’s radical beard transformation, his decidedly porno ‘stache, and threats of attack via the Hokey Pokey.

At any rate, Patriot Day is our generation’s version of Pearl Harbor Day, and as such, it isn’t really a cause for jubilation. We should use it as a chance to celebrate, however. So, we’re using this opportunity to celebrate What Makes America Great by looking at American food culture and some of its exemplars in our area. We polled DCist staff, and here are some of our favorites. Forward ho, citizens and patriots.

The Cream of the Crop
Colorado Kitchen
This eatery on Colorado Ave. and 14th St. NW serves up some of the best examples of homestyle soul food to be found in D.C. Fantastic food coupled with a small, kitschy dining room makes you feel like you’re eating at Grandma’s house. The price is right, and if you recognize that service is going to follow the vibe of the place, you’ll have a great time. Specials are probably your best bet here—I’ve never had one that was bad.

Vermilion
Fresh ingredients from local suppliers in the hands of Vermilion’s chef, Tony Chittum, vault this Old Town Alexandria restaurant into the top category of Good American Eating. The barbecued chicken with corn succotash and local ham will make you think this dish is the culinary descendant of Washington and Jefferson themselves. The lamb is similarly legendary. A recent nod from the New York Times won’t help you get a table, though.

Photo from chcharlie