Kinship, headed by Eric Ziebold, closed unexpectedly Sunday, and Yelp has blocked new reviews.

Chefs Nobu Yamazaki and Eric Ziebold were honored at the Taste of Japan Honorary Awards.

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? According to Ziebold, the rationale was a lawsuit…

Eric Ziebold 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.” The Mandarin Oriental will convert the existing Cafe MoZu into the new restaurant in early summer. South by Southwest…

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. But despite the glitz, glamor and grub, let’s…

Central’s chef de cuisine Cedric Maupillier (left) and head chef Michel Richard receive the James Beard Award for best new restaurant 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. Once again, the D.C.-area’s nominees provided a strong showing this year…

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…

Much A-Dough About Nothing 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…

Food and Wine Names Komi’s Monis Best New Chef 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…

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. Fast forward to spring 2006. Don Rockwell files a post gushing about CityZen’s three-course tasting menu at the bar for $45. Said Rocks: “These are EXACTLY…