Year-end lists are inevitable. Best movies, TV shows, books, podcasts, and of course restaurants. The restaurant lists stress me out, as they inevitably emphasize where I failed to dine this year. One of the restaurants sitting high on my “to do” list has been the Taiwanese/Cambodian Maketto. Maketto is owned by Chef Erik Bruner-Yang, who is […]
Convivial: Happy to Meet You!
December 2, 2015 · by · 4 Comments
con·viv·i·al kənˈvivēəl/ adjective (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable Every restaurant should have a goal to be convivial. When it’s your actual restaurant name, you really need to live up to the moniker. The new Convivial from chef/owner Cedrick Maupillier is on point…and then some. If you’ve been to Mintwood Place in Adam’s […]
Tadich Grill: A New Institution in DC- CLOSED
November 25, 2015 · by · 4 Comments
Restaurants come and go – sometimes so quickly it makes your head spin. Then there’s Tadich Grill– the third oldest continuously operating restaurant in the country. The restaurant was founded 167 years ago in San Francisco and is still going strong. The second location has just opened in the center of Washington, DC, and it’s […]
Peter Chang: Can the Rockville Restaurant Live Up to its Moniker?
October 7, 2015 · by · 2 Comments
I am an admirer of Chef Peter Chang’s food. I first wrote about him in July 2011, after visiting his Charlottesville restaurant, where I’ve now dined on a number of occasions. Much has been written about the Chinese chef, including an article in The New York Times by food critic Pete Wells: “Where Peter Chang Cooks, They will Follow.” […]
Centrolina: Keeping it Real
September 22, 2015 · by · 2 Comments
Every time I stumble upon the City Center development in the heart of DC, I feel a sudden jolt. The area doesn’t fuse seamlessly into the rest of the city. Instead it stands apart – with its bright and shiny facade. On the other hand Centrolina, the Italian restaurant nestled between the upscale shops and pedestrian […]
Nido: A Place to Nest No Matter Where You Live- CLOSED
September 9, 2015 · by · 1 Comment
When an establishment is described as a “neighborhood restaurant” and I don’t live nearby, I’m not quite sure whether I’m supposed to dine there. Do they not want outsiders or are they saying the food doesn’t warrant a commute? Food for thought. Nido, in the Woodridge area of northeast DC, calls itself a “unique neighborhood bistro […]
