Food

The Wrap-Up: The Week in Food

Every week we fill you in on what’s been going on in the food and restaurant world.

• There’s been some news about chef Roberto Donna’s financial woes, presumably the reason behind the long delays of opening his newest restaurant, Galileo III. Last Sunday, though, Washington Post writer J. Freedom du Lac went into gory detail about the big money hole that Donna has dug for himself. Let’s just say this: The article opens with a scene in a courtroom, and Donna is all alone on his side—he can no longer afford lawyers.

• Timothy Dean, an early knife-packer on Top Chef DC and owner of Prime Steakhouse in Baltimore, is in maybe just as much money trouble as Donna. We’ve got all the details—which include an $8-million lawsuit—here.
• More burgers and more New York City imports: This time, it’s Shake Shack, a chainlet from restaurateur Danny Meyer, that’s taking over the former Fuddrucker’s space at 1215 18th Street, Northwest, just south of Dupont Circle. If Washington responds to the burgers, shakes, hot dogs, and frozen custard the way New York has, the lines will rival Georgetown Cupcake’s for the longest in the city. New York magazine calls the burgers “perfect” and “a thing of simple beauty.” It’s the second Shake Shack outside of New York; the first opened in Miami in June of this year.

• In case Shake Shack doesn’t sate your burger craving, the Washington Business Journal reported that Kraze Burger—a Korean chain with more than 50 locations—is planning four Washington outposts. Nothing is signed yet, but the company is looking first for a large space in the District.

• Turning the New-York-restaurants-come-to-Washington model on its head, Andy Shallal is looking to open a fourth Busboys and Poets—this time in Harlem.

• Prince of Petworth has a PDF of the menu and a photo of the interior of the new Beau Thai at New Jersey Avenue and R Street, Northwest, which is supposed to open today. In addition to familiar Thai curries, salads, and soups, there’s a dish with whole-wheat spaghetti, shrimp, and Panang sauce, as well as veggie and chicken empanadas. In other PoP news, Paul Bakery, a French chain, is coming to 1078 Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown. Its biggest competition is Le Pain Quotidien, a Belgian chain, on M Street.

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