Gina Chersevani, the PS7’s bartender behind such creations as a recession-themed Miller Lite/Domaine de Canton cocktail, is revamping the drinks menu at the H Street Country Club. But Chersevani’s loyal fans won’t have to trade Penn Quarter for Northeast DC—she’s staying put behind the bar at PS 7’s.
Josh Whigham, former chef de cuisine at Bar Pilar and Hook, has landed a high-profile new gig. He’s been tapped as chef de cuisine at José Andrés’s four-star Los Angeles phenom, the Bazaar. He’s taking over for Mike Voltaggio, currently one of the leading contestants on Top Chef. No pressure or anything.
In other José Andrés news, the already crazy-busy celebrity chef is adding another project to his plate: He’s partnering with veteran caterer Ridgewells to start a catering service. His Think Food Group will conceive menus that sound inspired by restaurants Oyamel, Zaytinya, and Jaleo—Mexican, Mediterranean, and classic Spanish themes will be available. If your cocktail party wouldn’t be complete without say, cotton-candy foie gras, go for the José’s Way menu, which takes from his hypermodern Minibar.
It’s been open only two months, but already Old Town Alexandria’s Columbia Firehouse is looking for a new chef: Neighborhood Restaurant Group owner Michael Babin let a surprised Orlando Hiltzig go earlier this week. It hasn’t been an easy year for Hiltzig, whose Dupont Circle restaurant Mark and Orlando’s closed earlier this summer.
First Lady Michelle Obama graced the debut of the FreshFarm market outside the White House yesterday afternoon. “I’ve never seen so many people excited about vegetables,” she said. “Wherever I travel, whether I visit with kings, queens, or prime ministers, one of the first things they ask me is about the White House garden.” The market, which runs Thursday from 3 to 7 through the end of October, features 18 vendors selling meats, cheese, dairy, and produce.
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Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
