Food

Food News Review: Lunchbox Headed to Chevy Chase, New Ripple Chef, James Beard Announces Semifinalists

Plus: A former White House toque goes off on guest chefs.

More Fuel Pizza is coming our way. Photograph by Erik Eucke.

In his weekly chat, Tom Sietsema shared the news that Cleveland Park restaurant Ripple has chosen Marjorie Meek-Bradley to replace Seattle-bound Logan Cox. Meek-Bradley’s resume lists two Thomas Keller spots and a stint with Marcus Samuelsson. Her last gig was chef de cuisine at Graffiato. [WaPo]

Having opened his very large restaurant Range and taken care of the menu next door at Civil Cigar Lounge, Bryan Voltaggio will now open a second location of Lunchbox in the Chevy Chase Pavilion—or as we like to call it: “Bryan’s Restaurant Mall.” [Washingtonian]

The James Beard Foundation revealed the restaurants, bars, and chefs that made the semifinals for the 2013 awards. These are not the nominees, mind you, that list won’t be announced until March. [Washingtonian]

Todd Kliman chatted with Estadio and Proof restaurateur Mark Kuller about Doi Moi, the Southeast Asian restaurant he is opening on 14th Street, Northwest. The small-plates spot will feature dishes from Vietnam and Thailand—chef Haidar Karoum, once top toque at Asia Nora, will oversee the kitchen. In the basement, there will be a “curated cocktail bar” called 2 Birds 1 Stone. [Washingtonian]

The guys behind H Street’s Biergarten Haus are taking over shuttered coffeeshop Sova next door and rechristening it H Street Coffeehouse and Cafe. But first: a pop up! Vigilante Coffee founder Christopher Vigilante has set up shop at the Haus and is serving espresso, pour overs, tea, and pastries, reports the Washington City Paper’s Young & Hungry blog. The pop up will continue to exist until the coffee shop is up and running. [Young & Hungry]

Eater DC confirms that Denver-based Smashburger is joining upscale hamburger spots BGR, Shake Shack, and Black & Orange in Dupont Circle (the neighborhood Amanda McClements dubbed Red Meat Row). And there are likely more on the way. [Eater DC]

This whole thing is just weird. The DC Office of Weights and Measures has apparently been going around to restaurants finger wagging about minimum pour requirements. Only DC doesn’t have minimum pour requirements. What? Young & Hungry wades in. [Young & Hungry]

Is it rude when the president invites guest chefs in to cook at the White House? Roland Mesnier thinks so. As he is want to do, the former pastry chef at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue recently went off on the matter at a panel discussion. [Washingtonian]

In an admirably in-depth article, Daniel Fromson takes a close look into the“wildly ambitious” Bluejacket, the forthcoming brewery from the Neighborhood Restaurant Group. [WaPo]

Another Fuel Pizza is headed our way. A location of the wing-and-slices-slinging, North Carolina-based chain is moving into the one-time home of Upper Crust Pizza at 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest. Look for a March or April debut. You’ll also be able to fuel up (get it?) at 2301 Georgia Avenue, Northwest—an outpost is due to open there this summer. [Young & Hungry]

Popville says Viet Thai has called it quits at 2406 18th Street, Northwest. [Popville]

Elote all around! The deck atop El Chucho, which is an awesome little deck indeed, is getting a roof so it can be used in the colder months. [Eater DC]