Last night’s James Beard restaurant and chef awards may have been filled with celebrity toques, but one of Washington’s hometown classics was also recognized: C.F. Folks, the 32-year-old Dupont luncheonette, was honored with the foundation’s America’s Classic Award. The title is given to those locally owned institutions with “timeless appeal” and a sense of community. As owner Art Carlson notes, “C.F. Folks is a lunch counter. Nothing more than a simple lunch counter.” Still, you’ll see in the video that it means much more to its guests and regulars. (Keep an eye out for The Washingtonian’s own Kate Bennett.)
Check out the other Washington nominees and winners from the 2013 James Beard Awards.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
