Every week, Washingtonian Food Editor Jessica Sidman rehashes the latest news from Washington’s food and drink scene in a newsletter, which you can subscribe to here.
Hi there.
Have you heard about the 22-year-old who can make $1,500 for posting a single photo of food on Instagram? Meet Justin Schuble, the recent Georgetown grad behind @DCFoodPorn, DC’s most-followed food Instagram account. He’s courted by local restaurants and national food brands alike, and in this month’s magazine, we look behind-the-scenes at this new brand of internet fame.
In other made-for-Instagram news, flash mob picnic Dîner en Blanc announced it will return to DC on Aug. 26. If you’re not familiar, participants wearing all white (no ivory or beige!) descend on a secret location with tables and gourmet picnics in tow. This year, they’ve added 1,000 spots bringing the total number of attendees to 4,500. Still, allegedly the waitlist has 30,000 people.
Personally, I prefer to dine outside without the crowds and wardrobe restrictions. If you’re like me, you will really appreciate this map showing all the rooftop bars in the DC area. Alternately, there’s yet another new beer garden. Continental Beer Garden in Rosslyn—yes, Rosslyn!—features lawn games, Virginia and German brews, and a menu from Smoked & Stacked’s Marjorie Meek-Bradley.
Here’s some more restaurant opening intel, so you can be the one in your friend group who’s in the know:
NOW OPEN
Chiko
We’re pretty excited about this one. Two top talents—Mandu chef Danny Lee and former The Source chef Scott Drewno—combine Chinese and Korean flavors at this new Barracks Row joint. The restaurant is super casual (you order at the register and are served food on metal trays), but the food is ambitious (cumin lamb noodles, fried rice with Sichuan hot smoked blue catfish).
Santa Rosa Taqueria
Spike Mendelsohn‘s Sunnyside Restaurant Group has traded its French restaurant Bearnaise for a fast-casual Mexican spot. Choose from a dozen types of tacos, tamales, mini quesadillas, and on-tap margaritas in flavors like grapefruit and Southern peach.
BBQ Bus Smokehouse
The couple behind the pioneering food truck have finally opened their own brick-and-mortar spot. Look for smoky pulled pork and spicy jalapeno sandwiches as well as meats and sides available in bulk for takeout.
COMING SOON
Sweetgreen Flagship Store
The local salad chain is collaborating with FreshFarm Markets on a new flagship store and farm stand in Georgetown. The two-story location will be Sweetgreen’s biggest yet with an expanded menu and its own farmers market on Saturdays.
Doi Dua
Conbini Cafe is leaving Erik Bruner-Yang’s Shopkeepers Gallery on H Street Northeast, and taking its place is Doi Dua, a Vietnamese pop-up.
New chef at Espita Mezcaleria
Co-owner Josh Phillips’ brother-in-law, chef Robert Aikens, is taking over the kitchen at Shaw’s hip Mexican spot. He was most recently chef at Rainbow Room, the fine-dining restaurant in New York’s Rockefeller Center, and has some plans to make big changes to the menu.
I’ll leave you with one last eating tip today: get the burger at Salt Line. The restaurant may be known for its seafood, but Washingtonian critic Ann Limpert calls it the best new burger in DC.
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
