A Brief History of Political Types Hating on DC’s Food Scene

Good morning!

DC Food Twitter was in a tizzy this week over a tweet from a Florida congressional hopeful who called our food scene “terrible.” Of course, this is nothing new. Political types love to hate on our culinary options (do they think this gives them some kind of cred??), and locals love to get outraged about it. We looked back at some other below-the-belt(way) barbs—not a “single decent slice of pizza,” really?–and the hometown clap-backs.

What else is new:

COMING SOON: The Unconventional Diner team is opening a glam wood-fired Italian restaurant called L’Ardente downtown on Oct. 5. Co-owner Eric Eden describes the vibe as “democratized luxury,” which apparently means a gold-plated Marra Forni pizza oven.

HOT OPENING: The owners of Maydan and a powerhouse team of ThinkFoodGroup alums are joining forces to open an eclectic Middle Eastern restaurant called Tawle in a new downtown food hall next year. Stay tuned, as this likely won’t be their last location.

FALL DRINKS: I hate to break it to you, but it’s Pumpkin Spice Latte season. Here’s where to find upgrades on the Starbucks classic, plus maple cold brews, apple spice lattes, and plenty of other cozy fall coffee drinks.

FAST-CASUAL: DC’s fast-casual spots are fast expanding (especially, as it turns out, to Bethesda). Check out new locations of Call Your Mother, Chiko, Little Sesame, and more.

GHOST KITCHEN: Philly-based chef Jose Garces has returned to the DC area (he previously ran upscale Argentinian steakhouse Rural Society, remember that?) with a Baja-taco ghost kitchen in Arlington. Buena Onda specializes in sustainable grilled fish and shrimp tacos on homemade flour tortillas as well as guac and rice bowls.

WIN DINNER FOR TWO: What is YOUR favorite new restaurant? The best pizza spot? The ultimate cocktails? Fill out our annual reader restaurant survey for the chance to win a $150 gift card to the dining destination of your choice. We’ll reveal the top picks in our December issue.

CHAT: Got a dining question? Looking for a rec? Don’t forget about critic Ann Limpert’s Friday at 11 AM chats. You can leave a message in advance here.

For more food news, follow me on Twitter and Instagram. You can also reach me at jsidman@washingtonian.com.