11 DC Food Trends for 2011
A new year is upon us and that means time to list all the reasons you
shouldn't bother to make any strict food-related resolutions!
I went on TBD's Let's Talk Live to chat about some of the prevailing trends in the DC area. Check out the video, and like host Katherine Amenta says, bring your fat pants to 2011!
Let's start with my personal favorite...
1. Vietnamese food
See: Capitol Hill's new Ba Bay, Chinatown's new Pho DC, the appearance of pho and banh mi on menus from PS 7's to The Source to Dickson Wine Bar
2. Food trucks
See: The lines on street corners downtown at lunch. Follow Metrocurean's DC food truck Twitter list to keep up with the roving kitchens.
3. Whoopie pies
See: B.Hall Baker, Zola Wine + Kitchen, Whoops Bakeshop, Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck, Whole Foods' new whoopie pie bar
4. Hot dogs
See: Barracks Row's new DC-3
5. Burgers
See: Red Meat Row, Bobby's Burger Palace coming to 2121 K St., Jeff Tunks' Burger, Tap & Shake coming to 2200 Pennsylvania Ave.
6. Tiki drinks
See: The Repeal Day Ball's dedicated Tiki Room, The Passenger, Derek Brown's Mai Tai recipe, Farmers and Fishers' Zombie cocktail
7. Boquerones, aka white anchovies
See: A proliferation of the little fish on 14th Street from Bar Pilar to Cork to Estadio to Birch and Barley, plus Cuba Libre, Peacock Cafe and beyond.
8. Locally brewed craft beer
See: 3 Stars Brewing Company, DC Brau Brewing Company, Chocolate City Beer (read more in this City Paper story)
9. Buying the farm
See: Restaurants purchasing farms to grow their own produce, including NRG's groundbreaking Arcadia nonprofit project and EatWell DC's new farm in La Plata, Md.
10. Tasting menus with dozens of courses
See: RJ Cooper's forthcoming Rogue 24, Rob Weland's 20 Bites menu at Poste, Bryan Voltaggio's Table 21 at Volt
11. Chef markets
See: Palena's soon-to-open market, the massive European-style market Society Fair (277 S. Washington St., Alexandria) from Cathal Armstrong and the Restaurant Eve team, Robert Wiedmaier's Butcher's Block