Spike's Going National; Tiffany Derry Takes On Capitol Hill

EXPANSIONWIRE—In more Spike Mendelsohn news, the season four contestant apparently has expansion plans in the works that go beyond a once-a-week food truck. Mendelsohn told the Feast that he's set up a franchise company and plans on opening Good Stuff Eatery locations in Philadelphia, Washington, DC and maybe Chicago over the next year. [Feast via -EN-]

CHEF LOBBIES—Top Chef DC contestantTiffany Derry was back in town this week lobbying Congress against a rule that would limit financial aid to students attending institutions that don't prepare students for gainful employment — hello, culinary schools! While the rule could force aspiring chefs into community colleges rather than career academies, Derry tells the Washingtonian that "everyone should have a choice about where they want to go and what they want to be." [Washingtonian]

CHARITYWIRE—Season five's Carla Hall joined the D.C. Central Kitchen's board of directors this week, proving that she's not just cooking with love. DCist explains that Hall will be mostly working with the organization's Culinary Job Training program, a 16-week professional education course for unemployed adults struggling with homelessness, addiction and incarceration. [DCist]

[Photo: Bravo]