Fugu Season’s Almost Here, Plus More Intel

Dealfeed

Free doughnuts? Free doughnuts. District Doughnut in D.C. will be giving out mini doughnuts to kids at their Barracks Row location since school’s out, while supplies last.

Chef Shuffles

The Shaw Bijou has lost a chef before opening. Executive sous chef Michael Ellis has moved over to Capitol Hill’s Barrel. The restaurant from Kwame Onwuachi opens next Tuesday. [WCP]

Controversies

The latest obstacle for D.C.’s new Trump Hotel: a major staffing departure. Senior Vice President David Orowitz left a day after the hotel’s ribbon cutting. The man who spearheaded the Old Post Office building’s development was found in emails to be frustrated over Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants, comments that would eventually lead to two restauranteurs leaving the project and the lawsuits that followed (and said email being made public in legal depositions). [Bisnow]

Awards Season

Sushi Taro is excited. Less about its recent Michelin star and more about the congratulatory letter the restaurant received from The French Laundry’s Thomas Keller as a result. [FB]

Novelty foods

It’s almost fugu season. Kaz Sushi Bistro will prepare entire dinners devoted to the delicacy (which can be deadly if prepared incorrectly) in November for $150 per person, but reservations must be made in advance so they can import enough product from Japan. [FB]

Video interlude

And here’s chef Jose Andres live at Oyamel last night with Anthony Bourdain. The restaurant held a late night party and book promoting event for the television personality.