Marcus Samuelsson Says D.C. Trumps NYC in Ethnic Dining

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson believes the ethnic food scene in the District is more exciting than the one in New York City. "In some ways D.C. feels more like Queens than Manhattan because there is so much ethnic food," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "It’s more diverse than you would imagine because of all the embassies, and there is an ambition level that is higher. Ethiopian food, for instance, is better than in New York."

Chef David Burke, who runs the show at BLT Prime inside the Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, is impressed by how much the local food scene has evolved over the past two decades. "Then it was mostly congressmen and lobbyists dining at steakhouses, but now there is a new generation of foodies,” he said in the same interview. [THR]

Pop-Up Patrol

Fans of La La Land will get a chance to immerse themselves in the award-winning musical Tuesday, April 25 as restaurants around the country recreate the central jazz club, Seb’s, to celebrate the home release of the movie. Those in D.C. hoping to experience an evening at the fictional establishment (think: live music and themed drinks) should check out Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill. [EW]