Serial Beard Award Nominee Jay Caputo Named Chef de Cuisine at The Riggsby, Plus More Intel

Restaurateur and repeat James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalist (2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012) Jay Caputo is bringing his wealth of cooking experience to The Riggsby. An alum of Michael Schlow’s family of restaurants (per a release, the two previously worked together at Radius in Boston), Caputo rejoins the group to take command of the modern American restaurant tucked inside the Kimpton Carlyle Hotel.

Caputo replaces former chef de cuisine Jeremy Waybright, an alum of Boss Shepherd’s and Range who moved over to Dupont Circle-adjacent establishment in September 2016. According to a company spokeswoman, Caputo has begun putting his stamp on the seasonally inspired menu, adding Parker House rolls with foie butter, head cheese corn dogs, and paella with chorizo, chicken, clams, and crispy rice cake.

Brunch Wire

Seven-month-old Latin American wine bar Ruta del Vino has rolled out a weekend brunch menu (available from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) stocked with both sweet and savory additions. (Scroll to the bottom to get a peek at the full menu.)

[Ruta del Vino]

There’s chilaquiles with braised chicken or carne asada, French toast with Mexican cinnamon and dulce de leche, as well as a combo plate for two ($32) featuring grilled beef, chorizo, eggs, roasted peppers and salsa verde.

Complementary beverages range from Brazilian vodka-spiked bloody Marys to a white wine- and pineapple-black pepper sorbet slushie dubbed the “Terremoto.”

Beer Here

Expansion-minded pizza parlor Declaration is reteaming with DC Brau Brewing Company on Tuesday, May 23 for the second annual Declaration Beer Dinner. The four-course menu is projected to feature seasonal fare — think: shaved carrots with pea tendrils, and poached halibut with wild spring garlic — paired with local brews, including El Jefe Speaks, On the Wings of Armageddon, Brau Pils, and a limited edition, barrel-aged version of The Citizen. Tickets to the event, which is scheduled to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., are $40 per person.