Chef Yoshihisa Ota Has Big Plans for Sushi Gakyu, Plus More Intel

Restaurateur Yoshihisa "Yoshi" Ota wants to guide customers through sushi tastings and sake pairings at nearly ready Sushi Gakyu. The Washington City Paper reports that Ota, who is also the driving force behind Yuzu in Bethesda, Md., and was one of the founders of the since-shuttered Kushi Izakaya, is looking forward to sharing omakase-style meals and the breadth of his knowledge about rice wine (he’s “a kikisake-shi—a ‘master of sake’ or sake sommelier,” according to Laura Hayes) when he launches his latest restaurant (1420 New York Avenue NW) in the coming weeks. [WCP]

Milestones

Cesco Osteria founder and chef Francesco Ricchi is celebrating the journey he began decades ago at 7401 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda, Md., by throwing a 20th anniversary dinner on Monday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. Per the restaurant’s website, chef Roberto Donna is expected to join Ricchi for the multi-course extravaganza and walk down memory lane. Tickets for the dinner are $100 per person and advance purchase is required.

Expansions

PoPville hs spotted some signage that would suggest Five Guys has designs on taking over the former Noodles and Company spot at 1140 19th Street NW. [PoP]

And Frozen Tropics reports that Insomnia Cookies is planning on opening a second location in D.C. this summer at 1309 H Street NW. [FT]