Meet D.C.’s 2018 Eater Young Guns Semifinalists

Four pioneering D.C. restaurant professionals are in the running for this year’s Eater Young Guns award. Their contributions to the local dining scene range from wood-fired cooking to fast-casual Indian food.

Eater announced the 50 semifinalists for the 2018 class of culinary innovators on Thursday, May 31. The carefully researched roster of rising stars — nominees must be under the age of 30 or have less than five years experience in the industry to qualify — includes: Maydan co-executive chef Gerald Addison; Rasa co-founders Sahil Rahman and Rahul Vinod; and Colada Shop co-founder/Bresca partner Daniella Senior. Over the course of the past year, these individuals have changed how District residents eat — encouraging some to step out of their comfort zones while teaching others about the untapped adaptability of their native cuisines.

Second-generation restaurateurs Rahman and Vinod tell Eater they remain focused on prodding locals “towards exploring new cultures, cuisines, and ideas.” D.C. native Addison is excited to be a part of the current culinary boom. “The quality of restaurants in D.C. now compared to 15 years ago is like night and day,” he says.

This year’s finalists will be announced in late June. Timber Pizza Company chef Daniela Moreira made the final cut in 2017.

• Daniela Moreira Is a 2017 Eater Young Guns Winner [EDC]