Following an Eater tradition, we asked a group of restaurant critics, journalists, bloggers, and friends of the site to weigh in on the year in food. Their answers to the annual “Year in Eater” survey will be revealed in several posts. Next up, the dining experts pick their “most D.C.” food stories of the year.
Jessica Sidman, Washingtonian food editor: José Andrés sets up a relief kitchen to feed federal workers during the government shutdown.
Lori Gardner, Been There, Eaten That blogger: A restaurant named Immigrant Food featuring cuisine representing immigrant cultures and promoting a mission of “gastroadvocacy” is a pretty great D.C. food story. Plus, it’s a block from the White House.
Rebecca Cooper, Washington Business Journal digital editor: Georgetown residents, including Jack Evans himself, opposing a neighborhood BAGEL SHOP (Call Your Mother).
Tim Carman, Washington Post food writer: Sad to say, but I think it’s the divorce between Fabio and Maria Trabocchi. They were one of the most recognizable couples in D.C. dining. They were a force of nature. Together, they created one of the strongest restaurant groups in the market. Fabio Trabocchi has said they will continue to work together, but Maria’s name has been scrubbed from the websites, and her influence on healthier menu options appears to be on the wane.
Rick Chessen, Rick Eats DC blogger: The debate over dining at Sushi Nakazawa in the Trump Hotel.
Ann Limpert, Washingtonian food editor and critic: The downfall of Trickling Springs Creamery. Also, the José Andrés/Donald Trump World Series showdown that never happened.
Laura Hayes, Washington City Paper food editor: Town Danceboutique will be resurrected inside a church!
Lenore Adkins, food writer: It was eye-opening to see dozens of ambassadors riffing on the restaurants they hit up when they’re feeling homesick. I definitely wasn’t expecting Taco Bell, Safeway, Whole Foods, and Ikea make the cut, especially since ambassadors have private chefs and live in the city with the most exciting food scene.
Tom Sietsema, Washington Post food critic: The love the Gray Lady has shown Washington’s dining scene, first with a mash note from Brett Anderson, then when Pete Wells named Mercado Little Spain, the creation of our own José Andrés, his No. 1 restaurant of the year. (New York in general is lapping up D.C. See: the recent valentine from Kate Krader at Bloomberg.)
Lori McCue, DCist food and arts editor: Congratulations to D.C. for inventing sobriety.
More in the Year in Eater 2019
- 2019’s Saddest Bar and Restaurant Closings
- D.C. Dining Experts Sum Up the 2019 Restaurant Scene in One Word
- D.C.’s Best New Restaurants of 2019, According to the Experts
- Where D.C. Food Writers Loved to Eat in 2019
- The 17 Most Beautiful Restaurants That Opened in D.C. This Year
- Eater D.C.’s 10 Most Popular Stories of 2019