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Beet Wellington at 1789
Beet Wellington at 1789
Official

Lighten Up With These 12 New Takes on Comfort Foods

Get all the comfort and less of the guilt.

by Lani Furbank
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Beet Wellington at 1789
| Official
by Lani Furbank

During the winter, food lovers tend to load up on hearty dishes like wild animals preparing for hibernation. Unfortunately, the human anatomy doesn’t work like a grizzly bear’s, so when the ice thaws, the gut remains. Rich comfort foods can be hard to resist, but here are a few ways to trick the tummy. Chefs are employing new tricks to reinvent decadent dishes to provide all the comfort with less guilt.

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1789 Restaurant

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With the beet Wellington ($28) at 1789, anglophiles can still enjoy flaky, buttery puff pastry while getting an extra dose of nutrients from the garnet root vegetable replacing the slab of red meat. The dish has the requisite mushroom duxelles, and is plated with Thumbelina carrots, Swiss chard, Brussels sprout petals, and beet Bordelaise.

1226 36th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 965-1789
(202) 965-1789
R. Lopez

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Bidwell

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Venison is a leaner alternative to beef. Since it’s lower in fat, it can often be dry or tough, but that’s not the case with Bidwell’s venison chilli ($10). It's topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese, onions, and, depending on the season, fresh chives from their aeroponic garden on top of Union Market.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
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Black Market Bistro

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For many, the term veggie burger elicits bad memories of dry and spongy packaged patties. At Black Market Bistro, the black bean and sweet potato burger ($14) packs flavor that rivals a traditional hamburger. It’s made with quinoa, black beans, and sweet potato, and comes on a potato roll with lettuce, tomato, pepper jack cheese, and cilantro-lime sour cream.

4600 Waverly Ave, Garrett Park, MD 20896
(301) 933-3000
(301) 933-3000
Facebook

Brine

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Pasta packs a heavy dose of carbs, but Brine gives the starchy indulgence a redeeming quality. Their Plankton Pasta ($13) is made with powdered plankton and toasted nori, which turns the bucatini noodles green. The dish includes clams, guanciale, brown butter, and chili threads. Plankton itself is a superfood, full of amino acids and vitamins, so there’s no need to feel too guilty about carbo-loading here.

2985 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 280-1000
(703) 280-1000
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Burger Tap & Shake Foggy Bottom

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The Upstream Run ($8) at BTS is another win for not-beef-burgers. The patty is made with ground salmon and topped with Asian slaw, Sriracha aioli, and mixed greens. Bring on the omega-3's.

2200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20052
(202) 587-6258
(202) 587-6258
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Cedar

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There’s nothing like a rich, creamy potato gratin to warm the soul on a cold winter night, except for maybe the rutabaga and sweet potato gratin ($24) at Cedar. While potatoes are starchy and filling, they don’t provide much in the way of nutritional value. Rutabagas and sweet potatoes on the other hand, are nutrient-dense, and filled with antioxidants and vitamin C. Red quinoa, preserved cherries, and parsnip purée complete the dish.

822 E St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 637-0012
(202) 637-0012
A.R.P/Yelp

Also featured in:

China Chilcano

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Pancakes are great for curing hangovers, but all those carbs tend to result in a crash before lunch. China Chilcano’s take on the pancake, made with heartier grains and root vegetable, has a little more substance to. Their Dorayaki menu offering ($11) is quinoa pancakes filled with sweet potato and served with carob-pecan butter and spiced maple syrup.

418 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 783-0941
(202) 783-0941
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Equinox

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Fried and glazed, General Tso’s Chicken isn’t doing the arteries any favors. That’s why Equinox has created a plant-based riff on the Chinese favorite. The crispy glazed winter squash and Brussels sprouts ($15/$27) is served over basmati rice with black sesame and toasted coconut.

818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 331-8118
(202) 331-8118
A.R.P./Yelp

Also featured in:

Legal Sea Foods

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At Legal Sea Foods, diners can enjoy a lighter version of clam chowder ($7) with just a third of the calories. Instead of heavy cream, the soup is made with fish stock. Carrots and celery replace the salt pork.

704 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 347-0007
(202) 347-0007
Jake M./Yelp

Mintwood Place

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With five grains instead of just one, Mintwood’s risotto ($22) gives vegetarians more nutritional bang for their buck. The grains are farro, wheatberry, bulgur wheat, pearl barley, and buckwheat groats. They are accompanied by smoked chestnut, autumn squash, and hon-shimeji mushrooms.

1813 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 234-6732
(202) 234-6732
Facebook

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Ripple

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Skip the chicken and try Ripple’s winter vegetable pot pie ($24). Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes are baked in a velvety mushroom béchamel sauce to provide that same comforting feeling.

3417 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 244-7995
(202) 244-7995
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Sticky Fingers Bakery

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Essentially fat plus salt plus starch, biscuits and gravy are a nutritionist’s nightmare. At Sticky Fingers, the vegan version ($11) of this Southern classic is smothered with a mushroom gravy instead of sausage. It’s served with tofu scramble and roasted potatoes.

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 299-9700
(202) 299-9700
Mike C./Yelp

Also featured in:

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1789 Restaurant

1226 36th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

With the beet Wellington ($28) at 1789, anglophiles can still enjoy flaky, buttery puff pastry while getting an extra dose of nutrients from the garnet root vegetable replacing the slab of red meat. The dish has the requisite mushroom duxelles, and is plated with Thumbelina carrots, Swiss chard, Brussels sprout petals, and beet Bordelaise.

1226 36th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 965-1789
(202) 965-1789
R. Lopez

Bidwell

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Venison is a leaner alternative to beef. Since it’s lower in fat, it can often be dry or tough, but that’s not the case with Bidwell’s venison chilli ($10). It's topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese, onions, and, depending on the season, fresh chives from their aeroponic garden on top of Union Market.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
Facebook

Black Market Bistro

4600 Waverly Ave, Garrett Park, MD 20896

For many, the term veggie burger elicits bad memories of dry and spongy packaged patties. At Black Market Bistro, the black bean and sweet potato burger ($14) packs flavor that rivals a traditional hamburger. It’s made with quinoa, black beans, and sweet potato, and comes on a potato roll with lettuce, tomato, pepper jack cheese, and cilantro-lime sour cream.

4600 Waverly Ave, Garrett Park, MD 20896
(301) 933-3000
(301) 933-3000
Facebook

Brine

2985 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031

Pasta packs a heavy dose of carbs, but Brine gives the starchy indulgence a redeeming quality. Their Plankton Pasta ($13) is made with powdered plankton and toasted nori, which turns the bucatini noodles green. The dish includes clams, guanciale, brown butter, and chili threads. Plankton itself is a superfood, full of amino acids and vitamins, so there’s no need to feel too guilty about carbo-loading here.

2985 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 280-1000
(703) 280-1000
R. Lopez

Burger Tap & Shake Foggy Bottom

2200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20052

The Upstream Run ($8) at BTS is another win for not-beef-burgers. The patty is made with ground salmon and topped with Asian slaw, Sriracha aioli, and mixed greens. Bring on the omega-3's.

2200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20052
(202) 587-6258
(202) 587-6258
R. Lopez

Cedar

822 E St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

There’s nothing like a rich, creamy potato gratin to warm the soul on a cold winter night, except for maybe the rutabaga and sweet potato gratin ($24) at Cedar. While potatoes are starchy and filling, they don’t provide much in the way of nutritional value. Rutabagas and sweet potatoes on the other hand, are nutrient-dense, and filled with antioxidants and vitamin C. Red quinoa, preserved cherries, and parsnip purée complete the dish.

822 E St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 637-0012
(202) 637-0012
A.R.P/Yelp

China Chilcano

418 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Pancakes are great for curing hangovers, but all those carbs tend to result in a crash before lunch. China Chilcano’s take on the pancake, made with heartier grains and root vegetable, has a little more substance to. Their Dorayaki menu offering ($11) is quinoa pancakes filled with sweet potato and served with carob-pecan butter and spiced maple syrup.

418 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 783-0941
(202) 783-0941
R. Lopez

Equinox

818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Fried and glazed, General Tso’s Chicken isn’t doing the arteries any favors. That’s why Equinox has created a plant-based riff on the Chinese favorite. The crispy glazed winter squash and Brussels sprouts ($15/$27) is served over basmati rice with black sesame and toasted coconut.

818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 331-8118
(202) 331-8118
A.R.P./Yelp

Legal Sea Foods

704 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

At Legal Sea Foods, diners can enjoy a lighter version of clam chowder ($7) with just a third of the calories. Instead of heavy cream, the soup is made with fish stock. Carrots and celery replace the salt pork.

704 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 347-0007
(202) 347-0007
Jake M./Yelp

Mintwood Place

1813 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

With five grains instead of just one, Mintwood’s risotto ($22) gives vegetarians more nutritional bang for their buck. The grains are farro, wheatberry, bulgur wheat, pearl barley, and buckwheat groats. They are accompanied by smoked chestnut, autumn squash, and hon-shimeji mushrooms.

1813 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 234-6732
(202) 234-6732
Facebook

Ripple

3417 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Skip the chicken and try Ripple’s winter vegetable pot pie ($24). Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes are baked in a velvety mushroom béchamel sauce to provide that same comforting feeling.

3417 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 244-7995
(202) 244-7995
R. Lopez

Sticky Fingers Bakery

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Essentially fat plus salt plus starch, biscuits and gravy are a nutritionist’s nightmare. At Sticky Fingers, the vegan version ($11) of this Southern classic is smothered with a mushroom gravy instead of sausage. It’s served with tofu scramble and roasted potatoes.

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 299-9700
(202) 299-9700
Mike C./Yelp

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