{What’s in that empty storefront? Which favorite chef is opening up where, and when? All those details and more in Coming Soon.

HOTEL HERON

PROJECTED OPENING: Spring 2024 699 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA A new hotel, Hotel Heron, will open in the heart of Alexandria this Spring. Originally opened in 1926 as the George Mason Hotel, Hotel Heron will combine the iconic inn with a new building that houses a modern event space and elevated guest rooms. This new 134 room boutique hotel will have a ground floor restaurant serving hearth inspired Mid-Atlantic cuisine, a cozy craft cocktail bar in the heart of the hotel, and an open-air seasonal rooftop bar with views of the Potomac. Some amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center and meeting spaces. For more information, click here.
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{Keeping you up to date on the absolute latest in restaurant openings in the DC Metro area.

Cucina MORINI

901 4th Street NW The team behind Osteria Morini and Matt Adler have opened a new Southern Italian restaurant, Cucina MORINI, in the space formerly home to Nicoletta Italian Kitchen and Brew'd in DC's Mount Vernon neighborhood. Cucina MORINI spotlights flavors from the Italian coast, with options such as Fresh Crudo, signature small plates, handmade pastas, and more. Some Osteria Morini classics are also available at Cucina Morini like Zuppa di Pesce. Guests can also enjoy drinks like the Morini Martini ($7) at the aperitivo bar. For more information, visit their website here.Photo Credit Nina Palazzolo
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All the food news that you can use.

Spring on a Plate: The List’s Weekly Food...

 Despite the lingering chill in the air, let's embrace the vibrant spirit of spring in DC. Join us as we delve into the lively culinary scene. We savor all the seasonal delights and have the 411 on the latest menus prepared by your local faves - and maybe some there’s a name or two that’s new to you. We are ready for spring on a plate — you?  NEW & NOTEWORTHY: All About the Dough: Chef Russell Blue Smith is opening Alfreda, a tribute to his late grandmother. Chef Russell, formerly at Wolfgang Puck’s The Source, is making a departure from fine dining, embracing pizza making. He is reuniting with his long-time collaborator and GM, Evan Moore from Cut by Wolfgang Puck and The Source. For Smith, it’s “all about the dough,” using a sourdough starter, imparting a subtle sweetness to the NY-style pizza crust. Additionally, inspired by his daughter’s diagnosis of celiac disease, chef Russell is proudly offering gluten-free pizza. Notable dishes include The Al’ (red pie, no cheese), The ‘Freda (cheese pie, no sauce), and The Alfreda (plain pie). The menu includes a variety of salads and small plates. Moore’s wine list and classic cocktails complement the offerings. 2016 P Street NW; alfredadc.com Deli = Delicious: Beresovsky’s Deli blends classic deli favorites with a modern twist. KNEAD Hospitality + Design’s Jason Berry and partner, Michael Reginbogin, created an homage to Jason’s heritage and their combined love for New York-style delis. Expect a wide collection of “Sammys” (as an ode to Jason’s great grandfather, Samuel Beresovsky), like the Ruthie’s Rueben (Corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, Marble Rye) and “London Eat Your Veggies” (Roasted eggplant, tomato, zucchini, mozzarella, pesto, grilled focaccia).You can also find boozy (or non boozy) milkshakes and spitzes, as well as classic sides like matzo ball soup, knish, and more. For larger parties and families, order "The Whole Shebang,” for takeout. 1201 Half Street SE; For more info, click here. instagram.com/beresovskysdeli Mama Chang Says: Chang Chang will honor the Chang matriarch with a special menu featuring dishes by Lisa Chang (a.k.a. "Mama Chang"). Chang Chang's Mama Chang signature menu includes bubble pancakes, tofu skin salad, soup dumplings, and Lisa's signature sweet rice dumplings (all available a la carte). Lisa, the founder of Mama Chang in Fairfax, VA, specializes in homestyle dishes and pastry and is a talented chef in her own right. The menu is available during dinner and dim sum brunch through March 31. 1200 19th Street NW; changchangdc.com  Adler Back at Morini: Chef Matt Adler, of Caruso’s Grocery, has partnered with Altamarea Group in opening Cucina Morini, bringing the legacy of Osteria Morini with a Southern Italian influence. Fresh crudi- a Sicilian and Venetian staple- take center stage, with specialties like the passera- Atlantic fluke paired with blood orange, basil, and Sicilian olive oil. Sfizi, small plates perfect for snacking, include the signature acciughe, stracciatella topped with cantabrian anchovies and salsa verde. For mains, handmade pastas complement larger sharing plates, like the taglioni nero squid ink pasta and the zuppa di pesce. Don’t miss the Aperitivo Bar, where you can enjoy refreshing spritzes and cicchetti. 901 4th Street NW; cucinamorini.com The Bee’s Knees (Earth Month Alert):  dLeña’s Viva Abejas campaign has returned. Through Monday, April 22 (Earth Day), indulge in bee-centric dishes and drinks at the modern Mexican concept. One in every three bites of food depends on bees for pollination. Chef Richard Sandoval aims to celebrate this integral part of the food cycle with a 360 degree approach to food, signature activations, cultural education, philanthropy, and more. Menu offerings are focused on bees, utilizing sustainably obtained honey, pollen, and other bee-derived ingredients. Specials include duck confit tacos ($21) with agave honey, cilantro, romesco sauce and pickled vegetables on blue corn tortillas, and the Margarita royale ($18) with tequila blanco, honey, passion fruit cordial, lime, bee pollen and an edible flower. Finish your meal with a slice of honey vanilla cheesecake ($12), topped with honeycomb. Those ordering any Viva Abejas food or beverage special will receive wildflower seed packets to plant flowers at home, directly aiding the bees. Richard Sandoval Hospitality is aiming to educate 60,000 students this year by sending teams to work with Title 1 schools around the country with their in-classroom lesson plan, developed with educators and curriculum experts at Slow Food USA. 476 K Street NW; dlenadc.com Eating Responsibly: Several organizations in the DMV, including Manna Food Center, DC Food Recovery Working Group, Food Rescue US-DC, and the Montgomery County Food Council, have teamed up to bring an exciting lineup of free events during the national Food Waste Prevention Week, a week-long online awareness campaign to inspire everyone to reduce food waste at home, work, and in our communities. From March 30 to April 7, partners from across the DMV have organized a variety of events aimed at turning awareness into action. Sample a beer infused with rescued pecan raisin bread while mingling with local organizations and testing your food waste knowledge during trivia, learn how to properly separate your food scraps for composting at a hands-on demo, take a tour of a kitchen using food waste reduction technology, taste upcycled sweets while learning how to use tea scraps in your garden, or join a webinar to learn how to lead a household food waste challenge or develop municipal policies that reduce food waste. All these events and more are free, and you can find details and registration links here.  A Jubilee in Georgetown: Ice Cream Jubilee has opened their newest location in Georgetown, housed in the former A Little Tavern (& then the original Sweetgreen location). Offering frozen treats ranging from ice cream scoops, to sundaes, to root beer floats, to dairy-free soft serve, Ice Cream Jubilee creates unique seasonal flavors like Red Bean Almond Cookie and Mango Sticky Rice, with a focus on using clean and pure ingredients. Ice Cream Jubilee also offers vegan and dairy-free options. 3333 M Street NW; icecreamjubilee.com  Breaking the Fast: ilili (Ramadan Alert): Ilili DC is offering a prix-fixe Iftar menu for $70 per person from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. now through Tuesday, April 9th. Enjoy Levantine lentil soup, a selection of mezza, and lamb shank or roasted spring chicken followed by pistachio baklava and mouhalabieh, a traditional Middle Eastern orange milk pudding, for dessert. 100 District Square SW; sevenrooms.com Breaking the Fast: Lapis (Ramadan Alert): Chef Shamim Popal is serving an exclusive prix fixe menu for Ramadan this year at Lapis. The traditional Afghan-inspired menu will include three courses for $40 per person. Select from the yellow lentil nask soup or pakowra (crispy vegetables) for a starter, followed by sautéed chicken with tomatoes, yellow split peas, and dried plums or beef kofta in an herbed tomato sauce. Sides include spiced basmati rice or a cucumber tomato and red onion salad. For dessert, choose between the halwa made with semolina, saffron, and garnished with almonds or the sheer berenj rice pudding with cardamom and pistachio. 1847 Columbia Road NW; lapisdc.com Smooth Landing: The Landing Kitchen + Bar, located inside the recently renovated Hilton Arlington National Landing, features breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus focused on reimagined American classics highlighting fresh and seasonal ingredients, executed by executive chef Lucian Weavil. Lunch and dinner offerings will include dishes such as house-made meatballs with herb tomato coulis, mini hot dogs with chili, pickled red onion and yellow mustard, and various flatbreads. Mains  include seared salmon filet with baby spinach, potato purée, and lemon olive oil, half roast chicken, and burgers. A variety of vegetarian and vegan offerings are also available, such as the mushroom bolognese, and Beyond burger. 2399 Richmond Highway, Arlington, V; hilton.com Play Ball (Nats Opening Day Alert): Experience the tradition and pageantry of Opening Day at Nats Park on Monday, April 1. Pregame festivities include an appearance by the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, red carpet player introductions, giant American flag unfurling, live music from 19th Street Band, music from DJ Stylus Chris, caricature artists, face painters, balloon twisters, photo ops, and more. Plus, 20,000 fans will receive an Opening Day reversible bucket hat. When you go to  see the Nats play, the stadium is filled with over 40 local businesses, from food to beer vendors and everything in between, so don’t miss seeing all the DMV faves. Check info out the stadium here. For more information on Opening Day, click here. Curly W (Nats Opening Day Alert): To celebrate Nats season, Nicoletta Pizza will officially reopen on opening day, bringing back their Curly W pizza. The Curly W pizza will now be available all season long – featuring mozzarella, provolone, garlic, and topped with a  pomodoro sauce Curly W in support of the home team. Additional game day specials at Nicoletta Pizza include non-alcoholic strawberry, blue raspberry, and mango frozen lemonades ($4.50), which can be made boozy with vodka, gin, run, bourbon, and tequila ($10), cheese or pepperoni pizza rolls for ($4 each or 3 for $10), and the new jumbo cookie ($8). 301 Water Street SE; nicolettapizza.com Oh! Ma! Teo (Lunch Alert): Capital One Center’s upscale Tex-Mex concept has launched weekday lunch service, available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In addition to the new lunch menu, Ometeo’s covered outdoor bar will open immediately following lunch service. Menu highlights include the calabacita grain salad, the big taco salad, the Tex-Mex smash burger, and a torta with toasted telera bread, chicken milanesa, pickled jalapeño, refritos, avocado, lettuce, tomato, escabeche, and chile toreado. 1640 Capital One Drive North, Tysons, VA; ometeotexmex.com Batter Up (Nats Opening Day Alert): the Salt Line Navy Yard is celebrating Nationals opening day on Monday, April 1, with early opening hours starting at noon. Extended happy hour offerings from 12:00 through 6:00 p.m. feature half-priced local oysters, wine, beer, and various draft cocktails such as the Cape Codder G&T, Lychee Paloma, and Rosé Spritz. The Salt Line’s “Crush Bar” will be open starting at 2:00 p.m. featuring $10 Crushes (vodka or tequila and orange or grapefruit varieties). Live music by DJ Harry Hotter will be provided from 2:00 through 7:00 p.m. In addition to the various home opener offerings, the restaurant serves as an ideal spot for pregame and postgame gatherings during the warmer months, especially with their dog-friendly patio. 79 Potomac Avenue SE; thesaltline.com In Full Swing (Nats Opening Day Alert): For opening week, Shilling Canning Co. is offering several specials for baseball fans Wednesday through Saturday, April 3 through 6. Happy hours have been extended from open until close and you can be seated at the bar or the patio. Expect a special drink menu & Ampersandwich, the popular ghost kitchen pop-up, is making its comeback by joining the happy hour food menu. Four sandwiches will be available to try: the Baltimore Pit Beef, McReid, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and the Ampburger. Everything - even the buns - is house-made. 360 Water Street SE; shillingcanning.com Fair Lakes Gets a Bamba: Chef Victor Albisu is opening Taco Bamba’s Fair Lakes location on April 5. Located in the Fair Lakes Promenade shopping center, the space will include a full bar and patio, original artwork, and a menu of location-unique tacos, quesadillas, nachos, empanadas, and cocktails. Doors open at 9:00 a.m., and the first 100 guests will receive a complimentary coffee tumbler and a “golden ticket,” for gifts ranging from menu items and mezcal to tee shirts and hats. A few lucky guests will receive a taco a week for a year. With its opening at the start of patio season, Taco Bamba Fair Lakes will feature the Taco Bamba Houndgarden at launch. All Taco Bamba patios are dog-friendly and invite four-legged friends to enjoy a bowl of cool water and a bandana. 12239 Fair Lakes Promenade Drive, Fairfax, VA; tacobamba.com Power Play (Lunch Alert): Truluck's has debuted their power lunch menu, served weekdays, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for $38. Tailored to busy professionals, the 2-course lunch offers an elegant dining experience with the promise that you'll be back on the road in a timely manner. First course options include a Sonoma greens salad with spicy pecans and goat cheese, Caesar salad, lobster bisque, and jumbo shrimp cocktail. Second course options include filet medallions with parmesan mashed potatoes, a steak sandwich with truffle boursin, sesame seared tuna, and trout amandine. Add optional small sweets for an additional $7, such as the carrot cake, or key lime pie. 700 K Street NW; trulucks.com Pretty Paella: On the second Wednesday of every month, Xiquet’s chef Danny Lledo will close his doors to regular service and host a dinner party. The party will start in the wine cellar with chef Danny, where you can mingle and enjoy some canapes as well as a welcome beverage. Next, you will be led to the dining room for a sit-down dinner, including an appetizer and the paella of the night followed by dessert. Wine pairing is included and chosen by chef Danny to best complement the menu of that evening. The night will finish in the lounge, where you be served a few final sweet bites in view of their extensive collection of Ports, Madeiras and Whiskeys. $200 per person, inclusive of tax and service charge, includes the beverages served; non-alcoholic wine is available upon request. 2404 Wisconsin Avenue NW; For reservations, click here.  NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY: Ahead of Its Time (Lunch Alert): Lunch in the French way – taking a true pause in the middle of the day – with L’Avant-Garde DC's new lunch menu crafted by partner/chef, Sébastien Giannini. Lunch will be available on their new La Terrasse patio as well as indoors from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday to Saturday. The flavors of the French Riviera are highlighted with dishes such as the salade Niçoise, sea bass seared in olive oil and a caviar d’aubergines. But burger fans, don't miss “La Raclette Burger”. Made with an in-house made American Wagyu beef patty, and topped with melted raclette cheese, mini chips, apple wood smoked bacon and a sauce au fromage, and inspired by chef Sébastien's experiences as a chef stateside. lavantgardedc.com  Old School Italian: Chef Mike Cordero, along with sons Nick Cordero and Anthony Cordero, has opened an old-world Italian ristorante serving classic wines. Carbonara’s menu features classic Italian cuisine, focusing on the southern region of Italy, with all food made in-house and fresh homemade pasta prepared daily. Hearty Sicilian pizzas, classic Italian baked dishes like eggplant rollatini parmigiana, chicken, veal and seafood dishes, zesty Italian sandwiches, and tiramisu top the bill-of-fare. A wide selection of wines from all regions of Italy nicely pair with each menu item. The cocktail menu will also include a collection of specialty aperitivi and craft Italian cordials. 3865 Wilson Boulevard; chefcordero.com/carbonara  Mid-Atlantic Discovery: Chef and owner of the Michelin-starred The Dabney, Jeremiah Langhorne, is now offering a six-course tasting menu in the dining room celebrating unique ingredients from the Mid-Atlantic region. The six courses include snacks, three courses,  main, and dessert. This menu  is available Tuesday-Thursday for $185/person. 122 Blagden Alley NW; sevenrooms.com/thedabney Reaching New Heights: The Heights is an elevated culinary experience that includes one full-service restaurant (Urbano), a full-service bar (The Heights Bar), a speakeasy (The Turncoat), and eight local chef driven concepts. From Cuban-inspired delights at Saoco to a creative twist on Thai cuisine at Sky Lantern, and the Mediterranean-inspired Yasmine by Michelin Star Chef Chris Morgan, there's something for every palate. But The Heights Food Hall isn't just about food; it's a platform for local talent and aspiring food enthusiasts to shine, with two stalls dedicated to up-and-coming concepts. 5406 Wisconsin Avenue; theheightsfoodhall.com All in the Family: The brainchild of chef Julian Addison and Crooked Run's Jake Endres, J&J Pizza offers NYC style pizzas and craft beers, all within Crooked Run's Union Market brewery taproom. Pizza lovers can pair their favorite slice with Crooked Run's extensive selection of craft beer, wine, cider, and cocktails, including options like the Raspberry Empress sour or the Allora Italian-style pilsner. J&J Pizza also presents a weekday happy hour deal until 6:00 p.m.: enjoy two slices and a beer for just $12.  Chef Addison, with his experience from Grazie Nonna, including working alongside his brother and executive chef Gerald Addison, brings a level of expertise to every slice. Lunch and dinner service available Friday through Sunday; pizza by the slice only on Mondays and Tuesdays. Delivery options are also available through all major delivery apps. 550 Morse Street NE; jandjpizzadmv.com Cluck Cluck: From Chef Chris Morgan (Joon, Yasmine), Chef Gerald Addison (Grazie Nonna, Grazie Mille) and Casey Patten (Grazie Nonna, Grazie Mille, Grazie Grazie) comes a backyard bar that just so happens to serve tasty tenders and fried chicken sandwiches, Little Chicken at The Wharf. Menu highlights include hand breaded to order tenders, available regular or spicy in three, six, nine, or a fifteen piece “bucket o’ tendies" with six sauces, wings with your choice of dry rub, bbq, or buffalo with house ranch or blue cheese, saucy sandwiches, and the Pinkies Out, a fried or grilled piece of chicken with house crispy garlic sauce, Duke’s mayo, cilantro, and pickles. Don’t miss their summery cocktails and specialty soft-serve cones available year-round. Open 11:00 a.m. daily. 11 Pearl Street SW; justlittlechicken.com   Four More at Nama Ko: Executive chef Derek Watson has curated a new, four-course seasonal tasting menu at Nama Ko. For $55 per person, you can enjoy your choice of appetizer followed by nigiri or signature dumplings. Main course options include crispy chicken katsu and Wagyu short rib. For dessert, enjoy pastry chef Alex Levin’s soft serve, with flavors including honey miso black truffle and mango passionfruit. 1926 14th Street NW; nama-ko.comRamping Up: The team at Oyster Oyster, led by James Beard Foundation’s 2023 Outstanding chef Rob Rubba, is ready for the first vestiges of spring poking their little heads above soil…in the form of the Mid-Atlantic’s fave seasonal allium, the illustrious and short-lived ramp. Expect to see these foraged beauties on the menu in the coming weeks. 1440 8th Street NW; oysteroysterdc.com  Seven Reasons to go to Brunch (Brunch Alert): Seven Reasons has launched their first brunch menu. Try out new brunch dishes from chefs Enrique Limardo and Nacho Useche like a "Lobster Patacón" (Green plantain, strawberry coleslaw, avocado, cilantro, piquillo-pepper mayo, herbs mayo), "Arepa of the Sea" (Fried calamari, bay scallops, shrimp, octopus, avocado, aji amarillo tartar sauce, mixed greens), and chicken with waffles (Double fried chicken thigh, feta nata pineapple-maple syrup). Plus, expect a live DJ performance throughout brunch on Sundays. 931 H Street NW; sevenreasonsgroup.com/seven-reasons  STK, in DC Again: STK Steakhouse has returned to DC, this time in the Marriott Marquis. Offering reimaging classic American cuisine for brunch, lunch, and dinner, as well as the steakhouse’s iconic weekday happy hour menu featuring their lil BRG sliders, Wagyu meatballs, and short rib quesadillas. They also offer a robust takeout and delivery offering for a steakhouse experience at home. STK is also home to an award-winning wine list that allows you to pair its premium dry-aged steaks with favorite varietals from around the world. 901 Massachusetts Avenue NW; https://stksteakhouse.com Chef Update: Anthony Chittum: You can go home again. Chef Tony Chittum returns to Vermilion with a renewed focus on the flavors of the Mid-Atlantic. Don't worry - he's still behind the Iron Gate kitchen, as he is also unveiling two separate dining experiences at Vermilion. Downstairs, the Tavern and Bar offer casual delights ranging from batter fried homemade pickle spears to Seven Hills flank steak. Upstairs in the dining room, enjoy a Farm Table dinner experience, featuring seasonal perfection served family-style. Under spirits director Nick Farrell, Vermilion's cocktail program showcases inventive concoctions, while wine director Erin Dudley curates a selection that pays homage to the diverse landscape of the Mid-Atlantic. vermilionrestaurant.com
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Where is Nycci? Here, there, and everywhere in media outlets across the city.

Dinner Party Trends: Axios

Read Brianna Crane & Sami Sparber's interview with Nycci, and get all the deets on hosting trends in 2024~Find out more here. Photo: A tablescape by North Carolina-based dinner party wares rental company Canary. Photo: Emily Bennett, courtesy of Beth Nash 
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Take a deep dive into the Industry and beyond.

Bubbles for the Winn: Industry Night, March...

Hey all and thanks for joining me again on this week’s Industry Night. So excited to spend this month at Tony & Joe’s down on the waterfront in Georgetown. If you live in the DMV or have ever visited this city, chances are you’ve been here. They have one of the best patios. It looks out on the Potomac with views of the Kennedy Center. Seriously, on a gorgeous day, you want to sit out on that patio with a tray of fresh shucked oysters and a glass of rose and watch the boats go by. So special thanks as always to Greg Casten for being such a tremendous supporter of me, this show, and the work that I do. I’m going to chat with Greg in a minute about the history of Tony & Joes and Tony - Greg’s Uncle Tony - who was such a character and just recently passed away. Later in the show, I’ll be chatting with good friend and wine authority Winn Roberton. Winn runs the show at Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak and I love talking wine with him. And by the end of today’s show, you will too.But first — one of my favorite things to do is talk about where I am eating and I kid you not, I have been seriously out and about and eating all the good things — mostly!- I celebrated the Lunar New Year with Scott Drewno & Danny Lee at Chiko for their Lunar New Year Tea — They brought in Jill Nguyen of Capitol Jill Baking and Caroline Ta of Sweets by Caroline with ginger scones, dumplings, tea sandwiches, and milk buns- Popped into Fiola for a glass of Mt Etna Bianco & airy gnocchi- Love a Rasika check in and on a Friday, it is hopping- I’ve been to Moon Rabbit twice in the last two weeks — it is that good — you may have listened to my show with Kevin Tien & Susan Bae and team that I did there before they opened, and everything that we talked about — their intention, commitment, passion — it all ends up on the plate. There’s also a really sunny vibe — they are all so happy to be there and be open and be serving delicious mod -Vietnamese. Do not miss the pate chaud or any of Susan’s desserts- I stopped by Tail Up Goat. They are now doing a tasting menu only in the dining room so I just sat at the bar had a wonderful glass of La Croix Gratiot Les Zazous — a truly lovely white that Bill Jensen recommended. He also poured me a funky wine - Sipon from Slovenia — and of course, he poured me a Riesling because it makes him crazy that I don’t like it. And I have to tell you — he didn’t even try. He poured me a Riesling that had a sweet finish and I was like, you gotta be kidding me. When I bring in Winn we are going to talk about Somms and their love of Resling!- Last one — although I have so many more places that I have been — I went to Service Bar. Now if you know me you know I’m not really a cocktail drinker. But it had been a minute since I had been in and I was looking forward to catching up with Christine Kim. Again, the city was pretty lit up. U Street had bars filled, with people waiting on lines to get in and other people pouring out. So fun. They play amazing music, and if you are a cocktail drinker while, the place looks like a hole in the wall — the cocktails are thoughtful, balanced and well madeOkay! On to today’s show!When you are at Bourbon Steak there is a very tall individual walking around busily taking care of all the patrons — you cannot miss Winn Roberton, the head sommelier. And there’s over 750 labels on that wine list!A local boy, raised in Washington, DC, Winn's journey into the world of wine started as a server at Bourbon Steak in 2008.Listen to our full conversation here, or watch it unfold on YouTube, here. 
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