Open Wide And EAT250: America is at the Table
America is turning 250 and where do we celebrate? Around the table, duh?! If there is one thing that tells the story of this country, it is food. The recipes our ancestors brought with them. The ingredients discovered. The traditions borrowed. Every bite tells a story.
This month, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington is launching EAT250: America at the Table, a culinary celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Running June 14-28, EAT250 brings together more than 200 participating restaurants across the region to showcase the cultures, traditions, and stories that have shaped the American table. EAT250 highlights the role restaurants play in bringing people together and reflecting the diversity that defines both our region and our nation.
What is American food?
The answer, of course, is all of it. Over these two weeks, some of the country's most celebrated chefs (including Marcus Samuelsson, Bryan Voltaggio, Pierre Thiam, Erik Bruner-Yang, Tom Cunanan, Katsuya Fukushima, and many more) will come together for collaborations, and experiences. Truly voices that continue to shape the American table.
Here are just a few events we're particularly excited about, So Mark Your Calendar (and book your Rez!)
June 18 - Bimi Vita at Masseria
Chef Nicholas Stefanelli welcomes Katsuya Fukushima for a six-course dinner inspired by the intersection of Italian and Japanese cuisine. Friendship, seasonality, and the beauty of two culinary traditions coming together are at the heart of this one-night experience.
June 19 - From Catalonia to the Chesapeake at Casa Teresa
Chef Rubén García joins Bryan Voltaggio for an evening exploring the connections between Spain and the Mid-Atlantic. Expect regional flavors, local ingredients, and plenty of stories from both sides of the Atlantic.
June 21 - Around the World at the American Table at Manifest 002
James Beard Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame inductee Pierre Thiam joins globetrotter Jessica Nabongo and Hell's Kitchen winner Rock Harper for a conversation, and celebration, of how travel, culture, and migration continue to influence what Americans eat today.
June 23 - Diaspora of Flavor at Marcus DC
Marcus Samuelsson and Executive Chef Anthony Jones explore the influence of the African diaspora on American cuisine through the lens of ingredients, memory, and tradition.
June 25 - The New American Table at Maketto
Three-time James Beard Award nominee Erik Bruner-Yang teams up with James Beard Award winner Tom Cunanan for a collaboration celebrating Taiwanese, Filipino, and Asian-American influences on the American culinary story.
June 25 - Ode to Escoffier at L'Avant-Garde
Chef Sébastien Giannini and Chef Andrew Ho of CUT by Wolfgang Puck pay tribute to the French culinary traditions that helped shape generations of American chefs. Special guest: Her Excellency the Ambassador of Monaco.
June 25 - Tastes of Union Market District
Union Market District and La Cosecha invite guests to snack, sip, and stroll through one of the city's most exciting culinary neighborhoods with bites and beverages highlighting the creativity and culture that define the district.
June 25 - Global Pizza Party at Stellina
Chef Matteo Venini joins Chef Elias Taddesse of Doro Soul Food for a fascinating dinner exploring the ties between Italian and Ethiopian food traditions, from bread and coffee to pasta and hospitality.
June 28 - Spice Routes at The Spice Suite
Angel Gregorio welcomes pastry superstar Paola Velez, Chef Anthony Jones, and Tim Ma for a celebration of spices, migration, entrepreneurship, and the stories that travel with us. Expect wisdom, laughter, and some incredible food.
And that's just scratching the surface.
EAT250 reminds us that American food isn't one thing. It never has been. It is a living, evolving story told by our families and communities.
So here's to 250 years of gathering around the table. May the next course be just as delicious.
For the full lineup and participating restaurants, visit EAT250.com.
