Central : Michel Richard

A family trip to DC is a wonderful excuse to get some good east coast grub. On a previous trip to DC my husband and I had hit Citronelle, the fancier sister restaurant of CENTRAL. I knew that I wanted to try to get to this one if the schedule allowed. Central's Michel Richard is a rare genius. As if an appetizer itself, a slideshow of pictures from his cookbook (read: food porn) flashes above the lounge seating.

Famous gougeres

Soft shell crab tempura

Shroomwich - tastes as good as the cookbook looks. Phenomenal.

The sauces of every dish are what bump them from great to stellar. Cheese sauce for the shroomwich, basil oil for the burrata salad, tartar for the crab topped with fresh pickled cucumber slices, ginger mayo for the fries. The layers and dimensions are outstanding and imaginative. Contemporary American comfort food at its best. This lunch is reason enough to get yourself to Washington, D.C. Or at least get a copy of Happy in the Kitchen (one of my favorites) and prepare to be amazed.

-- Posting From My iPhone