The city of Washington D.C. is a hodgepodge of ethically diverse culinary styles. With a smörgåsbord of recipes from all over the world, travelers could spend their entire vacation exploring the internationally infused cuisine of the nation's capital. The city features a multitude of restaurants, eateries, and other food venues.
Savory Sites
Considered to be a trail-blazer for American cuisine, Julia Child introduced the basics of French cooking to the U.S. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History moved Child's entire kitchen from Cambridge, Mass. to Washington, D.C. for an exhibit called Bon Appetite after Child's trademark salutation. The 20-by-14 foot exact replica of her kitchen contains Child's pots, pans, stove, knives, and more, with everything in place where it originally stood for her 1962 television series The French Chef.
Tourists can learn about the history of D.C. and its culinary styles by taking a culinary tour. "Movable Feasts" is a three-hour walking tour that gives visitors the chance to sample some of D.C.'s regional goodies while learning about the area and its foods.
On the Market
For fresh produce and foods, many Washingtonians head to the Eastern Market on Capitol Hill. This open-air farmer's market was built in 1873 and is D.C.'s last 19th century market still in operation. On the weekends, crowds of people come to the market, as well as the Eastern Market's Flea Market on Sundays. Patrons of the market can purchase fresh food items like meat, poultry, dairy products, and fresh fish. The Eastern Market also has places that serve prepared foods like fresh bread, blueberry pancakes, and crab cakes, just to name a few.
With abundant fresh produce and foods, Washington, D.C. has been a target market for organic produce. Health-conscious locals have followed the trend of dining on "better-for-you" foods. Vacationers can sample healthy fare at cutting-edge organic restaurants like Nora's.
International Influences
Partly due to its many foreign embassies, Washington, D.C. is considered an international city. This is good news for cooking connoisseurs, as ethnic cuisine won't be hard to find in the nation's capital. People from all of the world have made the District of Columbia their home, bringing with them their tastes and culinary styles.
Visitors can enjoy Vietnamese, Salvadoran, East African, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern dishes while in D.C. Mexican and Indian cuisines can also be sampled in the city. Brazilian meals like linguica a palito, hot sausages sautéed with onions, or Greek dishes like prawns sautéed in feta cheese and tomato sauce, are served at local restaurants and eateries. Other ethnic cuisine available in the city includes Thai food,particularly signature seafood dishes; stir fried vegetables, and spring rolls. And don't miss out on spicy Ethiopian fare like beef short ribs in a zesty sauce, served atop the traditional crepe-like injera.
Other ethnic dishes visitors can enjoy at D.C.'s local restaurants include crab masala, paella, baba ghanoush, dumplings, barbecue, sushi, steak, soufflé, and just about any other culinary style you'd like to try.
Eating Out
Outdoor dining is popular in D.C. Many enjoy fine dining in lovely restaurant gardens, on rooftop terraces, and at sidewalk cafes. Other interesting and unique dining spots in Washington D.C. include tea rooms. Here diners can enjoy not only various kinds of tea, but delicious delicacies also. Foods served at tea rooms include hot fragrant scones with Devon cream and jams; tea sandwiches filled with cucumber and cheese, duck pate, or smoked salmon; homemade cookies; and miniature fruit tarts, as well as other British favorites.
Food Fairs & Celebrations
Throughout the year, D.C. hosts a number of food festivals and fairs where visitors can go to experience the city's culinary culture. Here are some events held in the metropolitan area:
D.C. Chili Cook-Off
Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show
National Barbecue Battle
Taste of Arlington
Taste of Georgetown
Taste of Bethesda
Washington, D.C. International Wine and Food Festival
Washington, D.C. Restaurant Week
Vacationers can savor the city's diverse culture by exploring the local dining scene. With Washington, D.C.'s wide variety of ethnic cuisine, dining may be one of the most memorable experiences of your vacation.
