By Emma Schmalz By Emma Schmalz | April 24, 2024 | Food & Drink, People, Feature, Guide, Guides,
Follow these local top chefs for mouthwatering inspiration and a delicious taste of DC's culinary culture.
Aaron Silverman, rosesluxury.com
Since Aaron Silverman’s first restaurant, Rose’s Luxury, was an immediate hit back in 2013, and he has only grown more successful. He won a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic back in 2016, and his three restaurants, Pineapple & Pearls and Little Pearl, have all received Michelin stars.
Amy Brandwein, @chefamybdc
Amy Brandwein is no stranger to accolades, including being a six-time nominee for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. Centrolina and Piccolina, Brandwein’s two restaurants, bring authentic and elevated Italian dining to Washington, DC.
Angel Barreto, @angellbarreto
Craftsmanship, the ability to make one-of-a-kind dishes and a couple of James Beard nominations under his belt are just a few of Angel Barreto’s notable qualities. His culinary career spans over a decade, and his commitment to studying Korean cuisine has led him to where he is today as the executive chef of Anju, a contemporary Korean restaurant in Dupont Circle.
Fabio Trabocchi, @fabiotrabocchi
This Michelin star and James Beard restaurateur knows fine dining inside and out. Visit Del Mar at The Wharf for elegant Spanish seafood and tapas, or stop by Fiola Mare on the Georgetown Waterfront or its other four locations for coastal Italian cuisine.
Gerald Addison, @gmladdison
As a DC native, Michelin-starred chef Gerald Addison knows what Washingtonians are craving. Since his first endeavor, Maydan—a Middle Eastern restaurant—the local favorite has been serving up some of the city’s top bites. Indulge in Addison’s mouthwatering cuisine at the chic pizza parlor Grazie Nonna, it’s sexy sister lounge Grazie Mille or his fried chicken bar at The Wharf, Little Chicken
Jeremiah Langhorne, @jjlthedabney
Jeremiah Langhorne is the owner of and chef at Petite Cerise and the Michelin Star restaurant The Dabney, which specializes in open-hearth cooking and Mid-Atlantic cuisine. Langhorne’s culinary creativity and love for flavors from regions like the Chesapeake and Appalachian secured his win for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2018.
José Andrés, @chefjoseandres
Since moving to the US from Spain back in the 1990s, José Andrés has opened several successful restaurants in cities across America. Not only does the acclaimed chef have James Beard Awards, but he is the founder of World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides meals after natural disasters. Be sure to visit minibar by José Andrés and The Bazaar, both located in DC, for shareable dishes and traditional Spanish tapas.
Kevin Tien, @chefkevintien
Chef Kevin Tien who has lived in cities all across the nation infuses his cultural awareness of regional American cuisine into his cooking techniques. His role as executive chef at the Vietnamese restaurant Moon Rabbit in DC serves as the ideal stage for Tien to celebrate his heritage and culinary talents. The chef is also a 2024 James Beard finalist for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, and a five-time semifinalist.
Masako Morishita, @masako_morishita
Perry’s restaurant in Adams Morgan is a critically acclaimed spot for Japanese comfort food, all thanks to Masako Morishita. The Japanese-born chef has worked tirelessly to bring her expertise on Japanese cuisine to DC, and her hard work paid off as she snatched a finalist spot for the 2024 James Beard Awards.
Michael Rafidi, @chefmichaelrafidi
Chef and owner of Michelin-starred Albi in Navy Yard, Michael Rafidi celebrates and redefines traditional Arabic cuisine in the DC area. Before opening Albi in 2020, Rafidi spent years honing his skills in some of the country’s best kitchens, like RN74 in San Francisco and Duck Tavern in DC. His YELLOW cafe combines Middle Eastern flavors with French techniques, and all of Rafidi’s dishes celebrate his Palestinian heritage.
Patrick O’Connell, @innatlittlewash
The iconic Patrick O’Connell who has won every major food award, including a James Beard Award for Lifetime Achievement, is one of the nation’s most notable chefs. O’Connell is the owner and proprietor of the Inn at Little Washington—one of DC’s Michelin-starred restaurants that is a must-try experience for foodies.
Peter Chang, qbypeterchang.com
Chef Peter Chang specializes in Sichuan cuisine and aspires to change America’s preconceived notions of Chinese dining. Dupont Circle’s Chang Chang is on the Michelin Guide and, in 2022, this culinary expert was a finalist for the James Beard Outstanding Chef award.
Rob Rubba, @robrubba
The Michelin-starred restaurant Oyster Oyster has Mid-Atlantic sustainable dining, thanks to chef and owner Rob Rubba. It is no doubt that Rubba’s culinary expertise is reflected through his dishes, especially since he won a James Beard Outstanding Chef Award in 2023 and is a 2022 Food & Wine Best New Chef.
Sébastien Giannini, @lechefsebastien
The partner chef of L’Avant-Garde, Sébastian Giannini, brings exciting expertise to the authentic French restaurant. Giannini was born and raised in France and began his career in Michelin-starred restaurants overseas. Since moving to DC in 2017, he has worked as executive chef at multiple four-star hotels, including The St. Regis Washington, DC and Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC.
Photography by: Kate Warren; Greg Powers; Courtesy of Brands; Rey Lopez; Rachel Paraoan