Taking strangers to dinner and interviewing them about their lives since 2008
My recent trip to New Orleans started with a trip to a great restaurant (K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen) and ended with lunch at another wonderful venue, the Redfish Grill on Bourbon Street. I realize some people might look down on going to such tourist-friendly establishments, but they’ve never let me down…
Earlier this month I returned to New Orleans, one of my favorite cities. The holiday gave me a chance to revisit some wonderful restaurants, starting on the first night with dinner at K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen in the French Quarter. I’ve never done a Dining With Strangers review at this restaurant,…
In March I made my first visit to DC restaurant to Doi Moi, whose menu is inspired by dishes found in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. It won’t be my last visit. I went with Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff on the Supreme Court’s…
All-Purpose Pizzeria is a great place to try in the District for pizza and other Italian fare. Last week, I went with 11 friends to the business’ Capitol Riverfront location by the Nationals baseball park. The restaurant can be a little tricky to find as it faces the river not…
Last month on a trip to Los Angeles I returned to The Musso & Frank Grill. It’s a Hollywood institution, in business since the days of Charlie Chaplin and over the years a prime spot to see celebrities dining out. In May 2015 I learned about the restaurant’s ups and…
A few years ago I experimented with doing mini restaurant reviews in order to keep this site frequently updated between dinner interviews (which can range from every week to every few months). It fell by the wayside but I’m eager to post more than just the interviews, so I’m going…
Dean Gold is the owner and executive chef of Dino’s Grotto, an Italian-inspired restaurant in Washington, DC. It’s the second incarnation of his dream venue, after he had to close his bigger restaurant Dean in DC’s Cleveland Park due to a drop off in business. Having eaten at Dino’s with…
Jamila Robinson is a lifelong foodie, always eager to try new restaurants and also experiment with cooking at home. She’s taken that passion and used it to develop a career in media where, at several major newspapers, she’s edited features sections finding innovative ways to tell captivating stories about food,…
André Hueston Mack is a busy man. The sommelier turned wine company owner has a packed schedule that includes touring the country to visit the vineyards that supply his wine, giving motivational talks highlighting how he took chances to get to his current position, writing a memoir, and getting ready…
For 24 years, Mustafa Santiago Ali was an employee of the Environmental Protection Agency, working on environmental justice (EJ). Also known as environmental equity, EJ generally refers to addressing the disproportionate adverse impacts of industrial pollution on low-income and minority communities. It’s a cause that is personal for Mustafa, but…