D.C. is joining the prestigious ranks of New York, San Francisco, and Chicago today with the release of its first Michelin Guide that spotlights the burgeoning restaurant scene. Not historically pegged for fine dining, D.C.’s reputation as a foodie city has been elevated in recent years due to additions of …

Something is happening this weekend where the food and local culture decided to explode. From new brunch spots to DC art to local musicians, we’ve got a line up that’s sure to give you a heavy helping of the best of DC this weekend.

The man behind the modern, country fare inspired Cedar talks about his passion for food Upon walking through the street level door to Cedar located off a busy downtown intersection, you are met with stairs that lead you to the basement-style restaurant. As you descend, the street noise dissipates with every step you take leading you closer to the modern bar and dining area house in a speakeasy-like setting. Calmness and serenity take over as you sit comfortably and quietly in the warm, inviting atmosphere. The drink is cold and strong, which is perfect as your day was long and tiring. The smell of house made wild boar sausage being seared in a skillet makes your mouth water. You’re hungry, and cozy, and Chef Aaron McCloud is doing tasty things with farm fresh food in the kitchen, and you want it all.

The Culinary Helm & Heart behind Capitol Hill Staple Ted’s BULLETIN  Ted’s BULLETIN: never heard of it, go now. Worried they won’t have something you like? Stop it, just go now. You don’t like leaving downtown for the Hill for lunch? Shut up already, will you please just go now! It’s not just the 1950s diner/malt-shop inspired motif that makes you feel comfortable. In fact, more often than not this border line “cliché” feeling can turn off some diners. But not here, not at Ted’s BULLETIN, and not with Chef Eric Brannon manning the helm. Overseeing the culinary aspect of Ted’s since its opening, Chef Eric believes in quality product – as evidenced by the housemade pop-tarts, pastries, burgers, and malts they are known for – but also quality service. Treating the lobbyist in a suit ordering a grilled rib-eye the exact same as the Eastern Market-dwelling mom and her two kids (stroller in tote and all) ordering milkshakes and sugar-coma inducing homemade pop-tarts, Chef Eric believes everyone should feel comfortable here. Ted’s BULLETIN is proof that one can pull off a theme-inspired restaurant if there is heart behind the meatloaf and black and white movies broadcast in the back room. Thankfully Chef Eric was able to make time in his schedule to pull up a chair and chat about why he loves Ted’s, what his food philosophy is, and an exclusive, sneak peak at what’s next in store for the popular matchboxfoodgroup.

With spring starting to tease us, office brackets causing fights, St. Patrick’s Day in a few weeks and sequestration about to hit, it’s time to just pop bottles and hold on for the long haul because this month isn’t gonna slow down. So let’s say goodbye to February and hello to March with a weekend lineup sure to set the tone.

Top Chef Season 10 contestant and owner/Chef of DC’s own Belga Café lunches with us for his thoughts on the DC food scene, where he thinks it’s trending, and wonders if DC is ready for Michelin stars. Walking down the restaurant and bar lined Barrack’s Row neighborhood of Capitol Hill, I see many familiar haunts that serve cold beer, and I am sure, decent food. Yet I am comforted with each step I take as it brings me closer to Belga Café. Opened in 2004 by Chef Bart, this place has been consistently cranking out some seriously delicious Belgian-inspired food, providing amazing mussels, and some of the all-around best dishes (and beers) to be found in The District. However, it’s not Chef Bart’s entertaining and hilariously hard-to-understand-sometimes performance on Top Chef Season 10 that brings me here…ok, well, it sort of is. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t want to have lunch with this guy. He’s always happy, he had a crazy ass partner Josie in the last challenge that resulted in his elimination (tear), oh yeah, and there’s mussel’s on the half-shell with garlic butter and an ice cold Kasteel Rouge waiting for me on the inside. Onward we march in the name of food journalism!

Sidecar going private this week [fancy] Get your party on [Inauguration] Thursday snow [January] Photo by Noe Todorovich

Feasting Famously with Chef Geoff Tracy Geoff Tracy, aka Chef Geoff, is the man behind the wildly popular Chef Geoff’s DC restaurants, of which there are four, and his one non-name sake, Lia’s. The restaurants are known for their inviting, non-pretentious atmosphere; the cuisine freshly American; and the happy hours bring college students and K Street lobbyists alike together over affordable “supermugs,” burgers, and pizzas. However that is “Chef Geoff” the restaurants, but what of Chef Geoff the owner?

If you are looking for good food, great service and a mellow atmosphere, look no further. Sticky Rice DC is located at 1224 H Street NE and boasts an eclectic menu of American and Pan-Asian cuisine with a great crowd of local district dwellers. As a sushi restraunt in DC …

The Big Board, a specialty burger joint, is located at the start of the H Street corridor on the corner of 5th and H NE; a five minute walk east from the H street exit of Union Station. The second you walk through the door you realize that the four …

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… then the world NY Daily News: Terror threat to restaurants as Al Qaeda calls for attacks on government workers in D.C.