🌸 A food critic steps down

Good morning, DC. On this day 43 years ago, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall after years of controversy over Maya Lin's stark design, with 150,000 people attending the ceremony to honor the more than 58,000 Americans who died in the war.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

After 26 years of striking fear and hope into the hearts of DC restaurateurs, Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema announced this Tuesday that he's dropping his anonymity and stepping down, ending an era in which his faceless reviews could make or break a restaurant overnight. The critic who transformed dining in the District from afterthought to destination plans to cook more, travel more, and stay connected with food enthusiasts, though he's not retiring and the future remains deliberately vague. Chef Kevin Tien, whose career trajectory shifted when Sietsema reviewed Himitsu in 2017, told WTOP that the critic "helped build a path for us to be more welcomed in a dining environment that may not be so welcoming sometimes to small, young chefs or BIPOC chefs." Multiple chefs credited Sietsema with single-handedly elevating DC's food scene, with Daikaya Group partner Daisuke Utagawa calling him "a very integral part of Washington becoming a food town," while STARR Restaurants founder Stephen Starr dubbed him "the Yoda of the food and culinary scene." If given the chance to meet the formerly faceless critic who shaped their careers, most chefs said they'd simply say thank you, showing that even in an industry built on bold flavors, sometimes gratitude is the most important ingredient.

For those seeking celebration-worthy dining without the meat, five Northern Virginia restaurants are proving that vegetarian tasting menus can hold their own against any steakhouse, from intimate 30-seat Elyse in Fairfax to perennial favorite 2941 in Falls Church. The seasonal offerings range from Alias's mushroom wellington draped in truffle cream with freshly grated black truffles to Cork and Table's six-course progression in Fredericksburg featuring potato gnocchi with sweet onion jam, artichokes, and shiitake mushrooms. At 2941, diners can choose between non-vegetarian and vegetarian options for each of the five courses, with the current menu showcasing caramelized endive in Marcona almond vinaigrette and vadouvan risotto with butternut squash and nutty Sapore del Piave cheese. Elyse takes the concept further by offering both vegetarian and vegan five-course menus nightly, with highlights like roasted delicata squash stuffed with spaghetti squash in creamy sweet potato sauce alongside wild black Italian rice. Maple Ave Restaurant in Vienna delivers the most accessible entry point at $59 for four courses of fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese or wild mushroom risotto, which means you can experience vegetarian fine dining without liquidating your savings account.

The Friends of Rose Park raised over $35,000 at their September 25 gala, held at a penthouse residence with panoramic Potomac views and featuring eight local restaurants including Martin's Tavern, Andy's Pizza, and The Poppy Georgetown stationed throughout the patios, bars, pool, and fire pit. Friends of Rose Park president Gail Daubert reminded guests that living next to a park increases home values, then casually mentioned the upcoming improvements include trash containers priced around $5,000 each, which is apparently what state-of-the-art garbage costs in Georgetown these days. The NTB Group sponsored the evening, which drew a crowd of young and old supporters who seemed more interested in the sunset and food stations than discussing luxury waste receptacles.

Steezeburger, crowned the DMV's best burger by The Washington Post, is teaming up with Vietnamese fusion spot PhoWheelz for a limited-time collaboration that wraps the cult-favorite smash burger in roti with melted American cheese, diced onions, and signature Steez Sauce, available October 24 through November 30. The mashup brings together Hunter Karametos's perfectly seared patties and PhoWheelz's popular roti taco format, which has helped the brand expand from food trucks to its first Maryland brick-and-mortar location in Burtonsville earlier this year. Head to 15707 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville Crossing to try the fusion creation, where PhoWheelz also runs one of the area's only Vietnamese drive-thrus.

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Here’s what’s going on around DC this weekend:

Union Market | Race the District | Go-kart racing experience with Louis the Child block party, kid-friendly driving activities, and motorsport meetup | 11 AM

DAR Constitution Hall | Nikki Glaser: Alive and Unwell Tour | Golden Globes host delivers no-holds-barred stand-up ahead of her Hulu comedy special release | 7 PM

Old Town Fairfax | Fall Festival | Beer garden, live bands, and 400+ arts-and-crafts booths fill the historic downtown streets | 10 AM

Mount Vernon | Fall Wine Festival | Unlimited wine samples from Virginia vineyards on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River | 6 PM

The Wharf | Because They're Funny Comedy Festival | Multi-day lineup with conversations, film screenings at Arena Stage, and stand-up performances at The Anthem featuring Sommore, Tisha Campbell, and more | All day

Balian Springs | Self-Care Summit | Private wellness retreat with puppy yoga, mocktail classes, silent disco sound bath, DIY candles, and bracelet making across the spa's hydrotherapy pools and saunas | 3 PM

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Friday

65 🌡 52 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 5 mph

Saturday

68 🌡 62 | 🌧️ 35% | 💨 6 mph

Sunday

64 🌡 58 | 🌧️ 40% | 💨 15 mph

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9:30 Club | The Rapture | 6 PM

Blues Alley | Antonio Sanchez | 7 PM

The Atlantis | Stacey Ryan with Haven Madison | 7:30 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | The Whispers | 7:30 PM

The Fillmore Silver Spring | Benny The Butcher | 8 PM

The Theater at MGM National Harbor | Fantasia | 8 PM

Capital One Hall | Sasy (Sasan Yafteh) | 9 PM

Blues Alley | Antonio Sanchez | 9:30 PM

9:30 Club | Anamanaguchi | 10 PM

Soundcheck | Wilkinson | 10 PM

9:30 Club | Colony House with Happy Landing | 6 PM

Capital One Hall | Tonic | 7:30 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | The Whispers | 7:30 PM

The Hamilton Live | Adrien Nunez | 8 PM

The Theater at MGM National Harbor | Fantasia | 8 PM

The Howard Theatre | BORNS with Courtney Farren | 8 PM

The Fillmore Silver Spring | Noah Cyrus | 8 PM

Warner Theatre | Dennis Williams Ive Cried the Blues | 8 PM

Lisner Auditorium | Martik | 8:30 PM

Soundcheck | Beauz | 10 PM

The Rose Gaming Resort | Three Sheets To The Wind | 6 PM

The Atlantis | Frost Children | 6:30 PM

Center for the Arts | Keyboard Conversations | 7 PM

9:30 Club | Black Rebel Motorcycle Club with Humanist | 7 PM

Echostage | Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist | 7 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | GoGo Penguin | 7:30 PM

The Fillmore Silver Spring | Lecrae with Miles Minnick | 7:30 PM

Lisner Auditorium | Mashina Vremeni | 8 PM

The Commanders (3-2) welcome the Chicago Bears (2-2) to Northwest Stadium on Monday night at 8:15 PM, nearly a year after last season's 18-15 victory sealed by Jayden Daniels's 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Noah Brown on the final play. Daniels, who sits at 14-6 as an NFL starter compared to Bears QB Caleb Williams's 7-14 record despite both being top-two picks in the 2024 draft, has thrown four touchdowns without an interception this season while managing the league's top rushing attack at 156.4 yards per game. Rookie seventh-rounder Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt exploded for 111 yards and two touchdowns against the Chargers last week, leading a ground game that should feast on Chicago's 31st-ranked run defense that's surrendering 164.5 yards per contest. Washington enters as 4.5-point favorites with injury questions surrounding top receiver Terry McLaurin and Hail Mary hero Noah Brown, both listed as game-time decisions, though the Commanders remain undefeated at home this season.

Till next time,