The Dublin, Ireland-based **Ri Ra** will add a new location and a new concept to its growing metropolitan D.C. base of operations. When it takes over the **Mie N Yu** space on M Street in Georgetown, it will bring not only its Irish energy, but an Irish chef who is developing a full service upscale menu, punctuating Ri Ra?s latest evolution into the restaurant scene. It will also feature a state-of-the-art whiskey bar featuring 150 different whiskeys, supplemented by an authoritative whiskey program.
***Chef Update:*** Marjorie Meek-Bradley has taken over executive chef duties at **Ripple** in Cleveland Park. She worked previously with Mike Isabella at **Graffiato** and for Thomas Keller at Per Se in NYC. Chef Greg McCarty will head the kitchen at Ashok Bajaj?s newest venture, **NOPA Kitchen & Bar** where **Zola?s** was on F Street in Penn Quarter. McCarty?s credentials include **Jean-Georges** and **Nobu Fifty Seven** in NYC. **La Tasca Spanish Tapas Bar & Restaurant** has announced the appointment of Josu Zubikarai as their new executive chef, overseeing culinary operations for all five of the company?s restaurants: Washington, D.C., Arlington and Alexandria, Va., Rockville, Md. and Baltimore. Zubikarai was the opening chef for **Taberna del Alabardero** in Washington, DC in 1989. Ashley Soto has been named executive pastry chef at the new **Farmers Fishers Bakers**. She used to work for Black Restaurant Group?s **Pearl Dive Oyster Bar**. She manages pastries offered at the new **FirstBake** bakery and coffee shop within the restaurant. Carrie Jenkins, who briefly managed the pastry program at Farmers Fishers Bakers, has been promoted to executive pastry chef for **Founding Farmers** in downtown D.C.
**Karl Graham**, of the defunct New York Avenue Beach Bar, is in partnership with **Hogo and The Passenger** owner Tom Brown (Derek?s brother) to open **The Elroy**, named for the young son in The Jetsons cartoon from yester-year, so think ?futuristic.? It will be in the ever burgeoning H Street corridor, as 1423 H St NE. Karl is a general contractor, so that should be a big advantage. A June opening is planned.
Aaron Tootill is the executive chef at **The Bench** restaurant opening at the Gaithersburg Marriott Washington Center in the Rio Washingtonian Center, this spring. The restaurant will be contemporary American. Tootill was opening chef for **Fire & Sage** at Marriott Metro Center in downtown D.C. A spring opening is planned.
**Capitol Prague Restaurant** will open where **Morso** was at M and Prospect Streets in Georgetown. It will also operate a coffee shop nearby. The cuisine is Czech and Slovak: think schnitzel and dumplings. It will offer Czech Republic beers hard to find anywhere else. An April opening is planned.
