The Latest Dish, July 2023
By • July 12, 2023 0 1710
Ch-Ch-Changes: Georgetown’s La Chaumière owner Martin Lumet, (who bought it from longtime owner, Gerard Pain in 2006) has sold the country-style French restaurant to Gil Fornaris, formerly of P.F. Chang’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and First Watch, and another industry veteran, Mike Connelly. Martin’s chef/partner Patrick Moulet will continue to run the kitchen until a new chef is named.
Thompson Hospitality Corp. (Matchbox, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers, Wiseguy Pizza, Milk & Honey, Hen Quarter) plans to open Makers Union gastropub at The Wharf, at the end of Q3 2023. It will be their second Makers Union, with a third slated for National Landing. THC also has plans to open Hen Quarter at River Point, near Audi Field, and Wiseguy Pizza in Wheaton.
Crab Stuffed Salmon from Makers Union. Instagram photo.
Hakan Ilhan (Ottoman Taverna, Brasserie Liberté, Al Dente, Il Piatto) plans to open Alara, at 1303 Wisconsin Ave. NW in Georgetown where Paolo’s used to be. It will feature Turkish, Greek, Lebanese and Israeli (Mediterranean) cuisines. The 120-seat Alara, named for a beautiful water fairy in Turkish mythology, is slated to open in Q1 2024.
American comfort food eatery, Purl, opened where Hikari Sushi used to be at 644 H Street, NE in the H Street corridor. The 88-seat restaurant is brought to you by Ashlee Jack, formerly of District Restaurant Group (The Ugly Mug) who is now director of hospitality for the Lemon Group Hospitality. Toronto-based Kelsey Ramage has orchestrated the cocktail menu.
Chocolate-covered profiterole from La Bonne Vache. Courtesy La Bonne Vache.
Quick Hits: La Bonne Vache will open where the iconic Booeymonger used to be at 3265 Prospect St. NW, in early Q3 2023 this summer with vet chef Rob Aikens…. Jerome and Sophia Grant opened Mahal BBQ, serving Afro-Filipino food, in the H Street NE Corridor…. Taco Bell plans to open a Cantina, serving alcoholic beverages with its fare, at 8662 Colesville Road in Silver Spring, where Pollo Campero used to be. It’s next to the Fillmore Silver Spring.
Linda Roth is Founder and CEO of Linda Roth Associates (LRA), a Washington, D.C.-based public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the foodservice and hospitality industries. Follow her at: @LindaRothPR, #LindaRothPR, or www.lindarothpr.com.
