‘Pork Loin with Kumquat Marmalade @ Ardeo’
courtesy of ‘jimcollins’

Talk about an empire. DCMud.com reports that restaurateur Ashok Bajaj, the man behind Bombay Club, 701, Rasika, and Ardeo + Bardeo could soon sign a lease for the retail space at 22 West in West End. Bajaj somewhat hinted at a new project in a chat last month with my fave food critic, Tom Sietsema.

My favorite news of the week comes via The Washington Post: Whole Foods Market and a D.C. real estate firm want to build a new store in Navy Yard, “but the developer says that luring the grocer would require $8 million in tax breaks.”  WaPo reports that William C. Smith and Co. is proposing a 39,000-square-foot Whole Foods in the 800 block of New Jersey Ave. SE as part of a building that would also include 375 apartments.

In other Navy Yard news, JDLand writes that a beer garden might soon be on its way to Southeast. The ANC6D (Advisory Neighborhood Commission) voted 6-0 “to support the Bullpen’s plans to open an additional 632-seat beer garden at Half and M, across from the Navy Yard Metro station’s west entrance just north of Nationals Park.”

‘Friday night munchies @ Z-Burger’
courtesy of ‘oddlittlebird.’
Moving west, Station 4 restaurant at 1100 4th St. SW received liquor license support this week from the ANC. I hear they’re trying to open before the Cherry Blossom festival. Station 4 will be a 4,000 square foot American bistro-style restaurant. Not sure if I’m more excited about this or the Z-Burger coming…

I’m still waiting for news on The Khan’s Bar and Grill, the new Mongolian BBQ restaurant set to open at 1125 H St. NE., but no word so far. They must be doing okay though — according to Craigslist, Khan’s is looking for bartenders and waiters. Please open soon.

And since I’m apparently having too much fun on Craigslist, NoMa’s Pound Coffee (which will soon have another location on CapHill) has a great ad up. “If you love coffee, understand the difference between pulling just any old shot and the perfect extraction, know how to steam milk so that it emits a light sweetness, and understand that there really is no such thing as a medium or large capp….let’s chat…I don’t really want or need to see a crazy resume.”  If you think you’re a great barista, apply.

‘nomnom at the bayou’
courtesy of ‘christaki’
Congratulations are in order…nominations for Food & Wine’s the “People’s Best New Chef” include four DC faves: Nicholas Stefanelli of Bibiana, Bayou Bakery’s David Guas, 1789’s Daniel Giusti, and Kyle Bailey of Birch & Barley. Vote!

Another congratulations to Michael Harr. Bethesda Magazine reports that the Gaithersburg-raised chef is now at the helm of Food, Wine & Co. The Bethesda establishment has been open for six months and has gone through two other chefs.

Ah, moratoriums…The Georgetown Dish tells us that the Dupont Circle community is “exploring the renewal and possible expansion of the existing freeze on new bars and restaurants on the west side of Dupont Circle.”

In closings, TBD reports that Adams Mill Bar & Grill is officially closed after failing to negotiate a new lease on the property. Still no word on who will take over the space.  Over in Columbia Heights, restaurant partners Jamie Leeds and Sandy Lewis are selling CommonWealth Gastro Pub later this month. CommonWealth will be purchased by a restaurant group headed by Terry Cullen, with the sale anticipated to close on February 27th. Prince of Petworth broke the news first, and says the restaurant will be closed for 60 days before a new ownership takes over. New name, but still pub food.

‘Desserts at Yola’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’
Now what’s coming up so you can start planning away:

Thursday, February 24: Join Chef Patricia Jinich for The Moles of Oaxaca at the Mexican Cultural Institute. The class costs $70 per person and promises to “surprise and please all your senses.”

Saturday, February 26: Yola, Dupont Circle’s fresh yogurt parfait bar, is throwing an opening party! Free Coffee Tasting at 11am, meet the yogurt maker at 1pm, and stay for the Catan tournament at 3pm. Email lsmith@yoladc.com for more information.

Sunday, February 27: Earlier this month we told you that Capitol Hill’s Vietnamese restaurant Ba Bay is starting a series of monthly Guest Chef Dinners. February’s guest is none other than Chef R.J. Cooper of Rogue 24. For more information, call  202-547-1787.

Eat away!

Tricia Barba

Tricia is a native Washingtonian, born and raised in Columbia Heights. She loves DC so much that she was only able to leave the city for one year after college and immediately came running back. Tricia works in PR during the day, and spends her nights trying out new restaurants in DC with friends or watching The Good Wife, Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. Tricia recently decided to eat her way though all of Zagat’s 2011 restaurants until she realized she would be old and broke by the time she finished. Follow her on Twitter and email her at Tricia (at) welovedc.com.