So much of the food photography I’ve been doing lately has been for the Washington Post, so I thought it would be a good idea to share some of my favorite images (which may or may not get into print with the reviews!) on a more regular basis. A few recent First Bite and Dining Reviews for some of the restaurants that made Tom Sietsema’s Top 10 list of best new restaurants can be found at the links below.
1. Mirabelle
3. Himitsu
10. The Colada Shop
Finding a restaurant to have your wedding rehearsal dinner in Washington, DC can a tough decision. So many factors weigh in: how many people are you hosting, what type of food, casual or formal, easily accessible and close to where wedding guests are staying. In my other career as a food photographer, primarily for the Washington Post, I get around town quite a bit to photograph the food and atmosphere at many of the new and interesting restaurants opening around the city. And some I’ve been to recently are fun and funky locations to have your wedding rehearsal dinner!
The newest restaurant from Fabio and Maria Trabocchi is a fine dining pasta restaurant in the Van Ness neighborhood. It’s homey atmosphere and extraordinary beautiful dishes make it a perfect spot for hosting a party. The newly enclosed outdoor patio could easily accommodate a rehearsal crowd. In the main restaurant there are elegant touches of red and padded booths keep the decibel levels way down. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing there twice for the Washington Post and have been back for dinner so it’s a new DC restaurant I highly recommend!
This is another restaurant near and dear to my heart for a couple reasons. I’ve been spending a lot of time in Petworth recently for the Washington Post reviews I’ve done and Ruta del Vino was my first time in the neighborhood. Justin and Jessica, the owners of the restaurant are new to the DC dining scene and their comfortable neighborhood venue feels like a great place to hang out. The centerpiece of the restaurant is the large bar and there is a more secluded back room that would give a party group some privacy. The food is fabulous, there’s a great wine selection and I am completely addicted to the churros dipped in chocolate!! Their website is a work in progress that (I hope) will be live soon with lots of my photos.
The other fabulous Petworth restaurant that could be a perfect foodie rehearsal dinner spot is Himitsu. The Washington Post review is out this weekend and the food is adventurous and delicious. The chef Kevin Tien and the co-owner and beverage director Carlie Steiner are totally focused on providing an amazing dining experience for each patron at their tiny restaurant. You’d have to take over the entire restaurant for a rehearsal dinner but boy, would it be memorable if you did!! And get the duck platter with buttermilk biscuits. You can thank me later.
The Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse
For the more adventurous and edgy couple, the Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse could be a perfect wedding rehearsal restaurant. They’re located a part of DC that is rapidly changing with the renovation of the old Hecht’s Warehouse building and the influx of new restaurants. A couple things stand out at the Tavern. First is a large open performance space attached to the restaurant that would even be perfect for a wedding. Second is the fish. As a Maryland girl I am a total crab cake snob and these are some of the best I’ve had. The smoked fish platter is another must get–if not for dinner than definitely for brunch!
Keeping with the seafood theme, Johnny’s Half Shell in Adam’s Morgan has some of the best in town. The 80-seat restaurant in the heart of the city, has just the right mix of casual and homey touches–an aquarium on display and an abundance of blue in the color scheme. And the original Johnny’s Half Shell sign from the first restaurant hangs high overheard. And most importantly, chef Ann Cashion’s cooking would definitely delight your guests!
One last place on my list is a restaurant I was at just last week for the Post’s $20 Diner column. The new restaurant is run by the owners of El Sol Restaurante & Tequileria, has colorful murals painted on the exposed brick and a rustic charm. Located on 14th St. in Columbia Heights it’s big enough for a good size crowd even if you didn’t take over the whole restaurant. The food from the carne asada (my favorite) to the tacos is exceptional. And with more than 65 Mezcals, it might just be the perfect spot in DC for a party.
There are so many options for wedding rehearsal spots in the DC area. These are just a few of my favorites and I expect as I continue to photograph food around town that I’ll have more to add to this list. Maybe even some in the suburbs!!
Just in time for an influx of tourists and protestors, my Bloomberg Pursuits food photography assignment is online! I had the pleasure to taking a whirlwind tour of some of the finest eating and drinking that the city has to offer late last year. Enjoy–and don’t forget to make reservations!!
Eggplant Caponata Tart on flowered plate at Pineapple and Pearls.
Seafood Curry made with a Siphon at Pineapple and Pearls.
Pain au Lait Bread course in a box with Foie Gras Butter and Preserves served at Pineapple and Pearls.
Chef Nick Stefanelli and a pasta dish, Fagottini, at his restaurant Masseria.
Miguel F. Lancha, cocktail innovator at Jose Andres’ BarMini, prepares a Martinez cocktail. Right is the Carmen Miranda.
Wall art at BarMini.
The White Stone Oysters at The Dabney are served with cherry vinegar mignonette, coriander berry vinegar. At right Fall from the Hearth cocktail.
Bourbon Brown Sugar Ice Cream Sundae at The Dabney.
Old Bay Rubbed Ribeye with White Corn Pudding and Smoked Tomato Jam at Kinship.
Matcha Latte and Cappuccino with Soda Water at Maketto.
The Next Whiskey Bar at the newly renovated Watergate Hotel.
Watergate waitress Janell Delaney holds the Macbain and the Cutthroat at The Next Whiskey Bar at the newly renovated Watergate Hotel.
Pici Carbonara, Pancetta, Broccoli with Calabrian Chili Breadcrumbs at Tail Up Goat.
Lamb Ribs, Root Vegetables, Salsa Verde and Pickled Mustard Seeds for two at Tail Up Goat and cocktail at the Columbia Room.
There is no shortage of luxury dining rooms in DC. The tricky part is determining which ones are truly worth the money.
One of the great perks of being a DC food photographer is getting to create photos at some of the best restaurants in town. So when the Washington Post Magazine called me to photograph three restaurants to go with Tom Sietsema’s review for their first every Luxury Edition, I couldn’t refuse. I made photos at Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier for their Sunday brunch; Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown for their A5 Miyazaki Japanese Wagyu and at Elizabeth’s Gone Raw for their unique high-end Vegan food experience.
Vegan food can be a great addition to a weight loss plan, as long as it is nutrient-dense and balanced. A vegan diet focuses on plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. These foods are typically lower in calories, high in fiber, and rich in vitamins and minerals, making them a good choice for weight loss.
The other fun part of doing this job is, of course, getting to sample what I photograph. I don’t always get to eat, but in all three of these luxurious restaurants, the chefs were very generous and I admit it, I took them up on their offer. But only after I made sure I had the perfect photographs. I can also report that all three were delicious and very different. Anyone who knows me knows I am NOT a Vegan but the food at Elizabeth’s is so creative and different. I was impressed.
A vegan diet should be balanced and varied to ensure that you are getting all of the nutrients your body needs to function optimally and support weight loss. A vegan diet, when is complemented with exercise and the best weight loss pills that actually work will help us reaching our goal to lose weight.
Check out my Food and Corporate Photography website to see more delicious food photographs.
Pan Seared Diver Scallops, Roasted Red and Yellow Pepper Coulis with Roasted Artichoke, Haricot Vert and Nicoise Olives at Marcel’s Sunday brunch.
Opera Cake, Raspberry Pate d’fruit, Bailey’s Hazelnut Truffle and Lemon Marcaron at Marcel’s Sunday brunch.
Smoked Salmon Carpaccio, Creme Fraiche and Red Onion
Aunt Lila’s Pancakes, Berry Compote and Powdered Sugar at Marcel’s.
Bourbon Steak’s Chef Joseph Palma carves a 12-pound 60-day dry aged cut standing rib roast from the Shenandoah Valley.
The three cuts of the A5 Miyazaki Japanese Wagyu from left to right: Rib Cab, Rosu Chuck and New York Strip served with sauces from left to right: Carolina Mustard BBQ, Aji Verde and Henry Bain Sauce at Bourbon Steak.
Romanesco Cauliflower Couscous with baby pickled turnips, stuffed figs with cashew creme, salsa verde and cheddar crumble at Elizabeth’s Gone Raw, a catering company in a DC townhouse that does a grand vegan tasting menu every Friday night.
Citrus Salad, pineapple sphere, tiny fennel, pomelo & orange, lemongrass glee, date puree and hearts of palm.
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