The world’s oldest culinary technique – cooking over an open flame – is on vivid display as Seth Tillman meets 3 masters of fire who char, roast and smoke their way to unforgettable eats. Signature dishes: Wagyu beef brisket at 2Fifty Texas Barbeque in Riverdale Park, MD; “The Hot Mess” white pizza at Frankly…Pizza! in Kensington, MD; an iconic spiced lamb shoulder at Maydan in Northwest D.C.
While the flavors of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine are familiar to DC area diners, other unique cuisines of Southeast Asia are gaining popularity. Seth samples three dishes that represent these new trends: ohno knauk swe (coconut curry chicken noodle soup) at Thamee in Northeast DC; lechon belly at Kuya Ja Lechon Belly in Kensington, MD; fish head curry at Malaysian Kopitiam in Centreville, VA.
In this episode, Seth samples the diverse array of flavors around DC from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago, learning about the melting pot that is Caribbean cuisine. Signature dishes: Jamaican jerk chicken wings at Andrene’s Caribbean & Soul Food in Brightwood; chuleta kan kan, a fried pork chop at La Famosa in the Navy Yard; and curried beef roti at Cane on H Street NE.
Seth meets three chefs who are masters of using hot peppers and balancing the intense heat with incredible flavors. Along the way, he samples muu som, a stir-fried rice-fermented sour pork dish at Thip Khao in Columbia Heights; junglee laal maas, a spicy goat curry at Pappe in Logan Circle; and a whole steamed fish with fermented peppers and scallions at Q by Peter Chang in Bethesda, MD.
In this episode, Seth meets with the chefs who are putting their own twists on the bold flavors and colors of West African cuisine. The signature dishes are goat egusi, a Ghanaian stew served at Appioo in DC’s U Street neighborhood, yassa chicken, a Senegalese smothered chicken dish at Chez Dior in Hyattsville, MD; ebbeh, a Gambian seafood stew at Mansa Kunda in Takoma Park, MD.
Signature Dish is back with a new episode exploring delectable meals from under the sea. Seth heads into Washington, D.C. to sample FishScale‘s True Blue Maryland Crab Burger; to Peruvian restaurant Pio Pio in Great Falls, VA, for a ceviche called Mahi Mahi Avocado; and to Penn Quarter, D.C.’s Rasika, to try the famous Indian restaurant’s Black Cod.
Seth visits the South on the flavor train, enjoying wood-smoked barbeque, Louisiana spices and culinary innovation applied to classic meals. He tastes duck jambalaya at Dauphine’s in downtown D.C., smoky brisket and bone marrow mac & cheese at Pennyroyal Station in Mt. Rainier, MD and BBQ spare ribs at Ruthie’s All Day in Arlington, VA.
Flavors from around the globe infuse some of D.C.'s best sandwiches. At Nim Ali in Foggy Bottom, Seth digs in to a shuko, a loaded Guatemalan street sandwich. Anacostia’s Open Crumb offers up a delectable fried chicken sandwich, and in Capitol Hill, Fight Club’s namesake sandwich includes roast beef, bacon and brown butter mayo.
It’s all about authentic flavor in this episode, as Seth visits three restaurants bringing Mexican food to the D.C. area. El Papi Real Street Tacos in Camp Springs, MD offers “Rudy’s Sampler” of birria tacos. In the Petworth neighborhood, DC Corazon’s red mole is on the menu, and Seth rounds out his Mexican food adventure with tuna tostadas from Taqueria Picoso in Alexandria, VA.
A wide range of Korean flavors can be found across the DMV. In this episode, Seth heads to Annandale, VA, the heart of the local Korean community, to try haemul pajeon, a seafood scallion pancake, at Gom Ba Woo, followed by a visit to Sō Korean BBQ in Centreville, VA for galbi, soy marinated short ribs. He finishes up at Seoul Food DC in Takoma Park, MD, to sample a vegan “Korean fried chicken.”
French, Italian, and German cooking techniques come to life in this episode. Chateaubriand – a perfectly cooked beef tenderloin – is the signature dish at L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, VA, while Piccolina in D.C.’s Penn Quarter offers up scacce, a delicious Sicilian stuffed flatbread. Seth's tour ends with a German classic, jäegerschnitzel, at the Old Stein Inn in Edgewater, MD.
Seth visits three restaurants that celebrate the diverse flavors of the Middle East. He tastes a lamb shank stew from Amoo’s in McLean, VA; the Egyptian dish molokheya, made with cornish hen, from Fava Pot in Falls Church, VA; and a delicious shawarma pita at Muncheez, a Lebanese street food destination in D.C.’s Dupont Circle.
Host Seth Tillman kicks off season 2 with a hearty dose of comfort food. He tries the local blue catfish fish and chips at Preserve in Annapolis, MD; a bowl of chicken soup (pozole verde) at Cielo Rojo in Takoma Park, MD, and a visit to Caruso’s Grocery in Capitol Hill East, D.C. for a perfectly executed chicken parmigiana.
The star of this D.C.-focused episode is a universal favorite: pizza. From the unique Roman-style “pinsas” of La Casina in Capitol Hill to the Detroit-style delights of Shaw’s Motown Square, and the Greek-influenced creations at Martha Dear in Mount Pleasant, Seth explores the artistry behind the perfect pie.
Seth dives into the rich culinary heritage of the Mediterranean. He first stops at Green Almond Pantry in Georgetown, then heads to Maryland for a stop at Cedars of Lebanon in Greenbelt and Melina in North Bethesda to explore the unique flavors from across the Mediterranean region.
The innovative world of fusion cuisine, where culinary traditions collide and create something new, is the heart of this episode. Seth stops by Imperfecto in D.C.’s West End and then crosses into Virginia to visit Mama Tigre in Oakton and Wooboi in Alexandria.
Seth skips the main course and dives right into dessert, with memorable visits to the neo-bistro Lutèce in Georgetown, the dessert shop Mr. Bake Sweets in Riverdale Park, Maryland, and The Conche in Leesburg, Virginia, where chocolate infuses everything on the menu - even the drinks!
This episode explores one of the most-requested cuisines from Signature Dish viewers: breakfast! At La Tejana in D.C.’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, Seth samples the 956 breakfast taco, before heading to Poolesville, Maryland to try Locals Farm Market’s famous chicken and waffles. The final stop is Any Day Now in D.C.’s Navy Yard for the scallion pancake breakfast sandwich.
Explore the rich tapestry and traditions of French gastronomy with host Seth Tillman. First stop: Chez Billy Sud in Georgetown, for oeufs en meurette (eggs in a red wine sauce). In DC’s NoMa neighborhood, Le Clou blends tradition with modernity in their ris de veau (sweetbreads basted in brown butter). Bastille in Old Town, Alexandria, offers up a magret de canard (slow-seared Moulard duck).
Host Seth Tillman takes a flavorful journey through Chinese cuisine, beginning at Columbia Heights’ Queen’s English with a standout crispy whole red snapper. Rou jia mo (Chinese hamburger) is in the spotlight at Northwest Chinese Food in College Park, MD. The final stop is at Yanzi Noodle House in Fairfax, VA for the one-of-a-kind luosifen (noodle soup flavored with snails).
Seth dives into a flavorful exploration of one of the hottest current food trends: urban food halls, where diners can find dishes to satisfy any palate. First stop: Puddin’ at Union Market in DC for chicken and beef sausage gumbo. At the miXt Food Hall in Brentwood, MD, Mush offers the vegan banh mi izzit sandwich. In downtown DC at The Square, Brasa crafts handmade butifarra sausage.
Host Seth Tillman explores the vibrant and diverse flavors of South America, beginning at Fire Pit BBQ in Rockville, MD, where juicy picanha steak is on the menu. Next, the nikkei ceviche at Arlington, VA’s Inca Social wows diners by breaking down a whole tuna. The journey concludes in Wheaton, MD with Kantutas' silpancho, a Bolivian feast piled high with steak, eggs, rice and potatoes.
A mosaic of flavors and techniques are in store as host Seth Tillman visits Filipino restaurants in the D.C. area. Hiraya on H Street mixes unique flavors in its adobo duck confit. An ube breakfast burger at Egg Karne in Herdon, VA puts a spin on a familiar favorite. F&F Filipino Fusion in Chantilly, VA offers bangus sisig, the national fish of the Philippines cooked with French techniques.
Sometimes, the best food can be found after hours. The late-night food scene in D.C. is on display as Seth Tillman visits Le Mont Royal for Montreal-inspired poutine. Next, he heads to Astoria on 17th Street for a spicy Sichuan water-boiled fish and a delicious burrata margherita pizza from Andy’s Pizza in Shaw.