This was probably the most fun quarter for the trip since it includes all three of my drivers and the best food in the Shoot. Zaytinya, Cashion’s, and Citronelle did the best to vie for our hearts. Zaytinya won on the vastness of the flavors in the Mediterranean menu, Citronelle takes the refined elegance category, and Cashion’s takes the finest dining while still feeling comfortable in a T-shirt award.
5:00 – Etete
Etete has won the value eats category from some source every year it’s been open and there is good reason for this. Inside, the place is upscale and trendy and the food is cooked by someone’s mom. Etete is a colloquialism for mother in Ethiopia, and the restaurant was purchased as a surprise gift to their mom (who already had a reputation in DC’s Ethiopian community as a fine chef from her catering business). To help the success of the business, Yared (son and co-owner) goes to Ethiopia twice a year and brings back sixteen suitcases of spices direct from the source. If that’s not authenticity, I don’t know what is. Read more . . .
