A culinary tour of some American classics
Your fourth of July destinations
Friends, this Chef’s List is a special one! A few weeks ago on Longer Tables, I talked about the launch of my MasterClass series that focuses on American culinary history and why it’s important for us to keep talking to each other over the dinner table as sacred spaces for healthy and important conversations. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, I recommend it for the upcoming fourth of July holiday, as you might want something to watch if you have some time off!
So yes, since America’s Independence Day is next week, I wanted to reflect a bit on American food today. To me, American food means so many things…it’s about the history of this country, who was on this land first and who has moved here. It’s about has put down their roots here…whether indigenous or from somewhere else…and the influences they’ve had on the ingredients here, as well as on America’s appetites over the years. Some of my good friends, like Padma Lakshmi in her show Taste the Nation, have explored the corners of this amazing place and told stories of immigrants, of multiple-generation families, and everyone else who has come here and defined American food for themselves.
So today, I want to share with you some of my favorite places in America, places that define “classic” American food and American life. But what is “classic” American food? It could look so different depending on where you are! It could look like Sean Sherman’s Owamni, which explores and celebrates indigenous heritage and cuisine in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It could look like Berkeley’s Chez Panisse, Alice Waters’ iconic tribute to the simplicity of ingredients. (Of course, it could look like Jaleo, which just celebrated our 30th anniversary last year and are looking forward to the next 30 more!) Or it could look like your backyard or neighborhood corner restaurant.
As we move through some American classics, I thought it would be perfect to start in my hometown of Washington, DC. I have this philosophy that the DC food scene—and probably the scene in your own home town or city—is a bit like flying above a forest…if all you do is fly, you’re only going to see the trees, but if you actually go into the forest, you’ll see roots and bushes, animals and insects, and you’ll smell the trees and the soil. DC has been thought of as a meat and potatoes town for so long, that if you don’t go explore the forest, meat and potatoes may be all you find. So, people, go into the forest! So let’s go to DC first, and then we’ll explore some classics in other cities!
Ben’s Chili Bowl
1213 U Street, NW Washington, DC 20009