Food & Restaurants – ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp News News Happens Here Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:30:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 /wp-content/uploads/2026/08/favicon.png Food & Restaurants – ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp News 32 32 DC software engineer serves up a better way to navigate Restaurant Week /dc/2026/08/dc-software-engineer-serves-up-a-better-way-to-navigate-restaurant-week/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:21:13 +0000 https://new.wtop.com/?p=30448415 While Restaurant Week can be a great way to check out D.C.-area restaurants, figuring out where to go can mean scrolling through hundreds of menus trying to decide where to spend your money.

That’s where D.C. software engineer Adam Stambouli comes in.

For years, he wanted to develop a tool that would make all that information easier to search, but he couldn’t overcome the technical hurdles.

“It’s a really tough data problem that I wasn’t able to solve,” Stambouli said.

This year, he tried again with the help of artificial intelligence. The result is , a website that lets you use a computer or phone to filter through offerings from hundreds of participating restaurants.

“If, you know, this week I’m in a mood to eat some good steak, I could easily search for that and find all the restaurants that are serving steak,” he said.

Once the site came to life, the results opened his eyes to just how much Restaurant Week has to offer, which includes close to 400 participating restaurants.

“Then thinking about, you know, every dish that is available, I think the current count is 7,000 or close to 8,000 different dishes that are available,” he said.

Not only can users filter by dish, ingredient and type of cuisine, they can also find restaurants that have earned critical acclaim, Michelin recognition, James Beard honors and other distinctions.

“This is a great opportunity to try out new cuisine, try out restaurants that are acclaimed that maybe, you know, you haven’t had the time to go try out,” he said.

The site also identifies restaurants offering Restaurant Week menus beyond Aug. 30.

Restaurant Week prices are set at $35 for brunch and lunch and $65 for dinner. Stambouli’s site also analyzes menus to show where diners may be getting the best value compared with what those dishes typically cost.

The website is not affiliated with Metropolitan Washington Summer Restaurant Week, but Stambouli hopes it will help people make plans and take advantage of the annual celebration of local restaurants. He said the feedback so far has encouraged him to continue improving the site.

“This really came from an idea to serve me, I mean, as a diner, so I’m glad it’s resonating with a lot of people,” he said.

Ultimately, he hopes more people use the tool to discover something new.

“All of this is, you know, comes from making it easier to find a restaurant that you maybe haven’t heard of yet, maybe find a place, your new favorite restaurant,” he said.

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]]> ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp’s Beer of the Week: Ocelot Home IPA /local/2026/08/wtops-beer-of-the-week-ocelot-home-ipa/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:07:53 +0000 https://new.wtop.com/?p=30444058
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ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp's Beer of the Week: Ocelot Home IPA

Home in on this!

ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp’s Brennan Haselton is joined by Neighborhood Restaurant Group Beer Director and James Beard Award nominee Greg Engert to talk about Ocelot Home IPA for the latest edition of ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp’s Beer of the Week.

Brewery: , Dulles, Virginia

Description: An IPA brewed with Freestyle Nelson Sauvin and Citra hops, featuring a distinct dankness with notes of orange citrus zest, melon and tropical fruit salad

ABV: 6.7%

Pairing suggestions: Seafood, such as raw oysters, pan-seared scallops and grilled shrimp with garlic butter; pesto pastas; green veggies, such as asparagus, kale and green beans

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]]> Friday Freebies: Popsicles, hairstyles and summer fun /local/2026/08/friday-freebies-popsicles-hairstyles-and-summer-fun/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 19:14:26 +0000 https://new.wtop.com/?p=30439344 Who doesn’t love free stuff?

ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp is relaunching “Friday Freebies,” bringing you the top freebies you can get in the D.C. region, every week.

We’ll run them down every Friday morning on air at 103.5 FM and here on ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp.com.

Know of a freebie you’d like featured in ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp’s Friday Freebies roundup? Let us know!

Friday Freebies banner

Another week down, let’s give your wallet a break with this latest edition of Friday Freebies. From food to events, here are some things to enjoy without breaking the bank.

Free summer fun at Western Market

Western Market in Foggy Bottom is hosting a . The event runs Saturday and Sunday and features shopping, food, music and other activities, along with chances to win prizes and giveaways.

Free popsicles and more at the popsicle festival

Cool off Sunday at the in Northwest D.C. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. and features free popsicles, food, crafts, games and a moon bounce. Families can also pick up free school supplies and backpacks, plus free haircuts and braiding while supplies last.

Free hairstyles and backpacks at a back-to-school bash

Getting ready for the new school year? A free is happening Sunday in Southeast D.C. from noon to 5 p.m. Families can get free hairstyles, including haircuts and braiding, along with free stuffed backpacks while supplies last. The event also includes games, crafts, face painting, a moon bounce, food, raffles and giveaways.

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]]> Maryland company recalls Walmart soup kits after listeria concern /business-money/2026/08/maryland-company-recalls-walmart-soup-kits-after-listeria-concern/ Sun, 16 Aug 2026 14:58:20 +0000 /?p=29541435 If you recently bought a Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit from Walmart, don’t eat it.

Related stories

Kettle Cuisine LLC of Savage, Maryland, is recalling the 14-ounce soup kits because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, .

The recall affects products sold at select Walmart stores, including in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and West Virginia, between June 30 and July 7.

Consumers should throw away the product or return it for a refund. The recalled soup kits have a UPC of 194346474004 and a use-by date of Aug. 22, 2026.

The company said the recall was initiated after routine testing found a presumptive positive result for listeria. No illnesses have been reported.

Listeria can cause serious infections, particularly in young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Anyone who develops symptoms after eating the product should contact a healthcare provider.

Questions can be directed to Kettle Cuisine at 617-409-1104.

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]]> Food and culture meet at Maryland nonprofit serving African immigrant communities /local/2026/08/food-and-culture-meet-at-maryland-nonprofit-serving-african-immigrant-communities/ Sat, 15 Aug 2026 10:13:48 +0000 /?p=29539317&preview=true&preview_id=29539317

Every Friday morning, in an Aspen Hill, Maryland, parking lot, a long line forms as staff and volunteers with AfriThrive provide locally grown, fresh food to people who struggle to afford groceries.

Lots of nonprofits have food distribution programs, but what sets AfriThrive apart is the priority of providing culturally-appropriate foods to the population it serves: low-income African immigrants.

Charles Choti, founder and director of community engagement and partnerships at AfriThrive, said that for many of the African residents in the D.C. region, finding familiar foods can be a challenge.

AfriThrive includes a food-production program, where produce is grown locally on a two-acre space in Poolesville and at community gardens in Montgomery County. The self-sustaining approach, Choti said, answered the question the founders had in creating the program: “If this food can be grown in America, why can’t we do so?”

The mobile pantry program makes it easier for recipients to access foods they’re familiar with.

“We promote healthy eating, where people consume not only the food they are familiar with, but the food that really benefits their body,” Choti said.

Peaches, corn, cabbage and beets are available at the weekly distributions. But some of the biggest draws are vegetables that are staples in dishes from many African countries.

Stephen Omboga, food operations coordinator at AfriThrive, ticked off a few of the most popular greens on a folding table: managu, saga, and callaloo. All are leafy green vegetables gathered in bunches. Omboga called the offerings “food that is tailored for your culture.”

AfriThrive van
Every Friday morning, in an Aspen Hill, Maryland, parking lot, a long line forms as the staff and volunteers with AfriThrive provide locally grown, fresh food for people who struggle to afford groceries. (ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp/Kate Ryan)

In June, AfriThrive began creating its Food as Medicine program.

Oluwasefunmi “Seph” Obielodan coordinates the outreach effort, which will link 80 prescreened participants with clinicians and food providers to address diet-related health issues.

She said many similar programs aimed at immigrant communities often see high dropout rates.

“People start, but they don’t finish because a lot of those projects don’t factor in the fact that this person is from Ethiopia, this person’s from Kenya, this person’s from Nigeria,” Obielodan said, adding that foods favored by one group may be unfamiliar to another.

By tailoring the foods that participants receive through the Food as Medicine program and working with clinicians, Obielodan believes the organization can boost the success rate and address conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

“Because again, the food we are providing is dietician-approved,” she said.

While AfriThrive’s target is serving African immigrants, Latino and Asian immigrants also participate in the food distribution program. Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds as well.

Gity Nabaiee describes herself as the “trash lady,” explaining that she helps clean up and break down the boxes and tables at the Friday morning distributions. She’s been volunteering for six years.

Asked why, she didn’t hesitate: “I’m Iranian. And Iranian old culture is nothing in the world is better than serving people.”

Nabaiee said when she sees the smiles on recipients’ faces, “It makes me happy.”

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]]> ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp’s Beer of the Week: Bluejacket Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin DIPA /local/2026/08/wtops-beer-of-the-week-bluejacket-macaulay-macaulay-culkin-culkin-dipa/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:13:04 +0000 /?p=29538627

ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp’s Brennan Haselton is joined by Neighborhood Restaurant Group Beer Director and Food and Wine Sommelier of the Year Greg Engert to talk about Bluejacket Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin DIPA for the latest edition of ĂŰĚŇĘÓƵapp’s Beer of the Week.

Brewery: D.C.

Description: Brewed in collaboration with Richmond, Virginia’s The Veil Brewing Co., this double IPA is double dry-hopped with New Zealand Cascade, Citra, Citra Cryo and Mosaic Cryo hops — and a small dose of house made tater tots

ABV: 8%

Pairing suggestions: Stuff with tomatoes (panzanella and Caprese salads, BLTs), pork chops, flatbreads with prosciutto and gorgonzola

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]]> Neighbors fundraise to reopen historic grocery store on Capitol Hill /dc/2026/08/we-pack-a-lot-into-a-little-motts-market-grand-reopening-warms-up-capitol-hill/ Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:36:46 +0000 /?p=29532873&preview=true&preview_id=29532873

In 1916, Woodrow Wilson was president and the United States had 48 states after Arizona and New Mexico joined the Union just four years earlier.

On 12th Street SE in D.C., a three-story brick building with a tin mansard roof opened its doors as a neighborhood grocery store.

After more than a century of serving the community under different names, neighborhood residents repaid that debt by raising the funds to reopen Mott’s Market after it sat closed for four years.

“That’s almost unprecedented. The neighbors came together, invested and bought the building,” D.C. Council member Charles Allen said. “In the next three years, rebuilt it into the Mott’s Market that we’re reopening today.”

Christine Campbell, who is vice chair of the board of Mott’s Market LLC, made the crowd at the grand opening celebration laugh by pointing out that you could buy not only soap at the store, but also champagne.

Mott’s Market reopened in June, but the official grand reopening Tuesday gave the adults a chance to sip on the bubbly while the kids, and the young at heart, got to blow bubbles as a way to toast the store.

“I am third generation in this neighborhood,” Campbell said. “My grandmother bought a house on Walter Street in 1928, and we’ve had it in the family ever since. Mott’s has been a centerpiece of everything we’ve done over the generations.”

There are more than 90 investors in Mott’s Market, and they have turned the keys over to Peyton Sherwood, who has been in the restaurant business since before he was old enough to drive.

“I came in with some ideas on what I thought would be a really nice tribute to the store that was here, and also a way that we could make it a community gathering space,” Peyton Sherwood said.

From coffee, pastries and breakfast burritos in the morning and sandwiches at lunch, this version of Mott’s Market is much more than your average corner store.

“We have a liquor license, so you want to come and drink a nice bottle of wine with your friends or eat a cheese charcuterie platter,” Sherwood said.

“We have that too. Yeah, it’s we pack a lot into a little here.”

As big as the smile was on Peyton Sherwood’s face and the neighbors who helped make this happen, the one on legendary D.C. reporter Tom Sherwood’s face was beaming: “As a father, I’m very proud.”

Tom said his son spent the past two years doing much of the interior work himself while navigating the city’s permitting process.

“I didn’t help him except give him father’s love and advice to keep at it son, you’re doing something good,” Tom said. “I think you see today with this crowd that he is.”

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]]> Your next DC food delivery could arrive via a WALL-E like robot /food-restaurant/2026/08/your-next-dc-food-delivery-could-arrive-via-a-wall-e-like-robot/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:48:43 +0000 /?p=29531267&preview=true&preview_id=29531267

You may start to notice new workers roving around the sidewalks of the Logan Circle area of D.C.

The four-wheeled Coco Robots went into operation in the D.C. neighborhood this past month and has been hustling to get hungry people their orders from Beau Thai. The bots carry everything from pizza to groceries and ice cream.

“Coco is here to make delivery more sustainable, affordable, cost-effective and efficient for local merchants and their customers,” said Carl Hansen, vice president of government relations at Coco.

These robots are limited to a 2-mile zone where they can deliver. They come with insulated compartments to keep food either hot or cold. Hansen said these little bots are not designed to replace delivery workers, just supplement them.

“We take the local portion of orders. They’re the shorter distance trips. Those tend to be a smaller basket size … so tips are lower. Delivery workers generally don’t like those, so they get the better trips, and we’re here to supplement it,” Hansen said, adding they want food to be there within 30 minutes.

The robot can travel only up to 5 mph and matches the walking speed of pedestrians in front of it. There’s also a virtual safety buffer that surrounds the bot, meaning that if a pedestrian steps within a certain distance, its top speed starts to reduce, and if someone gets too close, the bot will stop altogether.

Once it arrives at its destination the customer unlocks it directly from their phone, takes their grub and the Coco bot then returns to the restaurant where it is stationed.

Before Coco arrives in any neighborhood, the sidewalks are meticulously mapped to ensure the bot can easily get around, avoiding or maneuvering over uneven surfaces, potholes and curbs. And with censors on each bot, the maps are constantly updating.

“Even a temporary obstruction, if a tree branch falls and is blocking the sidewalk, or a scooter falls over and is blocking the sidewalk, our bot will get rerouted around the obstruction,” Hansen said. “The obstruction’s added to our map, so the next Coco won’t hit the same obstruction.”

Coco is even sharing this mapping data with an app called Blind Square, a navigation tool for the blind and visually impaired community.

“If Coco sees that fallen over scooter, we can send that immediately to the Blind Square app. A Blind Square user gets an auditory alert on their phone,” Hansen said.

While movies and TV shows have depicted people messing with these futuristic food deliverers, Hansen said it’s uncommon for their bots to be vandalized, though not unheard of.

“People seem less inclined to tamper with something that’s actively being controlled. There’s an alarm on it, and the little bots can wander away. We know immediately if something has gone wrong,” Hansen said.

Coco currently is just operating near Logan Circle, but Hansen said they will be expanding operation across D.C. in the near future.

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]]> How to keep up with latest outbreaks of foodborne illness, including one surrounding jalapenos /national/2026/08/food-safety-proves-a-hot-topic-including-the-latest-on-jalapenos/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 23:26:14 +0000 /?p=29529954&preview=true&preview_id=29529954 Theis billed as being “a short podcast about everyday risks from germs,” and it’s a way to stay informed about the latest outbreaks of foodborne illness.

Don Schaffner, professor of food microbiology and chair of the Department of Food Science at Rutgers University, said he and his co-host started the podcast during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“People really seem to like it,” he said. “It’s a short-form podcast. Right now, we put it out three times a week.”

Schaffner co-hosts the podcast with Ben Chapman, department head of Agricultural and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University. The latest episode deals with the salmonella outbreak surrounding jalapeno peppers.

“What apparently happened is we had some jalapeno peppers that were contaminated with salmonella at some point along the growing process, or the distribution chain, and some people ate those jalapenos and they got sick,” Schaffner said.

Earlier this summer, the focus was on cyclospora, the parasite that was blamed for causing the spread of an illness that infamously featured what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described as watery and “explosive diarrhea.”

Schaffner said despite concerns over the safety of produce, people can still eat both iceberg lettuce and jalapeno peppers, because the overall food supply is safe.

“Of course if you have information about the product that shows that it is one of the products that has been linked to the outbreak, you shouldn’t consume it,” he said. “That doesn’t mean that all iceberg lettuce or all jalapenos are unsafe. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”

When asked about whether there seems to be more outbreaks of foodborne illness, Schaffner said that, “the most recent CDC numbers indicate that foodborne disease is not going up, but it’s not really going down either.”

With headlines about the most recent illnesses tied to food contamination, Schaffner said it doesn’t mean the food supply is getting less safe.

The “FDA is always investigating multiple outbreaks and as we learn the cause, it gets some attention,” he said.

Schaffner said if people are looking for guidance on food safety, a good source is the federal government’s website

The site includes information on outbreaks, recalls and how to store and prepare food safely at home.

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]]> Taylor Farms recalls jalapeño products due to salmonella risk /food-restaurant/2026/08/taylor-farms-recalls-jalapeno-products-due-to-salmonella-risk/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:02:03 +0000 /?p=29529183&preview=true&preview_id=29529183 (CNN) — More than a dozen Taylor Farms products that were sold at large retailers across the US are being recalled because they include jalapeño peppers that may be contaminated with salmonella.

The recalled products include salsas, dips, sandwiches and more that were distributed across 26 states and sold at stores including Kroger, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Whole Foods. The can be found on Taylor Farms’ website.

Some of the products include “Best If Used By” dates up to and including August 16, and consumers are urged to discard any recalled products immediately. Refunds are available at the location of purchase, Taylor Fresh Foods says.

As of Sunday, Taylor Fresh Foods says that it is not aware of any illnesses linked to these recalled products.

The jalapeños used in the Taylor Farms products were supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors, the same company that is the center of a used at Chipotle and Qdoba. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, there is not an ongoing risk from these restaurants. But there have been about 350 illnesses and 36 hospitalizations associated with that outbreak, according to the FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Coast Citrus Distributors has voluntarily recalled fresh jalapeños due to salmonella risk, and Chipotle, QDOBA and Taylor Fresh Foods say that they are no longer sourcing food from this farmer.

Salmonella is a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tract, and it people are most often infected by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.

The CDC estimates that salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections every year, with about 420 deaths.

This year, the US is experiencing . In addition to the outbreak associated with jalapeños, there is one linked to eggs, and several tied to animals including backyard chickens and chameleons.

People who get salmonella typically develop stomach cramps, fever, nausea or vomiting, and they may have bloody diarrhea. Symptoms typically last four to seven days. Most fully recover without treatment. More severe symptoms can happen in people with underlying conditions, those who are pregnant, the elderly, small children and those with suppressed immune systems.

To prevent salmonella, experts say it’s important to thoroughly wash hands, raw produce and cooking surfaces, and to keep raw poultry, eggs, seafood and meat away from ready-to-eat foods like fruits and vegetables.

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