DMV Food Show Launches 4th Season With Jazz Brunch

MCLEAN, VA — "Signature Dish," the WETA PBS show highlighting the DMV's diverse food landscape, kicks off its fourth season on Monday by visiting a McLean restaurant that specializes in serving new interpretations of American classics.

Host Seth Tillman joins celebrity Chef David Guas for brunch at Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen, which is located at 6641 Old Dominion Drive in McLean.

"DC, the DMV, is a big brunch area," Tillman told Patch recently. "We're always looking for interesting takes on whatever the theme of each episode is. We were definitely excited about the fact that they put together a Jazz Brunch. Every Sunday, they have a jazz quartet that plays for four hours from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during brunch."

Monday's episode also features visits to 1310 Kitchen and Bar in Georgetown and Unconventional Diner in Mount Vernon Square in the District.

Since launching Bayou Bakery Coffee Bar and Bakery in Arlington 15 years ago, Chef Guas has been one of the biggest proponents of New Orleans cuisine in the DMV. This is not too surprising since he's a native of the Big Easy.

"Signature Dish" showcases Neutral Ground's Grits and Grillades, Chef Guas' homage to the classic New Orleans brunch dish, featuring an 18-hour braised brisket, smoked cheddar, white corn grits and Creole tomato gravy.

The thing that really sets the dish apart, according to Hillman, is that the white corn grits are sourced from the reconstructed gristmill and distillery that belonged to George Washington. Every two weeks, Guas travels to Mount Vernon to source the grits for his restaurant.

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"It gave us an opportunity for the two of us to travel there, meet with Cory Welshans, who's the head miller at the gristmill, and watch how this product is sourced using very, very old fashioned technology," Hillman said. "It's a fun restaurant with a great dish and a really interesting story behind how its key ingredient is sourced."

With three seasons of "Signature Dish" under his belt and season four just underway, Hillman has thought a lot about why the region's food scene is so highly regarded.

"When you go across the DMV, there's just so much great food representing so many countries and regions around the globe," he said. "We're able to tell our stories of recent immigrants bringing cuisine from all over the world. It's just such a diverse, vibrant area, and, oftentimes, food is one of the best ways to tell that story."

"Signature Dish" Upcoming Episodes

"Signature Dish" airs Mondays at 9 p.m., on WETA PBS. In the D.C. metro region, viewers can waatch it on WETA Metro at 8 p.m. and stream episodes anytime on weta.org and the PBS app.

• Jan. 5: “Let’s Brunch” by visiting Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen in McLean; 1310 Kitchen and Bar in Georgetown, D.C. and Unconventional Diner in Mount Vernon Square, D.C.
• Jan. 12: “Taste of Thai” in Ashburn, Rockville, and Georgetown
• Jan. 19 – “District of Duck” in West End, U Street Corridor, and Logan Circle
• Jan. 26: – “Bar Bites” in U Street Corridor and Mount Vernon Square