RESY: At Anju, Korean Cooking Nods to History and Pushes Into the Future
In 2017, Lee got a call: the original Mandu location had been destroyed by fire. He decided to stay and rebuild, but it was time for a new concept. He’d also founded The Fried Rice Collective, a restaurant and hospitality group, with his fellow James Beard Award nominee, chef Scott Drewno, who had been running the popular D.C. restaurant The Source. Drewno, originally from the Finger Lakes, spent the majority of his career with Wolfgang Puck. Lee and Drewno opened Anju in 2019.
Their vision for Anju was transformative: a substantive, heritage-minded homage to classical Korean cuisine, but with the confidence and curiosity to continually test and redefine what “classical” means. There was, yes, fried chicken, but also Cornish hens stuffed with sweet rice and dates. It drew devotees, but also critics, expecting more “traditional” fidelity to expected dishes.
In 2017, Lee got a call: the original Mandu location had been destroyed by fire. He decided to stay and rebuild, but it was time for a new concept. He’d also founded The Fried Rice Collective, a restaurant and hospitality group, with his fellow James Beard Award nominee, chef Scott Drewno, who had been running the popular D.C. restaurant The Source. Drewno, originally from the Finger Lakes, spent the majority of his career with Wolfgang Puck. Lee and Drewno opened Anju in 2019.
Their vision for Anju was transformative: a substantive, heritage-minded homage to classical Korean cuisine, but with the confidence and curiosity to continually test and redefine what “classical” means. There was, yes, fried chicken, but also Cornish hens stuffed with sweet rice and dates. It drew devotees, but also critics, expecting more “traditional” fidelity to expected dishes.
DC Modern Luxury: Everything to Know About Chef Johnny Spero
DC chefs impressing you?
Danny Lee and Scott Drewno of the Fried Rice Collective (tfrc.com), Anju (anjurestaurant.com), Mandu (mandudc.com), Chiko (mychiko.com) and I Egg You (ieggyoudc.com). Also, Micheal Rafidi of Albi (albidc.com) and Yellow (yellowthecafe.com). I also love the work of Zach Ramos and Amy Phan of Ama Ami (amaami.com) and soon-to-open Two Nine Omakase (omakase29.com)
DC chefs impressing you?
Danny Lee and Scott Drewno of the Fried Rice Collective (tfrc.com), Anju (anjurestaurant.com), Mandu (mandudc.com), Chiko (mychiko.com) and I Egg You (ieggyoudc.com). Also, Micheal Rafidi of Albi (albidc.com) and Yellow (yellowthecafe.com). I also love the work of Zach Ramos and Amy Phan of Ama Ami (amaami.com) and soon-to-open Two Nine Omakase (omakase29.com)
Washingtonian: Where to Find Deliciously Crunchy Soft-Shell Crabs Around DC
Sure, ramps and morels are great, but come spring, the seasonal delicacy I most look forward to is a soft-shell crab sandwich. Get one—or another of these other creative takes—while you can.
Sure, ramps and morels are great, but come spring, the seasonal delicacy I most look forward to is a soft-shell crab sandwich. Get one—or another of these other creative takes—while you can.
NBC Today: Korean holiday recipes: Braised short ribs and cheesy egg bread
Chef and restaurateur Danny Lee is visiting the TODAY kitchen to share two of his favorite Korean holiday dishes. He shows us how to prepare tender braised short ribs (aka galbi-jjim) and easy, cheesy egg bread (aka gyeran-ppang) with maple and bacon.
Tasting Table: 20 Romantic Restaurants In Washington DC For Date Night
When dining out in Washington D.C., you can find pretty much any global cuisine you crave. What's harder to locate is a restaurant that meets a specific environment for a date night. On or off the apps, dating is hard. And once you've made it past the swipe, narrowing down a special place to take a special someone can feel just as daunting. That's why simply lowering the lights isn't enough to call a restaurant "romantic" anymore. Similarly, if date night is your evening to escape for some quality time with a loved one, you deserve to spend your time where the interior design is as intentional as the food. Romance starts when many or all of the senses are engaged.
When dining out in Washington D.C., you can find pretty much any global cuisine you crave. What's harder to locate is a restaurant that meets a specific environment for a date night. On or off the apps, dating is hard. And once you've made it past the swipe, narrowing down a special place to take a special someone can feel just as daunting. That's why simply lowering the lights isn't enough to call a restaurant "romantic" anymore. Similarly, if date night is your evening to escape for some quality time with a loved one, you deserve to spend your time where the interior design is as intentional as the food. Romance starts when many or all of the senses are engaged.
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