Food

Signature Dish

Signature Dish discovers and reveals the standout dishes at a wide array of the region’s best restaurants, from the latest dining hot spots to strip-mall eateries serving up authentic global cuisines.

Savoring South America

27m 7s

Host Seth Tillman explores the vibrant and diverse flavors of South America, beginning at Fire Pit Brazilian BBQ in Rockville, MD, where juicy picanha steak is on the menu. Next, the nikkei ceviche at Arlington, VA’s Inca Social wows diners by breaking down a whole tuna. The journey concludes in Wheaton, MD with Kantutas' silpancho, a Bolivian feast piled high with steak, eggs, rice and potatoes.

Signature Dish Season 2

Signature Dish host and producer Seth Tillman combines a gourmand's appreciation for the area's diverse culinary offerings with a keen interest in the people who make local communities thrive. On each Signature Dish episode, he visits three restaurants, and does more than simply taste the signature dish; he explores the backstory of the restaurant, its neighborhood and the people behind the food.

Check out the brand new Signature Dish Restaurant Guide, which provides additional information about each featured restaurant, to help guide your local culinary adventures.

Episodes

  • Savoring South America: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Savoring South America

    S2 E10 - 27m 7s

    Host Seth Tillman explores the vibrant and diverse flavors of South America, beginning at Fire Pit Brazilian BBQ in Rockville, MD, where juicy picanha steak is on the menu. Next, the nikkei ceviche at Arlington, VA’s Inca Social wows diners by breaking down a whole tuna. The journey concludes in Wheaton, MD with Kantutas' silpancho, a Bolivian feast piled high with steak, eggs, rice and potatoes.

  • Food Hall Finds: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Food Hall Finds

    S2 E9 - 28m 52s

    Seth dives into a flavorful exploration of one of the hottest current food trends: urban food halls, where diners can find dishes to satisfy any palate. First stop: Puddin’ at Union Market in DC for chicken and beef sausage gumbo. At the miXt Food Hall in Brentwood, MD, Mush offers the vegan banh mi izzit sandwich. In downtown DC at The Square, Brasa crafts handmade butifarra sausage.

  • Flavors of China: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Flavors of China

    S2 E8 - 27m

    Host Seth Tillman takes a flavorful journey through Chinese cuisine, beginning at Columbia Heights’ Queen’s English with a standout crispy whole red snapper. Rou jia mo (Chinese hamburger) is in the spotlight at Northwest Chinese Food in College Park, MD. The final stop is at Yanzi Noodle House in Fairfax, VA for the one-of-a-kind luosifen (noodle soup flavored with snails).

  • French Delights: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    French Delights

    S2 E7 - 28m 55s

    Explore the rich tapestry and traditions of French gastronomy with host Seth Tillman. First stop: Chez Billy Sud in Georgetown, for oeufs en meurette (eggs in a red wine sauce). In DC’s NoMa neighborhood, Le Clou blends tradition with modernity in their ris de veau (sweetbreads basted in brown butter). Bastille in Old Town, Alexandria, offers up a magret de canard (slow-seared Moulard duck).

  • Best of Breakfast: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Best of Breakfast

    S2 E6 - 27m 42s

    This episode explores one of the most-requested cuisines from Signature Dish viewers: breakfast! At La Tejana in D.C.’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, Seth samples the 956 breakfast taco, before heading to Poolesville, Maryland to try Locals Farm Market’s famous chicken and waffles. The final stop is Any Day Now in D.C.’s Navy Yard for the scallion pancake breakfast sandwich.

  • Just Desserts: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Just Desserts

    S2 E5 - 28m 33s

    Seth skips the main course and dives right into dessert, with memorable visits to the neo-bistro Lutèce in Georgetown, the dessert shop Mr. Bake Sweets in Riverdale Park, Maryland, and The Conche in Leesburg, Virginia, where chocolate infuses everything on the menu - even the drinks!

  • Crossover Cuisine: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Crossover Cuisine

    S2 E4 - 26m 23s

    The innovative world of fusion cuisine, where culinary traditions collide and create something new, is the heart of this episode. Seth stops by Imperfecto in D.C.’s West End and then crosses into Virginia to visit Mama Tigre in Oakton and Wooboi in Alexandria.

  • Mediterranean Magic: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Mediterranean Magic

    S2 E3 - 26m 10s

    Seth dives into the rich culinary heritage of the Mediterranean. He first stops at Green Almond Pantry in Georgetown, then heads to Maryland for a stop at Cedars of Lebanon in Greenbelt and Melina in North Bethesda to explore the unique flavors from across the Mediterranean region.

  • Pizza Perfection: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Pizza Perfection

    S2 E2 - 25m 58s

    The star of this D.C.-focused episode is a universal favorite: pizza. From the unique Roman-style “pinsas” of La Casina in Capitol Hill to the Detroit-style delights of Shaw’s Motown Square, and the Greek-influenced creations at Martha Dear in Mount Pleasant, Seth explores the artistry behind the perfect pie.

  • Comfort Food Favorites: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Comfort Food Favorites

    S2 E1 - 28m 1s

    Host Seth Tillman kicks off season 2 with a hearty dose of comfort food. He tries the local blue catfish fish and chips at Preserve in Annapolis, MD; a bowl of chicken soup (pozole verde) at Cielo Rojo in Takoma Park, MD, and a visit to Caruso’s Grocery in Capitol Hill East, D.C. for a perfectly executed chicken parmigiana.

Extras + Features

  • Preview: Filipino Festival: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview: Filipino Festival

    S2 E11 - 30s

    A mosaic of flavors and techniques are in store as host Seth Tillman visits Filipino restaurants in the D.C. area. Hiraya on H Street mixes unique flavors in its adobo duck confit. An ube breakfast burger at Egg Karne in Herdon, VA puts a spin on a familiar favorite. F&F Filipino Fusion in Chantilly, VA offers bangus sisig, the national fish of the Philippines cooked with French techniques.

  • Watch Inca Social Blend Flavors in Their Nikkei Ceviche: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Watch Inca Social Blend Flavors in Their Nikkei Ceviche

    S2 E10 - 5m 21s

    Host Seth Tillman heads to Inca Social, a Peruvian restaurant in Arlington, Virginia. There, he meets co-owner Fito Garcia and executive chef/co-owner Michael Ciuffardi, who show him how to make the Latin restaurant's unique dish: Nikkei ceviche, a seafood dish which combines Peruvian and Japanese influences.

  • Preview: Savoring South America: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview: Savoring South America

    S2 E10 - 30s

    Host Seth Tillman explores the vibrant and diverse flavors of South America, beginning at Fire Pit Brazilian BBQ in Rockville, MD, where juicy picanha steak is on the menu. Next, the nikkei ceviche at Arlington, VA’s Inca Social wows diners by breaking down a whole tuna. The journey concludes in Wheaton, MD with Kantutas' silpancho, a Bolivian feast piled high with steak, eggs, rice and potatoes.

  • Watch Maryland Restaurant Kantutas Make Silpancho: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Watch Maryland Restaurant Kantutas Make Silpancho

    S2 E10 - 4m 52s

    Host Seth Tillman heads to Kantutas, a Bolivian restaurant in Wheaton, Maryland, where co-owner Maria Peredo introduces Seth to the Bolivian food silpancho. Silpancho is a hearty meal of beef and eggs from the Bolivian city of Cochabamba.

  • See Why the Picanha Steak is the Queen of Brazilian BBQ: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    See Why the Picanha Steak is the Queen of Brazilian BBQ

    S2 E10 - 6m 33s

    Host Seth Tillman heads to Fire Pit Brazilian BBQ, a barbecue trailer to explore some of Maryland's best Brazilian barbecue. Pitmaster and Owner Gui Gonzalez showcases the preparation and grilling of picanha, a prized cut of Brazilian barbecue.

  • How PUDDIN' Prepares Authentic Gumbo in the Heart of DC: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How PUDDIN' Prepares Authentic Gumbo in the Heart of DC

    S2 E9 - 6m

    Host Seth Tillman heads to PUDDIN', a restaurant in DC's Union Market. There, chef and owner Toyin Allin shows how to make her unique take on gumbo, which combines chicken and beef sausage with smoked ground shrimp, okra, and sassafras for thickening. She explains the historical influences behind the New Orleans' food, incorporating elements from both West African and American cuisines.

  • Watch BRASA Handcraft Their Butifarra Spanish Sausage: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Watch BRASA Handcraft Their Butifarra Spanish Sausage

    S2 E9 - 8m 6s

    Host Seth Tillman heads to BRASA, a Spanish restaurant offering grilled meats on an open fire. There, Chef Rubén García showcases the process of making butifarra, a simple sausage consisting of pork, salt, and pepper. Seth joins in on the sausage-making process, learning the steps from grinding the meat to stuffing the casings. Chef Rubén emphasizes the importance of quality ingredients.

  • Preview: Food Hall Finds: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview: Food Hall Finds

    S2 E9 - 30s

    Seth dives into a flavorful exploration of one of the hottest current food trends: urban food halls, where diners can find dishes to satisfy any palate. First stop: Puddin’ at Union Market in DC for chicken and beef sausage gumbo. Brentwood, MD's Mush offers the vegan banh mi izzit sandwich. In downtown DC at The Square, Brasa crafts handmade butifarra sausage.

  • How MUSH DC Makes its its Vegan Banh Mi Izzit: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How MUSH DC Makes its its Vegan Banh Mi Izzit

    S2 E9 - 4m 8s

    Seth Tillman heads to MUSH DC, a Vegan Restaurant in miXt food hall in Brentwood, MD where chef and co-owner Tarik Frazier introduces a unique vegan take on the classic Banh Mi sandwich. The sandwich is assembled with sesame sriracha sauce, house-made pickles, and fried oyster mushrooms. Chef Tarik also creates a flavorful slaw with cabbage, red onion, mint, ginger, and cilantro.

  • Rou Jia Mo -- a Chinese Burger -- at Northwest Chinese Food: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Rou Jia Mo -- a Chinese Burger -- at Northwest Chinese Food

    S2 E8 - 5m 55s

    Seth Tillman stops by Northwest Chinese Food in College Park, Maryland to sample their Rou jia mo (Chinese hamburger). Chef Hua begins by preparing the dough for the buns, forming them into small towers and baking them to perfection. Meanwhile, she cooks the beef filling until it's tender and flavorful, ready to be chopped and seasoned.

  • Preview: Flavors of China: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview: Flavors of China

    S2 E8 - 30s

    Host Seth Tillman takes a flavorful journey through Chinese cuisine, beginning at Columbia Heights’ Queen’s English with a standout crispy whole red snapper. Rou jia mo (Chinese hamburger) is in the spotlight at Northwest Chinese Food in College Park, MD. The final stop is at Yanzi Noodle House in Fairfax, VA for the one-of-a-kind luosifen (noodle soup flavored with snails).

  • How Queen's English Puts a Twist on a Cantonese Red Snapper: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How Queen's English Puts a Twist on a Cantonese Red Snapper

    S2 E8 - 6m 40s

    Seth Tillman samples a standout crispy whole red snapper at Queen’s English in Columbia Heights. Chef and co-owner Henji Cheung de-bones the fish and then coats it in a light breading mixture of rice flour, cornstarch, and spices. As the fish fries, Henji prepares the chili sauce in the smoking hot wok, using lemongrass, red bell pepper, ginger, and garlic.

Schedule

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    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Saturday
    Mar 23

    30 Minutes

    Chefs putting their own twists on West African cuisine; Ghanaian stew egusi; Senegalese yassa chicken; Gambian seafood stew ebbeh.
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    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Filipino Festival

    Monday
    Mar 25

    30 Minutes

    A mosaic of flavors and techniques are in store as host Seth Tillman visits Filipino restaurants in the D.C. area.
  • Image
    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Filipino Festival

    Monday
    Mar 25

    30 Minutes

    A mosaic of flavors and techniques are in store as host Seth Tillman visits Filipino restaurants in the D.C. area.
  • Image
    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Filipino Festival

    Tuesday
    Mar 26

    30 Minutes

    A mosaic of flavors and techniques are in store as host Seth Tillman visits Filipino restaurants in the D.C. area.
  • Image
    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Filipino Festival

    Tuesday
    Mar 26

    30 Minutes

    A mosaic of flavors and techniques are in store as host Seth Tillman visits Filipino restaurants in the D.C. area.
  • Image
    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Filipino Festival

    Tuesday
    Mar 26

    30 Minutes

    A mosaic of flavors and techniques are in store as host Seth Tillman visits Filipino restaurants in the D.C. area.
  • Image
    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Seafood Standouts

    Saturday
    Mar 30

    30 Minutes

    True Blue Maryland crab burger; Mahi Mahi avocado; black cod.
  • Image
    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Monday
    Apr 1

    30 Minutes

  • Image
    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Tuesday
    Apr 2

    30 Minutes

Signature Dish Restaurant Guide

The Signature Dish Restaurant Guide provides additional information about each signature dish, including restaurant locations, reviews, and video clips from each episode, all sorted by cuisine type and plotted on an interactive map of the local area.

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