Signature Dish

Middle East Feast

25m 33s

Seth visits three restaurants that celebrate the diverse flavors of the Middle East. He tastes a lamb shank stew from Amoo’s in McLean, VA; the Egyptian dish molokheya, made with cornish hen, from Fava Pot in Falls Church, VA; and a delicious shawarma pita at Muncheez, a Lebanese street food destination in D.C.’s Dupont Circle.

Episodes

Middle East Feast

S1 E12 - 25m 33s

Seth visits three restaurants that celebrate the diverse flavors of the Middle East. He tastes a lamb shank stew from Amoo’s in McLean, VA; the Egyptian dish molokheya, made with cornish hen, from Fava Pot in Falls Church, VA; and a delicious shawarma pita at Muncheez, a Lebanese street food destination in D.C.’s Dupont Circle.
European Classics

S1 E11 - 28m 29s

French, Italian, and German cooking techniques come to life in this episode. Chateaubriand – a perfectly cooked beef tenderloin – is the signature dish at L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, VA, while Piccolina in D.C.’s Penn Quarter offers up scacce, a delicious Sicilian stuffed flatbread. Seth's tour ends with a German classic, jäegerschnitzel, at the Old Stein Inn in Edgewater, MD.
Korean Flavors

S1 E10 - 26m 26s

A wide range of Korean flavors can be found across the DMV. In this episode, Seth heads to Annandale, VA, the heart of the local Korean community, to try haemul pajeon, a seafood scallion pancake, at Gom Ba Woo, followed by a visit to Sō Korean BBQ in Centreville, VA for galbi, soy marinated short ribs. He finishes up at Seoul Food DC in Takoma Park, MD, to sample a vegan “Korean fried chicken.”
A Taste of Mexico

S1 E9 - 28m 1s

It’s all about authentic flavor in this episode, as Seth visits three restaurants bringing Mexican food to the D.C. area. El Papi Real Street Tacos in Camp Springs, MD offers “Rudy’s Sampler” of birria tacos. In the Petworth neighborhood, DC Corazon’s red mole is on the menu, and Seth rounds out his Mexican food adventure with tuna tostadas from Taqueria Picoso in Alexandria, VA.
Next Level Sandwiches

S1 E8 - 27m 26s

Flavors from around the globe infuse some of D.C.'s best sandwiches. At Nim Ali in Foggy Bottom, Seth digs in to a shuko, a loaded Guatemalan street sandwich. Anacostia’s Open Crumb offers up a delectable fried chicken sandwich, and in Capitol Hill, Fight Club’s namesake sandwich includes roast beef, bacon and brown butter mayo.
Southern Comforts

S1 E7 - 27m 29s

Seth visits the South on the flavor train, enjoying wood-smoked barbeque, Louisiana spices and culinary innovation applied to classic meals. He tastes duck jambalaya at Dauphine’s in downtown D.C., smoky brisket and bone marrow mac & cheese at Pennyroyal Station in Mt. Rainier, MD and BBQ spare ribs at Ruthie’s All Day in Arlington, VA.
Seafood Standouts

S1 E6 - 26m 24s

Signature Dish is back with a new episode exploring delectable meals from under the sea. Seth heads into Washington, D.C. to sample FishScale‘s True Blue Maryland Crab Burger; to Peruvian restaurant Pio Pio in Great Falls, VA, for a ceviche called Mahi Mahi Avocado; and to Penn Quarter, D.C.’s Rasika, to try the famous Indian restaurant’s Black Cod.
West African Cuisine

S1 E5 - 26m 46s

In this episode, Seth meets with the chefs who are putting their own twists on the bold flavors and colors of West African cuisine. The signature dishes are goat egusi, a Ghanaian stew served at Appioo in DC’s U Street neighborhood, yassa chicken, a Senegalese smothered chicken dish at Chez Dior in Hyattsville, MD; ebbeh, a Gambian seafood stew at Mansa Kunda in Takoma Park, MD.
Masters of Spice

S1 E4 - 28m 7s

Seth meets three chefs who are masters of using hot peppers and balancing the intense heat with incredible flavors. Along the way, he samples muu som, a stir-fried rice-fermented sour pork dish at Thip Khao in Columbia Heights; junglee laal maas, a spicy goat curry at Pappe in Logan Circle; and a whole steamed fish with fermented peppers and scallions at Q by Peter Chang in Bethesda, MD.
Caribbean Favorites

S1 E3 - 25m 41s

In this episode, Seth samples the diverse array of flavors around DC from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago, learning about the melting pot that is Caribbean cuisine. Signature dishes: Jamaican jerk chicken wings at Andrene’s Caribbean & Soul Food in Brightwood; chuleta kan kan, a fried pork chop at La Famosa in the Navy Yard; and curried beef roti at Cane on H Street NE.
Southeast Asian Specialties

S1 E2 - 26m 42s

While the flavors of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine are familiar to DC area diners, other unique cuisines of Southeast Asia are gaining popularity. Seth samples three dishes that represent these new trends: ohno knauk swe (coconut curry chicken noodle soup) at Thamee in Northeast DC; lechon belly at Kuya Ja Lechon Belly in Kensington, MD; fish head curry at Malaysian Kopitiam in Centreville, VA.
Cooking with Fire

S1 E1 - 28m 4s

The world’s oldest culinary technique – cooking over an open flame – is on vivid display as Seth Tillman meets 3 masters of fire who char, roast and smoke their way to unforgettable eats. Signature dishes: Wagyu beef brisket at 2Fifty Texas Barbeque in Riverdale Park, MD; “The Hot Mess” white pizza at Frankly…Pizza! in Kensington, MD; an iconic spiced lamb shoulder at Maydan in Northwest D.C.

Extras + Features

Preview: European Classics

S1 E11 - 30s

French, Italian, and German cooking techniques come to life in this episode. Chateaubriand – a perfectly cooked beef tenderloin – is the signature dish at L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, VA, while Piccolina in D.C.’s Penn Quarter offers up scacce, a delicious Sicilian stuffed flatbread. Seth's tour ends with a German classic, jäegerschnitzel, at the Old Stein Inn in Edgewater, MD.
Preview: Korean Flavors

S1 E10 - 30s

A wide range of Korean flavors can be found across the DMV. In this episode, Seth heads to Annandale, VA, the heart of the local Korean community, to try haemul pajeon, a seafood scallion pancake, at Gom Ba Woo, followed by a visit to Sō Korean BBQ in Centreville, VA for galbi, soy marinated short ribs. He finishes up at Seoul Food DC in Takoma Park, MD, to sample a vegan “Korean fried chicken.”
Preview: A Taste of Mexico

S1 E9 - 30s

It’s all about authentic flavor in this episode, as Seth visits three restaurants bringing Mexican food to the D.C. area. El Papi Real Street Tacos in Camp Springs, MD offers “Rudy’s Sampler” of birria tacos. In the Petworth neighborhood, DC Corazon’s red mole is on the menu, and Seth rounds out his Mexican food adventure with tuna tostadas from Taqueria Picoso in Alexandria, VA.
Preview: Next Level Sandwiches

S1 E8 - 30s

Flavors from around the globe infuse some of D.C.'s best sandwiches. At Nim Ali in Foggy Bottom, Seth digs in to a shuko, a loaded Guatemalan street sandwich. Anacostia’s Open Crumb offers up a delectable fried chicken sandwich, and in Capitol Hill, Fight Club’s namesake sandwich includes roast beef, bacon and brown butter mayo.
Preview: Southern Comforts

S1 E7 - 30s

Seth visits the South on the flavor train, enjoying wood-smoked barbeque, Louisiana spices and culinary innovation applied to classic meals. He tastes duck jambalaya at Dauphine’s in downtown D.C., smoky brisket and bone marrow mac & cheese at Pennyroyal Station in Mt. Rainier, MD and BBQ spare ribs at Ruthie’s All Day in Arlington, VA.
Preview: Seafood Standouts

S1 E6 - 30s

Signature Dish is back with a new episode exploring delectable meals from under the sea. Seth heads into Washington, D.C. to sample FishScale‘s True Blue Maryland Crab Burger; to Peruvian restaurant Pio Pio in Great Falls, VA, for a ceviche called Mahi Mahi Avocado; and to Penn Quarter, D.C.’s Rasika, to try the famous Indian restaurant’s Black Cod.
Preview: West African Cuisine

S1 E5 - 30s

In this episode, Seth meets with the chefs who are putting their own twists on the bold flavors and colors of West African cuisine. The signature dishes are goat egusi, a Ghanaian stew served at Appioo in DC’s U Street neighborhood, yassa chicken, a Senegalese smothered chicken dish at Chez Dior in Hyattsville, MD; ebbeh, a Gambian seafood stew at Mansa Kunda in Takoma Park, MD.
Preview: Masters of Spice

S1 E4 - 30s

Seth meets three chefs who are masters of using hot peppers and balancing the intense heat with incredible flavors. Along the way, he samples muu som, a stir-fried rice-fermented sour pork dish at Thip Khao in Columbia Heights; junglee laal maas, a spicy goat curry at Pappe in Logan Circle; and a whole steamed fish with fermented peppers and scallions at Q by Peter Chang in Bethesda, MD.
Preview: Caribbean Favorites

S1 E3 - 30s

In this episode, Seth samples the diverse array of flavors around DC from Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago, learning about the melting pot that is Caribbean cuisine. Signature dishes: Jamaican jerk chicken wings at Andrene’s Caribbean & Soul Food in Brightwood; chuleta kan kan, a fried pork chop at La Famosa in the Navy Yard; and curried beef roti at Cane on H Street NE.
Preview: Southeast Asian Specialties

S1 E2 - 30s

While the flavors of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine are familiar to DC area diners, other unique cuisines of Southeast Asia are gaining popularity. Seth samples three dishes that represent these new trends: ohno knauk swe (coconut curry chicken noodle soup) at Thamee in Northeast DC; lechon belly at Kuya Ja Lechon Belly in Kensington, MD; fish head curry at Malaysian Kopitiam in Centreville, VA.

Schedule

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Signature Dish

Next Level Sandwiches

Tuesday
Dec 6

2:00 am

30 Minutes

Nim Ali's trasmetro shukos; Open Crumb's fried chicken sandwich; the Fight Club sandwich.
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Signature Dish

Taste of Mexico

Monday
Dec 12

8:00 pm

30 Minutes

Rudy's sampler burria tacos; red mole; tuna tostados.
Image

Signature Dish

Korean Flavors

Monday
Dec 12

8:30 pm

30 Minutes

Seafood scallion pancake; soy marinated short ribs; Korean fried chicken (fried tofu).
Image

Signature Dish

Taste of Mexico

Monday
Dec 12

9:00 pm

30 Minutes

Rudy's sampler burria tacos; red mole; tuna tostados.
Image

Signature Dish

Korean Flavors

Monday
Dec 12

9:30 pm

30 Minutes

Seafood scallion pancake; soy marinated short ribs; Korean fried chicken (fried tofu).
Image

Signature Dish

Taste of Mexico

Tuesday
Dec 13

2:00 am

30 Minutes

Rudy's sampler burria tacos; red mole; tuna tostados.
Image

Signature Dish

Taste of Mexico

Tuesday
Dec 13

2:00 am

30 Minutes

Rudy's sampler burria tacos; red mole; tuna tostados.
Image

Signature Dish

Korean Flavors

Tuesday
Dec 13

2:30 am

30 Minutes

Seafood scallion pancake; soy marinated short ribs; Korean fried chicken (fried tofu).
Image

Signature Dish

Korean Flavors

Tuesday
Dec 13

2:30 am

30 Minutes

Seafood scallion pancake; soy marinated short ribs; Korean fried chicken (fried tofu).

Where should Signature Dish go next?

WETA's Signature Dish is starting to plan for its second season, and we want all of your mouthwatering suggestions: restaurants, eateries, food trucks... anywhere in the DMV that has GREAT FOOD!

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More About 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. In this new 12-part series, host Seth Tillman takes viewers on a culinary journey around the D.C. area, one “must-have” dish at a time.

Each episode of Signature Dish will visit three restaurants, where viewers will meet the proprietor/chef and learn about their signature dish. It might be unique to the restaurant, or perhaps it’s the chef’s new twist on a classic recipe? Whether it's the distinctive fish head curry at Malaysia Kopitiam in Centreville, VA, or Wagyu beef barbeque at 2Fifty, tucked away in Riverdale Park, MD, these mouth-watering menu items provide a flavorful view into the DMV’s vibrant restaurant landscape.

Signature Dish is hosted by Seth Tillman, a producer at WETA, who previously worked on two local restaurant shows and several documentaries about the history of the DC region. Seth combines a keen interest in the people who help make our local communities thrive, with a broad knowledge of the local dining scene and a gourmand's appreciation for the area's diverse culinary offerings.

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