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.

Late Night Eats

28m 23s

Sometimes, the best food can be found after hours. The late-night food scene in D.C. is on display as Seth Tillman visits Le Mont Royal for Montreal-inspired poutine. Next, he heads to Astoria on 17th Street for a spicy Sichuan water-boiled fish and a delicious burrata margherita pizza from Andy’s Pizza in Shaw.

Episodes

  • Late Night Eats: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Late Night Eats

    S2 E12 - 28m 23s

    Sometimes, the best food can be found after hours. The late-night food scene in D.C. is on display as Seth Tillman visits Le Mont Royal for Montreal-inspired poutine. Next, he heads to Astoria on 17th Street for a spicy Sichuan water-boiled fish and a delicious burrata margherita pizza from Andy’s Pizza in Shaw.

  • Filipino Festival: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Filipino Festival

    S2 E11 - 27m 24s

    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.

  • 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

  • GREEN ALMOND PANTRY's Turkish-Inspired 7 Minute Egg Sandwich: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    GREEN ALMOND PANTRY's Turkish-Inspired 7 Minute Egg Sandwich

    S2 E3 - 5m 38s

    Host Seth Tillman heads to Green Almond Pantry, a Georgetown, DC where chef/owner Cagla Onal-Urel demonstrates how to make a unique seven-minute egg sandwich. The sandwich is made with jammy eggs, olive oil, and lemon juice, topped with a watermelon radish salad and anchovies. As Seth discovers, the sandwich is a hands-on, messy — and incredibly flavorful.

  • Preview: Mediterranean Magic: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview: Mediterranean Magic

    S2 E3 - 30s

    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.

  • Watch MELINA Make a Lamb Kleftiko with a Blowtorch: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Watch MELINA Make a Lamb Kleftiko with a Blowtorch

    S2 E3 - 6m 10s

    Host Seth Tillman heads to Melina, a Greek restaurant in North Bethesda, Maryland where chef/partner Aris Tsekouras demonstrates how to make lamb kleftiko, a traditional Greek dish. Kleftiko means "thieves," as it was historically prepared by thieves who would cook lamb in the ground to avoid detection.

  • LA CASINA Makes Authentic Roman Style Pizza Right Here in DC: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    LA CASINA Makes Authentic Roman Style Pizza Right Here in DC

    S2 E2 - 4m 27s

    We visit La Casina, an Italian pizzeria in DC's Capitol Hill neighborhood to sample some of DC's best pizza. Chefs and co-owners Angela Andellini and Fabrizio Costantini prepare the dough for their "Ottavo Colle" pizza — which they call "pinsa" in the Roman fashion — using a house-made starter. It results in a distinct crust, which is topped with potatoes, olive oil, and Lardo di Colonatta.

  • MARTHA DEAR's Sourdough Pizza Explodes with Greek Flavors: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    MARTHA DEAR's Sourdough Pizza Explodes with Greek Flavors

    S2 E2 - 4m 50s

    Seth Tillman heads to Martha Dear in DC's Mt. Pleasant neighborhood where chef and co-owner Demetri Mechelis showcases the creation of a mushroom, spinach, and halloumi pizza using naturally leavened dough. This delicious sourdough pizza is assembled with fontina cheese, house-made stracciatella, sautéed spinach, oyster, cremini, and portobello mushrooms, and halloumi cheese from Cyprus.

  • Preview: Pizza Perfection: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview: Pizza Perfection

    S2 E2 - 30s

    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.

  • MOTOWN SQUARE's Detroit-Style Pizza Blends Ethiopian Flavors: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    MOTOWN SQUARE's Detroit-Style Pizza Blends Ethiopian Flavors

    S2 E2 - 4m 50s

    Seth Tillman heads to Motown Square, a pizzeria in Washington, DC's Shaw neighborhood, to explore the creation of the tibs pizza, a fusion of Ethiopian and traditional flavors. The Detroit-style pizza is assembled with cheese, onions and tomato sauce but what sets it apart is a spicy Ethiopian tibs mixture with garlic, butter, onions, jalapeños, marinated beef, tomatoes and berbere spice.

  • Watch CARUSO'S GROCERY Make Their Juicy Chicken Parmesan: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Watch CARUSO'S GROCERY Make Their Juicy Chicken Parmesan

    S2 E1 - 4m 11s

    Host Seth Tillman visits Caruso's Grocery, an Italian restaurant in Southeast Washington, DC, to learn how to make their chicken parmesan and tomato sauce. The sauce starts with olive oil, garlic, onions, salt, and Italian seasoning, followed by California tomatoes. the chicken is pounded thin , coated in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, fried until golden brown, then layered with mozzarella.

  • How CIELO ROJO Makes Their Unique Pozole Verde: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How CIELO ROJO Makes Their Unique Pozole Verde

    S2 E1 - 5m 40s

    Seth Tillman explores the process of making pozole verde at Cielo Rojo, a Mexican restaurant in Takoma Park. Chef David showcases the ingredients -- tomatillos, cilantro, pumpkin seeds, dry oregano, bay leaves, epazote, jalapeños, onions, roasted poblano peppers, serranos, and garlic -- which are blended together to create a vibrant salsa verde that is combined hominy, chicken, and chicken broth.

  • How PRESERVE Catches and Cooks Their Fried Blue Catfish: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How PRESERVE Catches and Cooks Their Fried Blue Catfish

    S2 E1 - 7m 24s

    Host Seth Tillman and Jeremy Hoffman, chef and owner of Preserve restaurant in Annapolis, Maryland, join commercial fisherman Pete Springer to go fishing for invasive blue catfish on the Potomac River. Back at the Annapolis restaurant, Chef Jeremy prepares the catfish for fish and chips.

  • Preview: Signature Dish Season 2: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview: Signature Dish Season 2

    S2 - 30s

    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.

Schedule

  • Image
    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Caribbean Favorites

    Saturday
    Nov 23

    30 Minutes

    Jerk chicken wings; chuleta kan kan (fried pork chop); curried beef roti.
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    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Masters of Spice

    Saturday
    Nov 30

    30 Minutes

    Muu som (fermented pork); junglee laal maas (goat curry); steamed fish with peppers.
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    Signature Dish: TVSS: Iconic

    Signature Dish

    Saturday
    Dec 7

    30 Minutes

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

Where should Signature Dish go next?

WETA's Signature Dish team wants to hear your mouthwatering suggestions: restaurants, eateries, food trucks... anywhere in the DMV that has GREAT FOOD!

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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