Sweet Cause, Serious Cookies: The Cookie Kindness Project Returns to Raise Funds for Safe Shores DC
Back for its third year, the Cookie Kindness Project is uniting over 25 of the DMV’s top...
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{What’s in that empty storefront? Which favorite chef is opening up where, and when? All those details and more in Coming Soon.
PITANGO GELATO
PROJECTED OPENING: Summer 2025 1802 14th Street NW Pitango Gelato, known for artisanal Italian gelato in the DC region, will be opening its eighth gelato and coffee shop along DC’s 14th Street corridor this Summer. Guests will be able to enjoy coffee, Italian baked goods and fresh, hand-spun, gelato made with high quality, organic ingredients. The 1,027 square foot space will also feature indoor seating for up to 10 guests. Pitango has prided itself on making gelato with organic milk from grass-fed cows and sorbet from fresh fruit. Every batch is made from scratch with simple, natural ingredients and all products are free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Unique to many gelato or ice cream stores, each flavor at Pitango is churned on-site at each location to ensure peak freshness. In total, the 14th Street store will carry 20 flavors, 10 of which will be dedicated to sorbets and other dairy-free options. The shop will also offer a rotating selection of Pitango’s house-made gelato flavors. The new Pitango outpost will also offer an extensive coffee menu with custom blends from local roaster, Vigilante Coffee, and a selection of sweet and savory baked goods.
{Keeping you up to date on the absolute latest in restaurant openings in the DC Metro area.
CIEL SOCIAL CLUB: CAPITOL HILL
175 L Street NE Ciel Social Club, the rooftop lounge that transformed DC nightlife with stellar, scenic 360-degree views of the city, incredible cocktails, jazz nights and buzzy, Instagram-worthy pop-ups, has officially opened in Capitol Hill just in time for spring. Ciel Capitol Hill opens atop the Marriott Capitol Hill, and brings with it stunning new views of NoMa and the Mall, a new look, brunch parties complete with live DJs spinning with the iconic Capitol Dome behind them, and an even more expansive 2,700-square-foot rooftop. Ciel Capitol Hill features the same energy that has made Ciel downtown an essential part of DC’s nightlife as well as several distinct touches, including weekly brunch parties, expanded rooftop seating, a new and ever-changing cocktail program and a menu curated for the neighborhood. Seasonal pop-ups such as the Cherry Blossom pop-up that is a mainstay at Ciel downtown will be featured at the Capitol Hill location, as popular weekly jazz nights. The Ciel Capitol Hill cocktail menu is defined by approachability and experimentation. Highlights include thr 50/50 Martini and The One in a Tiki Mug. To dine, Ciel Capitol Hill’s menu features sophisticated fare that blends American and global influences. Highlights include the Ciel Truffle Burger, the Chesapeake Crab Cake, the NY Strip, and more.Photo by Mynor Ventura
All the food news that you can use.
Who’s Up for a RAMMY?
I was there—toasting with the rest of the DMV hospitality fam—as The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington dropped the 2025 RAMMYS Finalists yesterday at The Hamilton LIVE! This annual announcement is one of my favorite moments in the industry. The RAMMYS always shine a light on the talent, creativity, and sheer hustle that make the DC region one of the most dynamic dining destinations in the country. 20 categories. A room full of chefs, restaurateurs, and industry leaders. And a LOT to celebrate. This year brings a big change: for the first time ever, Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year will be judge-selected (not public voted!)—because yes, fast casual is having a moment and deserves its flowers. BUT four categories are still in your hands!-Starting May 1, you can vote via @nbcwashington & @telemundodc for:-Best Bar of the Year-Best Brunch of the Year-Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year-Favorite Gathering Place of the Year And now… drumroll please… the finalists are …. Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the YearEl CieloMITARooster & OwlPineapple and PearlsKappo Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year:Ometeo King Street Oyster BarTail Up GoatPetite Cerise Amparo Fondita Casual Restaurant of the Year: 2Fifty Texas BarbecueStellina PizzeriaTsehay Ethiopian Restaurant And Bar I Egg YouThe Falls Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year:Emma's TorchYellowLa Tejana Love on the Run at Love MakotoAndy's Pizza New Restaurant of the Year: Ama La' ShukranKayu Pascual San Pancho Wine Program of the Year:ERA Wine BarBeauty Champagne and Sugar BoutiqueLulu's Wine BarLittle Black BirdEasy Wine Company Cocktail Program of the Year:AmazoniaJane JaneMedinaMoon RabbitQuadrant Beer Program of the Year:Atlas Brew WorksPizzeria ParadisoRed Bear Brewing Co.Tall BoyAstro Beer Hall Service Program of the Year:Anju MITAXiquet by Danny Lledó El Cielo Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab Chef of the Year:Carlos Delgado, Causa / AmazoniaMatt Adler, Caruso's GroceryMatt Conroy & Isabel Coss, Lutece and Pascual Rubén García Castilla, Casa TeresaMike Friedman, Red Hen Rising Culinary Star of the Year:Suresh Sundas, Daru Paolo Dungca, Hiraya Sara Ravitz, Shilling Canning Co.Fernando Gonzales, 2Fifty Texas BBQMiguel Guerra and Tatiana Mora, MITA Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year:Alicia Wang, Yellow/AlbiSusan Bae, Moon Rabbit Rachel Sherriffe, formally at Ellie BirdCarmelo Gil, Petite Cerise Rose Nguyen, Rose Ave Bakery Restaurant Manager of the Year:Lorena Reyes – Founding FarmersAntonio Chavarria , Metropolitan Hospitality GroupAllison Williams – Pascual Tony Strowd Hamilton – Pizzeria ParadisoLuke Lin – CUT by Wolfgang Puck Restaurant Employee of the Year:.Keiri Tobar Morales – RPM ItalianLuis Jara – All Set Restaurant and BarJuan Sanchez – Café du Parc and Willard’s Peacock Alley Daniel Fuentes – MadhatterKristen Wilson – Causa/Amazonia Restaurateur of the Year:Seng Luangrath, Baan Mae Cici Yang, Yume Sushi, KYOJIN Sushi, and Rimtang Daniel Kramer, Duke's GroceryStephen Starr, Starr Restaurant GroupTea Ivonovic, Immigrant Food Favorite Gathering Place of the Year*:ChloeVagabond Bar and KitchenThe Dew Drop InnA Baked JointBalos Best Brunch of the Year*: SequoiaVera Cocina & BarJosephineJ. Hollingers Waterman's ChophouseLe Diplomate Best Bar of the Year*: The Green ZoneMetro BarService BarTune Inn Restaurant and BarRoyal Sands Social Club Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year*:Your Only FriendQueen Mother'sSoko ButcherJettiesAmpersandwich at Shilling Canning Co. Set your reminders—and don’t forget to save the date:The RAMMYS Gala happens August 3- tickets here.
Where is Nycci? Here, there, and everywhere in media outlets across the city.
Eater: Moon Rabbit hosts top female pastry...
This Sellout Collab Pizza in D.C. Is Here to Stay; Plus, a Mount Pleasant mainstay celebrates seven years, Moon Rabbit hosts top female pastry chefs (featuring mini interviews by Nycci Nellis), and more intel from Emily Venezky for Eater DC, here.Photo: Maria Rebrikova for Slice & Pie
Tune in regularly to hear Nycci Nellis talk food trends and news on WTOP Radio.
Nycci's Can't-Miss NYE 2025 Parties
Ring in the 2025 with a bash! Nycci has you covered with the new year's parties in the DC area! Listen now.
Take a deep dive into the Industry and beyond.
Industry Night: Making Room At The Table
On this episode of Industry Night, I’m back at the serious art-flecked Jackie in the Navy Yard. And, I am sitting down with two dynamic women who are making waves in the hospitality and food space — Nina Oduro and Ehime Eigbe.Nina Oduro is the co-founder of Dine Diaspora and Black Women in Food, organizations dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the voices of Black women in the food industry. Through curated experiences, storytelling, and community-building, Nina has been instrumental in connecting culinary talent with opportunities for growth and recognition.Ehime Eigbe is the founder and CEO of Sweetkiwi, a health-conscious frozen yogurt brand that combines rich flavors with clean ingredients. Born in Nigeria and inspired by her own health journey, Ehime created Sweetkiwi to provide better-for-you desserts that are as delicious as they are nourishing.Both Nina and Ehime are passionate entrepreneurs whose work is redefining the intersection of food, culture, and community. Today, we’ll dive into their journeys, the impact of their work, and how they continue to elevate the food and hospitality industry.Once again I’ve got the Anacostia River on one side of me and Nationals Stadium on the other —Dmitri Chekaldin is my generous host and you may remember, Jackie has a new chef — none other than Chef Domenico Cornacchia and later in the show, I will be back in the kitchen with him — I see something delicious in my future.. Listen to the full episode here or watch it here.
