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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

MOVING FORWARD: Customers who have been wondering about the fate of Rock Creek Bethesda (4917 Elm St.; 301-907-7625 ) since it closed after a flood last month can rest assured: "We will reopen," says Judy Hammerschmidt, co-owner of the health-minded restaurant, which counts a branch at Mazza Gallerie in Washington. "We're starting to rebuild," she added last week.

The late-night flood, just before Valentine's Day, was caused by a broken soda line at Hinode, a Japanese restaurant above Rock Creek Bethesda.

Two inches of water greeted Hammerschmidt when she arrived to check out her restaurant the next morning. Ceiling, furniture, electrical work -- almost everything in the place was damaged or destroyed.

Some members of the 25-person staff, including waiters and a sous-chef, have been absorbed by the Washington restaurant, while the top toque, Fredric Przyborowski,"is doing every charity event I can think of and have said yes to," says his employer. "We're taking the opportunity to refresh everything."

That includes Rock Creek's spring menu, which is expected to make its debut some weekend in April.

-- Tom Sietsema