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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

An edited excerpt from the Going Out Gurus blog (voices.washingtonpost.com/goingoutgurus):

Ris Lacoste's New Restaurant Is Close to Launch

Three years after she acquired space for her eponymous restaurant at 23rd and L streets NW, Ris Lacoste finally is preparing to open her dining room in the West End.

"Can you believe it?" the chef exclaimed over the phone Thursday afternoon. Construction on the restaurant, to be called ris, ("I'm the big 'R,' ") is expected to wrap up this month, Lacoste said. She blames the epic wait on fundraising and lease negotiations, but a November debut is now a real possibility, she forecasts.

"I'm glad I wasn't opening a year ago. Someone was watching over me, truly."

As long planned, the 170-seat restaurant will be neighborhood-focused and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ed Kwitowski, a protege of chef Jeff Buben who most recently cooked at Bistro Bis on the Hill, will serve as Lacoste's No. 2 in the kitchen. Her business partner in the venture is Mitchell Herman, a former executive with Shoppers Food and Pharmacy.

I see pigs flying!

-- Tom Sietsema