Ep 17. Washington, DC

In the seventeenth episode of the first season of The Zimmern List, host Andrew Zimmern takes viewers on a culinary tour of Washington, DC. Zimmern, a world-renowned chef and food personality, visits a variety of eateries and markets throughout the city to sample some of the best dishes and ingredients the area has to offer.

The episode begins at Union Market, a bustling food hall in the heart of the city. Zimmern meets with Chef Adam Greenberg, who prepares a dish of crispy pork belly with pickled watermelon rind and peanuts. Zimmern is impressed by the combination of flavors and textures, and notes that the dish is a perfect representation of the diverse culinary scene in DC.

Next up, Zimmern visits Doi Moi, a Southeast Asian-inspired restaurant in the Logan Circle neighborhood. He samples a dish of beef short ribs with lemongrass and chili, and raves about the bold, spicy flavors. He also learns about the restaurant's commitment to sustainable sourcing and ethical business practices.

At The Red Hen, a cozy Italian restaurant in the Bloomingdale neighborhood, Zimmern tries a dish of house-made pappardelle pasta with rabbit ragu. He praises the restaurant's attention to detail and commitment to using local, seasonal ingredients.

Zimmern also stops by a handful of DC's famous food trucks, including the Japanese-inspired TaKorean and the Peruvian-Japanese fusion truck Peruvian Brothers. He tries a variety of dishes, including a Korean barbecue beef taco and a Peruvian-style pork sandwich, and notes the trend of global flavors infiltrating the city's street food scene.

One of the highlights of the episode is Zimmern's visit to Ben's Chili Bowl, a DC institution that has been serving up its famous chili dogs since 1958. Zimmern chats with the owners, who share the history and cultural significance of the restaurant. He also tries a half-smoke, a local specialty that combines a spicy sausage with chili and onions.

Lastly, Zimmern visits Blue Duck Tavern, a farm-to-table restaurant in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. He is blown away by the variety and quality of the vegetables and herbs grown on the restaurant's rooftop garden, and tries a dish of roasted beets with goat cheese and pistachios.

Throughout the episode, Zimmern reflects on the diversity and vibrancy of DC's food scene, and highlights the ways in which food has become an integral part of the city's cultural identity. Viewers will undoubtedly be inspired to explore the city's culinary offerings for themselves after watching this mouth-watering episode of The Zimmern List.