Kinship's torchon of mushroom with huckleberry gastrique and beet and mushroom salad. © Greg Powers
SHAW DEBUT James Beard Award-winning chef Eric Ziebold has opened Kinship in Washington’s Shaw neighborhood to rave reviews. Serene interiors by DC designer Darryl Carter—his first foray into restaurant design—set the perfect bespoke backdrop for a delightful repast, which may start with torchon of white mushroom with huckleberry gastrique and beet and mushroom salad. 1015 7th Street, NW; 202-737-7700. kinshipdc.com
VISUAL FEAST With plywood walls and concrete floors, Palette22 in Shirlington evokes a painter’s atelier, which is entirely appropriate since local artists regularly ply their crafts at dedicated work stations in the bar area. Their creations, displayed throughout the restaurant, are available for purchase. Meanwhile, the menu serves an around-the-world array of street foods, from Middle Eastern mezze to Cuban sliders. 4053 Campbell Avenue; 703-746-9007. palette22.com
CHOCOLATE FIX In 2013, Puja Satiani traded a career in law for something she found far more gratifying: chocolate. After studying pastry at L’Academie de Cuisine, training at L’Ecole du Grand Chocolat in France and learning about the cacao bean in Belize, Satiani now crafts her own artisanal chocolates, along with skincare products containing cacao. Puja Satiani confections are sold at select area retailers or online at pujasatiani.com.