De Pue taking a culinary gamble

For boldly establishing fine dining along the H Street corridor, Frederik De Pue deserves some kudos. As executive chef of the recently opened Smith Commons, De Pue is something of a betting man, for he is gambling that this strip of commerce will gentrify into D.C.’s newest, best-food part of town. “I like challenges,” he says. “I never take the easy road. H Street is an up-and-coming neighborhood.”