There might not be a Michelle Obama cameo this time around, but another set of Washingtonians are pulling out their knives and heading to Kitchen Stadium. Spike Mendelsohn who made a name for himself on “Top Chef” before opening the Capitol Hill burger joint the Good Stuff Eatery, will bring along sous chefs Michael Colletti and Brian Lacayo and compete on the next “Iron Chef America” on the Food Network. The District-based chefs will face off against Chef Michael Symon, who owns restaurants in Cleveland and Detroit.
They also will follow in the footsteps of White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, who appeared in a special episode of the show in January and used veggies from the White House kitchen garden to make her meals.
Mendelsohn’s appearance will compete with the Oscars and air at 9 p.m. Sunday.
In other foodie news, chef Art Smith of D.C.’s Art and Soul turned 50 on Monday. To celebrate, his Capitol Hill restaurant will feature a fixed-price birthday menu throughout March. And while the chef, applauded for losing 85 pounds, is trying to be healthy, the main dish is a “sometimes” food — his Maryland style fried chicken.
Smith will be in town next Wednesday to personally hand out pieces of birthday cake to Art and Soul diners.
