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Let Your Appetite Lead the Way to Romance in Washington, DC

In our culinary-obsessed world, food has risen from mere sustenance to a fashionable, trendy culture. Chefs are superstars. Dining rooms and waiters make mealtime an experience. Nowhere is this newfound food obsession more apparent than in Washington, DC. The city has been a dining destination for decades, and it remains a hot spot whether you want top-notch pizza or a five-course meal.

For the food-TV junkies who want a casual night, stop by We, The Pizza. The restaurant is one of three owned by Spike Mendelsohn, a “Top Chef” alumnus. The Pizzas on Tour menu includes a lineup of pizzas inspired by some of the chefs’ favorite cities. Head to New Orleans with the Cajun chicken and andouille pizza or to Maui, Hawaii, with the honey ham and pineapple pizza. Keep an eye out; you might just spot the first family stepping in for a slice.

On the formal side, make reservations at The Oval Room Restaurant. The cuisine is described as modern American with Mediterranean influences. Dining here puts you among the DC power players, including former President Bill Clinton, former president George H.W. Bush and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Popular dishes of the moment dot the menu, such as a burrata appetizer, grilled flat bread and The Oval Room’s take on shrimp and grits.

For accommodations, spend the night at the Washington Hilton, where the kitchen was the “Top Chef” work space for season seven of the show. The hotel has also played host to such prestigious events as the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and the First Lady’s Luncheon.

Spend a full day at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, located about 18 miles south of downtown DC. The historic site is not only a treasure trove of national history, but also has insight into the culinary practices of 18th-century America. Extensive gardens produce vegetables and fruits, much like they did centuries ago. Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant calls itself “one of Washington’s best-kept secrets for romantic dining.” The dinner menu is true to the region with Virginia peanut soup, Southern fried chicken and jumbo lump crab cakes. For an extra-special date night, make reservations for one of the restaurant’s themed meals, such as a beer dinner or wine-and-chocolate dinner.

To learn more about these culinary jaunts and plan your own food-filled weekend in Washington, DC, click here.