April 15, 2008 / Contact:
Kate Kelly, 703.998.2072/
WETA TV 26 GOES GOURMET IN MAY
—“The WETA Guide to Fine Dining”Explores Culinary D.C. —
Washington, D.C. — Fine eating establishments throughout the Washington area are explored in the next installment of a local series produced by the station and broadcast on WETA TV 26, Kevin Harris, vice president and television station manager at WETA, announced today. The WETA Guide to Fine Dining, an hour-long program featuring many ofGreater Washington’s upscale restaurants, premieres on Thursday, May 15, at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26.
The new episode of this series marks the 11threcent local production from
WETA TV 26, focusing on local subjects that reflect the richness and diversity of the region. “Local programming lets us look at many parts of life in the D.C. area,” said Harris. “Fine Dining takes a look at the great chefs and elaborate kitchens that produce the exquisite meals for which D.C. is known.”
Fine Dining features more than 20 restaurants throughout the Washington, D.C.,area. The program explores the elaborate menus, creative chefs, distinctive atmospheres and interesting histories that create the fine dining experience at each locale. Cuisines include African, American, French, Indian, Italian, Japanese and Nuevo Latino. Among the restaurants featured are The Blue Duck Tavern and The Willard Room in Northwest, D.C.; The Palm and The Prime Rib in the Golden Triangle district; and Rasika and minibar in the Penn Quarter. Other restaurants are 1789 Restaurant, Citronelle and Café Milano in Georgetown; Restaurant Nora in Dupont Circle; Charlie Palmer Steak on Capitol Hill; and CityZen in Southwest. In Virginia, Fine Dining visits Ray’s the Steaks in Arlington; Farrah Olivia and Restaurant Eve in Alexandria; L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls; and the Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia.
Viewers will see award-winning kitchens, learning how the staffs prepare for their guests and glimpsing the sometimes-eccentric rituals of the executive chefs. Audiences will meet the mischievous Michel Richard, chef and owner of Citronelle, who likes to play with diners’ expectations; discover theinspiration behind some restaurants’ signature dishes; learn about famous guests throughout The Mayflower’s long history; and experience the designstyles — ranging from intentionally austere to sumptuously lavish — of the dining rooms. Many of the establishments and executive chefs featured in Fine Dining are Zagat-rated, have consistently ranked in Washingtonian magazine’s best restaurant lists and readers favorites, have won AAA Four-Diamond Awards, received “Best Chef of the Year” honors, and earned high acclaim from Gourmet magazine.
After the broadcast of The WETA Guide to Fine Dining,the program will be available on the WETA media player, WETA Watch Online, at Featuring more than 100 videos, WETA Watch Online includes the latest videos from WETA TV 26 local productions.
The WETA Guide series offers educational, informative and entertaining highlights of the special places and happenings around Greater Washington, helping viewers take advantage of the region’s bountiful offerings. Episodes of The WETA Guide include Great Views, a look at the panoramic vistas throughout our community; Memorials, a tour of military, presidential and war memorials; Neighborhood Eats, a fun-filled jaunt around favorite local eateries; Take the Day Off, an inspiring collection of recreational and relaxing activities; and Unusual Attractions, an insider’s guide to some of Washington’s more offbeat destinations.
WETA TV 26 and Classical WETA 90.9 FM are public broadcasting stations serving Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia with educational, cultural, and news and public affairs programming and related services, including four digital channels. WETA is committed to producing programs that highlight the history and people of Greater Washington. WETA regularly produces WETA All Access, WETA Around Town, WETA Hometown Heroes and WETA Extras, spotlighting local people, places and events. WETA’s headquarters is located in Arlington, Virginia. For more information on WETA and its services, visit Sharon Percy Rockefeller is president and CEO of WETA.
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