Celebrity Chef Nobu Matsuhisa Is Having an Absolute Blast in D.C.

Award-winning Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa is making the most out of his trip to the nation’s capital this week. The well-traveled culinary icon behind 50 namesake Nobus around the world threw out the first pitch on Tuesday night to kick off the Washington Nationals series against the visiting LA Dodgers. Baseball prodigy Shohei Ohtani took it from there, rounding out the game with the hardest-hit homer of his MLB career (118-miles per hour).

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa with LA Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Japanese Heritage Day at Nats Park.

Washington Nationals

Per his Instagram stories, Matsuhisa practiced his pitch out back of the Four Seasons, thanked the hotel for his welcome plate of gorgeous-looking chocolates, and fueled up at Georgetown waterfront’s seafood showpiece Fiola Mare. Tonight he’s heading to his 7-year-old West End sushi spot to host the Taste of Nobu, an ongoing legacy tour leading up to his restaurant empire’s 30-year anniversary this fall. Stations include nigiri, maki and hand rolls, wagyu shabu shabu, yakitori, and a sashimi bar — which includes Nobu’s famed yellowtail jalapeno he recently served at the 81st Golden Globe Awards. Tickets ($250) are still available, which includes a first taste of Nobu’s new Rare Blend by Qui Tequila.

Duke’s Grocery is en route to Potomac Village

Duke’s Grocery, the beloved British gastropub with locations in Navy Yard, Woodley Park, and Foggy Bottom, is expanding outside of District lines for the first time. A newly announced Maryland edition in Potomac (10128 River Road) will slide into the old Lock 72 Kitchen & Bar space this fall. Look for indoor and outdoor seating and familiar touches like a copper bar, bottomless brunch featuring its “proper English Brekkie,” fish and chips, and its top-selling Proper Burger comprised of two patties, gouda, charred red onions, and sweet chili sauce. The Dupont original is gearing up to open soon after an extensive facelift.

Wingo’s makes a long-awaited return to Georgetown

Wingo’s, the 25-year-old carryout that slathers its coveted chicken wings in two dozen sauces, made a triumphant comeback to Georgetown last week (3207 O Street NW). The college student standby was forced to close in 2018 after suffering extensive fire damage from a two-alarm blaze. An additional karaoke-friendly location with $1-wing happy hours sits in Glover Park.

‘Hot Ones’ brings its daring wings to D.C. for the first time.

‘Hot Ones’ wings, now on demand in D.C.

In more wings news, Hot Ones — First We Feast’s hit YouTube series in which celebrities struggle to talk while eating fiery flavors — started delivering in D.C. on Monday, April 15. The new virtual restaurant powered by Mealco sends out 6-piece or 12-piece spicy wings, crispy chicken sandwiches, fries, sides, and sauces — the hottest of the bunch being Los Calientes Rojo. Cool off at home with an apple fritter order topped with sweet milk.

Teams Allegory and Service Bar in Mexico.

D.C. bars make big jumps on a ‘50 Best’ list

During a ceremony last night in San Miguel, Mexico, two local cocktail haunts made significant year-over-year moves on North America’s 50 Best Bars list. Shaw’s pint-sized Service Bar, hailed for its house pisco punch and “more complex but still whimsical drinks” like the “punchy” Al Pastor Margarita, rose from No. 33 to No. 22. And Allegory, the literary-themed downtown drinking den inside the Eaton hotel, jumped 22 spots to No. 23 — with shout-outs for its “transportive” flavors and “seriously sippable” concoctions. Meanwhile, the Perrier-sponsored ranking crowned Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City as No. 1.