On Fridays, we feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities. Today’s picks come from Matt Turner, chef of the brand new Public Fish & Oyster, which opened last week. Turner once was chef at Jarman’s Gap and Camino, among other area favorites. Public features a seafood-focused menu of dishes like raw or broiled oysters, clam chowder, and four different kinds of moules frites. For meat-lovers, there is pork belly sausage, steak frites, and more. Turner’s picks:
1) Tacos at La Michoacána. “The meats, the tortillas, the house-made condiment bar, it’s all good. I have a 4 taco per week habit.”
2) Fried Chicken at Brown’s. ”I live two blocks from a fried chicken joint yet I choose to drive across town for Brown’s. The sides really push them over the top.”
3) Crispy Beef Salad at Thai 99 (Fontaine Location Only). “I used to frequent Thai restaurants in the DC metro area and always had a romance with Thai crispy duck salad. This is the best representation one can get locally. It’s everything all at once: sweet, sour, salty, savory, nutty, citrusy, fresh and packed with umami.”
4) The Bellissima at Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie. “Chain pizza should hang its head in shame.”
5) Wood Fired Bread at MAS Tapas. “The arts and disciplines of artisanal food are dying slow deaths in today’s corporate monopoly dominated world. The oven alone at Mas is a local treasure. The bread that comes out if it is something to behold.”
