UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Jo Kim! Several people answered questions #1 and #2 correctly, but among that group only Jo’s guess for #3 — the number of times Laurence Fishburne dined at Founding Farmers — came closest to the truth. We would not have believed it ourselves if we hadn’t been here, but Fishburne enjoyed our fare two dozen times while he was in D.C.!
Thanks to everyone for participating!
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OK, Founding Farmers fans, it’s quiz time. This one is based on the many notables who enjoyed our Pennsylvania Avenue location in 2011, plus a question about our appearances in the reality TV camera spotlight. What’s at stake? The first person to answer all three questions correctly gets a $25 Be Our Guest Card good for either Founding Farmers location. Leave your responses in the comments below, as well as a Twitter handle or link to your Facebook page, so that we can let you know if you’ve won! Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31.
Ready? Here we go. Good luck!
(1) Which person on this list of celebrities and notable people did not dine at Founding Farmers in 2011? • Mrs. Jill Biden • Laurence Fishburne • D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray • Food Network Host/Chef Robert Irvine • White House Chef Sam Kass • George Washington University President Steven Knapp • Lady Gaga • Ryan & Tatum O’Neal • Queen Latifa • Teresa Scanlan, Miss America 2011 • Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) • Jason Segel • Martha Stewart • Tennessee Titans Linebacker Will Witherspoon
(2) Which of the following reality TV shows did Founding Farmers or one of its staff not appear in? • Food Network: Best Thing I Ever Ate • OWN: Ryan and Tatum: The O’Neals • Food Network: Meat & Potatoes • Cooking Channel: Everyday Exotic
(3) How many times did Laurence Fishburne dine at Founding Farmers during Thurgood‘s three-week run at the Kennedy Center? Give us your best guess.
Last night, following a White House screening of the just-released Muppets film for a group of military families, lead actor Jason Segel (that’s him at far left, next to Founding Farmers concept developer Dan Simons of VSAG), producer Todd Lieberman, and several Disney executives enjoyed dinner at our D.C. location. Unfortunately, Kermit and crew weren’t part of the entourage. Maybe next time!
UPDATE: Word has it the group enjoyed, among other things, Prosecco and cocktails, fried chicken and waffles, lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, Southern fried chicken salad, pork chop, milk shakes, cobblers, and pies. Also, Segel was kind enough to let fans in the restaurant (like our man Dan) take pictures, and he and his associates were extremely gracious to our staff. Thanks for stopping by!
Washington, D.C., is the kind of place where both cultural and political celebrities can be found, and occasionally we’re lucky enough to have them stop by Founding Farmers — sometimes on the same night!
Last Thursday, Martha Stewart and five other women dined at our D.C. restaurant. What did the doyenne of domestic life enjoy for dinner? The Washington Post‘s Reliable Source column knows.
Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) also stopped by 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. on Nov. 17 to enjoy some wine and food with two companions, finishing off his meal with a slice of carrot cake, writes The Hill.
Did the two cross paths at Founding Farmers? That, alas, we don’t know.
In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Move those numbers around and you get 1924, as in the address of Founding Farmers’ flagship restaurant, and the place where you can honor Christopher Columbus’ adventurous spirit with brunch on Monday, October 9, from 8am-2pm, with full lunch menu available starting at 11am.
After all, he did cross the Atlantic four times without the advantage of GPS or a power motor. You have the advantage of those things, and no worry of scurvy with our hand squeezed orange juice to go with your Farmers Scramble, with a stack of delicious fluffy pancakes, or the ‘Hangover Special’ if you had already been celebrating the achievements of the explorer credited with discovering the ‘New World.’ If a Columbus Day holiday isn’t in your schedule, join us for lunch or dinner to help forget about all the other folks that aren’t working. After all, Columbus didn’t take a day off when he was on that ship!
On Monday, January 3, Chef Robert Irvine will showcase Founding Farmers’ Devil-ish Eggs Combo for The Best Thing I Ever Ate reinvented classics episode. Chef Irvine sampled the decadent snacks while visiting Washington, DC.
In June, a Food Network crew spent the afternoon at Founding Farmers capturing the preparation process from peeling to plating. Executive Chef Al Nappo revealed his tricks for reinventing this classic family dish by adding fresh lobster, crab, smoked salmon and a few secret ingredients that make the filling so unforgettable.
Join us for a viewing party at the Founding Farmers bar on Monday, January 3 from 10:00 to 11:00 pm. The episode begins at 10:00 pm, so pull up a bar stool and sample one of the complimentary Devil-ish Eggs we’ll be dishing out throughout the show.
Founding Farmers serves up over 1,000 cage-free Devil-ish Eggs each month. From the classic to the three seafood varieties, these gourmet bar snacks are in high demand. We hope you’ll join us on January 3 to enjoy this reinvented classic dish.
You’ve spent days, maybe weeks, planning the perfect Thanksgiving menu. The day after Thanksgiving when the food coma wears off, you may find yourself with a refrigerator full of leftovers and a house full of ravenous family members. If that’s the case, Founding Farmers has several unique and tasty home recipes to satisfy your famished loved ones using many Thanksgiving favorites.
Farmers Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes: (click images below to download)
- Sweet Potato Pancakes with Cranberry Maple Syrup - Ham & Turkey Stuffing Griddle Cakes with Cranberry Aioli Sauce - Turkey Pot Pie Ravioli - Turkey Pot Stew
If you’re planning to eat Thanksgiving at Grandma’s farmhouse, and find yourself yearning for a great leftover-like-meal on Friday, Founding Farmers will be serving brunch Friday through Sunday of the holiday weekend, including the Sweet Potato Pancakes with cranberry maple syrup. Holidays should always be this delicious!
Herb-crusted rotisserie chicken paired with the Dolores Dulces cocktail, a soon-to-be menu feature
Founding Farmers is one of just five restaurants to be showcased at the inaugural prelude event to the International Wine & Food Festival in February. On November 30, Chief Mixologist Jon Arroyo and Executive Chef Al Nappo will team up at Spirit of the Festival and use Patron XO Café to create a unique cocktail and food pairing. This week, the duo gave DC food journalists and bloggers a first taste of the pairing.
The Dolores Dulces cocktail features Patron XO Café, cognac, cherry brandy, egg white and a garnish of fresh grated nutmeg. The rich and delicious concoction pairs nicely with Chef’s herb-crusted rotisserie chicken with Maryland kale, cabbage and pears sautéed in Patron XO Café. Founding Farmers will feature the Dolores Dulces for a limited time after the competition.
This Thursday at 6:00 pm, Founding Farmers will join dozens of Washington’s most popular restaurants at the Capital Food Fight, a unique and exclusive fundraiser for DC Central Kitchen. Chef Al Nappo will dish out seasonal butternut squash and mascarpone cheese ravioli with sage butter sauce.
The evening is sure to pack an exciting punch as celebrity chefs, Anthony Bourdain, Tom Colicchio, Michael Mina, Eric Ripert and José Andrés host and judge this epic food fight.
Last night, following a White House screening of the 
