Vote for Founding Farmers in Washington City Paper’s “Best Of” Poll

It’s time to call on you, our loyal fans, for a little assistance. The Washington City Paper has opened its annual Best of D.C. 2012 poll. We believe Founding Farmers is the tops in several categories, and we think you’ll agree. Click on each link below to vote for us in that particular category. Deadline: March 1, 2012, 11:59 p.m.

Remember: Vote early, vote often! As always, many thanks for your support!

Founding Farmers: Best Green Business

Founding Farmers: Best Mixologist: Jon Arroyo

Founding Farmers: Best American Restaurant

Potomac’s Founding Farmers: Best Brunch

Founding Farmers: Best Cocktail Selection

Founding Farmers: Best Restaurant When You Pay

Founding Farmers: Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Rise & Shine! D.C. Opens for Breakfast at 7 a.m. on Feb. 21

Roosters get up at the crack of dawn, and so do our bakers, pastry chefs, and cooks — in order to help your workday kick off in a really delicious way. Starting Tuesday, February 21, our D.C. location will be serving breakfast Monday through Friday starting at 7:00 a.m., and just in time to celebrate the final week of Hot Breakfast Month!

Not only that, but the D.C. breakfast menu includes several new dishes to satisfy your first-meal-of-the-day needs. Who’s in the mood for some Red Velvet Buttermilk Pancakes?

Founding Farmers’ Dan Simons Receives George Washington University Business School Award

A huge congratulations to Dan Simons, principal of VSAG and managing partner of the Farmers Restaurant Group, for being awarded the inaugural “Business Gives Back” Distinguished Alumni Award by the George Washington University School of Business. A 1992 graduate of the GWSB, Dan was recognized at a ceremony this past weekend celebrating the school’s commitment to teaching responsible business practices and empowering students to create positive social change.

Dan’s commitment to successfully incorporating sustainable practices into the Founding Farmers business model is forward-thinking and inspiring to his peers, Founding Farmers’ employees, and guests alike. His dedication to GW runs just as deep: last year he launched a five-year, $5,000 annual scholarship to a student in GW’s sustainability program, in order to encourage a new generation of responsible business leaders.

We’re proud of you, Dan!

Two Top 10s in One Week for Founding Farmers

Wow! The year is only two weeks old and already it’s gotten off to an amazing start for Founding Farmers. This week, we’re proud to say, we’ve made two top 10 lists in the foodie blogosphere — and for different reasons. First, Food Republic put us on its “Power Ranking” list of 10 sustainable restaurants, noting just a few of our many eco-friendly design features. Then, Gourmet magazine and BlogHer named us among the 10 healthiest restaurants in the nation, with blogger Jessica of JessRuns mentioning our commitment to local and family farm ingredients.

We’re looking forward to the time when we can get on the road ourselves and trying out the other dining spots named in these two lists — they all sound amazing. Congratulations to everyone for their successful focus on sustainable food service, from ingredient sourcing to restaurant design.

Gourmet/BlogHer — Road Trip: Top 10 Healthy Restaurants

Food Republic — Power Ranking: 10 Sustainable Restaurants

2011 at Founding Farmers: Celebrity Quiz

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!

++++++++++

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.

Win $30 for Brunch at Founding Farmers

Who doesn’t love brunch — especially at a place recently voted to have D.C.’s best? Now you have a chance to win $30 to enjoy our stuffed French toast, chicken and waffles, or any of our other delicious selections. The website Delectabelle is holding a “12 Days of Christmas” giveaway, and $30 toward brunch is one of the offerings. What are you waiting for? Sign up today!

Muppets Movie Team Dines in D.C.

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!

Are you going to see The Muppets? We will. It looks like great fun for the family. If you’re a fan, check out Flavorpill’s roundup of their favorite moments from previous Muppet films.

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!

National Food Day: Order Breakfast and the Coffee is on Us!

October 24 is National Food Day, and there’s no better destination for True Food & Drink than Founding Farmers, and everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. All this week, through Friday, 10.28, when you visit for breakfast and mention that you saw this post, or the listing on the National Food Day website, you get coffee on us, or a small French Press for the table.  Rise & Shine – celebrate all things good about good food

Small print: Offer good only at Founding Farmers flagship location in downtown Washington, DC, 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, just three blocks from the White House. Valid Monday, October 24th – Friday, October 28th, 2011. Guest must mention or show Food Day participation email / website to the server to redeem.