✏️ Ex-DCist reporters launch worker-led news outlet

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Ex-DCist Reporters Launch Worker-Led Outlet

A group of former DCist reporters is forming a worker-led media outlet called The 51st. WAMU suddenly shut DCist down in February, laying off 15 employees. The plan is to start with a weekly newsletter that will launch in the fall. [City Cast DC 🎧]

New Local Monuments In Progress

D.C. is planning four new memorials honoring locals of color in Petworth, Langdon, Deanwood, and Congress Heights. While the final designs have not been decided, the public can check out initial concepts and provide input! [Axios]

• Related: Speaking of monuments, there’s a plan in motion to drastically expand the National Mall. [City Cast DC 🎧]

Will Paying Kids’ Families Reduce Truancy?

A charter school in Northeast D.C. – the Social Justice School – is giving $2,400 each to 15 families over three months in the next school year. The money is part of a pilot program to see if the cash will help reduce truancy, keep teens out of crime, and mitigate the effects of poverty. [Washington Post]

Meet the RAMMY Award Finalists: Jennifer Castaneda-Jones

The RAMMYs – the big annual award ceremony hosted by D.C.’s restaurant association – are this Sunday. We’re continuing our series on The RAMMYs Rising Culinary Star of the Year award finalists to see what they're cooking up and why they deserve to win. Next up, Chef Jennifer Castaneda-Jones.

Castaneda-Jones led the kitchen at the upscale French-Belgian restaurant Marcel’s before it closed earlier this year after 25 years. She has since taken up the reins at Apéro & La Bohème in Georgetown, serving up everything from French classics like Coq au Vin to modern American dishes inspired by director Quentin Tarantino.

Culinary Style

Castaneda-Jones says her Polish roots heavily influence her cooking, as did going to culinary school in Louisiana. “In Louisiana, I learned traditional French fundamentals that were influenced by Cajun/creole flavors.” Now, she says she is able to showcase her French cooking background at Apéro, while playing with her own creative style at its seseasonal-themedasonal themed tasting room, La Bohème.

One City To Rule Them All

“My favorite thing about the D.C. food scene is the ever-changing food dynamics,” Castaneda-Jones told us, remarking that there were always new restaurants to try and styles of cuisine to enjoy. She also likes how tight-knit and supportive the culinary community in D.C. is, which can be hard to find in a larger city.

😋 Inside Scoop: Where In DC Is Castaneda-Jones Eating?

When Castaneda-Jones lived in Adams Morgan, her favorites included The Game for spicy sisig and other Filipino classics, and Lucky Buns for their Hot Tiger Bun. But, for a fancy date night, Reverie and The Dabney are her go-to’s.

Who Else Is In the Running?

🍣 Masako Morishita — a former Washington Commanders cheerleader, now lead chef at Perry’s restaurant in Adams Morgan, Morishita is known for her seasonal specials and Japanese comfort food.

🍖 Matt Sperber — oversees the kitchen at Any Day Now in Navy Yard, which has become a destination for creative comfort food in the District. Sperber specializes in butchery and sausage production.

🌯 Jovana Urriola — Panamanian chef Urriola revamped the kitchen at Café Unido and recently joined Colada Shop as its regional executive chef. Before that, she was a private chef for actor Owen Wilson, ran her own restaurant, and competed in Top Chef.

🍲 Ria Montes — Montes led the kitchen at Estuary in the Conrad Hotel downtown, whipping up dishes that combined her Filipino heritage with American flavors. She has since left Estuary, but rumor is she is working on a new restaurant project.

We’ll be at the RAMMYs this Sunday 💅 So, check back Monday for the results!

What To Do

Today on City Cast

Ex-DCist Reporters Launch Worker-Led News Outlet

DCist’s abrupt shutdown a few months ago was a shock. So we were intrigued by the rumors that a bunch of former DCist employees were starting up their own outlet. Two of the founders give us the exclusive details about their new org, how they’re going to survive when DCist couldn’t, and when you can start following their work.