The Future of Asian American Cooking in D.C.
Washington, D.C., has always boasted a rich culinary history that reflects the diverse flavors of the Asian diaspora. Commonplace throughout the District are Chinese fast food carryouts, restaurants that simultaneously serve sushi and Thai cuisine, and a growing array of innovative establishments where chefs capture our hearts and push the envelope of what it means to eat Asian in America.
Chef Erik Bruner-Yang, founder and head chef at Maketto, invited his community of Asian American chefs and restauranteurs to curate a feast of some of Washington, D.C.’s most innovative flavors. Below is a sampling of how the District is cooking up a new generation of Asian American cuisine.
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An agent of alternatives, Erik Bruner-Yang creates space. Through his Washington, D.C.-based concept development company, Foreign National, he offers an alternative: food and space as commons. There exists a constant dialogue of community, culture and progress. His restaurants are always pushing the conversation of what the future of dining can mean. With a variety of accolades that help recognize such work for the restaurants Maketto, Providencia, and formerly Brothers & Sisters, Spoken English, and ABC Pony. In 2020, Erik Bruner-Yang started a program called The Power of 10 Initiative that helped facilitate grants for small businesses all across the country in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Distributing over $1.2 million dollars to sixty-five independently owned restaurants to serve over 500,000 (and counting!) meals and groceries for communities in need. Erik Bruner-Yang has been recognized nationally for his philanthropic and culinary endeavors, and was awarded by The Kennedy Center as one of their “Next 50”. A list of 50 leaders who are leading the way forward through art and action. You can follow him on Instagram as @erikbruneryang.
Vina Sananikone is a visual storyteller rooted in the rhythm of restaurants and the art of hospitality. She has worked with iconic DC hospitality presences from Eat Good Food Group (Restaurant Eve, Society Fair, Eamonn’s A Dublin Chipper, etc), TAA PR, and since 2018, she has been a creative force behind Chef Erik Bruner-Yang’s Foreign National Group (Maketto, Providencia, and formerly ABC Pony, Brothers And Sisters, Spoken English). With a deep love for food and the culture that surrounds it, Vina blends photography, design, and digital storytelling to bring warmth and authenticity to every project. As a Lao woman, she is passionate about uplifting the Asian-American and Asian diasporic community, using her workt to celebrate and champion its voices. You can find her on Instagram at @vinasana.
China Inn Restaurant advertisement from Eastern United States Kung-Fu tournament booklet, 1974.
Washington, D.C., has been home to generations of Asian American chefs serving comfort food to their communities and new flavors to locals and visitors alike. Sightlines features artifacts from this history, including this advertisement for China Inn Restaurant, once located in Chinatown.
Image courtesy of Harry Lee Chow
