Eating Around: Michel Richard Is Everywhere

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STAR WASHINGTON CHEF MICHEL RICHARD gets around. He's riding Amtrak as part of an eight-member team that's creating a seasonal menu for first-class passengers. He's in Los Angeles consulting for Jeffrey Chodorow's restaurant, Social Hollywood. He's in Las Vegas, prepping for a Caesar's Palace Citronelle opening. And he's doing the same at Carmel Valley Ranch in Monterey, Calif. Today's Los Angeles Times calls him a pioneer of the trend of the chef-driven, multi-restaurant empire. "Ironically, Richard was in the forefront of that movement more than 15 years ago ...."

» OYSTERS' PARTNERS: For Old Ebbitt's Grill's 12th Annual Oyster Riot on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17, judges selected two New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs as this year's top three wines for oyster pairings in a blind taste test. In first place is the Kim Crawford 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, second is the bubbly Korbel Champagne Cellars "Natural" NV from Russian River Valley in California, and the third-place wine is a 2007 Seifried Sauvignon Blanc. Judges included Washington Post columnists and authors Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg, chef Jose Andres, former Washington Post food critic Phyllis Richman, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia and this writer. Four hundred twenty wines were entered in this year's competition. Judges chose from the staff's top 20 favorites.

» NOW OPEN: Food blogger Metrocurean notes that it's a big week for restaurant openings. Debuting eateries include the West End Bistro by Eric Ripert and the city's newest wine bar, Vinoteca.

» DON'T MISS: "... [J]ust wait until you try these hot dogs!" says Don Rockwell about Peter Smith's version at PS7's.

» TO DO: Meet the Redskins for chat and a fillet sandwich at Morton's Tysons Corner location on Monday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Photo by Tetona Dunlap/The Washington Post