Today, we wish our wonderful, lovely Chef Ris a very happy birthday!

To celebrate, we have posted her mother's Orange Layer Cake (Chef's favorite!) in our Recipes section. Best wishes for this day and many more, Chef!

Jose Andres, Joan Nathan and Alice Waters invite you to dine at one of twenty intimate dinners to Sunday Night Suppers, benefitting DCCK and Martha's Kitchen on Sunday, January 22nd.  Each dinner will host two renowned chefs to entertain 20 guests in Washington, DC homes, all to benefit Martha’s Table and DC Central Kitchen.  Savor the rich winter bounty of the East Coast from the Nation’s hottest chefs and discuss nourishing the health, economy and environment of our nation’s capital through a focus on food. Join Chef Ris for a Sunday Night Supper with Chef Vinod of Indique. Purchase tickets here!

Back by popular demand, the RIS Saturday Craft Series' next event will be on February 11, from 11am to 2pm. "Cookies & Cards" will be a crafty afternoon to decorate Valentine's cookies and create cards for your sweethearts. Cards, cookies and decorations will be provided... All that you need to bring are your creative ideas and appetites!

Delicious treats on the menu for this event include grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup, red velvet cupcakes and two special ice creams from Chef Chris: Red Hots and Chocolate Raspberry Truffle.

Children are welcome and encouraged. Suggested donation is $20 to benefit DC Central Kitchen. Spaces are limited, email natalie@risdc.com for reservations. We would love to see you there!

Join RIS and our restaurant friends for sweets and sips on February 1 is the 11th annual Sugar & Champagne Affair! Hosted by Todd and Ellen Gray, this dessert and champagne reception honors our local crusaders against animal cruelty: Washington Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement Officers, Animal Control Officers, and Humane Educators.

Our very own Pastry Chef, Chris Kujala, will be serving his Passionfruit and Cardamon Meringue Parfait for guests on this occasion. He will be accompanied by his Japanese Chin, Cocoa. Bring your canine bestie - leashed dogs are welcome and encouraged to attend! Chris will have something special for those guests as well. Get your tickets here. Bubbles, treats and man's best friend? This will surely be a night to remember.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for Restaurant Week! Come back to enjoy another great deal, LUCKY LUNCH, our January Lunch Club Series menu, weekdays from 11:30am to 3pm. 3 delicious courses for only $25? How lucky is that?

LUCKY LUNCH 

Cider Glazed Sea Scallop

on hominy grits with apple, sweet potatoes,

and braised collard greens

Spinach Salad

with grapes, almonds, apricots

sherry vinaigrette and blue cheese pancetta dressing

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Duck Leg Confit

with braised red cabbage, flageolet beans

and mustard sauce

Soy Lacquered Cod

with rice wine beets, sesame seaweed rice

and gingered grapefruit

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dessert Bite by Chef Chris

Pecan Carrot Cake

Single Scoop of Housemade Ice Cream or Sorbet

with a cookie

Happy New Year! Restaurant Week is right around the corner, and Chef Ris has released our Restaurant Week Menu. Check it out here on our website and then call for reservations today because they're going quickly!

For everyone joining us tomorrow evening, here's what's on the menu, hot off the presses, from our Chef Ris:

If you haven't caught up with our Chef lately, her Huffington Post column is the online version of chatting with her. In this edition, she shares her love for the farmers market, her "church", as she calls it. While one might logically assume that the kitchen is her main territory, her second home is definitely at the market. Many of the delicious menu offerings you taste at RIS feature farm-to-table, local items that have been handpicked by Chef Ris herself. If you are a market newbie, this article is a good lay of the land as to who has what, including some of Chef's faves.

We are so proud to be included in Washingtonian's Very Best 100 Restaurants.  It is an honor to be recognized among many of our friends in the local restaurant community - congratulations to everyone! Pick up your copy of the January 2012 issue today.

Happy Holidays from all of us at RIS! We appreciate everyone who is a part of our RIS family, and we look forward to an exciting 2012!

Please join us for Christmas Eve dinner from 5-9 pm. Chef Ris has a three course prix fixe menu, as well as some special treats appearing on our a la carte menu. Our Wine Director, Leah, has hand selected wines especially for the evening.

We will be closed on Christmas Day and the day after so that our hardworking staff may enjoy the holiday with their families. We will reopen for lunch on Tuesday, December 27.

On New Year's Eve will have a special five-course Prix Fixe menu, as well as our full a la carte offerings. "David Murray + Jazz" will be providing us with live music, and of course there will be a champagne toast to ring in the new year! If you have not made your Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve reservations, call today. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

We had a delicious time at our Gingerbread House "Very Sweet Afternoon" last Saturday! Many thanks to Sue Baum, pictured here with Chef Ris, who gave us hands-on help and direction. Decorators of all ages put their creative spin on each holiday house. Everyone munched on Chef Chris' gingerbread cake, candy cane ice cream, and other treats. Over $500 was raised for our friends at DC Central Kitchen. A sweet success.  

December holidays are here and Restaurant Week is not far behind! Chef Ris has been working on a delicious menu to tempt and treat our diners. New to the Restaurant Week scene? Catch up with Chef Ris in Tom Sietsma's Washington Post review and see what it's all about. Call today for preferred reservations, and check back on this website for menus.

2012 is just around the corner.. Come ring it in with style at RIS! Last year we had a fantastic time, and we are excited for another great celebration. "David Murray + Jazz" will provide live music. Chef Ris is planning a special five course Prix Fixe menu. There will be a champagne toast and mignardises for all.

The Prix Fixe Menu is $80 per person. With wine pairings by our Wine Director, Leah, the menu is $125. Our full a la carte menu will be available as well. Call today for reservations, and check back on this website soon for Prix Fixe menu offerings.

Today is 5% Community Giving Day at Whole Foods at 2323 Wisconsin Avenue NW in Georgetown. 5% of the entire day’s sale will be donated to help DC Greens double the dollars for WIC and Food Stamp programs at select Farmers’ markets in the city. Those include: 14^th & U, Mount Pleasant, Bloomingdale, NoMa and Glover Park.

Chef Ris will be appearing from 5-6 this evening, in support of the program that will help make fresh fruit and vegetables more accessible and affordable for those shoppers in need. Tonight, she will be sharing her famous New England Clam Chowder. Come on down and take the chill off with some hot soup, and shop to make a difference.

Please join us on Christmas Eve for dinner from 5 to 9pm.

Our staff has been busy decorating the restaurant with beautiful wreaths, poinsettias and a Christmas tree. Now, the perfect menu to accompany the ambience: