The District Chronicles

Issue date: 8/16/09 Section: Business

Media Credit: Art and Soul

At around 5:00 p.m., the lights dim at Art and Soul, a new Capitol Hill restaurant.  Small candles shielded on the sides by plants in similar short, oval-round vases provide soft a relaxing light. Smooth and sultry jazz and blues music creates a warm relaxing mood for the diners elegantly dressed in black attire.

The restaurant, in the new Liaison hotel on New Jersey Avenue, NW, features Southern home-made entrees and Chesapeake Bay seafood delicacies. It's the newest endeavor for former Oprah Winfrey's chef, Art Smith.

After 10 years of cooking up delicacies for Oprah, Smith embarked on his own journey. He previously opened up Table 52 in Chicago, Ill.  Now, Chef Smith has ventured into the D.C. upscale restaurant business.

One recent Web posting gives a hint at the kind of clients Art and Soul is angling for. "Art and Soul Restaurant would like to invite you and your dog to a celebration of Barktoberfest on the patio this Saturday, October 18, 3 pm to 5 pm, the posting declared.

"Enjoy flights of Art and Soul's beer selection, featuring many local, hand-crafted, organic and micro-brew beers samplings of Chef Art Smith and Executive Chef Ryan Morgan's fresh and modern regional cuisine with a southern accent, while your pup enjoys Bowser Beer, Gourmet treats from Anytime K9 and samplings from Wagtime."

Heather Shaw Menis, senior manager for public relations and marketing for the restaurant, said that Chef Smith is loving D.C. and splits his time between Chicago and the District.

Along with Chief Chef Ryan Morgan, a Maryland native, Smith has brought the delicious taste of southern foods and northeastern seafood together. Smith has southern roots and brings to the menu pork ribs, country pork chops and hoecakes.

Each menu item has its own unique twist to it and many of the items on the list have never been prepared using the same ingredients and combinations by any other chef or in any other restaurant.

"As a cook we look at the plate as an empty palette," said Morgan.  "Art and food just pair well naturally."

After the first several weeks since its opening, the Capitol Hill salad topped with local apples, blue cheese, pecans, and apple cider vinaigrette is the top-selling salad and the rockfish is the top-selling entrée. The Chesapeake Bay fry is the overall number one seller.

The chefs' love of art goes beyond cooking, as reflected in the aesthetic interior design of the restaurant.  Everything screams art.  The chic furniture consists of low-cushioned seats. Large black and white murals canvass the walls.  Even the long, cone light fixtures by the bar add the artistic touch to Art and Soul.

The restaurant may be new, but it's already reaching out to D.C. communities through an organization called Common Threads which gives children in deprived areas the opportunity to come into the kitchen and learn valuable health skills like nutrition and fire safety.

"Giving back to the community is very important to Art," said Menis.

Address: The Liason Capitol Hill, 415 New Jersey Avenue
Washington, DC 20001

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