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Joann Hill - Unique Eats & Eateries of Washington, DC

  • Solid State Books 600 H Street Northeast Washington, DC, 20002 United States (map)

Join JoAnn Hill author of Unique Eats & Eateries of Washington, DC in conversation with Priya Ammu. Register here.

Unique Eats and Eateries of Washington, DC guides readers along a mouthwatering adventure throughout the Washington, DC area to explore eats and eateries that are both familiar and exotic. Each story offers a fascinating depiction of the remarkable journeys that led to the delicious dishes and drinks that have helped put DC’s flourishing food scene on the map. Meet the talented and tenacious individuals behind the comforting plates, indulgent sweets, blissful bites, and thirst-quenching beverages that satisfy our cravings and nourish our bellies. Readers will discover the common ingredient uniting these diverse and innovative restaurants—the people who pour their heart and soul into the dishes they create. Curated in this guide are their stories of family, culture, challenges, and reinvention. 

About the author: JoAnn Hill is the author of Secret Washington, DC: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure, DC Scavenger, and Unique Eats and Eateries of Washington, DC. JoAnn has spent more than 20 years exploring Washington, DC and has written extensively about the region’s hidden histories and peculiarities, active pursuits, and vibrant food and drink scenes. Through her passion for food and adventure, she shares stories and tips that satiate the hungry enthusiast and inspire the curious traveler. When she’s not writing, you will find her teaching fitness classes, enjoying a night at the theater, and exploring as much of the world with her husband as she possibly can. 

In Conversation with: Priya Ammu is a native of Bombay, India whose love of food developed after arriving in the US to attend university at the age of 19. While she had never cooked a dish in her life before then, her love of food was apparent from a young age. It was only after marrying a South Indian she’d met in college that she bought her first pressure cooker and tava (griddle), de rigueur cooking tools for any Indian bride. Raising three girls with different dietary requirements and being married to a strict vegetarian, Priya’s approach to food had to be flexible, adventurous, and tasty. Her love of all cuisines was reflected in the fearless (and sometimes questionable) food she cooked, but she experimented and evolved relying on her innate ability to blend the flavors and spices she grew up with.

Following long stints in the corporate hospitality and IT worlds, Priya decided to reunite with the original love of her life – food, specifically the food of her childhood, dosas. 

Earlier Event: April 23
SciFi Fantasy Book Club: American Hippo
Later Event: April 27
Independent Bookstore Day