From a local burger pop-up to a Middle Eastern bakery in Rockville, four Montgomery County eateries are featured this month on Signature Dish, a culinary show airing its third season on public TV station WETA.
Show host and county resident Seth Tillman travels Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., taste-testing the signature dish at the three restaurants featured in each episode. Tillman also explores the backstory behind each dining spot, according to a WETA press release. Signature Dish airs at 9 p.m. Monday on WETA PBS and 8 p.m. on WETA Metro.
“The goal is to showcase the incredible breadth and diversity of our local food scene and introduce our viewers to the talented and tireless chefs and restaurant owners who have created this wonderful atmosphere,” Tillman said in an email to Bethesda Today.
“Coastal Eats,” the first episode of the season, highlighted Silver Spring’s All Set Restaurant & Bar at 8630 Fenton St. and its jumbo lump crab cake. The episode, which can be seen here, premiered Jan. 6.
On Monday night, the “Best Burgers” episode will feature Gaithersburg’s Steeze Burger, a pop-up shop that has earned a No. 1 ranking from The Washington Post for serving the best burgers in the D.C. area in 2023.
The burger pop-up, founded and operated by Hunter Karametos, travels across the region grilling classic cheeseburgers made from beef from farms in northern Montgomery County.
On Jan. 20, the season’s third episode, “Japanese Journey,” will highlight ZAO Stamina Ramen at 7345 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda. The restaurant, which opened ZAO in May 2021, is run by Payesone Hakamata, who was born and raised in Tokyo, according to the eatery’s website.
The Jan. 27 episode “Hot Out of the Oven” will highlight Z&Z Manoushe Bakery at 1111 Nelson St. in Rockville. The family-owned bakery takes inspiration from the owners’ Palestinian and Jordanian roots and serves manoushe, a classic Middle Eastern street food similar to flatbread, according to the bakery’s website.
In 2022, the bakery was named one of the country’s best new restaurants by Bon Appétit magazine and subsequently saw business skyrocket after the highlight.
How are eateries chosen?
Tillman said restaurants featured on Signature Dish are chosen “through a combination of our own team’s research, viewer submissions, and word-of-mouth.” In addition, WETA looks to feature a range of price points and a variety of dishes from dining spots around the region.
“All Set, Steeze Burger, ZAO Stamina Ramen and Z&Z were chosen because the quality of the food is first-rate, they are independent, small and family-run businesses, and the owners/chefs at each of these spots have a passion for what they do that the viewers will immediately recognize,” Tillman said.
Three seasons into Signature Dish, Tillman said the county’s food scene is “booming.”
“We have loved seeing the development and growth of the dining landscape and getting to highlight the fantastic restaurants and unique approaches to food,” Tillman said. “As somebody who was born in D.C. but grew up mostly in Montgomery County and now lives here again, it has been great to see the recognition that this area has received, not to mention the delicious options I now have nearby!”
After episodes have aired they are available to stream on the PBS app or online.