Sensorium, an outrageous and outrageouly good dining experience, begins on the D.C. riverfront in mid-April...under a geodesic dome.

D.C.'s New Food Sensation

The hottest dining venue in D.C. this spring is part circus, part food sensation, part supper club, part rabbit hole—and it’s all under a temporary geodesic dome on the riverfront.

Stick with me, folks. You will dig this place.

Tom Elder, chef at the just-opened Härth at the renovated McLean Hilton.

A Chef We Love: Thomas Elder at Härth

Home cooking is all the rage, especially if it’s done right. I recently chatted with a man who has figured it out: chef Thomas Elder at the newly opened Härth in McLean, Va. (the space is located in the renovated McLean Hilton).

Ris Serves Up Best Soups of the Season

Ris Lacoste, the culinary genius behind Ris in Washington's West End neighborhood, must have been reading my mind when she came up with her soup calendar for February.

LightStars, located in Washington's Foggy Bottom neighborhood, offers quick and healthful meals, including these tartlets.

Behind the Kitchen Door: How to Love a "Quick" Bistro

Annie Leconte, owner of LiteStars in Foggy Bottom, is of French heritage, so slabs of butter and vats of cream should be her best friends.

Pick your base (naan, rice, salad or chaat) and let the piling on begin. Merzi offers a fun, healthy approach to fast Indian food.

New in the D.C.'s Penn Quarter: Merzi, (Fast) Indian Food Done Right

As an American, I like having choices. Isn't what this country is built on? And that, my friends, is why Merzi, the new Indian joint in Penn Quarter, is brilliant.

And not just in name. (Merzi means choice in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi.)

Washington's Holiday Trimming: Zoo Lights Festival, Four Seasons Gingerbread

If you want to rev up your holiday engine, here are two places to check out this weekend:  

Holiday Lights: National Zoo

The National Zoo draped itself in lights again (they’re eco-friendly, so it’s ok) for the annual ZooLights Festival, and if you like holiday lights even a little bit, don’t miss this showing where pretty much everything in the park has a string of bulbs wrapped around it, from life-sized animal silhouettes and dancing trees to buildings and walkways.

Belly dancing happy hours in Georgetown's Neyla begin in December.

Hips Don't Lie: Belly Dancing Happy Hours at Neyla

If you’re worried about extra holiday pounds, try mixing up your regular exercise routine this season. I like the sound of Neyla’s hip-shaking happy hours with belly dancing classes. So festive!

Powers & Crewe Photography

Oyamel Keeps Surprising Us

Chef Joe Raffa is one of our culinary heroes around here. He quietly cooks authentic Mexican cuisine with great results at Oyamel, which is a (José Andrés) Think Food Group restaurant downtown. He recently chatted with me about his influences and the Herculean challenge of hand-pulled noodles.

Behind the Kitchen Door: A Chat With Scott Drewno at The Source

Scott Drewno oversees the kitchen at The Source by Wolfgang Puck, and he won Chef of the Year at the 2010 Rammy Awards. He’s a thirty-something chef at the top of his game.

The Big Boo: Halloween in Washington

Outrageous costume parties, pumpkin-carving contests at bars, Mexican fiestas flavored with mole...they're all on my list of great Halloween options in Washington. (To unofficially kick things off, don't miss the wild and wonderful Dupont Drag Races, Oct. 26, 9 p.m., 17th St., NW, between P and S streets. Crowd starts forming around 6 p.m.)

Here are my picks for the best scary-party options in Washington. Make your plans now; the venues fill quickly.