By Megan SaylesAFRO Enterprise Writermsayles@afro.com
Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi made his return to Wasington, D.C. with the debut of Dōgon, an upscale Afro-Caribbean restaurant, on Sep. 9. The brand new idea is nestled within the Salamander Lodge alongside the Southwest waterfront.
Via his culinary journey, Onwuachi has taken inspiration from his Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian and Creole heritage to craft his delicacies and share historical past by means of meals.
(Picture courtesy of Mayor Muriel Bowser on X)
“Folks ask me why I open up these eating places, and I don’t assume they perceive we’re in a position to rejoice our tradition whereas celebrating a particular expertise for a number of the first instances,” mentioned Onwuachi throughout a Sep. 5 ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Our meals is shunned to mother and pop outlets, not given the chance and funding or not written about. For us to have a spot like this can be a beacon of sunshine for different cooks to have the ability to open up locations like this.”
Though native to New York, Onwuachi spent his summers within the District throughout his youth. His grandfather taught African-American research and anthropology at Howard College.
He opened his first restaurant, Shaw Bijou, in 2016, however the high-end spot closed after simply two and a half months. A yr later, Onwuachi returned with Kith/Kin on the InterContinental Lodge on the Southwest waterfront. There, he received a James Beard Award for rising star chef of the yr in 2019.
With Dōgon, he hopes to inform the story of Washington, D.C. by means of an Afro-Carribean lens and to inform the story of his ancestors.
“Our meals issues,” mentioned Onwuachi. “We don’t must refine it. It’s lovely as it’s.”
Dōgon’s residence, the Salamander Washington, D.C., is part of Salamander Resorts and Resorts, a luxurious hospitality administration firm based by Sheila C. Johnson. She is the primary Black girl billionaire and the cofounder of BET.
Johnson bought the previous Mandarin Oriental property in 2022 and commenced renovating the resort. She mentioned she met Onwuachi within the Bahamas whereas attending a bridal occasion.
After visiting Kith/Kin, she was amazed by his meals.
“We went there for my birthday, however then I introduced my govt workforce as a result of what I tasted that night time was like no different,” mentioned Jackson on the ribbon-cutting. “I knew from that time on he was going to be my go-to chef.”
Collectively, the pair created The Household Reunion, an immersive, multi-day occasion in Middleburg, Va. that celebrates variety within the hospitality trade.
She then known as on Onwuachi to open a restaurant on the newly rebranded Salamander Washington, D.C. resort.
“I’ve by no means been so excited a couple of expertise like this in my life,” mentioned Johnson. “I’m prepared to put money into him and maintain watching his journey as he continues to develop as a result of he’s actually wonderful.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser believes the brand new idea will contribute to the rebound of tourism within the District, which declined in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They’ve a saying after we are buying our vacation spot around the globe, and it’s that you simply at all times should be doing one thing new,” mentioned Bowser. “You must have new locations, new eating places, new activations and new cooks as a result of individuals who need to come to Washington need to expertise each a part of D.C.”
