Events Calendar
|
Latest Issue
|
Membership
|
Log In Sign Up
  • Play

    Play

    • A Beginner’s Guide to Soccer
    • You Spin Me Right Round: D.C. Roller Skating 101 in 2021
    • Leading the League: The WNBA’s Natasha Cloud on Breaking Barriers + Inspiring D.C.
    • Spring Has Sprung: 10 Ways To Get Outside in the DMV
    • Play Week Combines Games + Social Impact
    • High and Go Seek Illustration
    • O Captain, My Captain: Washington Spirit’s Andi Sullivan
  • Life

    Life

    • Local Entrepreneurs Infuse CBD into Wellness
    • 19 Entrepreneurs Shaping D.C.’s Cannabis + CBD Industries
    • Upcycling in D.C.: Transforming a Culture of Consumption
    • The Green Issue: Experts + Advocates Make Case for Cannabis Legalization + Decriminalization
    • The District Derp Story
    • Grassfed Media Champions Cannabis Clients
    • Nat Geo Explorer Gabrielle Corradino on Plankton, the Anacostia + Conservation
  • Eat

    Eat

    • The State of Takeout in the District
    • A New Twist on Food Delivery: MisenBox
    • Next-Level Home Dining Experiences in D.C.
    • Foxtrot Market Is Officially Open for Business in Georgetown
    • Food Rescue + Assistance Programs Fill the Gaps in a Pandemic Food System
    • Hungry Harvest Helps to End Food Insecurity
    • Notable Summer Bar + Restaurant Reopenings to Try this Spring
  • Drink

    Drink

    • Pandemic Drinking: Derek Brown Leads the Way to Low-ABV Future
    • D.C.’s St. Vincent Wine Creates Covid-Conscious Experience
    • A New Way to Binge: Sobriety Anchors Business + Being for Gigi Arandid
    • King’s Ransom + The Handover in Alexandria Celebrate a First Year Like No Other
    • Wines of the World Are Just Around the Corner
    • Open-Air Drinking + Cocktail Delivery Changes in the DMV
    • Denizens Brewing Co.’s Emily Bruno: Brewing Change for Community + Industry
  • Culture

    Culture

    • The Artistry Behind D.C.’s Cannabis Culture
    • The Best Movies of 2021…So Far
    • The Survival of the Brutalist: D.C.’s Complicated Concrete Legacy
    • Plain Sight: A Street-Front Revolution in Radical Arts Accessibility
    • A Touch of Danger in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s “Romeo & Juliet”
    • Artgence + Homme: Where There’s Art, There’s a Story to Share
    • 21 D.C. Makers + Curators to Follow
  • Music

    Music

    • Emma G Talks Wammie Nominations and the D.C. Music Community
    • J’Nai Bridges: A Modern Mezzo-Soprano in a Changing Opera Landscape
    • Punk Legends The Go-Go’s Talk Four Decades of Sisterhood, Resilience + Zero Fucks Given
    • Ellen Reid “Soundwalk:” Exploring the Sonic Landscape at Wolf Trap
    • SHAED Releases First Full-Length Album in a “High Dive” of Faith
    • Obama + Springsteen Present “Renegades”
    • Christian Douglas Uses His “Inside Voice” on Pandemic-Inspired Debut Album
  • Events

    Events

    • Play Week 4.17-4.25
    • Midnight at The Never Get 4.30-6.21
    • Cannabis City Panel Presented by BĀkT DC + District Fray
    • Browse Events
    • DC Polo Society Summer Sundays 5.9
    • National Cannabis Festival’s Dazed & Amused Drive-In Party
    • Vinyl + Vinyasa 4.30
  • Log In
    Sign Up

Log In Sign Up
A colorful face with mouth open above an illustration of a fence. The words "Native Garden" are in the background.
Karen Zacarías on Turning Neighborhood Disputes Into a Comedy About Plants
A person in a black jacket with floral decorations stands outside.
Building a ‘Bundle House’ With Artist Nyugen E. Smith
February Family-Friendly Events
Max Capacity: The Biggest + Best Concerts this February
5 Fantastic Black-Owned Businesses in the DMV
Radar: To Do in D.C. 2.2-2.5
Home » Articles » Eat » Slate Wine Bar’s New Menu Is a Plated Symphony from a Michelin-Starred Chef

Eat

Slate Wine Bar Slate Wine Bar's mushroom medley with a smoked corn cream.

Slate Wine Bar’s New Menu Is a Plated Symphony from a Michelin-Starred Chef

Share:

September 17, 2021 @ 2:00pm | Zoe Pierce

Slate Wine Bar has a new menu and Chef Danny Lledó is confident. Not just confident about one dish in particular, but an entire symphony of Spanish-American, Mediterranean-influenced plates. Lledó has a dynamic space, full staff and a Michelin star behind him as he rolls out Slate’s menu — one he says was created with love, care and intention.

When Lledó describes his new menu, he becomes an artist holding a completed canvas. The menu items are each a part of one whole, with dish and beverage pairings designed to work in harmony and achieve a complex, delicate balance.

“The process is interesting because it comes from a long study and a long experience that I’ve had,” Lledó says. “This gets into dynamics of balance when it comes to the food and sequence, but without such an elaborate event as Xiquet.”

Slate’s new menu was created in reaction to a market fostered by the pandemic — one where people are less eager and able to sit down at a bar for a tasting menu. The new prix fixe menu is shorter and meant to support larger dishes, but shorter does not mean less in Lledó’s kitchen. 

“It’s not just accessibility; it’s more about having a shorter format that still can fill you up.”

Styled into four courses, the menu takes you through 14 options, including grilled octopus with purple potatoes, Ovoka Farms’ Wagyu striploin, a palate-cleansing course and chocolate bomb with a passionfruit chocolate glaze. From appetizer to dessert, there’s a diverse selection of dishes ranging from casual to high-end, designed to be elevated with a carefully curated wine list. 

Both Slate and its sister restaurant specializing in Valencian cuisine, Xiquet, are located in the same Glover Park space. But while Xiquet’s activity during the pandemic and Lledó’s famous paella resulted in his first Michelin star in April, Slate suffered. Lledó’s eager to see his regulars again at Slate, noting the restaurant thrives on its familiarity with its patrons.

“For me, that’s part of the reason why I enjoy so much of what I do. It’s having that neighborhood feel.”

Later in our conversation, Lledó noted the overall feel and dining experience are accomplished through his staff.

“The space is wonderful, but it’s only as good as the people. And we cherish warm hospitality here and a welcoming environment. We believe strongly the customers need to be treated like they’re coming into our house.”

While Lledó hails from Montgomery County, he’s spent his life traveling to Spain, where he has roots in Spain’s eastern coast. This heritage and experience fuel his passion and creativity, and this new menu is no exception. 

When I asked him how he felt about the Michelin Guide using the words “confident” and “intentional” to describe his cooking and restaurant, he laughed through a grin.

“It sounds silly, but all the competitions I’ve participated in over the past five years and having that sports mentality helps to deliver a great product. For me, every day is a tournament.”

With this mindset, it’s easy to understand why creating the menu under a bit of pressure was both challenging and not for Lledó. He views the larger plates as an opportunity for more physical space to make an impression, but also a puzzle of more ingredients to fit into harmony. And for someone who likes to provoke all the senses, that’s not always easy. 

“There’s a lot of trial and error when it comes to putting a dish together. Right now, we’re working on menu items for the rest of the year.”

For Lledó, his customers are his North Star, constantly reminding him of what’s important. And he continues to use them as his guide when planning seasonal adjustments for the upcoming months. 

He knows Slate isn’t a place where people stop by weekly to grab dinner: Slate is an experience, a special occasion, a celebration. And it’s this self-awareness that allows Slate its sense of fluidity and possibility — where the new menu doesn’t mark failure but beckons success. 

Slate Wine Bar: 2404 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; slatewinebar.com // @slatewinebar

Enjoy this piece? Consider becoming a member for access to our premium digital content. Support local journalism and start your membership today.

 

Share:

Related Articles

No Articles

DISTRICT FRAY MEMBERSHIPS

District Fray members receive unlimited access to our digital content, including new articles published daily. We also have membership options available for locals interested in our print magazine, member events, or first-access tickets and giveaways.

Join Today
COMPANY
About United Fray Team Hiring: Join Our Team!
GET INVOLVED
Become A Member 2023 Editorial Calendar Corporate Wellness Contact: Media Pitches + Advertising Inquiries
EXPLORE
Eat Drink Music Culture Life Play Past Issues Events Calendar
OUR CITIES
Washington D.C. Jacksonville Phoenix
Subscribe

By clicking submit, you agree to receive emails from District Fray and accept our web terms of use and privacy and cookie policy.

© 2023 District Fray.