A RescueDish is a dish or drink that makes use of an ingredient that would often go to waste and creates an innovative dining experience along the way.
Here are some RescueDishes we’ve featured over the years. Check with the restaurant to see if they’re currently serving these dishes and drinks.
Broccoli tots and pickled cabbage butts, spotted on the Dupont Circle RescueDish Walking Tour. Photo by Eleni Maltagliati
Teaism
As far as we’re aware, Teaism was the first restaurant in DC to actively promote its use of “trash”ingredients. Today, an entire section of the menu is dubbed “Trash or Treasure,” including:
Broccoli stem tots – You’ll find broccoli florets in a number of Teaism dishes, but the stems are saved for these famous, cheesy tots.
Pickled cabbage “butts” – Teaism’s Japanese cabbage pancake is divine, but doesn’t make use of the tough ends. Enter “pickled cabbage butts,” which are softened and flavored in a spicy brine.
Seared salmon belly with pickled collard stems – Salmon belly, while popular in Japan, is often thrown away in the U.S. because it’s rather fatty. This dish serves a small portion of belly, which is complemented by collard stems, that have been pickled in a brine made with herb stems.
equinox
We’re so excited to share that Equinox is in the midst of going zero waste. Next time you’re there, make sure to check out some of their waste-reducing drinks, like…
Limoncello. The Equinox bar juices a lot of lemons, which means lots of leftover husks. Rather than throw them away, they’re thrown into a sous vide machine, which with the addition of alcohol and sugar, can transform them into limoncello in just two hours.
Lemon peel limoncello by Equinox. Photo by Eleni Maltagliati
Imperfect apples destined to become ANXO cider. Photo courtesy of ANXO
ANXO
Cider – Certain ciders are made from apples that ANXO forages from local orchards; others are made from crab apples grown on trees right in DC backyards. You can also bring your own surplus apples and they’ll put them to work!
Croquettas – These gooey Spanish appetizers often provide a home for whatever delicious combination of odds and ends are left in the ANXO kitchen.
chaia
Green rice – The green color comes from a wonderfully resourceful place. After using cilantro leaves as a garnish, Chaia blends their stems into a pesto that completes this signature dish.
Green salad – Some of Chaia’s tacos come topped with cilantro-lime jalapeños. The leftover brine helps make a perfect dressing for their salad.
The secret ingredient in Chaia’s green rice is a pesto made from herb stems. Photo by Amanda Joy Photographics
“As chefs, we are frontrunners in food trends, so if we can get people to come in and try otherwise “trashed” food then that’s a win for everyone. ”
Read about more mouth-watering dishes on our previous event pages.
Drool over RescueDish 2017
Friends of RescueDish
RescueDish is proud to have partnered with the following businesses on past events:
ANXO | Beefsteak | Blue Duck Tavern | Equinox | Fancy Radish | Fare Well | Firefly | Little Red Fox | Little Sesame | Lupo Verde | Mellow Mushroom (Adams Morgan) | ReGrained | Sababa | Santa Rosa Taqueria | Teaism | The Salt Line | The Sheppard | Urbana | We the Pizza
Eat More
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