Crispy golden filets of whiting, croaker, or catfish on white bread are sold all over the D.C. region at small carryouts. For years, fried fish businesses like Horace and Dickie’s and Fish in the Neighborhood have been pillars in their community. But, as D.C. rapidly gentrifies, classic fried fish counters have had to adapt. Ruth and Patrick learn why fried fish counters are a crucial part of D.C.’s soul food culture and what their future in this city might look like. Fill out our survey: dishcity.org/survey Leave us a tip at wamu.org/supportdishcity. Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/dishcity ..read more

The center of Northern Virginia’s thriving Vietnamese community is Eden Center in Falls Church. It’s the biggest Vietnamese commercial center on the east coast and draws visitors from all over the DMV region and the country. But before Eden Center, the local Vietnamese community was based in Little Saigon in Clarendon. This week, Ruth and Patrick learn the origins of Little Saigon, how the community relocated there to Eden Center, and what the local Vietnamese community’s future might hold. Patrick and Ruth will be at the Giant Barbecue Battle in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 25. Stop by ..read more

Stuffed ham: IYKYK This hyper-local delicacy from southern Maryland has been a part of life in St. Mary’s County for generations. But, unless you grew up there or have a family connection, you probably have no idea what it is. Patrick and Ruth explore what goes into a stuffed ham, its generations-old history, and how people are eating it now. Patrick and Ruth will be at the Mosaic farmer's market in Fairfax, Va., on Sunday, June 19. Stop by and grab some stickers and magnets! Fill out our survey: dishcity.org/survey Leave us a tip at wamu.org/supportdishcity. Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com ..read more

We’re back! After covering the pandemic’s effect on food delivery and our local restaurant scene, Dish City is dining out again. Behind every iconic food of the Washington region is a story of city change. On the latest season of Dish City, join hosts Ruth Tam and Patrick Fort as they sample iconic meals from D.C., Maryland and Virginia and search for answers to questions like: Why are there so many Chinese carryouts in D.C.’s Black neighborhoods? What’s the seasoning that’s actually on your blue crabs? And…what is stuffed ham ..read more

There are problems with food delivery. There's the reliance on gig laborers who say they are underpaid. Restaurants have to pay high commission fees on top of most orders. And delivery companies wind up operating on threadbare margins and still haven't turned an annual profit. Oh, and soggy fries. We haven't quite solved for that yet. There's plenty to vent about. But, food delivery's not going anywhere. So, on our season finale: Can food delivery be better? Read a transcript of this episode at dishcity.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @dishcity. Leave us a tip at wamu.org/supportdishc ..read more

"Quick sign up! Flexible hours! Be your own boss!" The perks of gig work are well-known, but do they actually reflect the reality of drivers working for food delivery apps? Patrick and Ruth try driving for DoorDash to find out. Plus, they interview three drivers in D.C., Seattle, and Denton, Texas, to see how gig workers are fighting for better working conditions. Read a transcript of this episode at dishcity.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @dishcity. Leave us a tip at wamu.org/supportdishcity. Email us your favorite delivery order at dishcity@wamu.org ..read more

DoorDash started a decade after its competitors, but now controls half of the food delivery market in the U.S. What can we learn from the very first order its founders delivered? And how did all these third-party platforms reshape the way we think of food delivery? Ruth and Patrick explore the origins of DoorDash and examine whether the "magic wand" it built for restaurateurs is working. Read a transcript of this episode at dishcity.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @dishcity. Leave us a tip at wamu.org/supportdishcity. Email us your favorite delivery order at dishcity@wamu.org ..read more

In the '60s, delivering pizzas meant wrapping hot pies in a blanket or driving them to customers over open flames. With those humble (and, uh, life-threatening) beginnings, how did we get to the quick and easy delivery everyone knows and loves today? From heatproof bags to rotating ovens, Patrick Fort and Ruth Tam investigate how 'big pizza' changed the delivery game forever. Read a transcript of this episode at dishcity.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @dishcity. Leave us a tip at wamu.org/supportdishcity. Email us your favorite delivery order at dishcity@wamu.org ..read more

On a cold November night in 1976, a New York City restaurateur named Misa Chang started sliding delivery menus under her neighbors’ doors for her Chinese restaurant in Manhattan. Chang wasn’t the first to offer delivery, but when delivery gained traction in U.S. cities, Chinese restaurants were often the first to do it. As dishes like chop suey and General Tso's chicken became part of American food culture, Americans’ feelings toward the Chinese Americans who made the food (and delivered it) remained stuck in the past. And now, as demand for delivery increases, many American Chinese restaurant ..read more

When you really think about it, delivering food from restaurants to homes is kind of strange. Nothing about the process saves money and it doesn't make the food taste any better! And yet, platforms like DoorDash and Grubhub doubled their revenue during the pandemic. So, what's the history of this weird system? How come Ruth has been slowly ordering more delivery, while Patrick has been ordering less? Welcome to the latest season of Dish City, where we unwrap the past, present and future of delivery. Read a transcript of this episode at dishcity.org Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @dis ..read more