All Purpose to open in D.C.'s hot Shaw neighborhood

PHOTO: Michael Friedman, Michael O’Malley and Sebastian Zutant courtesy of Washingtonian Magazine

Leading the host of restaurants opening in the flourishing and hot Shaw/Bloomingdale neighborhood of D.C., the co-owners of the best Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C. The Red Hen, will be partnering with the co-owners of Boundary Stone to open All Purpose.

Opening in April of this year, All Purpose's 90 dining room seats plus a 15 seat bar will feature a Roman menu accented with Italian American classics in a convivial 2,500 square foot space. The restaurant will anchor, at street level yet another new apartment development in D.C. The Colonel, named after Civil War colonel Robert Gould Shaw. Matthew Broderick fans will remember he played Colonel Shaw in the movie Glory, which also featured Denzel Washington in his star making, Best Supporting Actor Oscar winning role.

Pizza will be the heart of Chef Michael Friedman’s (also a co-owner of Red Hen) food program at All Purpose, including a distinctive dough capturing the “breadier” qualities of the old school deck oven pizzas of his youth with a rustic, chewy, caramelized crust. Chef Friedman anticipates the Cossimo, named after one of his favorite Jersey Italian haunts, topped with black truffle, wild mushrooms, green onion and Taleggio will become the fan favorite.

In addition to pizza, the menu will offer a selection of salumi and bruschetta, as well as hot and cold antipasti selections to start. Guests can enjoy Stratiatella bruschetta, with sweet potato agrodolce and olive oil, or a “Bronx Board” featuring a selection of cheeses and meats served with fig jam, housemade giardiniera, chianti mustard, and toast.

On the beverage side, Sebastian Zutant (a co-owner of Red Hen), along with Gareth Croke and Colin McDonough (the two co-owners of Boundary Stone), will be in charge of the beverage program. A 50-bottle wine list of American and Italian varietals, plus regional beers and hand-selected craft spirits, and a classic cocktail menu will be on-hand.

To round out a meal, for desserts, the team is partnering with Tiffany MacIsaac, Pastry Chef/Owner of Buttercream Bakeshop, who will work with Chef Friedman to offer Italian-inspired pastries and confections, such as Rainbow cookie cake and Gianjudja pot de crème.