Arts & Entertainment

Washington Posto

Gifted new pastry chef joins staff of Logan Circle standout

Published

14 years ago

May 17, 2012

Jonathan Howard

Melissa Taylor and Matteo Venini of Ristorante Posto. (Blade photo by Michael Key)

Ristorante Posto (1515 14th St., N.W.) delivers a fine dining experience with a caring and attentive staff and a menu full of mouth-watering selections. The exquisite dishes send your taste buds soaring, so much so that you forget you’re sitting in a former car dealership.

On a recent Sunday evening, my husband and I and three friends dined there. Our table was located beside the wood-burning pizza oven that warmly fills the back of the dining area. The high ceilings and the rich wood throughout create a comfortable yet elegant dining area. Even at 9:30 p.m., the dining room felt energetic with smiling staff bustling about and diners engaging in lively conversation.

Our waiter approached, greeted each of us individually and asked if we would like to start our evening off with one of the numerous wine offerings. We weren’t sure which bottle to order, so he brought selections for us to try from the Enomatic wine system behind the bar. Thanks to this single-serving wine pouring and preservation system, we were able to select a crisp Kerner white that carried a clean and citrusy flavor.

Posto specializes in classic and modern Italian dishes; its staff works with local farms to obtain organic vegetables and they import Italian ingredients. If you’re looking for an affordable dining experience, you can enjoy one of their delicious pizzas and a glass of wine; if the mood strikes you, though, you can savor a more extravagant multi-course meal.

Chef de Cuisine Matteo Venini unveiled a new spring menu last month. He’s a self–proclaimed “meat guy” and his favorite item is the Antra, a pan–roasted duck breast with pearl onions, dried cherries and spinach in a port wine reduction. We decided on seven entrees from the new menu, which included two different pizzas. Some of our favorites were the Piccante Pizza, the Tonnato and the Cappallacci.

The Piccante Pizza included spicy salami and Italian sausage — a truly delicious thin crust pizza made with the finest ingredients and the perfect amount of heat for a spicy food lover like me. The Tonnato is thinly sliced rabbit loin in tonnato sauce, which was light and fresh but intensely flavorful. The Cappallacci consists of handmade pasta filled with scallops, green peas, with nerodini mushrooms and artichokes and a hint of marjoram. The perfectly balanced earthy flavors of this pasta dish were delectable and the plate barely made it around the table as each diner reluctantly passed it on.

Venini prides himself on providing an authentic dining experience and it shows.

We’d barely finished when dessert menus were handed out. New pastry chef Melissa Taylor was previewing items from a new dessert selection that was unveiled last week. Taylor says she “has been savory cooking all her life, but pastry is her passion.” The item she was previewing was the white chocolate orange semifreddo with blueberry compote and rum sauce. She “loves all of the elements of this dessert” and of the three desserts we ordered, this was our favorite as well.

Other additions to Taylor’s dessert menu include an amaretto-soaked almond cake, a “summery” saffron honey Panna Cotta with passion fruit curd, a tour of chocolate plated on what Taylor refers to as “coffee soil,” and an intriguing chilled cantaloupe soup with tangerine gelee. Taylor said when she began at Posto, Venini wanted a dessert soup on the menu, and that’s how the cantaloupe soup was born.

Venini says he “loves the [Logan Circle] neighborhood and loves the people.” With a dynamic new spring menu that doesn’t disappoint, an attentive and talented staff and a gifted new pastry chef, Ristorante Posto is a treasure in an unassuming location where even the most discriminating taste buds will realize their good fortune.

Related Topics:Dining Matteo Venini Out & About Ristorante Posto

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FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM

Out & About

Love board games and looking for love?

Published

19 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

(Image by VLADGRIN/Bigstock)

Quirk Events will host “Board Game Speed Dating for Gay Men” on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at KBird DC.

Searching for a partner can be challenging. But board games are always fun. So what if you combined board games and finding a partner?

Picture this: You sit down for a night of games. A gaming concierge walks you through several games over the course of the night. You play classics you love and discover brand new games you’ve never heard of, playing each with a different group of fun singles. All while in a great establishment.

At the end of the night, you give your gaming concierge a list of the folks you met that you’d like to date and a list of those you met that you’d like to just hang out with as friends. If any two people put down the same name as each other in either column, then your gaming concierge will make sure you get each other’s e-mail address and you can coordinate a time to hang out.

Tickets cost $31.80 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Calendar

Calendar: January 16-22

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

19 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, January 16

Friday Tea Time will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Bring your beverage of choice. For more information, contact Mac ([email protected]).

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This event is ideal for making new connections and community building or just to unwind and enjoy extended happy hour. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, January 17

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center and SMYAL will host a free film screening of “Mama Bears” celebrating queer youth, resilience, and the power of living authentically. Whether you’re a movie lover, looking to make new friends, or simply want a safe, affirming space to relax, this event is for you. Click this link to RSVP.

LGBTQ People of Color will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. There will be all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

Sunday, January 18

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community and Conversation” at noon at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ+ community. Look for the Go Gay DC sign on the long table near the front window. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Monday, January 19

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

Tuesday, January 20

Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Tae Kwon Do Class with Avi Rome will be at 12:30 p.m. This inclusive and beginner-friendly class, led by Instructor Avi Rome, offers a light warm-up, stretching, and instruction in basic techniques, patterns, and striking padded targets. Each session is designed to be adaptable for all ability and mobility levels, creating a welcoming space for everyone to build strength, confidence, and community through martial arts. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Wednesday, January 21

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Thursday, January 22

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Sports

Capitals to host 10th annual Pride night

Pre-game block party planned at District E

Published

20 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The Washington Capitals will host Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena. A special ticket offer featuring a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey is available at washcaps.com.

Fans are invited to a pre-game Block Party at District E beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature a performance by the band NovaKane. Specialty happy hour food and beverages will be available, as well as giveaways. There will also be a presence by several local LGBTQ+ community organizations.