James Bond might have downed langouste in France, tagliotelle verde in Italy, or stoned crab with melted butter in the United States, but in London, the world's most famous sleuth tended to dine simply.
At home, he usually had a simple breakfast of eggs, bacon, wholewheat toast with strawberry jam or orange marmalade, and espresso with cream.
Favouring simple country fare, he would usually lunch at the staff canteen, and he dined at Blades, his private club, or Scott's, his favourite restaurant. In New York City, he favoured Sardi's, where he was particularly fond of cavier. But where would be have eaten in Washington, DC? It's anyone's guess, really, but here are a few possibilities.
Zentan
The sleek, minimalist decor of Zentan (which takes its name from the Mandarin word for "Spy") serves as a stunning backdrop for Chef Susur Lee's Washington, DC, outpost. The restaurant is located inside the swanky Donovan House, part of the Thompson Hotels family. Order the signature Singapore Slaw and feast on some of the tastiest sushi in town as you relive your spy adventures.
Zola
Add a little thrill to your dinning plans when you tuck into a table at Zola, named for the famed French author and spy (and adjacent to the International Spy Museum). On the menu, you'll find Executive Chef Bryan Moscatello's "straightforward American cuisine." All is not as it seems in the dining room, however, where spy holes and revolving doors play a role in design elements.
Chadwick's
Dinner comes with a little spy history on the side at Chadwick's in Georgetown. The unassuming restaurant earned a spot on the spy tour map when Aldrich Ames lunched there with a KGB operative in 1985—and handed over top-secret documents that led to the downfall of CIA operations in the Soviet Union.
To Be Continued
Copyright: Michael Taylor Pictured: the National Spy Museum Photo Credit: Washington.org Restaurant Reviews: Courtesy of Washington.org (modified)