The needs of foodies are permeating many facets of culture -- and in a city with mostly dismal museum dining, the owners of Equinox just made a pretty smart move.
Todd Gray’s Muse, a café focused on "a fresh to-go-style" concept, opened last Saturday at the Corcoran Gallery (500 17th St. N.W.).
Established restaurateur Todd Gray and his wife Ellen Kassoff Gray, who also operate Equinox and the Watershed, didn’t go over the top with the new restaurant’s design.
"The décor is the Corcoran," Ellen Gray said. "It’s not supposed to be a grand, shiny new café" that can hold thousands of people.
She said people can relish "a terrific sandwich and a half bottle of wine while taking in some great art," for what would be "a very real and approachable experience."
The sandwiches and salads are made on site, with ingredients fresh from the same morning, Gray said. The produce is in fact bought from local farmers' markets, such as NoMa (1200 First St. N.E.) and FreshFarm by the White House.
Folks can also enjoy programming every Thursday evening starting mid-July, which will feature chef demos and artisan wine makers. Also, Sunday brunches starting in September will be musically themed with bluegrass and jazz.
The restaurant took the place of Café Des Artistes that used to be set in the Corcoran’s main atrium.
Todd Gray’s Muse is open Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays until 1 p.m.