Washington, D.C

Ghanaian cuisine has a story to tell at Washington, DC restaurant Elmina

Published

8 months ago

April 28, 2025

Ghanaian cuisine has a story to tell at Washington, DC restaurant Elmina

Elmina, recently launched in Washington DC, and the debut bricks-and-mortar venture of Ghanaian-American chef Eric Adjepong, is a restaurant that celebrates modern Africa while acknowledging the complexities of its past. Its name carries weight, referencing the port that became the site of sub-Saharan Africa’s first European slave-trading post. ‘This restaurant has been a dream of mine since I was a child,’ says Adjepong, who made his name on Food Network TV series Top Chef.

Trade route: Elmina, Washington DC

(Image credit: Photography by Arseni Khamzin)

Designed by local studio Drummond Projects, the 3,720 sq ft, three-storey space intricately weaves historical West African references into its aesthetic, with the restaurant’s six main areas subtly nodding to the prized commodities of transatlantic colonial trade. ‘We wanted to respond to Eric’s vision with a design proposal that would tell the story of migration, resilience and transformation,’ says studio founder and principal Jimmie Drummond.

The journey begins in the cocktail lounge, where a warm interior palette, set against rich leather finishes, Venetian plaster and marble counters, evokes the appearance of tobacco, while the main dining room is wrapped in curved partitions, with textured white wallpaper symbolising cotton. Upstairs, a second dining room, featuring deep indigo tones, plush seating and gold accents, leads out onto an enclosed terrace, its lush green hues and natural elements referencing sugarcane. The lower level’s wood-themed washrooms and staff areas, meanwhile, allude to the timber used to build the transatlantic trade ships.

At the heart of the restaurant, a dramatic curvilinear stairwell, finished in a plaster-like texture, connects the various sections, its sculptural elegance enhanced by a series of striking pendants. Furnishings and accessories come from Crate & Barrel, CB2 and West Elm, while lighting has been sourced from Scout & Nimble, Lightology, Diode LED and Ferguson. Personal touches, such as the handwoven Kente cloth from Ghana gifted by Adjepong’s mother, add charm, as do the custom-made decking, bespoke artwork by Charles Jean-Pierre, wallcoverings by Belarte Studio and artisan-crafted Sailrite fabrics.

The food itself is deeply rooted in tradition. ‘The menu is a love letter to the ancestors and recipes I grew up with,’ says Adjepong. ‘Although the focus is on Ghana, we recognise the entire African continent and the diaspora at large.’ Experiences on offer span a five-course tasting menu, a chop bar selection and a hearty brunch, with standout dishes including the comfortingly smoky jollof duck pot.

‘Jollof is one of the most popular dishes in West and Central Africa. We’re cooking the duck’s leg, breast and eggs in a way I haven’t seen in this country.’

Elmina is located at 2208 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, United States; elminarestaurant.com

A version of this article appears in the May 2025 Design Issue of Wallpaper*, available in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today.

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Washington, D.C

DC leaders considering transit options for new RFK Stadium

Published

35 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

DC leaders considering transit options for new RFK Stadium

The Commanders are set to build a new stadium in D.C., and the debate over how fans will get to and from games is happening right now. On Wednesday, city leaders will join Metro and the Washington Commanders to talk stadium transit.

Posted December 17, 2025 2:05am EST

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Washington, D.C

D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report

TNND — A new report from the House Oversight Committee alleges former D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to manipulate crime data. The committee released the report on Sunday, less than a week after Smith announced she was stepping down.

You’re lulling people into this false sense of security. They might go places they wouldn’t ordinarily go. They might do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do,” said Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association.

Included in the report were transcribed interviews with the commanders of all seven D.C. patrol districts and the former commander currently on suspended leave. One was asked, “Over the last few years, has there been any internal pressure to simply bring down crime statistics?” Their response, “Yes, I mean extremethere’s always been pressure to keep crime down, but the focus on statistics… has come in with this current administration.”

Every single person who lives, works, or visits the District of Columbia deserves a safe city, yet it’s now clear the American people were deliberately kept in the dark about the true crime rates in our nation’s capital,” House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said in a statement.

“They are going to have to regain the public trust. Again, this is a huge integrity issue,” Brantner Smith said.

Among the reports findings, Smith’s alleged pressured campaign against staff led to inaccurate crime data. Smith punished or removed officers for reporting accurate crime numbers. Smith fostered a toxic culture and President Trump’s federal law enforcement surge in D.C. is working.

While Smith has not yet publicly responded to the report, she’s previously denied allegations of manipulating crime data, saying the investigation did not play a factor into her decision to step down at the end of the year.

My decision was not factored into anything with respect to, other than the fact that it’s time. I’ve had 28 years in law enforcement. I’ve had some time to think with my family,” Smith said earlier this month.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also released a statement Monday, writing in part that “the interim report betrays its bias from the outset, admitting that it was rushed to release.”

According to crime stats from the Metropolitan Police Department, since the federal law enforcement surge started in August, total violent crime is down 26%. Homicides are down 12% and carjackings 37%.

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Washington, D.C

National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims

Published

2 days ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims

The first candle lit on the National Menorah near the White House in Washington, D.C., marked the first night of Hanukkah — and solemnly honored victims of the Bondi Beach shooting.

The National Menorah Lighting was held Sunday night, hours after gunmen opened fire on a crowd celebrating the beginning of Hanukkah at Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor, and over three dozen others were being treated at hospitals.

Authorities in Australia said it was a terrorist attack targeting Jewish people.

Organizers behind the National Menorah Lighting said the news from Australia, along with the bitter cold, forced them to consider whether or not to hold the annual event.

After consulting with local law enforcement, National Menorah Lighting organizers decided to hold the event and honor the victims.

Several D.C.-area police departments issued statements confirming there are no known threats to local communities, but are monitoring just in case.

Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich condemned the attack and said community safety is a priority.

“Acts of antisemitism, especially those meant to intimidate families and communities during moments of gathering and celebration, must be called out clearly and condemned without hesitation,” Elrich said. “I have heard directly from members of Montgomery County’s Jewish community who are shaken and concerned, and I want them to know that their safety is a priority.”

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