The award-winning chef opens Muse café at the Corcoran.
By Nevin Martell
The casual eatery's seasonal menu is inspired by the museum's newest exhibit, Chris Martin: Painting Big.
Apparently running Equinox and Watershed wasn’t enough work for Todd Gray. The industrious and imaginative chef is opening a third venture, Muse, in the atrium of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The casual café takes inspiration from the museum’s latest exhibit, Chris Martin: Painting Big, which runs from June 18 thru October 23, 2011. Patrons can either sit down or get their meal to-go, so they can eat it outside in the sweltering humidity or back at their desk in a refrigerated office building.
Muse’s menu focuses on dishes made with seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Start off with a cup of sweet corn chowder or tomato or watermelon gazpacho, or maybe the deviled eggs with poached shrimp and green onions. There are several sandwich options for your main course, including a Surry Virginia ham with melted brie, Applewood smoked bacon, avocado and herb mayo. If you want to get in the spirit of the exhibit, have a supersized Painting Big chocolate chip or snickerdoodle cookie for dessert.
The café is open for lunch Wednesday thru Saturday from 10 a.m. –3 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. –1 p.m.
