Chef Chris Jara serves a signature lunch menu at MI Cafe in Bethesda (Photos)

Chef Chris Jara, as seen on Food Network and Netflix cooking shows, served as guest chef in-residence today at MI Cafe, located at the Marriott International headquarters in downtown Bethesda. Four menu items devised by Jara could be purchased individually, or together as a complete lunch. The dishes served were Red Chili Pork and Hominy Tamales topped with cabbage and radish slaw, and served with a charred salsa; a Mexican Street Corn Salad with cotija cheese and lime; a Jamaica Hibiscus drink; and a Buñuelo Dessert Taco with a triple filling of coconut tres leches cake, cheesecake mousse, and pineapple caramel. 

Chris Jara guest chef at MI Cafe in Bethesda for lunch Thursday

MI Cafe, the Marriott International headquarters coffee shop that is open to the public at 7750 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, is continuing its sporadic guest chef series. Chris Jara is the latest celebrity chef from television to participate, and he will be presenting a special lunch menu at the cafe from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM tomorrow, Thursday, August 20, 2026. A San Antonio native, Jara is no stranger to upscale hotel properties, having worked as head pastry chef at several luxury hotels in that city. He's no stranger to TV audiences, either, appearing on Holiday Wars and Summer Baking Championship on the Food Network, and on Sugar Rush Christmas on Netflix.

Bethesda Shake Shack opening pushed back again

It's been a frustrating summer for Shake Shack fans in downtown Bethesda. The opening of the first downtown Shake Shack location at 7535 Old Georgetown Road had been set for June 24, then August, and most recently - according to Google - early September. But the most credible source, the restaurant itself, is now saying the "projected opening" is expected to be September 17. The interior fit-out is complete enough that they've had to put a sign in the window to inform prospective diners that the burger joint is not open for business yet. Here's another sneak peek inside:

Bethesda Curry Kitchen takes summer break until Friday

Bethesda Curry Kitchen at 4860 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda is temporarily closed. The restaurant is taking a short summer break, and will reopen with regular business hours this Friday, August 21, 2026. As longtime readers know, a number of small businesses take a short break for vacations or business travel each summer. Many are family owned and staffed, and there are no "extra" employees to operate the business while they take time off. By the way, here's a chance to recognize a Bethesda business success: Bethesda Curry Kitchen has been going strong more than twelve years since it opened in February of 2014.

Sushi Masato opens in Bethesda

Sushi Masato has opened at 4914 Hampden Lane in downtown Bethesda at the Shoppes of Bethesda. The Japanese restaurant has taken over the former Tako Grill space. That storefront has been divided into two, with the other part soon to open as The One Cake bakery. But you can get a preview of it from the dessert menu at Sushi Masato.

Cafe X-press closing in Bethesda

Cafe X-press will close by the end of the month at 8000 Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The coffee shop and deli's lease has run out, and the owners say they've made the difficult decision to close the business, rather than seek a new location. The restaurant will permanently close on August 29, 2026. Cafe X-press has enjoyed one of the longest runs of success in downtown Bethesda, having originally opened way back in 1994, a heady time when Bethesda was growing on the right track for success instead of turning into Ballston like today. It's a shame that we are seeing more and more of the oldest establishments in Montgomery County closing due to the anti-business policies of the County Council, which combine with the already-slim hospitality industry profit margins to destroy businesses that have survived so many other challenges over the decades.

Bethesda lines up for PopUp Bagels opening

Bagel lovers and the merely curious alike turned out in force for today's grand opening of PopUp Bagels at 7607 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. The line to get in still stretched out the door and around the block over four hours after it opened this morning. Among the draws was the chance to taste the Bethesda-exclusive Chesapeake Spice Cream Cheese schmear, which might have been worth taking the Acela south for the PopUp completist. PopUp Bagels arrived from the bagel capital of the world, New York City, with tremendous hype. Now we'll see if that hype can be sustained as the out-of-town chain confronts the local competition of Bethesda Bagels, Call Your Mother, and Georgetown Bagelry.