Tom Sietsema is the author of “Next Course,” an online newsletter devoted to food, entertaining and travel, and the food correspondent for NOTUS, a Washington-based political news site from Politico co-founder Robert Allbritton. Previously, he was the food critic for The Washington Post (2000-2025), where he received a James Beard award for his year-long series on the 10 best food cities in America. A Minnesota native, Sietsema is a graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He has also worked at Microsoft Corp., the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the San Francisco Chronicle and The Milwaukee Journal.
Could you please tell our community a bit about yourself and what you do?
Through 2025, I was the food critic for The Washington Post, where I worked for more than 25 years. I took a buyout from the company in July 2025, but continued to write for the newspaper until my successor was named. I had a great run at the Post, where I wrote weekly restaurant reviews, hosted online dining Q & As, reported feature stories, and published annual spring and fall dining guides. My job took me all over the world.
What are you currently working on or excited about?
My post-Post life has been super busy! I’m writing an online food/travel/entertaining newsletter called “Next Course” on Beehiiv and serving as food correspondent for the fledgling NOTUS, a news site funded by the founder of Politico. I’m also creating culinary tours with the veteran Academic Travel Abroad agency (India is scheduled for 2027) and will begin teaching a food journalism course at Georgetown University next spring. Now that I’m no longer an anonymous critic, I can give speeches and participate in presentations for various industry groups.
One of the most fulfilling things I do now is host monthly "Just Because" dinners in different DC restaurants, where I invite four men and four women from different walks of life. They're like a salon with better food! The point is 1) to support DC restaurants and 2) introduce people who otherwise might not meet each other and spark some joy. I've had TV anchors, three-star generals, Pulitzer Prize winners, improv teachers, chefs, photographers - even an Afghan Uber driver. Friends make friends -real connections - at my gatherings.
How would you describe the restaurant scene in Washington D.C. at the moment?
It’s tricky in DC in the current Administration, for a variety of reasons. Foreign visits are down, for instance, and thousands of residents in the area lost their jobs in cutbacks. But the city continues to impress me as a great place to eat, with (exciting) new restaurants continuing to open.
What are three restaurants in Washington D.C. you particularly enjoy, and why?
DC is an international city. We have a bit of everything.
For a visitor, I would suggest Old Ebbitt Grill for a uniquely American experience; Jaleo for a taste of one of star chef Jose Andres’s many properties (Jaleo is the original); maybe the Occidental for a fancier meal in an historic setting near the White House. The last is from the prolific restaurateur Stephen Starr and feels like a retro supper club.
Are there any hidden gems in Washington D.C. you would like to highlight?
Hidden gems don’t stay hidden for long! But some of my favorite, more personal restaurants in town include Baan Mae for Thai/Laotian from a former refugee; Market Lunch on Capital Hill for fried fish and possibly a newsmaker sighting; Chicatana for excellent regional Mexican fare; Hitching Post for the best soul food; Chercher for Ethiopian, which is BIG here; and Afghania for Afghan food in a pleasant setting in Georgetown.
Which food cities around the world inspire you the most, and where do you like to eat when you're there?
I never have enough time to eat everywhere I want in cities including Los Angeles, New Delhi, and Lima. Some of my favorite restaurants to eat there are Soban, Indian Accent, and Central, respectively. But those cities and those places change from season to season! That said, I love eating in less-publicized markets, too. Minneapolis has great food, for instance.
What is your favourite dish, and where would you like to have it?
Boring as it sounds, roast chicken is a good test of a kitchen. No restaurant makes a more memorable bird than the one at Zuni Cafe in San Francisco.
Is there an up-and-coming chef you think is doing great things?
I’m keeping my eye on Anthony Jones, the top talent in the kitchen at Marcus DC in DC.
Is there a food expert or curator whose restaurant recommendations you would particularly want to hear?
Restaurateur Irena Stein (Alma Cocina Latina) in Baltimore is Venezuela’s best ambassador in the U.S. I love what she has to say about the cooking of her country, the industry in general — any subject, really!
