The point is this: I have received too many comments suggesting that the contest shouldn't include so many high-end dishes.It's classism, they insist. People can't afford these dishes, they tell me. But do they investigate those dishes? There is a reason that the voting period is so long: So people can go try the dishes, if they want and can afford to.

Some of these so-called elitist dishes are not that expensive. Palena's chicken is $15. The chicken croqueta at Jaleo is only $6.50. The crispy Ipswich clams at Kinkead's are $17. People who care about food in D.C. could sample these dishes without breaking the bank.

Granted, most people won't go to Komi or CityZen just for this contest. I get that. But I'm asking for some tolerance here. There are plenty of affordable dishes up for consideration. The higher-end restaurants deserve their chance, regardless if they don't stand a chance against the more populist restaurants.

To say that high-end dishes should be put in the contest, because a lot of people can't afford them, is a sort of reverse discrimination.

What you apparently fail to understand, is that many people who are voting in your poll have probably never eaten at CityZen or Komi, but they have eaten at places like Ben's. I don't think their voting is meant as an objection to the price of either the rolls or the goat, i think it is a function of people not voting for what they've never had.

As an example, I frequent many high end (and quite a few low end) restaurants in the city -- and I've never had either the rolls or the goat. I'd be happy to vote for Palena's chicken, or Matchbox's sliders, or Ben's chili-cheese fries (I am not a fan of the half-smoke, sorry), but I won't vote for something I've never had.

I tried to address that confusion with this item, which I realize not everyone has read: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2009/10/22/a-word-of-clarification-over-the-d-c-dish-hall-of-fame/

Mike and Mony, you're right about the public vs. chefs/critics voting, and I've know this could happen all along. I will likely include a chefs/critics voting before the whole project wraps in Dec.

Thanks for the good feedback.

-Tim

This poll would be redundant in Philly or Baltimore. You'd get near universal agreement on the dish, and the only debate would involve who does it best.

I've had all but twelve of the thirty nominees, and I've lived in DC for more than a decade. I'm going to guess that puts me ahead of a lot of people who are reading and voting. And although I've heard rave reviews for Frank Ruta's roast chicken, I'm not going to vote on it without having tried it myself.

Whether you intended it this way or not, you're getting a Hall of Fame that represents the most widely enjoyed - and not necessarily the most impressive - dishes in the city. Both types of lists have value, but opening up the vote to the general public instead of chefs or other industry professionals pretty much guarantees you'll end up with the former instead of the latter.