Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force

New food truck regulations will be published in the D.C. Register on Jan. 20. [HuffPo via WaPo]

Chipotle boss Steve Ells has "a really funky spot" in mind for D.C.'s second ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen. [The Daily Meal]

Georgetown Candy Bar, R.I.P. [Prince of Petworth]

Burger King now delivers! (If you live in Springfield, Gaithersburg or Germantown.) [Eater DC]

The full bar at Heritage India Dupont Circle has re-opened as of Dec. 22. Our menu of wine, beer and cocktails is available during lunch, happy hour and dinner. We sincerely look forward to serving you again. At the same time, we reiterate our pledge to cooperate with the police department and city officials to ensure the safety of the dining public.

Photo courtesy of Heritage India

Read the full announcement, if you care to, after the jump:

THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARD CANCELS HERITAGE INDIA BRASSERIE & LOUNGE’S ENTERTAINMENT ENDORSEMENT

Washington, DC—On December 13, 2011, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (Board) cancelled  the entertainment endorsement of Heritage India Brasserie & Lounge (Licensee) and referred the matter to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for further enforcement action.

As a result of a patron being shot and multiple patrons seriously injured at the licensed establishment, MPD Chief of Police, Cathy Lanier sent an emergency Notice of Closure to the Licensee on November 27, 2011.  In order for the establishment to reopen on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, the Board determined that the Licensee must satisfy the following conditions:

1)      Licensee shall surrender its Entertainment Endorsement for cancellation.  It shall not offer music or entertainment of any kind, including disc jockey.  The Licensee may offer background music.

2)      Licensee may not use any outside promoters in any aspect of its business.

3)      Licensee shall close the licensed establishment with all patrons removed from the premises, no later than 12:00 midnight, seven days a week.

4)      Licensee shall provide food service from a menu to ordering customers during all hours the establishment is open to the public.

5)      Licensee shall submit by Friday, December 16, 2011, an updated Security Plan that meets the Board’s satisfaction to include the following items:

1. How the establishment will handle assaults, fights or verbal altercations that occur on or near the premises;
2. The establishment’s process for notifying MPD; and
3. A detailed description of the establishment’s newly installed camera security system, addressing operability, coverage, and location of cameras.  This includes a diagram of the camera locations and a requirement that video footage be made available within 24 hours to law enforcement and ABRA investigators.

Licensee’s ability to remain open after December 21, 2011, will be contingent upon the Board’s satisfaction with the camera security system whose assessment and evaluation will be determined by an ABRA investigator following a walk-through with the Licensee.  The Board will review the supplemental investigative report to determine whether the cameras achieve adequate coverage of the interior and exterior of the establishment.

Chef Raynold Mendizabal

Dupont Circle burger joint Black & Orange (formerly known as Rogue States) aims to open its second location near the corner of 14th and U Streets NW later this month. "We're shooting for before Christmas," chef-owner Raynold Mendizabal tells Y&H.

If you've been waiting seemingly forever for Mendizabal to finally bring his whimsically titled beef patties ("Ciao Down," "Pardo My French") to non-Shake Shack-occupied territory east of Connecticut Avenue NW, there's a reason.

You'll recall that his original location was shut down last October after a neighboring law firm sued the burger joint over its cooking fumes. Mendizabal reportedly spent some $300,000 to correct the problem, involving some 12 floors worth of duct work. "I had to change everything," he says. "I have the ventilation now of a nuclear submarine."

The restaurant reopened over the summer with a new name: Black & Orange. But the litigation and ventilation work in Dupont delayed its expansion plans.

Mendizabal had initially hoped to open the second spot in late August or early September. His Logan location is finally about ready to fire up its grill. Just as soon as Pepco allows him to flip the switch. "As soon as I have that, I open in a week," he says.

The new place will offer much of the same stuff as the existing one: same burgers (with one notable exception), same hours (open until 5 a.m.), even the same number of seats (68).

One lingering question: how's the ventilation?

"The ventilation is exactly as good as it was over there," a resolute Mendizabal tells me during a tour of the yet unopened 14th Street space on Monday.

Despite the court ruling, it seems, the chef-owner isn't convinced he had a problem in the first place. "It's just that some lawyers decided I had to [redo the ducts]," he says.

Clearly, some forms of fuming are harder to resolve than others.

Regardless, the issue is far less substantial at the Logan location, which requires ventilation for only a single floor. "We're up to code," he proudly reports.

Beyond the expense and delay, the hiatus in Dupont did cause Mendizabel additional headaches, arriving in the form of Pat LaFrieda-ground beef on potato buns. Danny Meyer's heralded Shake Shack opened just down the block.

The timing of the New York transplant's arrival—while Mendizabal was busy with the duct work—clearly irks the local guy. "We created a market and when we had to close, they opened,"  he says. "And now they're feeding off the market we created."

The competition is primarily during lunchtime. Shake Shack isn't open nearly as late as Black & Orange. And the wee hours are often Mendizabal's heaviest business times. He expects late nights in Logan to be just as busy—if not busier. And Danny Meyer has yet to encroach on that stretch of turf.

The one major difference in terms of the menu will be a new signature burger that's exclusive to the new location. Mendizabal already has a quirky name in mind for the thing. He just isn't ready to dish it up quite yet. But, he's dropping hints.

"It's a play on a bloody mary," he says. "It may have a little bit of vodka in it."

Photo by Chris Shott

Heritage India

Heritage India Statement on Nov. 27 Incident

Heritage India extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Jhonte Coleman. We wish a quick and healthful recovery for the others who were injured following a private party on Nov. 27.

Heritage India is proud to be among Washington’s world-class restaurants, offering guests from around the city, country and the world a memorable fine-dining experience. Heritage India often hosts wedding receptions, businesspeople, government officials, foreign diplomats and other dignitaries for large lunch and dinner banquets.

Located in one of Washington’s premier nightlife areas, Heritage India Dupont Circle is an attractive venue for private after-hours events on weekend nights.

On Nov. 27, two patrons at a private party began to fight and security staff immediately escorted both men off the premises.

With tension remaining in the venue, management decided to shut down the event immediately. Music was turned off, lights were turned on and guests were asked to leave.

As patrons were exiting, a person outside of Heritage India shouted that there had been a stabbing on the street.

Heritage India staff immediately called 911 and security began an emergency-response lockdown. At this point, only the security officers, event promoters and restaurant staff were inside the restaurant.

The alleged stabbing victim was leaning against the main door of the restaurant and security brought him inside to render medical aid.

Contrary to published reports, the stabbing did not occur inside Heritage India.

Heritage India is reviewing its contracting procedures for private events and is prepared to participate in a constructive dialog with police and city officials to promote a safe, hospitable environment for nightlife activities.