Hail to the Chef

By Phantom Foodie

It’s football season. It’s also seasoning season. The Commanders are back, and so am I. This is the second installment of my game-by-game pairing of the Commanders schedule with some of my favorite gameday bites around town. This fall, we’re taking that approach again, matching the food to the opponent, the city and the moment. Four games. Four cities. Four menus. Let’s eat.

Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles—Sept. 13, 4:25 p.m. ET

We open on the road in the City of Brotherly Love, which means one thing on the menu: the Philly cheesesteak. Thinly sliced ribeye, sautéed onions and a soft, toasted Amoroso hoagie roll.

For a local option, Santini’s New York Style Deli turns out a cheesesteak worth making the trip for. For an upscale alternative, Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food in Reston Town Center does a slow-roasted French dip that more than holds its own. Also be on the lookout for cheesesteak egg rolls, popular around town.

Round out the spread with a Nordic Knot soft pretzel and a growler from Lake Anne Brew House.

Week 2: Dallas Cowboys—Sept. 20, 4:25 p.m. ET

Everything is bigger in Texas, and your spread should be, too. This is a brisket game. For the ambitious, fire up the smoker and go low and slow with a dry rub of salt, pepper, garlic and smoked paprika.

For those who’d rather leave it to the pros, order a whole brisket from Salt Lick BBQ in Austin, legendary Texas Hill Country ’cue shipped straight to your door via Goldbelly. Plan ahead for shipping time.

For a simpler Sunday spread, pick up Wegmans pulled pork and load it onto a salted baked potato with coleslaw, cheddar and a drizzle of barbecue sauce. Texas would approve.

Week 3: Seattle Seahawks (Home Opener)—Sept. 27, 1 p.m.

The defending Super Bowl champions are coming to Northwest Stadium, and the home opener deserves a spread worthy of the moment.

Start with a smoked salmon dip, cream cheese, capers, red onion and fresh dill, served with bagel chips or cucumber rounds. Simple, impressive and ready before kickoff.

For the main event, bring Seattle’s Pike Place Market soul to your table with clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl. Wegmans or Whole Foods will sort you out on both counts.

Crack open an Elysian Space Dust IPA, Seattle’s own and available at Total Wine & More or Wegmans. Then make your way to Ted’s Bulletin in Reston Town Center for its homemade toaster pastries. The perfect way to spike the football on a home opener win.

Week 4: Indianapolis Colts (London)—Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m. ET

A 9:30 a.m. kickoff is not a hardship; it’s a breakfast opportunity. Set your alarm, fire up the skillet and go full English: eggs, bangers, baked beans, grilled tomato and toast.

A word on bangers: the name dates to wartime food shortages, when sausages were packed with so much water they would literally explode in the pan. Handle with care.

For the drink, skip the mimosa and try a breakfast tea cocktail. Steep a strong English breakfast tea, add bourbon, a drizzle of honey and a squeeze of lemon, and serve it warm. Sophisticated, seasonal and appropriate for a 9:30 a.m. kickoff.

At halftime, pivot to Indianapolis with a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, Indiana’s unofficial state sandwich. Pound a pork loin thin, bread it, fry it golden and serve it on a bun with mustard and pickles. Fair warning: The pork cutlet will dwarf the bun. It’s Indiana’s evolved version of the wiener schnitzel.

For those who’d rather leave the kitchen altogether, Ms. Foodie and I are big fans of Makers Union in Reston Town Center, part of the Thompson Restaurants family and a perfect spot for an early Sunday spread. Double-check their opening time. Cheers, mate.

The schedule is set. The seasoning is ready. Four games, four cities, four menus and Commanders fans hungry for a big season.

Hail to the Chef.

Disclaimer: The Reston Letter and its staff do not receive solicitation, compensation, or special endorsement from any restaurant or culinary establishment. Our reviewer dines unannounced to make the experience genuine. Our mission is to provide our readers with an accurate representation of our reviewer's experience so they may make their own informed decisions. Taste, service, and culinary preferences vary.