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November 13, 2025

Confessions of a DC Food Critic: Behind the Scenes with Tom Sietsema

City Cast DC

Confessions of a DC Food Critic: Behind the Scenes with Tom Sietsema

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On Monday, the Washington Post announced that Elazar Sontag would be its new food critic. Which means that Tom Sietsema, who held the job for 26 years, is finally free to dish about what life was really like as the most powerful man in DC’s restaurant scene. We talked to Tom about the way the dining world has evolved, the way the critic’s job has changed, and whether he’d actually make me pay if we go out to dinner together. He also let slip some hints about what he’ll do next. 

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