From the Heights to the Hood: Food Matters' Christy Przystawik

BACK WHEN Cafe Atlantico was the hottest spot in Penn Quarter, Christy Przystawik (then Velie) served as sous and executive chef under José Andrés. At the restaurant's peak, Przystawik dropped below the radar. But last year, she resurfaced, along with her husband, Tom, and her parents, with a new restaurant, Food Matters, in Alexandria.

"It was the culmination of several things," she said of her decision to walk away from Atlantico. One was a revelation prompted by Restaurant Nora's Nora Pouillon. "Nora asked us why we were making something with corn in January. I hadn't thought about it before," said Prystawik. "Eventually, I realized if I ever opened my own restaurant, I wanted to focus on local, seasonal ingredients."

Cameron Station is not just culinarily but physically removed from Penn Quarter — it's a tucked-away section of Alexandria. "We live in D.C. and consulted for other restaurants in D.C. and saw how hard it can be to open a place in town," said Przystawik.

The Przystawiks — and co-investors the Herberts, Christy's parents — wanted to provide a laid-back dining room, bar and convenient place for take-away, all with attention to what's local and in season. (While grabbing a bite may be easy for customers, sourcing for the choosy Tom and Christy isn't always.)

Przystawik is also attentive to wine, which is grouped by flavor profiles. She and her husband host four to six wine events per month, announced via subscription newsletter. "We try to be creative," said Przystawik, "so that people feel comfortable and so that they learn something."

» Food Matters; 4906 Brenman Park Drive, Alexandria; 703-461-3663.

Written by Express contributor Melissa McCart
Photos by Chris Combs/Express