Love butter chicken? The famous, creamy Indian dish is getting its flowers around the DMV area this week with the inaugural Butter Chicken Festival.
Visit participating restaurants around Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC, to taste their individual takes on the popular dish, available through October 20. A portion of the sales from the festival will benefit World Central Kitchen, celebrity chef José Andres’ nonprofit dedicated to feeding those in need.
While some restaurants will offer a classic version of the dish, many are serving up creative spins. Try dishes like Taco Bamba’s butter chicken taco, a sesame version at Chiko, and Rupa Vira’s butter chicken spaghetti.
Participating restaurants include:
- Pappe
- Commonwealth Indian
- Rasa
- Rupa Vira
- MITA
- Cranes
- Karma Modern Indian
- Casa Teresa
- Chiko
- Rangoli
- Taco Bamba
In addition to the special meals, there will be a live cooking demo and book signing with author Monica Saigal on October 20 at the Pohick Regional Library in Burke. Saigal recently released a children’s book called Papa’s Butter Chicken, with a forward from Andrés. The book “emphasizes the importance of cooking and sharing meals with loved ones,” according to a news release.
“Butter chicken is more than just a dish — it’s a bridge between cultures, flavors, and traditions,” said Saigal. “Through this festival, we aim to celebrate its universal appeal while supporting World Central Kitchen’s mission to provide meals in times of crisis. I’m thrilled to have so many talented chefs join in this effort and look forward to sharing my new book with the community.”
Feature image of butter chicken taco from Taco Bamba by Greg Powers
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