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A simple navy bean soup with ham hock and mashed potato, on the menu of the United States Senate cafeteria every day since 1903 and still in DC's diner repertoire.
Senate bean soup has been on the menu of the United States Senate restaurant in the Capitol every day, almost without exception, since 1903. The origin story credits Senator Fred Dubois of Idaho, who in 1903 mandated the soup; an alternative credit goes to Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota. The version is austere: navy beans simmered with smoked ham hocks, mashed potato to thicken, onion and seasoning, nothing else. The Senate kitchen will give the recipe out to any caller; it is among the most-published recipes in DC history. Outside the Capitol, the soup turns up at Bullfeathers on Capitol Hill and Old Ebbitt Grill.
2 editor picks for Senate bean soup in Washington DC, ranked by editorial score. All Washington DC signature dishes · Senate bean soup across every city.
Florida Avenue Grill in Washington DC is the LeDroit Park diner at the corner of Florida and 11th since 1944, the city's oldest soul food counter.
OrderHalf-smoke breakfast plate
TipBreakfast runs all day; the half-smoke plate with grits and eggs is the editorial morning order.
Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington DC is the city's oldest saloon, founded 1856 and now serving 1.5 million guests a year across four bars at its 15th Street.
OrderThe crab cake plate; the kitchen runs through 1000 cakes a week and the binder is invisibly thin.
TipThe 15:00-18:00 oyster Happy Hour is the city's best seafood deal at $1.95 each; sit at the Old Bar.
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