Eater DC: Michelin-Starred Chef Matt Baker Opens Michele’s at the Eaton Hotel

The dish that’s most special to Michelin-starred chef Matt Baker at Michele’s, the smart new upscale restaurant he debuted at the Eaton Hotel this week, isn’t even on the menu. 

Michele’s gets its name from Baker’s late mother, a New Orleans native who raised him in Houston. When patrons sit down to dine, each receives a small canapé of warm artichoke velouté dusted with black truffle powder. This small gift, or lagniappe (as it’s called in Louisiana), is a homage to Baker’s mother.

“My mom’s favorite food at Super Bowl time was an artichoke soup. This was the last dish I ever cooked for her. It will be our standing canapé at the restaurant forever,” he said.

Much of the menu at Michele’s pulls from Baker’s time spent growing up in Houston and visiting his mother’s family in New Orleans. He appreciates that it’s not clear what this might mean for diners who only associate the cities with Tex-Mex, barbecue, or Creole food.