When Phil Rosenthal energetically bounded into Washington, D.C.’s Michelin starred Albi in the trend-setting Navy Yard neighborhood to greet its chef, James Beard Award winner Michael Rafidi, it was a moment of warm reunion. The recent D.C. episode in Season 7 of the epicurean explorer’s hit Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil featured a visit to Rafidi’s beloved café, Yellow, so the get-together on December 19 at Rafidi’s refined homage to cuisine of the Levant was both a homecoming and an exclusive event for Chase United Cardmembers. Elevating the gathering further, Chase made a donation to the non-profit No Kid Hungry, which Rosenthal has supported for years.
As the culinary team busied themselves in the spacious open kitchen dominated by a crackling wood-burning hearth, guests mingled and took the opportunity to meet Rosenthal, who recently wrapped filming the eighth season of Somebody Feed Phil, which is ranked as the number one food-travel show in the world and the longest running non-scripted show in Netflix’s history. The global smash follows on the heels of Rosenthal’s breakout success as the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, which ran for an impressive nine seasons, a total of 210 episodes.
Servers circulated through the crowd, offering a panoply of indulgent small bites, such as oysters coronated with pomegranate granita, dainty lamb meat pies, and tiny pita plump with sunchoke puree. These were complemented by cocktails from award-winning mixologist Vance Henderson, including cardamom-coconut margaritas and brown butter Old Fashioneds hiding a hint of hibiscus.
To kick off the dinner, high-energy celebrity emcee Billy Harris welcomed Cardmembers and introduced the culinary star of the evening. “These are our greatest hits,” Rafidi shared with the excited crowd. “It’s a journey through Levantine cooking.”
Dishes were served family style, designed to supercharge conversation while electrifying the palate. Coal-fired mushroom hummus came topped with an egg yolk and a flurry of truffles, while balls of smokey labneh sat on onion jam. Entrees included smokey lamb kebabs, ground lamb meatballs playfully served on cinnamon sticks, and whimsical little pumpkins stuffed with rice.
The meal was paired with wines by sommelier William Simons, recent winner of the Michelin Guide Washington, D.C. 2024 Sommelier of the Year award. Showcasing wines from across the Arabic-speaking world, Cardmembers sipped sparkling merwah by acclaimed Lebanese winemaker Mersel and Philokalia’s “Grapes of Wrath” crafted from skin-fermented indigenous white grapes grown in from Bethlehem, Palestine.
As plates were cleared, Rosenthal took centerstage with Rafidi for a lively Q&A moderated by Harris. After chef shared that he grew up cooking with his grandfather, an inspiration for pursuing a culinary career, Rosenthal quipped, “I did not come from a family of chefs. My mother was a fantastic person, but cooking was not her strong suit.”
When an attendee queried how Somebody Feed Phil came to be, the globetrotting gourmand shared his elevator pitch that sold it to television executives, “I said, ‘I’m exactly like Anthony Bourdain–if he was afraid of everything.’”
Asked where in the world he loved to eat, Rosenthal namechecked Italy, Japan, and Spain, but added, “You’re so lucky to live here. You have a great food scene.”
After a few more questions from attendees, the dessert course appeared: brown butter knafeh (a traditional Middle Eastern featuring soft cheese topped with crunchy filo strands) with Concord grape sorbet and a platter of two-bite sweets, including apricot Turkish delight and chocolate drizzled ghraybeh cookies.
To round out the memorable evening, Rosenthal took pictures with Cardmembers and signed autographs. Guests left with exclusive gift bags containing a signed copy of the Somebody Feed Phil: The Book, baklava from Albi, and containers of olive oil and za’atar. As they headed out the door, they waved to Rosenthal and Rafidi, giving thanks, warm wishes for a happy holiday season, and hopes they could all do it again sometime. Receiving the same in return, it brought to a close a once-in-a-lifetime dinner in the same spirit of reunion that started it.
To learn more about the one-of-a-kind experiences like this one offered to Chase United Card members — and to view past events — visit unitedcardevents.com.