Thanks to the dedication of chef David Guas, Southern classics at Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery in Arlington, Va., are more authentic than ever. After discovering a historic gristmill that once belonged to George Washington at Mount Vernon Estate, Guas became fascinated with using locally milled cornmeal. He now operates the mill commercially to grind Virginia cornmeal for menu favorites like Classic Cornbread, Lemon Chess Pie and Hush Puppies.
A protégé of chef Jeff Tunks, Guas first gained recognition while baking at DC Coast. His Louisiana-inspired menu at Bayou Bakery has earned praise from outlets such as Bon Appétit, The New York Times and The Washington Post. He is also the author of DamGoodSweet – Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth New Orleans Style (Taunton Press, 2009) and received a James Beard Award nomination. Bayou Bakery is located at the corner of North Courthouse Road and 15th Street in Arlington.