Tucked near the shady promenades of Georgetown's Prospect St., the Peacock Cafe is a restful gem just steps from M St.'s bustling shops. There, Chef Maziar Farivar—a three-time invitee to the prestigious James Beard House in New York City—blends elegant, contemporary food from America and abroad with a laid-back atmosphere that attracts the full spectrum of Georgetown crowds, from brunching families to big-name politicians. (Bill and Hillary Clinton have even been spotted there by the Washington Post's Reliable Source.)

In a dining room decorated with large, colorful modern art, these varied visitors peruse a menu of American fare, much of which incorporates sustainable ingredients such as organic chicken and hormone-free beef. Pasture-raised and grass-fed rib-eye steak arrives in a cloud of Peacock's signature fries, which BlackBook describes as "dangerously delicious." And pistachio-crusted cod benefits from a tangy and sweet sauce of dried fruits and almonds. Diners can quench thirsts with a fresh-squeezed elixir from the juice bar, or select a pairing from an extensive wine list that, like the coatroom at a genie convention, contains dozens and dozens of bottles.

When he's not wowing crowds with his delicate preparations, Chef Farivar busies himself by burnishing America's image abroad as a part of the State Department's new Diplomatic Culinary Partnership. As an affiliate of the American Chef Corps, Farivar joins culinary luminaries including Rick Bayless, Jose Andrés, and Ming Tsai on a mission to share the flavors that define America with mouths around the world.