Chef Elias & Mélange foods inc

Mélange Foods Inc. is the new home for Chef Elias Taddesse’s three innovative restaurant concepts under one roof in the heart of DC. Each concept showcases his passion for flavor, creativity, and cultural fusion.

The new spot brings together Mélange, Moya, and Doro Soul Food under one roof. Mélange is Chef Elias’ take on classic comfort food, dishing out gourmet burgers and sides that quickly became a local favorite. Moya fuses Ethiopian and Mexican flavors for a bold, fresh twist. And Doro serves up award winning, Ethiopian inspired fried chicken that's crispy, juicy, and unforgettable.

At Mélange Food Inc., Chef Elias brings different food traditions together under one roof, delivering big flavor, creative dishes, and something for everyone.

Moya

Chef Elias Tadesse’s exciting new Ethiopian inspired taco joint. Moya brings a bold new bite to DC, where the spices of Ethiopia meet the street food swagger of tacos. It’s where tradition meets creativity, and every bite tells a story rooted in culture, spices, and heart. Come hungry. Leave changed.

ABOUT CHEF ELIAS

Ethiopian born and French trained, Chef Elias is a Michelin-starred talent making waves in DC’s food scene. After earning accolades like Eater DC’s Chef of the Year and a James Beard semifinalist as Emerging Chef, he continues to push boundaries with bold, flavorful concepts. From fine dining in New York to beloved pop-ups in Union Market, Elias has built a culinary journey rooted in culture, creativity, and community. His restaurants, Moya reflect his passion for storytelling through food and was birthed from his personal journey with food and friendships. Tacos what he considers to be the best type of bite-size delight that friends and family can share and form memories around the table.

Doro Soul Food

Doro Soul Food from Michelin-starred Chef Elias Taddesse, infuses traditional American soul food with Ethiopian flavors. With menu items like Ethiopian-style fried chicken, and the chef’s unique spin on macaroni & cheese, cornbread, and collard greens, plus vegan crispy tenders and sandwich options, Doro Soul Food offers takeout and delivery from Washington, DC’s history shaw neighborhood.

Doro Soul Food is Chef Taddesse’s second restaurant concept in Washington, DC, joining Mélange, which is best known for its award-winning burgers.

About Chef Elias Taddesse

Ethiopian-born, French trained, Michelin-starred Chef Elias Taddesse’s is a two-time restaurateur and a rising star in the Washington restaurant scene. Since launching Mélange two years ago, he has been named a finalist for the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s RAMMYs Rising Culinary Star of the Year 2022, and Eater DC’s Chef of the Year in 2021.

In January 2023, Chef Elias Taddesse was named as a 2023 James Beard Awards Semifinalist for the “Emerging Chef” category. This is defined by the James Beard Foundation as “A chef who displays exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability, and who is likely to make a significant impact in years to come, while contributing positively to their broader community.”

From his time studying under legendary chefs in France, to receiving a Michelin star as head chef at Caviar Russe in New York City, to opening his own concept, Mélange, Elias has always used food to delight people and tell stories with every ingredient.

Chef Elias started his first DC pop-up in 2016 at Neal Place Tap & Garden – a summer project by Mixtress Gina Chersevani. Later that year, he started a burger pop-up called Salt n’ Pepper Burgers at Harvey’s Market butcher shop in Union Market. In January 2017, Elias would go on to move his pop-up to Wet Dog Tavern with the new name Melange, which became a brick & mortar restaurant in 2020. He opened his most recent restaurant, Doro Soul Food, in October, 2022.