CNN recently interviewed me for a piece on Washington’s power lunches. This is a story I tackled two years ago in the magazine, dissecting where and when and why power brokers dine.

As I wrote in the magazine, “Today, as Washington has become known not just for its diplomatic and federal power but also for its technological, financial, and cultural clout, there are dozens of new power venues. While power breakfasts in DC are generally focused around three hotels—the Four Seasons, the Hay-Adams, and the Mayflower—lunch can mean anything from gumbo at DC Coast to veal ravioli at Teatro Goldoni to a steak at the Capital Grille to a sandwich in downtown Bethesda.”

Huffington Post, reacting to the CNN piece today, focused on the transactional nature of many of these lunch spots—they’re close by the Hill often and thus places where lawmakers can raise money easily. That’s certainly a not insignificant part of their appeal. “You’re going to be seen, you’re going to see who else is there, and to sort of hobnob and be part of the club,” I told CNN. “The private rooms, the private dining is an important thing if you’re holding a fundraiser or you’re trying to bring together a group to try to have a private conversation.”

While my lunch favorites rotate through the year, I often end up at the Palm and West End Bistro, both of which are just a few blocks from the office.