A little more than a month after launching its new Chef’s Counter experience, Burnt Hill Farm in Clarksburg is earning regional recognition for one of its signature dishes.
Chef Tae Strain’s Mangalitsa pork shoulder ssam was recently named one of the D.C. area’s most talked-about dishes of May 2026 by Fine Dining Lovers, the culinary publication backed by S.Pellegrino.
The recognition comes shortly after Burnt Hill introduced its highly curated Chef’s Counter experience this spring. The intimate, 12-seat dining experience is set directly on the vineyard and offers guests a front-row seat as Strain prepares and presents a personal tasting menu rooted in seasonal ingredients sourced from Burnt Hill Farm and the broader Chesapeake Bay foodshed.
According to Fine Dining Lovers, the dish serves as the culmination of the tasting menu’s savory courses and showcases two preparations of heritage-breed Mangalitsa pork. One features shoulder slow-braised with onions, garlic, and black bean paste, while the other is a chili-paste-marinated shoulder steak grilled in the wood oven.
The pork is served over seasoned rice alongside a variety of accompaniments including turkey wheat garlic chive crepes, kimchi-shiso crème fraîche, sweet potato hoisin ssam sauce, Bibb lettuce, and sweet pickled daikon. Diners are encouraged to mix and match the components to create their own bites while enjoying wine pairings from the estate or nonalcoholic beverage options.
Strain, a Maryland native with 16 years of culinary experience, brings an extensive résumé to Burnt Hill. He has previously led kitchens at Michelin-starred restaurants including Momofuku in Washington, D.C., The Progress in San Francisco, and PUBLIC in New York City. Most recently, he founded the ggoma Supper Club, a collaborative tasting menu pop-up focused on Mid-Atlantic farmers and artisans.
The Chef’s Counter debuted in April and reflects Strain’s perspective on Asian American cuisine while highlighting ingredients from local farms, waters, and producers. The recent recognition places Burnt Hill’s newest dining experience among the region’s most notable culinary destinations.
