Open Hand

Just days before the DC Metro region received its stay-at-home orders, chef John Wood was negotiating on a lease to make his dream come true – to open his own restaurant. Looking back now, John is so grateful the negotiations stalled.

Without missing a beat, John quickly pivoted by rallying other out-of-work or displaced chefs and entrepreneurs in the food industry to create a new concept– Open Hand (formerly Impasta Artisans). Open Hand has a simple concept— delivering food kits weekly throughout the DC region to families hungry for restaurant-quality homemade pastas, sauces, fresh cheeses, charcuterie, and even gourmet dog treats. John and his team have expanded from weekly deliveries to selling at many local farmers markets each weekend.

The team at Open Hand is committed to sharing their craft with the community during these turbulent times. Their artisanal pastas feature a blend of Italian and domestic flours, Italian spring water, and fresh eggs sourced from small family farms in Pennsylvania. Open Hand believes that strict adherence to proper technique, when combined with the best ingredients, yields unparalleled results. Their testament to quality and detail is carried on in everything we do, from our handmade ravioli to our fresh tagliatelle.