CityZen’s First Culinary Couple Help Demonstrate Why Tiny Jewel Box Is ‘America’s Coolest Jeweler’!

DUPONT CIRCLE -- Flip open the pages of the most recent edition of InStore Magazine and you’ll find many reasons why the District’s own Tiny Jewel Box was named by the publication as ‘America’s Coolest Jeweler’ for 2011.

It could be the three-story, 12,500-squarefoot store’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places (the structure served as the original Elizabeth Arden building). Or, in deference to its Arden heritage (or Arden red heritage rather), it could be the store’s private “Red Room” for customers wanting a little more discretion.

The jeweler’s partnership with The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C. is also a bonus, which allows anyone who purchases an engagement ring to also borrow up to $20,000 worth of wedding day jewelry from Tiny Jewel Box, in addition to a free night’s stay at the hotel.

But for Washingtonians, particularly city residents with a culinary palette as refined as that of their wardrobes, one need look no further than the wedding story of CityZen Chef Eric Ziebold and Celia Laurent, manager of CityZen’s sister restaurant, Sou’Wester, to understand the loyalty Tiny Jewel Box has earned from its customers over the years which, in turn, no doubt helped it secure the InStore top honor.

Certainly, both were on-site during yesterday’s festivities to serve-up some of the eateries' trademark delicacies, including CityZen’s prized Parker House rolls filled with tender slices of Virginia ham. But the reason for them being there extended beyond their award-winning dishes, as Ziebold and Laurent are also loyal customers of Tiny Jewel Box having purchased their respective wedding band and ring at the store mere months earlier.

Eager to help celebrate with store owners Jim Rosenheim and his son, Matthew Rosenheim, the recently married couple (August 2011) leaped at the chance to provide a truly personalized menu for Wednesday evening’s affair.

And so the VIPs in attendance last night, which included Debbie Dingell, Mark Ein, Jill Hudson Neal, Christina Sevilla, Dave DeSantis, Michelle Jaconi, Gordon Bronson, and Peter Abrahams, to name just a few, found themselves feasting on small plates of lamb couscous, crafted from an old family recipe and served at Ziebold and Laurent’s own wedding reception, while admiring sparkling cases full of designer brands, fine accessories, and even luxe corporate gifts.

A story truly fitting with Tiny Jewel Box’s mantra of “if it’s not special, it’s not here.” And a pretty cool one at that!