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The Dish: D.C. Food News You Can Use Live
The District's dining scene is one that's booming. Catch the latest food, drink and dining updates on WTOP Living's food list.
Make sure you catch the latest on D.C.'s growing restaurant hot spots, cocktail programs and dining deals with WTOP Living. Here's what's happening this week.
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Millennial Week is gearing up for its second year, June 13-20. There are plenty of events on the calendar, but one in particular is grabbing at our stomachs.Watch local chefs face off in Millennial Made on Friday, June 19 at 1776 (1133 15th Street NW, Washington DC). The competing pros from Eco Caters, Dirty South Deli, Quickstep Catering and Haute Saison will showcase their culinary gadgets and techniques at live cooking stations. Attendees can sample foods from each station and cast a vote for their favorite. -
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On Sunday, June 7, the folks at Friendship Hospital for Animals will step outside of the facility's doors to party with its neighbors for a Tenleytown Block Party. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include complimentary cotton candy, popcorn, pet treats and some food items for purrrrchase. (Sorry.)Zumba classes, a mobile adoption center, a moon bounce and a photo booth will be a part of the party as well. (The block party will take place at 4611 41st Street NW.)Friendship will also host an open house to show off its newly expanded facility. Staff will offer free mini tours at the hospital, located at 4105 Brandywine Street NW.
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Summer's here and it's time to get cooking. From salads to grilled pizzas, pies and more, we've got a round-up of the best summer food and drink recipes!
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Summer is back and so is D.C.'s Potomac River food boat, Nauti Foods.The food boat (think of a food truck, but sans wheels and a road) first took to the Potomac late last summer, and its owners Tamar Berger and Ari Fingeroth are gearing up for another season and some exciting additions.This summer, Nauti Foods has been approved for beer sales, which Fingeroth says should start around Memorial Day weekend. The business is partnering with local breweries Right Proper, Atlas, DC Brau and 3 Stars to keep a rotating supply of fresh pints on tap. Yes, on tap!Fingeroth, who stresses a two-beer maximum to ensure safe boating, says the boat will be equipped with two types of beers on any given weekend. In addition to beer, the boat will also have some cold brew coffee from Compass and "some fresh lemonade concoctions from Mike Isabella's G restaurant on a nitro tap.""We have also partnered with Bullfrog Bagels, they will be making us some jump pretzels and their home made dijon dipping sauce," Fingeroth says.The classic Nauti dog will be back, as will the gelato, ice cream and other staple snacks.Fingeroth says another big Nauti development is the business' partnerships with several river conservation groups.
"Our hope is that the more people enjoy the river through boating, they will also have an increased interest in preserving and protecting the water. We will have several programs going on this summer to help get out different action items that people can do and trying to educate people on the
river."Nauti Foods hopes it can help make the river a nicer place, too. It has a few projects in the works, such as a cleaner and quieter generator, a cleaner and quieter motor, a new keg system, etc.; it launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds needed.
"[We're] looking to expansion to multiple boats in the area and expansion beyond the immediate waterway," Fingeroth says. "We hope that the more areas we can visit, the more people can learn about and enjoy their own local waterways. think Nauti Lake Anna, Nauti Annapolis, Nauti Austin, Nauti Boston..."
The Nauti Foods crew. (WTOP/Rachel Nania) -
Making summer plans? Perhaps trying out new D.C. bars is on the list? If so, you'll need a passport.The DC Passport Program partners with more than 40 local bars to promote 2 for 1 deals. Passports, which are $20 each, are valid Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day at participating bars, including Room 11, Hank's Oyster Bar, New Columbia Distillers, Slipstream and more.
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On Thursday, May 21, Compass Rose -- the T Street restaurant known for its international street food -- will transform into a Korean night market.Inspired by her recent travels to Korea, owner Rose Privite is teaming up with chef Danny Lee of Mandu and chef Jesse Miller of Par Pilar and Cafe Saint-Ex to prepare a diverse menu of Korean street foods. Expect Dduk bok gi (spicy rice cakes), galbi (barbecue short ribs) and more.Tickets are $20 a person and can be purchased via events@compassrosedc.com. There will be a cash bar for Korean beer and cocktails and plenty of karaoke.
Compass Rose owner Rose Previte (Courtesy Compass Rose Facebook) -
Champagne and oysters: there's no better combination. And on Saturday, June 6, Black Jack and Peal Dive Oyster Bar will host a tasting event featuring pairings of oysters and grower Champagne's from the restaurant's new menu. Expect a variety of East and West Coast oysters.The tasting will take place from 3 to 5 p.m.; tickets are $55 and can be purchased by calling 202-319-1612. Guests will receive pairings of one glass of champagne and two oysters; oyster po'boys and cayanne-bacon popcorn will also be passed.
Courtesy Pearl Dive Facebook -
Local fast-casual favorite Cava Grill announces it will open its ninth location in the D.C. area at the Kamp Washington Shopping Center (11046 Lee Highway) in Fairfax, Virginia. To celebrate the new location, Cava Grill will offer free lunch and dinner on Wednesday, May 26, with an encouraged donation to the local nonprofit partner City Blossoms. Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May, 26; the restaurant will be open for regular hours on Wednesday, May 27.The new location will feature beer and wine on tap and a menu of rotating seasonal soups, in addition to its traditional menu. Later this summer, Cava Grill will add two more Northern Virginia locations: one at Reagan National Airport and another in Ashburn, Virginia.
Courtesy Cava Grill Facebook -
Tysons Corner is now a destination for craft beer and bourbon. On May 14, Barrel & Bushel opened to the public. The American-style restaurant features more than 20 craft beers on tap, a variety of bourbons and a menu filled with locally sourced ingredients. Expect everything from smoked prime rib sliders to a Maryland blue crab roll to a Persian cucumber salad and more.
Courtesy Barrel & Bushel -
Few things in life are tastier than a classic grilled cheese sandwich, but sometimes it's fun to shake things up. Elite Daily can help. The publication is out with a list of "30 grilled cheese sandwiches you didn't know could possibly exist." Get creative with everything from asparagus, pretzel and baked potato additions.
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It's time to get your lobster on this summer -- and you don't even need to plan a trip to Maine. Beginning Wednesday, June 17, The Met Bethesda will host lobster Wednesdays. Diners can choose from four lobster options -- including twin Maine lobsters, salt and pepper fried twin Maine lobsters, a lobster roll and lobster mac and cheese -- all priced at $24.99.Lobster Wednesdays will take place from 5 p.m. to close; Met Bethesda is located at 7101 Democracy Blvd. in Bethesda, Maryland.
Courtesy The Met Bethesda -
Want to dine with Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal? You don't even need a dress for the occasion. That's because the dinner will be held at an urban farm off of K Street in Northwest D.C., Dining Bisnow reports.DC Greens is hosting a farm dinner on Tuesday, June 2 to launch the organization's culinary council. Participating chefs include Bryan Voltaggio, Spike Mendelsohn and Mike Isabella, as well as The Red Hen's Mike Friedman and Buttercream Bakeshop's Tiffany MacIsaac.Virginia's Early Mountain Vineyards will pour the wine and Owen Thomson will shake the cocktails.Tickets to dinner start at $250; tables go for $600. Learn more on the event's website.
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On Saturday, May 16, the newly opened Northeast D.C. distillery, One Eight, will celebrate World Whiskey Day with the debut of Untitled No. 1, an eight-year bourbon, finished in an Oloroso sherry cask.Join the distillers for a first taste, tours and food. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to take a bottle home. Read more about One Eight on wtop.com.
The pot stills at One Eight Distilling. (WTOP/Rachel Nania) -
In honor of Mother's Day, Dog Tag Bakery is baking up a few limited-edition raspberry cream pies -- a recipe that comes from a friend of the bakery in honor of her mother.Whole pies can be ordered by calling 202-407-9609; the cost is $35. Of course, you can also stop by the bakery and get a slice for $4.95. Dog Tag is located at 3206 Grace Street in Georgetown, and it's open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m."Pie time" is Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pies at Dog Tag Bakery. (Courtesy Facebook) -
Are your taste buds ready for Taste of Arlington?
The day-long event -- which features food from more than 50 restaurants, live music and family-friendly games -- takes place Sunday, May 17 from noon to 6 p.m. in Ballston (along Wilson Boulevard from N. Glebe Road to N. Quincy Street and from Wilson Boulevard along N. Stuart Street.)
Here's what to expect at the food- and family-focused festival:- A Kids on the Run 5K;
- 3 stages for live music;
- A bark park, featuring a World Pup tournament;
- A beer and wine garden;
- A VIP Pavilion with food and beverage pairings and more.
Participating restaurants include Yona, Water & Wall, Ben's Chili Bowl, Pizza Vinoteca, Northside Social, Lyon Hall, Mussel Bar & Grille, Liberty Tavern, Red Rocks, Fuego Cocina y Tequileria, Kapnos Taverna and more.General admission to Taste of Arlington is free; tickets for food, drink and games will be sold at the event, or can be purchased online.
The local beer and wine offerings at Taste of Arlington.
Pups participate in the Would Pup Tournament in the Dog Park at Taste of Arlington.
Unlimited food and drink is available in the VIP tent at Taste of Arlington. -
Have a great idea for a D.C. food business? Want to open your own restaurant, pop-up or market booth? Now's the time to put your plan into action.Mess Hall, Union Market and Chef Ris Lacoste are hosting a contest, called Launch Pad, for promising food start-ups. Applications will be accepted through Monday, May 11, after which the applicant pool will be narrowed to five finalists.In July, the finalists will pitch their concepts to a panel of industry experts, including Patrick O'Connell and Aaron Silverman, at Union Market's Dock 5. The winner will take over a fully built out, quick service space at Union Market for six to 12 months.Last year's Launch Pad winner was Mason Dixie Biscuit Co.
The 2014 Launch Pad winner: Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. (Courtesy Facebook) -
Summer Food, Wine & Beer FestivalsPlanning out your spring and summer weekends? Be sure to include these upcoming festivals:Saturday, May 9:Saturday, May 16:Sunday, May 17:Saturday, May 30:Saturday, June 6-Sunday, June 7:Saturday, June 27:
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Your morning commute is about to get a whole lot tastier.The Shake Shack at Union Station is launching a breakfast menu, starting Monday, May 11. Previously, breakfast was only available at the Shake Shack locations at JFK Airport, Grand Central and Dubai International Airport.Here's what you can expect to see from the breakfast sandwich-focused menu:
- Sausage, Egg N' Cheese
- Bacon, Egg N' Cheese
- Egg N' Cheese
The sandwiches are made with cage-free eggs and served on a toasted potato bun. The Union Market Shake Shack will also serve Stumptown coffee to wash it all down.
Breakfast at Shake Shack. (Courtesy Shake Shack) -
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Learn to make ramen like the experts:On Saturday, May 16 and May 23, Daikaya will offer its new Sapporo Ramen 101 class, where guests will have the opportunity to learn about the history and art of making ramen. Executive Chef Katsuya Fukushima and Daisuke Utagawa will lead the hands-on classes, which are limited to 10 people.Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling (202) 589-1600.
Learn the art of making ramen at Daikaya. (Facebook) -
Prefer your beer to be the hoppiest of hoppy beers? We've got an event for you. Saturday, May 9, is the inaugural D.C. Hopfest, a beer festival dedicated to local beers and their hoppy creations.Guest breweries will include DC Brau, Right Proper, 3 Stars, Atlas, Blue Jacket, Gordon Biersch, Port City, Union, Mad Fox and more. Tickets to the event, hosted at Hellbender Brewing Co., are $35 ($5 for designated driver tickets); barbecue will be available for purchase.
D.C. Hopfest will be held at Hellbender Brewing Co. -
The three masterminds behind the beverage program at Neighborhood Restaurant Group are teaming up for what can only be described as the most epic libation festival in the area.Greg Engert, Jeff Faile and Brent Kroll will showcase some of the best beers, wines and spirits at Canal Park in Navy Yard (L & 2nd Streets SE). The event is called ABV, and it will be held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.Expect a curated selection of rare tequilas and gins; roses and white wines; and a craft beer list that focuses on saisons and sour ales.To accompany the pours, Chef Nathan Anda of Red Apron will cook up smoked brisket, smoked pork shoulder sliders, crispy chicken wings and chili lime pork rinds. There will also be a hot dog cart and steamed buns from Chef Rob Rubba.Of course, food and drink aren't the only items on the menu for the festival. There will be live music and lawn games as well. Tickets to ABV are $65 for admission and a passport for 10 pours or $85 for admission, a passport for 10 pours, a custom wine glass and access to the VIP lounge where the beverage directors will be pouring their favorites.
AP PhotoYou can find weekly beer suggestions from Neighborhood Restaurant Group's Greg Engert on WTOP's Beer of the Week. -
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Veloce, the fast-casual pizza concept from the chef behind Pizzeria Paradiso, will open on Monday, May 4 at 1828 L Street NW. The first 100 customers will get a free pizza, starting at 11:30 a.m.Veloce will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and will serve a variety of breakfast pizzas, as well as more traditional pies for lunch and dinner.Read more about Veloce on WTOP.com:
Courtesy Facebook -
The guys from Republic Kolache Co. are offering Washingtonians a sneak peek of their new food concept. On Saturday, May 2, Chris Svetlik and Brian Stanford will be at Bardo from 2 to 5 p.m., handing out a few kolache varieties from their menu. The event will also coincide with the launch of their Kickstarter campaign.In addition to kolaches, Saturday's event will also include live folk music, and of course, plenty of beer flowing from Bardo's taps.Oh. Did we mention the kolaches are free? Get there early to get a taste.
Courtesy Republic Kolache Co. -
Think D.C. should have voting rights? You're not alone.DC Vote is hosting its Second Annual 3 Star Ball on Wednesday, May 6, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on the rooftop of the National Association of Realtors Building. The event is a fundraiser for the organization, which advocates voting rights in the District.The night will honor DC United head coach Ben Olsen; DC United goal keeper Bill Hamid and 'Top Chef' Spike Mendelsohn will also be in attendance.A $75 ticket to the ball includes passed hors d'oeuvres from Mendelsohn's new catering concept, as well as an open beer-and-wine bar and a live DJ set.
More than 150 Washingtonians turned out for DC Vote's first annual Three Star Ball. -
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Woodley Park is getting a new restaurant! The former Murphy's Irish pub on 24th Street, right near the Woodley Park Metro stop, will soon be an Italian-influenced eatery, called Bar Civita, from Liam LaCivita.The new restaurant, set to open April 28, will have an in-house cheese program and will also serve its own breads and pastas, The Washington Post reports. The menu will feature a mix of tasting plates and entrees, as well as an extensive wine and cocktail list.
The patio at Bar Cavita in Woodley Park (Facebook) -
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Two of the greatest things -- wine and music -- are joining forces on May 9 for an all-day festival in D.C.'s Storey Park.The second annual VinoFest will include seven different musical artists, food vendors and a curated selection of local and global wines. Tickets are $60; proceeds from the event benefit Make A Wish Foundation Mid-Atlantic, DC Central Kitchen and Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
Courtesy Facebook -
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Ledroit Park residents will soon have a new neighborhood gathering spot later this spring. The Royal, an all-day coffee shop and eatery from the folks at Vinoteca, will open at 501 Florida Ave., N.W.At the 45-seat space, expect a full espresso program and breakfast offerings in the morning, and come afternoon, a casual lunch menu and a cocktail and wine program.
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Starting Sunday, April 26 and then May 9-10, Food with a Purpose will pop-up for brunch at the Petworth incubator EatsPlace. The menu will feature dishes, such as fried salmon, shrimp and grits, a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich and a fried shrimp basket.There will be three seatings each day: 11 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.; 12:20 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.; and 1:40 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. You can find more information on this and other pop-ups on EatsPlace's website.
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Roof Garden reservations go live this Monday on our website. rosesluxury.com/private_events/by RosesLuxury via twitter 4/13/2015 3:28:01 PM -
Chef Michael Schlow, owner and operator of 14th Street's TICO, is opening his second D.C. restaurant this summer. The Riggsby will be located in the Carlyle Hotel at 1731 New Hampshire Ave., in Dupont Circle.Dishes at the 75-seat restaurant will center around American fare with some European influences. The 40-seat bar will serve up hand-crafted cocktails and bar snacks. The Riggsby will also have a robust by-the-glass wine program, and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stay tuned for more details on the opening date and menu details.
Chef Michael Schlow opened TICO on 14th Street in 2014. This summer, he will open his second D.C. restaurant, serving primarily American fare. (Courtesy TICO Facebook) -
James Beard Award-Winning Chef Sean Brock is headed to D.C. on Wednesday, April 29. He's teaming up with Jack Rose Dining Saloon for a night of Southern food and whiskey, all to benefit Jeeps for Joy.Tickets to the event are $125, and include bourbon and bites, such as Brock's Carolina rice griddle cakes, Cheerwine-glazed pig ears, shrimp and grits, Maryland crab cakes, fried Chesapeake oysters, pork head cheese ravioli and more.Cellar tickets are also available for $250. This option includes additional whiskey flight tastings. More information is available on the event's website. You can also read more about Brock on wtop.com.
(Courtesy Sean Brock/Artisan Books) -
Can't wait for Chef Ruth Gresser to open her fast-casual pizza joint Veloce? You don't have to. The chef will pop-up with her new concept on the patio of Pizzeria Paradiso's Dupont Circle location between 9 a.m. and noon on April 11.Yes, those are early hours for a pizza concept, but that's the best part: Chef Gresser will be debuting her breakfast pizzas, breakfast calzones and breakfast pocket. And yes, there will also be coffee.
What: Veloce's breakfast pizza pop-up
When: Saturday, April 11, 2015 from 9 a.m. to noon OR while supplies last.
Where: Pizzeria Paradiso is located at 2003 P Street, NW Washington, DC, 20037
Veloce will open at 1828 L Street in Northwest, D.C. (WTOP/Rachel Nania) -
The National Harbor Food & Wine Festival is returning May 2 and 3 from noon to 6 p.m. Expect food from celebrity chefs, live entertainment, artisinal products and more than 150 wines, spirits and beers from around the world. For tickets and the weekend's schedule, visit the event's website.
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Union Kitchen producer Slender Seven is taking its healthy and eggless cookie dough out of the Northeast D.C. kitchen and on to store shelves. The cookie dough is now available at all area Yes! Organic Market locations.The main ingredient in Slender Seven's cookie dough is black bean, giving the dough a boost of fiber and protein. And in addition to being eggless, the dough is also gluten-free, flour-free, soy-free and peanut-free, plus, it's low in sugar.You can read more about the cookie dough on Slender Seven's website.
Courtesy Slender Seven -
Mark. your. calendars. @Jeff_Faile's Baker's Dozen cocktail menu rolls out on 4/18! Full details: ow.ly/L6cHJby GBDchixndonuts via twitter 4/2/2015 1:33:29 PM
