Happy Monday: The Passenger (DC)

It's that time again. This Wednesday we reunite! Food Bloggers. The usual suspects gather to chit chat about new restaurants, who's failing/who's coming up and the best dishes to try @ any given restaurant. I look forward to this time of the month because it's probably the one time of the month that it is totally acceptable to sit around and discuss the importance of a good kitchen knife. This time we are taking over The Passenger (*fitting for the summer, chill and easily accessible in this heated temperatures) and despite the mini-food menu at The Passenger, we are hoping a few food trucks may be in the neighborhood so we can soak up all this liquor (*hint, hint;-). Happy Monday! As many of you leave your extra relaxing Fourth of July vacations and summer homes, do not be too sad, there's a good drink or two on this side of the tunnel...Cheers!

The Where:
The Passenger
1021 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC
(202) 393-0220

Food.Fun.Stuff: Eat As Many Burgers As You Want...Literally.

Before you fire up your own grill for the weekend, Z-Burger Tenleytown is cooking up the ultimate burger competition to get the festivities started. Today kicks off the Second Annual Independence Burger Eating Championship. Twelve eaters, $4,500 grand prize and FREE burgers and milkshakes for all spectators. Fun times. The burger consumption begins @ noon until 1 pm @ Z Burger Tenleytown. JKGF attended last year and as you can see from the footage here, it was an event to remember...watching as each competitor stuffed their face in hopes of taking home the grand prize. Maybe we can practice this weekend for next years competition...how many burgers can we get in our system before the holiday weekend is over??...

The Where:
Z-Burger Tenleytown
4321 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

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Johnna's Pick of the Week: G Natural and G2 Natural

The only time I reach for a Gatorade is the night after…the night after a hangover (*Off the record, Gatorade is one of the best things that happened to recovering from a hangover…). That was until I had an opportunity to taste the G Series: G Natural and G2 Natural from Gatorade. Created with the purpose to fuel, fluid and add nutrients (*before, during and after) activity, the new line from Gatorade has taken a healthy approach to the fruit juice family. Sober Johnna stays away from Gatorade unless it is the only option around. Now sober Johnna has a reason to skip the other stuff and head for the Gatorade G Series.

Sweet, but not to sweet, light and refreshing (*blah, blah, blah…), the typical features of a good natural fruit juice fill this quirky bottle, but the most appealing part is not listed above. Perhaps it comes in the calories (*its beach bod season, no time for games…): G Natural holds about 50 calories per 8-oz. serving and the G2 Natural has 20 calories per 8-oz. serving. This fact combined with the flavor count: Blackberry Raspberry, Orange Citrus and Citrus Mango, to name a few, makes this our new drink of the week. Johnna’s Pick of the Week is evolving…I realize I do not always go to a good (*Emphasis on “Good”) restaurant, ice cream shop or the like every week so it would be unrealistic to limit the span of subjects. The evolution begins with G Natural and G2 Natural…good drinks, perfect time of year to enjoy a nice cold one and they encourage your belly to stay flat instead of initiating a gut. Quench your thirst!

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Food.Fun.Stuff: District Food Scene

Out and about:

>>>Leftovers for all! Hello Cupcake is doing its part in recycling by implementing "Hello Pie" which is two leftover cupcake tops filled with Hello Cupcakes buttercream frosting. The Dupont cupcake shop is using its daily leftovers in this new take on the classic Whoopie Pie. Flavors will vary daily, there will be no special orders and they will be served first come-first serve basis. Yum to eco-friendly sweet treats.

>>>My favorite way to eat cheese: beer infused. The Melting Pot is hosting the Sierra Nevada beer dinner at their Arlington, VA location (1110 N. Glebe Road) on Thursday, June 24th starting at 7:00pm. The dinner includes four courses of beer and fondue (*see menu below) hosted by Sierra Nevada Brewery and Melting Pot MVP's for $55.00 per person (excluding tax and an 18% gratuity).

First Course: Cheese Fondue
Pale Ale Cheese Fondue
Butterkase/Fontina cheeses, Shallots, Whole grain mustard, and hints
of Spices. Made with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale base.
Our cheese fondue blended tableside and served with French, Rosemary,
and Honey Wheat breads, delicious granny smith apples and assorted
vegetables.
*Paired with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale*

Second Course: Salad
Alpine Ridge Salad
Honey Roasted Almonds, Egg slices, Fontina cheese blend, and chopped
fresh greens tossed topped with a robust shallot vinaigrette.
*Paired with Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager *

Third Course: Main Entrée
The main entrée will consist of a combination of Peppercorn Crusted
Filet Mignon, Hefeweizen Shrimp, Citrus Marinated Scallops, Garlic and
Herb Chicken, and Vegetable Dumplings.
Served with fresh vegetables, homemade sauces enjoyed in our
Bourguignonne cooking style
*Paired with Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA and Kellerweis Hefeweizen*

Fourth Course: Chocolate Fondue
Dark Chocolate with Baileys Irish Cream
Served with fresh fruit, cheesecake, brownies, pound cake, and tasty
marshmallows
*Paired with Sierra Nevada Porter*

>>>Againn Tavern opens on the Pike. We love how Rockville Pike is changing faces from the typical chain restaurants to some off the beaten path. Againn Tavern opens on June 29, 2010 @ 12256 Rockville Pike making it the second restaurant from the Whisk Group in the DMV area. Taking from its sister restaurant (*Againn DC), the menu will intertwine classic British Isles fare with American cuisine. Patrons can look forward to such dishes as fish and chips with mushy peas served with tartar sauce and malt vinegar and house made bangers and mash with whole grain mustard mash and onion gravy. Of course a fully stocked bar must accompany the comfort food menu...six of the beer drafts start @ $5 and wines by the glass start @ $7.

>>>South American food in Chantilly, VA. Don Churro Cafe is making its mark in the suburbs of the District. With its most recent participation in Dining Out for Life, the restaurant is not stopping there...it has enrolled in two more festivals to get the word out. On July 3, 2010, the restaurant will show off its skills @ the City of Fairfax Festival (*8:30 am-12:30 pm) and July 10-11 @ the Reston Festival. Now I have a taste for Pabellon Criollo...

>>>Good cause of the week: City Blossoms' gardens is hosting a happy hour fundraiser @ CentroNia Pre-K Incentive Program Garden at Harvard St. There will be treats courtesy Jamie Forsythe of Bolton Hill Bistro, wine/refreshments, a raffle and auction that includes tickets to Jack Johnson's concert on July 17th at Merriweather Post Pavilion. There is a suggested donation of $15.

The When: June 24, 2010, 6 pm-8 pm

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Johnna's Pick of the Week: World Cup 2010

On Friday, I think I'm almost afraid to walk outside my house. Why? Well, this city will look like a ghost town as the whole city (*no, world...) gathers around the television for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa. The last time this much energy was built up over a sports event was...honestly, I cannot think of a time when there was this much anticipation. I love a good sports battle and if you do to, then this Friday begins the ultimate battle that effects not just America but every region of the world. Unlike the Super Bowl or the NBA Playoffs, the World Cup brings out so many different cultures that even if you do not like the sport you have to respect the diversity.

Rumor has it (*it's a rumor for me because I have not checked a schedule...) that some of the matches begin on Saturday @ 7 in the morning. This. Must. Be. Serious. There are actually restaurants and parties that begin at 7 am on Saturday...and they include alcohol. Again, I'm almost afraid to leave my house on Saturday night based on the fact that alcohol consumption will begin for a large majority of the District @ 7 am...Not to say I will not participate, which is how we came to today's post: Where to Go and Enjoy the World Cup in the District...

1. Dukem- Broadcasting games everyday from 10 am from June 11- July 11, 2010. 6-screens, 10 ft. projector and a half-dozen African beers.

2. Cafe Citron opens its doors @ 7 am from June 11- July 11, 2010. Projection on screens and specials on beer.

3. Againn is holding their celebration on June 12, 2010 @ 2:30 pm with Bangers vs. Burgers when the U.S. goes up against England.

4. Evening Star Cafe will kick things off on Saturday, June 12, 2010 opening its bar @ 10 am for the games.

5. Summers in Arlington, VA will have plenty of TV's for patrons viewing pleasure (*60 HDTV's). The festivities begin June 11- July 11, 2010 with $3.50 Italian beer specials.

Plenty to do, plenty to see and be seen...now I need to figure out what team I'm going to root for, this could determine whether I receive the evil eye from June 11- July 11, 2010 or a whole bunch of high fives...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Foodie News...

>>>OpenSkies (*the all business class airline) has launched its new menu created by Chef Michel Richard (*Citronelle, Central…). A nice touch if we do say so ourselves: we had an opportunity to taste the menu options and duck breast with port cinnamon sauce is our idea of a way to jetset from D.C. to Paris…The menu is available during a two-month promo for the launch of the new routes from D.C. and is also available on westbound flights from Paris to Newark International.

>>>Zola is making it healthy for the kiddies. The Penn Quarter restaurant has joined Destination DC in Restaurant Week for Kids which takes place from June 20-27, 2010. The menu is priced based on the child's age (*9 year-old child=$9 meal) with the offer applying to children 11 and under and will be available from 11:30 am-3 pm for lunch and 5 pm-6:30 pm for dinner. Ha, upgrades on some old childhood favorites: alphabet soup with chicken clear broth, vegetables and pasta letters and four cheese ravioli with sautéed mushrooms, basil and local tomato sauce. We love it. It’s about time restaurants ditch the typical fries and small pizzas for children…

>>>Fresh fruit and veggies in Ballston. The District is full of farmers markets and lucky for us Virginia is right around the corner with even more fresh produce. Ballston Farmers Market is open every Thursday from 3 pm- 7 pm until October. Vendor products range from herbs to pastries to honey, check out more info here.

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Openings!

>>>New Indian restaurant joins the Penn Quarter restaurant scene. Merzi is set to open with a menu full of classic Indian dishes with a healthy spin. Founder and CEO, Qaiser (Kaz) Kazmi, brings his culinary vision to the table with everything from oven-baked Naan Rolls to Mango Yogurt Juice.

The Where: Merzi, 415 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC

>>>More beer for the area. Port City Brewing Company is the creation of former wine executive Bill Butcher who will join the beer brewing family in Alexandria. The brewery will produce ales to be sold throughout DC and the Mid-Atlantic region. Patrons will have the opportunity to visit the on-site tasting room and purchase bottles and/or on draft.

>>>We had to read this press release twice. A restaurant coming to the area where everything is under 475 calories?! Where have you been all our lives?? Seasons 52 opens next summer (*2011) north of the beltway in Maryland. Ok, we know we’re kind of early on this one, but this is something to look forward to… the restaurant promises seasonal, healthy ingredients without all the fryers, butters or heavy creams. Sounds like a plan…funny how our planner already has scheduled events for next summer...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Chef's Best Dinner and Auction

You know we love a good cause so when we heard about Food & Friends' signature fundraiser, Chef's Best Dinner and Auction, we knew we had to share. The fundraiser will prove there's no such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen, as 60 of the region's brightest culinary stars gather to offer a night of fun and deliciousness. On Monday, June 14th, the superb chefs will be putting out a menu that can be found nowhere else in the world. Some of the chefs who will be preparing the meals include Hank's Oyster Bar's Jamie Leeds, Chef Geoff's Geoff Tracey, Food Network's The Next Food Network Star finalist Teddy Folkman, Poste's Robert Weland, PS 7's Peter Smith and Gina Chersavani, RIS's Ris Lacoste, Ristorante Tosca's Massimo Fabbri, Vermilion's Anthony Chittum, amongst others. There will also be live and silent auctions and prizes.

This year's fundraiser marks its 20th Anniversary serving residents of DC, Maryland, and Virginia who face HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life threatening illnesses. Details on the event below:

The Money: Individual tickets are $250, a table (10 tickets) is $2,250 and two tables are $4,500. The tickets can be found at www.foodandfriends.org/chefsbest

The Where: The Hilton Washington Hotel,1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC

The When: Monday, June 14th, VIP Reception for Sponsors & Special Guests begins at 5:30pm; Main Doors Open at 6:30pm

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Food.Fun.Stuff: The District Food Scene

On the scene...

>>>Jaleo kicks of the 8th Annual Paella Festival on June 7, 2010. José Andrés leads this two-week event honoring the acclaimed Spanish dish with specials based on the recipes of special guest Chef María José San Román of Restaurante Monastrell and La Taberna del Gourmet in Alicante, Spain. During the Paella Festival, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of paella specials during both lunch and dinner service. The rotating paella specials will be available all day at each Jaleo location and are priced between $34 and $48. In anticipation of the big event, Jaleo will begin the festivities on Sunday, May 30th at the Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market at 11 a.m. with samples of the paella for those that stop by and on Tuesday, June 1st at 4:30 p.m. they will have the giant paella at the Crystal City FRESHFARM Market.

>>>Deal of the Week- 701 Restaurant is offering a 2-course lunch for $15 and a 2-course dinner for $35 with a glass of wine. For lunch guests can look forward to goat cheese cavatelli with fresh artichokes, broccoli and oyster mushrooms and the crispy calamari salad with shrimp, scallop, capers, and an olive vinaigrette amongst other dishes. For dinner, guests can look forward to the seared scallops with cauliflower puree, pine nuts and a balsamic reduction; Roasted Cod with lentils, haricot verts, roasted peppers and a verjus emulsion and fried chicken with creamy grits, collard greens, scallions and gravy amongst other dishes.

>>>Tom Sietsema's Spring Dining Guide is out. In the new dining guide, "Then & Again" he revisits 20 local restaurants — old favorites and recent flops — to measure how they stand now. It's interesting to see some of the changes in the area including how Restaurant Eve was once so casual and now has suave service and ingredients.

>>>World Cup Time. Beginning June 11, 2010, the entire world (*not just the U.S.) will be glued to their TV screens watching the 19th World Cup. On Saturday, June 12, 2010, Againn will be filled with fans of the U.S. and United Kingdom teams as they battle in their first round of play. The restaurant is hosting "friendly competition" between the fans with Bangers vs. Burgers 2010. At 2:30 pm, guests can watch the game on 3 flat screens in the 19 seat bar while ordering Bangers and Mash or Burgers and Chips (*both dishes are $15) along with a choice of six different beer shandies. Bartenders will keep track of the sales for both dishes, and the team with the most sales at the end of the match wins bragging rights until the next FIFA tournament. Patrons are encouraged to wear their teams jersey. Go U.S.!!

>>>Beach Blanky time- EatBar will host its annual beach-themed wine tasting party allowing guests to try 25 hand picked wines by Neighborhood Restaurant Group Wine Director Juliana Santos for $25 per person. Executive Chef Barry Koslow will complement the wine selections with small bites of calamari ceviche with mango and chilies, caramelized onion and olive focaccia and crab fritters with remoulade.

The When: June 5, 2010, 1 pm-4 pm
The Where: Tallula & EatBar, 2761 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA, (703) 778-5051

>>>Calling All Bakers!! And All Non-Bakers!! On June 5, 2010, Hello Cupcake and Kitchen Aid will host "Design Your DC" which encourages participants to create a cupcake that reflects their city inspiration. The Grand Prize is the Artisan Series KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Eligible cupcakes must be dropped off on competition day from 10 am until Noon. It is a $12 registration fee per cupcake and additional rules and regulations can be found here.

The Where: Hello Cupcake, 1361 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC

>>>Lauren DeSantis book release party was a success! We still cannot seem to get those pulled pork sandwiches off our mind but lucky for us, all of this is in the cookbook. The Capital Cooking Cookbook features everything from the mini burgers found at Matchbox to the fried chicken at Art and Soul. The book can be purchased here (*or on Amazon) and retails for $29.99.

>>>Cheese and wine...a couple of my favorite things. Lucky for us the DMV houses a couple of The Melting Pot's when we are in the mood to indulge in both simultaneously. The fondue restaurant is holding two new events featuring wine, beer and cheese. The first event is a Ravenswood Sip and Dip dinner at their Reston location (*11400 Commerce Park Drive, Reston, VA) on Thursday, June 3 @ 7 pm. It features 4-courses + Ravenswood wine pairings for $75.00 per person, plus tax and gratuity. The second event is a Magic Hat beer dinner at our DC location (1220 19th St. NW in DC) on Friday, June 11 at 7pm. It's 4-courses + 4 Magic Hat pairings for $58 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

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Happy Monday *Revised*: Zentan (DC)

*Revised Happy Monday Post* Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Food Blogger Happy Hour will now to be moved to Zentan (*still @ the Donovan Hotel, but we will be downstairs instead of on the rooftop). The new flyer is posted on the right...come out, drink, eat and toast to a great summer and of course, eating good food.

Food.Fun.Stuff: Fresh and New

*New*

>>>Typically when you think of diners, you think of juicy, greasy and cholesterol?? Well Clarendon's Silver Diner is here to refute those stereotypes. The classic Northern Virginia diner has made some upgrades to the menu that include keeping you in beach bod shape. We recently had an opportunity to try the new "farm to table" menu. The turkey and salmon sliders are definite satisfaction without all the greasy mess and for those that opt for an even lighter fare (*a salad), the chopped Asian salad was a shining star in our book. Perhaps it was the entrees that we need to keep in our memory bank with a few tasty (*figure friendly) options including the 600 calorie vegetarian stir-fry and the gluten-free shrimp scampi. Like our college professor used to say over their low reading glasses "Not bad at all". Since we are not sweets fanatics, we could not give you much of an opinion on that unless we are talking about the mimosas. Instead of a night out drinking, maybe we should start our night here...we easily guzzled down about 5-7 of these (*...In a three hour period...don't judge us...).

More info found here.

>>>The cookbook of the summer. Planet Barbecue is the grill king/queen's encyclopedia. Literally, the book takes you around the world while teaching you the grilling techniques native to various regions. Steve Raichlen, author of the cookbook, has spent the last five years traveling and exploring all of the innovative techniques involved in a good BBQ. As a journalist, PBS TV host and an internationally known grilling authority, Raichlen knows his stuff and has done quite a job at conveying everything from Thai grilling techniques to the All-American Bobby Flay way of doing things on the grill. Some interesting facts: Australia's lamb is grilled on a shovel, Canada's trout is grilled on a log and the Charentes region of France takes on the eclade de moules way of grilling (*Translation: Mussels grilled on a bed of blazing pine needles). Yum from all around the world.

Happy Monday: ADC (DC)

It's that time again. The first Wednesday of the month (*next Wednesday, June 2, 2010). This time I am proud to say that I will (*kind of) lead the show. Alongside Mary of Girl Meets Food, I will host the June Food Blogger Happy Hour @ ADC rooftop deck. Located at the top of the Donovan Hotel, ADC is one of the top summer happy hour destinations. With a pool located in the center, I find it adds a bit of sex appeal to the casual setting. The specials will include $7 wine, beer and cocktails. Hopefully, some sunshine will join us so guests can see that ADC is a cool alternative to the typical bar setting in the District. Check out the details and take a few back with those who talk about good food, good drinks and the like...

The Where:
ADC
1155 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 737-1200

The When:
Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Food.Fun.Stuff: This Weekend

Out and About...

>>>SoundBites integrates food, music and charity. This Sunday, the 9:30 Club will be filled with all things benefiting DC Central Kitchen. The tickets are $30 and will not only profit DC Central Kitchen but guests will taste specialities from 18 area restaurants and caterers. Signature dishes from such places as Masa 14, Mie N Yu, Radius Pizza and Sauca will be on display. Sounds will be provided by DJ Will Eastman, US Royalty, Bluebrain, Fatback DJs, Beautiful Swimmers and Midnight Kids over the five-hour event. Get tickets here or the 9:30 Club box office.

>>>Before you sip Cosmopolitans and slip on your best pair of Manolo Blahnik's next weekend with your girlfriends, you might want to stop in for the Hello Cupcake's Sex and the City 2 special edition treats (*Pictured above). We love this idea. The Dupont cupcake haven has created cupcakes representative of our four favorite characters: Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and of course, Samantha. The cupcakes are offered now through May 31, 2010 for $3.50 a pop. Rotating daily, here are your options:

Carrie – Cosmopolitan
Lime/triple sec cake with cranberry lime frosting, pink sugar sprinkles, and an edible fondant stiletto decoration

Charlotte – Vanilla Rose
Rose scented vanilla cake with rose and vanilla bean buttercream, topped with a crystallized rose petal

Miranda – Chocolate Cabernet
Chocolate cabernet cake with chocolate cabernet ganache glaze and an edible fondant martini glass decoration

Samantha – Manhattan
Sweet vermouth-soaked chocolate cake with bourbon vanilla bean buttercream and a maraschino cherry

Yum with a New York State of Mind.

>>>We love a good cause. This Sunday, May 23, 2010, Cafe Green will host a benefit to raise funds for the Louisiana Gulf Response Involvement Team (GRIT), which is a coordinated effort between several non-profit and governmental conservation and environmental organizations to assist in BP Oil Spill recovery. Ten percent (10%) of all waffle sales on Sunday will go directly toward GRIT. Patrons can look forward to a heaping helping of vegan goodness: waffles with your choice of Earth Balance (margarine) and Maple Syrup, Peanut Butter, Strawberries, Blueberries, Mango's, Chocolate Sauce, Raw Agave Nectar, Vegan Whipped Topping, Pineapples, Cinnamon Apples, Bananas, or Candied Walnuts.

The Where: Cafe Green, 1513 17th. Street. NW, Washington, DC (Dupont Circle) (202) 234-0505

The When: May 23, 2010, 10 am- 4 pm

Food.Fun.Stuff: Foodie News

This and that:

>>>Whole Foods Friendship Heights opens today!- We had the pleasure of getting a sneak peek last night and we cannot wait to get our first validation stamp (*Yup, there is parking and you get one-hour validation when you shop @ the store). The aisles are huge, plenty of new concepts and the orchids invite you to come in and take a peek. A staff that has the same resume as someone working @ any of the best pastry and 5-star restaurants in the city, the store boasts meeting the consumer needs (*i.e. you only want a 4 oz. cut of salmon for a single person dinner?? They will have it cut, marinated and wrapped to go by the time you are ready to walk out of the store).

Conveniently located a block away from the Friendship Heights metro station, you should stop in, if not for the fresh, sustainable shopping but to just get a glimpse of all the shiny new toys (*a candy station with Matcha Caramels- pastel green balls of goodness, the Purified Water station and their version of the "NY Lunch"- fast food that does not taste fast...).

>>>Kids eat FREE:-) - Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town Alexandria and CommonWealth Gastropub in the District's Columbia Heights neighborhood will offer kids meals for free. Every Tuesday and Saturday night from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m at CommonWealth Gastropub and every Tuesday at Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town, kids 10 and under can eat for free with the purchase of an adult meal. With kid-friendly selections such as mac n' cheese and fresh fish sticks from Hank's, the kids will be gaining a good meal while you are keeping some money in your wallet.

>>>Dan Mesches (*CEO and Founder of Star Restaurant Group) has parted ways with the House on F St LLC , owners of the International Spy Museum. Mesches has worked alongside the House to form successful restaurant ventures Zola, Zola Wine & Kitchen and Potenza. Mesches take on the ending of this long-standing relationship is simply stated "We've had a great run together. But, as in any business, relationships evolve and change over time, and hospitality is no different". Mesches looks forward to continuing to grow and pursue new opportunities. Sad to see him go, but it sounds like he has even better things waiting in his future...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: New Groceries, New Language

Out and About…

>>>Friendship Heights is the home of a few of our favorite things…Barneys Coop, Clyde’s Bar and Restaurant, etc. To make sure we spend every dime of our money in this neighborhood, they have now added a Whole Foods Market to the roster. Whole Foods is one of our top ten places to shop for good food. The salad bar has a vast array of options to fit any appetite, they now sell wine and the cheese selections are unmatched in this Friendship Heights neighborhood. On May 18, 2010, the store will open its 8th location in Maryland with a host of reasons why we will need to have a serious talk with ourselves about our food budget. No spending more that has been allotted! The new store will offer, among many other things, a coffee bar with homemade gelato and popsicles that has public Wi-Fi access. On May 21, 2010, the store will introduce the weekly Lobster Dinner @ $18.99 per person. So the summer begins with lobster and popsicles?? Sign me up, please…

>>>The Goethe-Institut is gearing up for its summer series of films, discussions, exhibits and language classes that begin on June 7, 2010. The global German cultural institute’s Washington, D.C. branch has implemented a few cool events to learn about German culture alongside food. The institute will host monthly lunchtime gatherings inviting those interested in hearing and speaking German to bring their lunch and hear from various special guests (*May 11, from 12:15 pm-1:15 pm will feature Dr. Uta Balbier of the German Historical Institute). Good way to learn something new without missing out on your lunchtime bite…Guten Appetit!

Food.Fun.Stuff: Cinco de Mayo!

Ole! Yup, you know what it is...Cinco de Mayo. The day of drinking tequila and celebrations around the city. Today's Top Five is dedicated to the places to make Cinco de Mayo a celebration to remember. Check it:

>>>Social is celebrating with $5 Margaritas Sociales or $25 pitchers. To soak up all the alcohol, the restaurant will feature $1.50 fish tacos, made-to-order guacamole and blood orange pico de gallo for $3.

>>>Farmers & Fishers has been celebrating all week with "Tequila Week", which is a week-long of speciality cocktails infused with plenty of tequila. Founder David Suro, a Mexican-born American, has teamed with Siembra Azul Tequila to educate and entertain patrons on none other than...tequila.

>>>No celebration is complete without something sweet. Good thing we have Hello Cupcake. The cupcakery is featuring the "Cinco de Mayo" cupcake until Saturday. Yum to lime cake, tequila-lime buttercream, a festive sugar rim and a slice of lime candy. How do you like it? Regular, Gluten-free or Vegan?? You choose.

>>>The DC Food Blogger Happy Hour- Not exactly a Cinco de Mayo celebration but there will be plenty of Tequila on hand and good convo on food stuffs @ Restaurant 3. Toast one for the day!

>>>Wednesday not a good day to be wasted?? Try the "Ocho de Mayo" celebration at the Capitol Skyline Hotel on May 8, 2010 from noon until 8 pm. Look forward to a nacho eating contest, Margarita contest, Maracas and of course, plenty of Tequila. The entry fee is $15 for all ages.

Food.Fun.Stuff: Pencil This In...

Foodie Buzz:

>>>A Tactile Dinner is back. Remember this?? This is one of those dinners you will never forget. Check out our story here. It is back and you can get your own taste at/on:

TACTILE @ Big Bear Café
1700 1st St NW

Thu 05/13: 8:00pm
Fri 05/14: 7:30pm
Sat 05/15: 7:00pm & 9:30pm
$25 with $5 suggested gratuity for 10 vegetarian “courses”
Recommended for ages 13 and above

TACTILE @ Long View Gallery
1234 9th St NW

Sun 05/16: 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Mon 05/17: 7:00pm & 9:30pm
$45 for Aperitivo & 15 omnivorous “courses”
Recommended for ages 21 and above

>>>We love a good cause. GiraMondo Wines is hosting wine fest highligthing the best wines of Chili to raise funds for the Chilean Relief Fund. The event will be held @ the Embassy of Chili and will feature over 90 wines with 25% of the proceeds going to the Chilean Relief Fund. Wines to look forward to include: 2006 Almaviva (92 points Wine Advocate); 2006 Clos Apalta (94 points Wine Spectator) and 2006 Don Melchor (95 points Wine Advocate) among others.

The When: May 13, 2010, 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm
The Where: Embassy of Chile, 1732 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036

More Info?: Check here

>>>Note to Self: The Taste of Arlington returns on May 16, 2010. From noon until 5 pm, Arlington VA will be filled with food, wine, performances and more fun stuff. The festival will take place on Wilson Boulevard (*outside Ballston Common Mall) and ticket prices range from $20-$25. More info here.

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Happy Monday: Restaurant 3 (VA)

Happy Monday!! First of the month and it feels good. May is a great month...lots of endings and new beginninngs. It is graduation, wedding and Mother's Day season which means plenty of celebrations. There are some celebrations, however, that last throughout the entire year. For about a year now, the DC food bloggers have been joining one another at the beginning of each month to celebrate/drink/eat in honor of none other than...food. It is a blast to sit around and chat about new restaurants, reviews and basically the evolution of the DC restaurant scene. This month rings no different with the monthly happy hour taking place @ Restaurant 3. Yup, we are taking over the Northern Virginia restaurant for drinks, talks about Kitchen Aids and the likes. If you're a foodie, come out and chat it up with us. If you're not, still come out and chat it up...you can find a place or two to take that next date.

The Where:
DC Food Blogger's Happy Hour
Restaurant 3
2950 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 524-4440

The When: May 5, 2010, @ 6 pm

Food.Fun.Stuff: The District Buzz

Out and About:

>>>California Tortilla has some new treats. The fast food burrito haven has added menu items including a Fajita Burrito, Carnitas Verde and our new lunch fave, No-Meato Burrito. The No-Meato Burrito showcases various veggies, guacamole and rice. Bringing all the flavor without all the stuff we are trying to avoid (*i.e. cheese, sour cream...basically the stuff that does not fit into the "beach bod" diet...), we like this new addition.

>>>Finally, a dining series that incorporates beer. Usually you hear about dinner series that pair wine with selected menu items, but what if you are more of beer and chips kinda guy/gal?? Birch and Barley and Churchkey are not only "talking the talk" but they are "walking the walk". What does all of this mean? Well when the restaurant/bar first opened, they boasted one of the largest beer menus we have ever heard of in the District. They are standing up to their reputation by featuring top of the line breweries paired with selected menu items. On Monday (May 3, 2010), the restaurant/bar kicks things off with the Washington, DC Launch of Saint Louis Brewery. The open event begins @ 6 pm and there is no admission fee.

>>>The Wine Festival at the Plains returns on May 22-23 with 250 Virginia wines (*wasted...you might want to do a party bus or limo for this event). The festivities include fashion show, pig roast and kites (*wow, the kites is a total throwback...). The location is the Great Meadow in The Plains, which is west of the District (*off of I-66).

>>>Last but not least...Happy Earth Day!! Yesterday, we highlighted the our Top Picks to celebrate the day. See the events here.

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Top Five Wednesday: Earth Day Celebrations

Wonder why Earth Day is not a national holiday?? It should be. The one day designated for taking in and appreciating all of the earth's great natural treasures. Now we enjoy and appreciate a healthy environment everyday but it is always good to have a day where you actually can celebrate. Tomorrow is Earth Day and with more than 175 countries celebrating, it's hard not to get excited about making this land a better place to live. Recycle, turn off those unnecessary lights and think about walking or carpooling instead of driving solo...just a few ways to contribute to the cause tomorrow (*if they are not already in your daily routine...). If you really feel like a celebration, consider the following that made our Top Five Places to Go on Earth Day:

1. Tallula celebrates with a four-course dinner showcasing locally grown produce, humanely raised meats and sustainable seafood. We love when they host dinners in their wine shop because of the intimate setting. Chef Barry Koslow and friends will be there to explain all the benefits of these sustainable ingredients. Dinner starts @ 7 pm and is $85 per person.

2. Mixt Greens is new to the neighborhood but old to this concept. The eco-friendly restaurant boasts environmentally responsible "fine foods" and is offering up a green goody to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. The first 150 customers to visit any three of the DC locations tomorrow (April 22) will receive a complimentary Mixt Greens tote bag filled with treats (*i.e. recipes, herb seeds to plant at home...).

3. Earth Day on the National Mall. Any of these names ring a bell?? The Roots, John Legend or James Cameron...this is a small list of the celebrities that will be speaking or performing on the National Mall on April 25, 2010 until 7 pm. Music, environmental activities and the like will fill up the historic landmark.

4. The U.S. Botanic Garden will showcase innovative ideas for food, health and life through the use of garden grown ingredients. Guests can look forward to cooking demos and hands-on garden techniques on April 23, 2010 from 11 am until 2 pm.

5. Get your hands dirty! Clean up along the shores of the Anacostia River and several upstream tributaries in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties on April 24, 2010 from 8:30 am until 12 pm. Then celebrate your labor @ Anacostia Park w/ a FREE picnic lunch, music and presentations by various area representatives.

Plenty of ways to participate, get your hands dirty or to just bask in the united effort toward a healthier Earth. Enjoy!

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