Washington, DC New Menu Report: 11/11/15

Just for Veteran's Day
In recognition of their service and sacrifice, food and drink businesses across the DMV are offering free or discounted meals and food, so here is a list of just a few:

Applebees: Free meal for veterans and active duty military.
Bar Louie: Free appetizer or entree for veterans and active military.
California Tortilla: Active duty and retired military get a free taco.
The Greene Turtle: Active military and veterans get a free menu item from a select menu with purchase.
Krispy Kreme: Veterans and active duty military get a free doughnut and free small coffee.
Peet's Coffee & Tea: Free small coffee or tea for active duty members of the military and veterans.
World of Beer: Veterans and current servicemen and servicewomen get a free beer.

Famous Dave's Offering Free Ribs on Veterans Day
If you know a vet who loves smoked meat, then be sure to take them to Famous Dave's on Veterans Day so they can dive into a mess of St. Louis-style spareribs — for free — while supplies last. Just find the parking lot at any Famous Dave's locations in Maryland (10 locations) and Falls Church and Sterling, Virginia and have your vet get in line for free ribs hot off the grill, while supplies last. You can take advantage of this special Wednesday only, November 11, from from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plus, veterans and active military personnel will receive a free appetizer or dessert if they dine-in and show proof of service including U.S. Uniformed Service identification card, Military Discharge form DD-214, or current leave and earnings statement.  

Oval Room Featuring White Truffle Menu for November
To truly appreciate the delicate character of white truffles, a chef must have a nuanced palate so the truffle takes center stage in a dish—and chef John Melfi is just the chef we trust to handle the task with aplomb. Until mid-November head for The Oval Room to sample his glorious four-course white truffle dinner menu priced at an affordable $85 per person or $115 with complementary wine pairings. Indulge your senses with dishes like chicken liver mousse paired with a round Spanish albariño; creamy house-made tagliatelle gently tossed with shaved white truffle and aged pecorino served with a bright chablis; meaty pan roasted guinea hen with a smooth white truffle polenta, prosciutto, and cipollini agro dolce perfectly paired with a juicy Barbera d'Asti; and for the finish, aromatic white truffle ice cream with truffle honey and a ripe ice wine.

Zengo Debuts Culinary Tour Menu Featuring Asian Cuisines
Acclaimed chef Richard Sandoval just returned from a tour of Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Thailand and has created a special menu to celebrate the unique tastes and flavors he discovered. Each Zengo menu item is marked with a "新," the Chinese character meaning "new" and is available from November 9th through January 31st, 2016, exclusively during dinner service, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Look for menu sections that divide offerings by cooking method like a sushi and crudo bar, dim sum, main courses, and wok selections. Prices range from $6 to $29 and standouts include tuna salad with avocado, mixed greens, daikon, and lemon-wasabi vinaigrette; pork and foie gras shumai dumplings with plantains and xo black vinegar; bulgogi ribeye tacos served in a corn tortilla with cucumber kimchi and sesame; tempura fried whole fish; and Bibimbap with pork belly, soft egg, gochujang sauce, pickled vegetables, and sticky rice.

Summer Whitford is the D.C. Editor at The Daily Meal and also writes about food, drink, and travel. Follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva, on Instagram at thefoodandwinediva, and read more of her stories here.