What's Happening In Washington, DC: Ready-To-Go Picnic Baskets, A Lamb Cooking Class For Easter, And A Neapolitan Pizza Restaurant Opening

Cherry Blossom Food and Fun
Be a part of D.C.'s biggest floral celebration and a historic cultural event: dine beneath gorgeous pink flower canopies on the Tidal Basin. Each year one million people visit D.C. just to see the Japanese cherry trees in bloom and chef Art Smith, the celebrity chef of Art & Soul Restaurant, has prepared the perfect picnic party for two. His special basket includes the restaurant's famous fried chicken, coleslaw, potato salad, and a cherry soda for just $40 dollars. Now that's a spring day filled with food, fun, culture, and natural beauty.

Daikaya's Incredible Edible Easter Eggs
For a unique Easter brunch that celebrates Japanese culture and the egg, executive chef and partner, Katsuya Fukushima, will turn Daikaya, D.C.'s popular izakaya into a celebration of the egg. The restaurant will offer fun and whimsical egg dishes with a Japanese accent. Beginning April 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., you can try meringue with seasonal berries, fried Jidori egg served with caviar and bottarga, and onsen tamago egg with hazelnuts, brown butter, and dashi potato. Additionally, beverage director Jamie Mac Bain has created Sol Invictusa cocktail named after the Roman sun god made with Japanese whisky, Bénédictine, green chartreuse, egg yolks, and Peychaud's Bitters.

Easter and Lamb Cooking Class at Black's Bar & Kitchen
If you've decided to take on the challenge of preparing Easter dinner perhaps a cooking class is in order, and chef Dane Sewlall from Black's Bar & Kitchen has just what you need to prepare the perfect lamb entrée. His Easter-inspired cooking class is being held Saturday, March 21, from 11:00 a.m. to noon and is just what  home cooks need to boost their confidence. The price is $75 per person including the cooking demonstration, lunch with a wine pairing, a take-home recipe packet, and detailed instructions so you can host your own successful lamb dinner. Chef Sewlall will share a few techniques he uses to prepare the perfect leg of lamb, in this case sourced from Elysian Fields, and the Black's Bar & Kitchen staff will provide food and wine pairing tips. For lunch, the menu includes carrot bisque, a mixed green salad, and lamb with Israeli couscous, green olives, macerated golden raisins, kale, and salsa verde. Call or email for reservations.  

Liaison's Cherry Blossom Getaway
If you don't live in the District but still want to view the lovely flowering Japanese cherry trees and take part in all the cherry blossom festivities, consider a staycation at the Liaison on Capitol Hill. This boutique hotel is offering a Cherry Blossom Getaway package that lets you avoid the stress of traffic and parking and enjoy the events and activities. Located in the heart of things, you can easily attend ceremonies honoring Japanese culture and arts and spend the day admiring the Japanese cherry trees.

The Cherry Blossom Getaway package lets you stay anytime from March 19 to April 17 and receive:

  • Two $10 metro passes to explore DC
  • Two cherry-inspired cocktails from Art and Soul restaurant
  • A Liaison Capitol Hill D.C. tote bag
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi when you book on their website

Book your room online and be sure to enter promo code CHER15. For a chance to win a gift certificate for a two-night weekend stay at the hotel, enter their Cherry Blossom Photo Contest. Just share your cherry blossom shots on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #LiaisonBlossoms and you will be eligible to win. Check back later because the hotel will randomly select a winner on April 18.

Veloce To Open in Late Spring
If you are a regular at Pizza Paradiso stay tuned because chef and owner Ruth Gresser will be opening Veloce Pizzeria late this spring. Veloce will feature quick service and artisanal pizzas prepared in a custom designed Neapolitan-style brick oven, and Gresser's goal is to offer guests a dining experience that doesn't compromise on quality but can be served in minutes, thanks to the oven's high temperatures. The restaurant will be located in Downtown Washington at 1828 L Street, NW, will serve breakfast and lunch, and patrons can order personal sized veggie and meat pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, and salads. Composed pizzas will be available for breakfast and lunch and you can build your own pizzas with a choice of four different crusts, including one that's gluten-free. The sauces and sausages will be made in house, ingredients will be organic and locally sourced, and look for menu standouts like the Roosterwhich features basil pesto sauce, goat cheese, house-made chicken sausage, sweet red, pepper and pine nuts.

Summer Whitford is the D.C. City Guide Editor at The Daily Meal and the DC Wine Examiner. You can follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva.