Washington, DC New Menu Report: 09/09/15

Summer Whitford|Sept. 9, 2015 10:14 am EST

August is usually a slow month with little happening on the food scene, other than Restaurant Week, and then we transition into September. This year, August was busy, and now September has blasted its way onto the calendar with tons of new restaurant openings, sipping menus, wine and whisky programs, and drink programs that benefit our oceans and those with brain diseases. Drink, eat, and take advantage of fall's bounty before the craziness of October sets in.

Casa Luca
Brunch obsessed D.C. diners will be happy to hear that Casa Luca executive chef Erin Clarke is launching a new Tuscan tasting menu at brunch called Sunday Sips. This new menu will celebrate the region of Tuscany from September 6, to September 30. For $50 per person, guests may order three courses paired with celebrated Tuscan wine selections. Look for duos such as grilled octopus panzanella with heirloom tomatoes, pane Toscano, and Genovese basil pesto paired with Antico Podere Gagliole Rubiolo Chianti Classico 2011; tortelli di patate, a house made potato ravioli with pecorino Toscano, fresh herbs, and classic Tuscan ragù di carne paired with Tua Rita Rosso dei Notri Toscana 2013.

Quill
For September and October, National Geographic and Quill at The Jefferson Hotel, continue their cocktail collaboration with the launch of "Seas the Day." This blue violet riff on an Aviation is made with Leopold Brothers' Navy Strength American gin, Blue Curacao, huckleberry sour, Crème de Violette, and Luxardo Maraschino. It's clear color is meant to celebrate National Geographic's Pristine Seas project whose mission is to identify and protect the few remaining truly wild places in our planet's, oceans. Visit the free photo exhibit at the National Geographic Museum and take a short walk over to Quill for happy hour.

Smith & Wollensky
This September, the food scene in D.C. is filled with new resto openings and back to school days, and at Smith & Wollensky they're getting into the swing of things by extending their annual National Wine Week into a new month-long vinous celebration they're calling Steak & Wine Month. This new event will include National Wine Week features people love like proceeds that benefit the Keep Memory Alive organization, which fight against Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases, wine selections rated 90 points and above by Wine Spectator, plus new offerings such as:

Upgraded steak selections made with USDA Prime Black Angus
Two new steaks: tuna steak au poivre and stout rubbed sirloin
Two new wine flights featuring four wines highly rated by Wine Spectator (four premium whites for $25 and four premium reds) for $35 for lunch, dinner, and at the bar
"Cellar Steals" -specially priced wines, by the glass and by the bottle, from Smith & Wollensky's library that change daily and at each location

Be sure to reserve a seat now because this is a popular event and reservations go quickly.

Sushiko
September is a good time to head to Chevy Chase and check out Sushiko's newest menu additions because they've got it goin' on this September and October. First, brothers, and co-executive chefs, Piter and Handry Tjan, are debuting a five-course, mini-omakase menu that includes two small dishes, a sashimi course, a nigiri course, and dessert, for $50 per person, not including tax and gratuity. Each week, the chefs will rotate the omikase menu to take advantage of the freshest fish and local ingredients. In addition to the fab mini-omikase, Sushiko is also offering a three-whisky flight of premium, award-winning Japanese Whiskies to their beverage program. $40 dollars, guests may taste one-ounce pours of Taketsuru Pure Malt Blended Whisky from Nikka Distilleries, and from Suntory, the Hibiki 12-Year Blended Whisky, and the Yamazaki 12-Year Single Malt.

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.