Washington, DC New Menu Report: 12/16/2015
Christmas is often a time of splurges for just the right present, but why not treat yourself to a few upscale experiences? The District has a range of luxury dining experiences to suit most anyone's budget from caviar and bubbly to afternoon tea in a posh hotel, to rare wines from magnum being offered by the glass. Do something for yourself and take a minute to unwind and enjoy the holidays before they are over.
701 Restaurant
For posh holiday parties few foods are quite as glamorous as caviar, decidedly so when served with bubbly and vodka. If you are so inclined, 701 Restaurant invites you to celebrate the holidays in style and savor four sampler portion Petrossian caviars for either lunch or dinner. The caviars include tsar imperial ossetra, royal transmontanus, trout roe, and tobiko wasabi roe served with a colorful display of traditional condiments that includes chopped eggs, crème fraîche, red onions, and potato blinis. To drink, nothing else will do except a glass of bubbly or a shot of Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka, which along with sampler, are $45 excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations are recommended.
Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca
We recently wrote about Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca's bold holiday cocktail extravaganza featuring 25 days of cocktails. We thought we'd check in on them to see how things are going (well is what we heard) and give them a nod by highlighting today's cocktail: Passione. Made with vodka, aperol, grilled pineapple juice, passion fruit, and lime, it reminds us that somewhere, someone is celebrating Christmas by lounging at the beach because it's summertime. The drink is $12 and for a quick snack you may order from the list of Italian cicchetti on offer.
Blue Duck Tavern
If you love wine and especially appreciate rare, exceptional vintages, the Blue Duck Uncorked program is back at the Blue Duck Tavern from December to March. Every Tuesday, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. you can order four ounce pours from one rare magnum until that magnum's contents are fully consumed. The following Tuesday another wine is featured and the cost for this unique wine tasting experience is $30 per glass. The wine for next Tuesday, December 22 is a lovely vintage Champagne: Perrier-Jouët Brut Belle Époque Champagne France 1995. How apropos for Christmas.
Lafayette Room at The Hay-Adams Hotel
Christmas is in full swing at The Hay-Adams Hotel, a premier hotel just steps away from the White House. With all the trimmings hung we can't think of a better place to have holiday tea than this historic grande dame. Served tableside, this special tea service is only available Sunday, December 20 and 27 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Lafayette Room. Deliciously aromatic teas from Mighty Leaf Tea Company are served with sweet and savory tea trays to the melodic strains of Christmas music played on piano. The price is $50 per person for adults and $40 for (not including tax and gratuity) and reservations are required.
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.