Washington, DC New Menu Report: 12/23/2015
It's time for a drink, and we have a long list of great ones and where to find them. There are virgin hot chocolates or boozy versions if you need them, German mulled wine is a thing, and rule breakers can sip on Naughtynog and Bad Santa drinks for holiday fun.
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
Both locations of Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery are going Southern for their new holiday cocktails by celebrating chef/owner David Guas' New Orleans roots. Both eateries will be serving his "Bayounog" and "Naughtynog" drinks. Made with a swirl of farm eggs, imported cinnamon, fresh nutmeg, vanilla bean, and cream sourced from Trickling Springs Creamery, non-alcoholic Bayounog can be ordered to-go so you can spike it yourself at home with your favorite spirit. And those too tired to doctor their nog at home can sample Naughtynog right at Bayou Bakery and get it spiked with bourbon.
Bourbon Steak
Last year, the holiday drinks at Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons Hotel were such a hit they're reprising them this year. Depending on your mood or palate, the popular "Egg Grog 2.0" could fill your need, if you tend to be nostalgic for old movies. It comes served in an exact replica of moose-head-shaped glass (with extra wide antlers!) used by Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's 1989 comedy "Christmas Vacation." Mixologist Torrence Swain makes his version with heavy cream, brown sugar, cane syrup, organic eggs, rum, cognac and bourbon. If it's a slightly less filling drink you want, try Swain's Hot Buttered Rum made with Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum, Myer's Dark Rum, vanilla bean, and a dollop of house-made dulce de leche cream.
Burger, Tap & Shake
Every month, we can't wait to see what the clever folks at Burger, Tap & Shake come up with for their monthly signature shakes—and the December Bad Santa shaketail is a doozy. It's made with house-made vanilla ice cream, eggnog, bourbon, and freshly grated nutmeg. It will definitely put some ho ho ho in your day.
ENO Wine Bar
Need a post shopping pick-me-up? There are plenty of tasty drinks on the menu this week at ENO Wine Bar. You can avoid the usual traffic jams of Georgetown and just head to the upper tip at ENO and sample their extensive collection of drink offerings, beginning with HotChocEno. Try either the housemade virgin hot chocolate for $8 or go for the adult version and get it made with Bailey's Irish Cream for $13; they both come with homemade chocolate marshmallows.
If wine is more your speed ENO has a range of new menu items to sample. For a limited time,
ENO is serving traditional German Glühwein; the mulled wine served at all the outdoor Christmas markets in Germany. This recipe is made using a top quality Virginia red wine, a bit of rum, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, oranges, and lemon, and it's just $8 a glass.
There are new happy hour specials from Sunday to Thursday that include wine on tap for $5 a glass, and Thursdays include live acoustic music.
ENO is proud to announce its new private label Meritage (pronounced like heritage), produced in collaboration with Breaux Vineyard's acclaimed winemaker, Heather Munden. The team tasted several versions before the final blind tasting and the special wine is now available for $18 by the glass or $72 by the bottle.
In the holiday spirit of giving, ENO is also giving a free glass of wine on tap, sparkling wine, or beer when they drop a new or gently used coat or blanket for a child or adult in need.
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.