What's Happening In Washington, DC: April 27, 2015
And we're off! District food- and spirit-lovers can sample food with a Southern drawl, get gussied up for a Derby social, and sip their way from one potent party to the next, but we love variety in our diet. That's why beer takes center stage for a bit, but biscuits, mint juleps, and cigars are on the calendar along with an iconic wine dinner that honors one of the most important winemakers. Chefs are generous people and rarely turn down a chance to help raise funds for a charitable cause, so the upcoming Biscuit Bash is a chance to taste great food and help two great causes – put your money where your mouth is has new meaning now.
Biscuit Bash at Art & Soul Restaurant
Nothing says love like a good ole Southern biscuit, and on Wednesday, May 6, you can watch the flour fly from 6 to 8 p.m. on the patio at Art & Soul Restaurant. Art Smith, Master Chef winner and Southern chef extraordinaire, is the perfect chef to MC Art & Soul Restaurant's second annual Biscuit Bash to benefit DC Central Kitchen and Share Our Strength. Nine chefs are competing and the competition will be tough because last year's winner, Hamilton Johnson from Vidalia, will be back to defend his title. Gritty biscuit mavens like Andrew Evans from BBQ Joint, Jason Gehring from Mason Dixie Biscuit Co., and a slew of others are vying for first place, so count on the flour flying.
Garden & Gun Hosts a Derby Day Social
Put on your best "Lu-a-vulle" accent, don a fancy hat or bow tie, and watch the "most exciting two minutes in sports" live at Jack Rose Dining Saloon on Saturday, May 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. Your host is Garden & Gun magazine, an arbiter of Southern culture, and their bash is the ultimate Southern social. There will be traditional snacks; mint juleps; a best dressed contest and prizes; live music from the Nashville duo of Lindsay Ellyn and Taylor Alexander; a meet-and-greet with Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey's brand ambassador Chris Martino and Master of Whiskey, Nick Crutchfield; and a cigar lounge with W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist. The cost for everything is $125 per person and tickets are available online. See ya'll there.
Insignia Wine Dinner at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House
On April 15, the wine world lost an iconic and influential winemaker, Joseph Phelps. His eponymous winery produces great wines, but it was his "Insignia" that has become his legacy, and in fact, legendary. In homage to this visionary winemaker, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House is paying homage by hosting two Insignia wine dinners on Friday, May 8, and Friday, May 22. The dinner is $395 per person and is limited to just 16 people. The flight of wines will be accompanied by a five-course menu prepared by executive chef Scott Kroener and begins with Maryland crab, a romaine salad prepared with egg and lardons, followed by sweet potato gnocchi with smoked chicken and sage, and finally a 28 day bone-in prime steak "tasting" a bone-in filet, bone-in strip, and bone-in rib eye paired with a trio of Joseph Phelps "Insignia" Napa Valley vintages – 2005, 2006, and 2010, three of the most outstanding vintages in recent memory. Entrées are served with wild mushrooms, bacon-braised Brussels sprouts, and château potatoes, with a selection of cheese for the finale. Contact the restaurant for more information and make your reservations on the website.
2015 RAMMYS Beer Program of the Year Finalists Host Events and Specials
The RAMMYS picks for the region's top beer destinations have been announced and some of the nominees are featuring specials and events, so tap a growler and down some cold brews between Monday, May 4, and Friday, May 8. One sip and you'll understand why they've been nominated.
On Monday, May 4, two finalists, Granville Moore's and Mad Fox Brewing are hosting a four-course beer dinner for $45 per person, not including tax and gratuity and you can buy tickets here. Every Tuesday, Granville Moore's hosts Neighborhood Night that offers 12.38% off the bill and on Tuesday, May 5, they will offer the same discount but on rare, cellar finds and large formats.
Pizzeria Paradiso in Georgetown is tapping four different styles of beer each day of the week starting on Monday, May 4, which will feature saisons, May 5 is stouts, May 6 is wheat beers, May 7 is IPAs, and May 8 will be wild ales.
Wednesday, May 6, the women of DC Brau, Denizens Brewing Company, and Port City Brewing will host a meet and greet at Granville Moore's at 6 p.m. The cover is $15 and includes a flight of four beers, but get there early or you won't get a spot.
On Thursday, May 7, Bluejacket is hosting two special happy hour tasting tours featuring rare, vintage sours and barrel-aged brews and barrel samples of yet-to-be-released spontaneously fermented Coolship beers. Tickets are $35 per person, including tax and gratuity.
Thursday, May 7, Granville Moore's is hosting Thirsty Firkin Thursday and will tap a special firkin of The Truth from Flying Dog Brewery and offer a special Trio of Truth combination for $28 that includes chef Jeremy's famous roasted chicken with two tastings of The Truth.
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.