What's Happening In Washington, DC: June 6, 2016
We are lucky to have an exploding food scene in D.C. that makes it hard to choose what event to attend each week; and this week is no different. You can go carb crazy for biscuits and vote on your favorites, sit around a comfy table and dine on upscale campfire food, sip rosé cocktails, and head to the roof for summer sippers. It's time to chill by the pool and this seems like a good week of dining and drinking in the District.
Art and Soul to Host Third Annual Biscuit Bash
Better mark your calendar if love buttery biscuits because Art and Soul is hosting their Biscuit Bash again on Thursday, June 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. We know it's a bit early to make the announcement, but the tickets sell out so quickly we wanted to make sure you had enough notice to try and score a few. This year, eleven talented local chefs are competing to see who makes the best biscuit and fixins and the public gets to judge the entries and choose a winner. Make an evening of it and nosh on biscuits for dinner, sample cocktails from acclaimed mixologists Derek Brown of Drink Company and Gina Chersevani of Buffalo & Bergen, and then end the evening on a sweet note with mini cones served by Victoria Lai from Ice Cream Jubilee.
Want to get one of the best dining deals in D.C.? Buy the Early Bird tickets for $43.19 per person by May 15. After that date, the price goes up and the tickets may sell out. If you attend, you can also pat yourself on the back because some of the money from the event goes to support D.C. Central, which fights local hunger by recycling donated food, provides chef's training to at-risk, unemployed adults, and helps urban food systems meet the needs of local communities.
Art & Soul to Host Summer Mixology Popup
Seems we are either drowning in feet of water from too much rain or suffering in the death rays of 90-degree heat. One way to chill out and cool down is to go to the Summer Mixology Pop-up happening on the rooftop lounge of the Liaison Capitol Hill DC on Wednesday, June 15. That's when mixologists Jo-Jo Valenzuela and Jamie MacBain, of Behind the Stick Consulting Group, will host a jammin' interactive cocktail class; it's just one iteration of Art & Soul's Cocktail Club series. Get the skinny on how to use fresh ingredients in refreshing summer drinks. You'll mix four cocktails, try a bit of each one, and take home the recipes! Nibble on tasty bits from Art & Soul, all for $40 bucks per person. The fun runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is hosted by Art & Soul.
BLT Steak
Monday, June 13 is a big day for food and drink: Soul Food Month is hitting its stride, its National Rosé Day, and BLT Steak is launching its Monthly Summer Flights Program featuring Rosé All Day, Revamped Rickeys, and Sippable Summer Flavors. BLT Steak's Beverage Director, James Nelson, has created a series of monthly summer flights that, each month, will feature a taste three creative cocktails priced at $20, with the option to purchase a full size ($16) or half size ($8) of any of the cocktails from the flight. This month, rosé is the star and will be showcased in several cocktails as either a syrup reduction, a sparkling wine, or still wine. For July, guests can expect a month of Rickeys, featuring a rum-based "Tiki Rickey" as well as bourbon & gin-based variations; and then in August, look for drinks featuring a few of Nelson's favorite summer fruits like watermelon, strawberries, blueberries and cantaloupe.
Blue Duck Tavern Blue Duck Tavern Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary
Ten years is an important marker in the life of a restaurant and Blue Duck Tavern is marking their tenth anniversary by welcoming the return of former executive chefs, offering menu favorites, and serving complimentary apple pie. From June 1 to June 30, there will be special menus that showcase some of the most popular summer dishes served over the last ten years. Each week, three special dishes will be highlighted as market selections on the restaurant's lunch and dinner menus, and on Thursday, June 16, guests will be served a complimentary mini-apple pie during lunch and dinner to honor the season and the restaurant's popularity as a denizen of inventive Continental and American food.
Bonfire Opens in Dupont Circle and Brings Campfire Cooking to the Capital
If you have fond memories of meals cooked over an open fire surrounded by nature then you may find Bonfire hits the spot. A new project from the Social Restaurant Group, the restaurant just opened a few days ago and the owners are creating a new dining experience featuring smoky cocktails, cast iron skillet dishes, and campfire focused foods that make you feel like a kid again. Think of it as "glamping" indoors. Executive chef R.L. Boyd and pastry chef Ellen Diekemper are serving rustic foods prepared with local ingredients like day boat scallops, rockfish, and wild mushrooms accompanied by an extensive S'Mores menu.
For more Washington DC dining and travel news, click here. Summer Whitford is the D.C. Editor and a food, drink and travel writer at The Daily Meal. You can follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva and on Instagram at thefoodandwinediva.