What's Happening In Washington, DC: A Special Ladies' Night, Popups In Ballston, And Beer And Wine Dinners
Annie's Second Annual Ladies Night
Ladies, grab your best friend, a tool belt, and head over to Annie's Ace Hardware in Petworth for their Second Annual Ladies Night and Charity Fundraiser. The big day is Tuesday, March 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. The timing is perfect, too, because March is Women's History Month and Annie is celebrating her fellow women-run businesses in Petworth. The party will include great food and drinks prepared by Farm to Feast Catering, Domku, and Crane and Turtle; a Power Tool 101 workshop; a free bike clinic with the women of The Bike House; faux painting demos; up cycled crafting with ScrapDC; a scavenger hunt in the store; and raffle drawings. There is a suggested donation of $5 and proceeds support DASH – District Alliance for Safe Housing and The Arcade, working to keep art accessible in the neighborhood. Find out more about the women-run businesses on Facebook.
Fondue by the Fire and Hot Drinks Happy Hour
While we don't want to state the obvious or sound repetitive, we know the recent bitter temperatures and seemingly endless snowstorms have probably induced an epidemic of cabin fever. Cheer up because help is here, thanks to the Jack Rose Dining Saloon and their wintry fireside fare served in the Balcony Room. Fitted with a blazing, wood-burning fireplace, warm-toned wood moldings and tables, leather seating, and wide views of the cold from sealed picture windows, this cozy hideaway is a congenial spot to spend happy hour. As long as the cold lasts, Sunday to Wednesday evenings from 5 to 10 p.m., you can share hot, hearty fondues prepared by chef Russell Jones and order hot cocktails prepared by Jack Rose's award-winning bartenders. The updated fondue offerings include artisanal cheeses infused with rye barrel-aged brews and stouts served with fun dipping options like sourdough pretzels, beef brisket, and pork bangers. For dessert, chocolate fondue comes with a twist on traditional s'mores that includes a choice of dark or milk chocolate with graham crackers, marshmallows, and fresh fruit. The savory fondue menu includes:
·"Traditional" ($13), aged Cheddar, pumpernickel bread, housemade potato ruffles, red apples, and marinated mushrooms
·"Jack'd Up" ($18), Vermont pepper jack infused with R.I.P.A. Rye, a double India Pale Ale aged in rye whiskey barrels from Schmaltz Brewing dipped with pumpernickel, sourdough pretzels, beef brisket, marinated mushrooms
·"Oh Danny Boy" ($16),aged Irish Cheddar and Guinness Irish stout dipped with Irish soda bread, potato ruffles, pork bangers, and red apples
The special whiskey menu includes almost 20 whiskeys for only $7 per 2-ounce pour, including Jack Rose's exclusive F.E.W. Bourbon Single Cask, High West Double Rye, Clontarf 1014 Irish whiskey aged in bourbon barrels, or Balvenie Doublewood 12 year old single malt scotch whisky from Speyside. For just $6, there are also winter warmers like:
·Spiked cider with Jim Beam bourbon, apple cider, cinnamon, clove, and allspice
·Mulled wine with cardamom pods, cinnamon, star anise, black pepper, vanilla, clove, orange, and lemon
·Heart warmer with Glenmorangie 10-year scotch, ancho reyes chilies, hot chocolate, and whipped cream.
Hardywood Beer Dinner
Southern regional food and drink are experiencing a unique culinary renaissance, and there is a "big bang" happening here in D.C. and in the neighboring state in Virginia, particularly in Richmond, the state capital. Inventive chefs, purveyors, restaurants, and drinks producers have embraced this explosion and so have the media. A slew of chefs have either won, or been nominated, for James Beard awards, Esquire Magazine named Virginia Food Region of the Year for 2014, and chefs and purveyors from our region have been all singled out for their tasty contributions—including Art & Soul and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, which hails from Richmond. On Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m., Art & Soul is hosting the Hardywood Beer Dinner, and executive chef Douglas Alexander has designed a special four-course menu paired with Hardywood's exceptional beers. You can dine on savory dishes like spicy fried oysters and suckling pig mole while sipping Hardywood's Pilsner, Belgian Abbey Blonde Ale, and other with beer pairings. The price is $70 per person, includes tax and gratuity, and reservations can be made online.
Mike Isabella's Yona
Have a craving for Japanese or Korean cuisine and want to try something new? Head over to G by Mike Isabella for a popup preview of his latest restaurant, Yona, through March 28. The new restaurant is scheduled to open sometime this summer, and until then diners can enjoy a Korean-Japanese noodle bar and small plates at G. To quench your thirst, the restaurant is offering Japanese beer, sake, Japanese whiskies, and cocktails with an Asian influence. The kitchen is headed by chef Jonah Kim, who will also be at the helm when the new restaurant opens its door. The popup is available Wednesday to Sunday, 6 to 10 p.m., and chef Kim's a la carte menu includes stunners like dry-fried wings made with fresh chiles, maltose, and aged rice vinegar; miso porky ramen with rich pork broth with miso tare, chashu, kikurage, kimchi, negi, corn, nori, and a soft egg; steamed buns stuffed with pork jowl, ssam jang, and iceberg lettuce. Reservations can be made by calling (202) 234-5015.
West Burgundy Wine Dinner
Burgundy wine-lover, and fans of Burgundy-style Oregon and California Pinot Noir, mark your calendars and make your reservations. The Four Seasons is a hosting a wine dinner to celebrate the launch of the West Burgundy Wine Group's portfolio. The reception and dinner are being held Thursday, March 12 and the reception begins at 6:30 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7:00 p.m. Executive chef Douglas Anderson has created a three-course menu designed to be paired with seven wines from Burgundy, Oregon, and California. The price is $135 per person, includes tax and gratuity, and requires reservations. Please R.S.V.P. to head sommelier Julian Mayor.
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.