On the lamb: The third annual Lamb Jam goes down at
Eastern Market on
Monday from 6 to 9. You’ll find 20 toques from restaurants such as Bourbon Steak,
Bibiana,
Blue Duck Tavern,
and more cooking up lamb dishes alongside a variety of wines and beers. There’s also
a butchery demo by Wagshal’s and live music. Unfortunately early admission VIP tickets are sold out, but you can still grab general admission passes for $60 per person.
Happy birthday, Robert Mondavi: The legendary California winemaker’s 100th birthday is celebrated in memoriam at
Charlie Palmer Steak on
Tuesday at 6:30. The dinner is paired with
a variety of wines from the vineyard, and Mondavi general manager Glenn Workman presents
the varietals and speaks about the winemaker’s history. Reservations are $125 per
person.
Wine dinner: Blue Duck Tavern hosts a dinner on
Monday at 7:30 with Washington state’s Seven Hills Winery. You’ll taste and hear about several
varietals along with the four-course meal. $145 per person. There are only a few
seats left, so call early for reservations.
Pork and Pinot: Those craving pig can head to
Wildfire at Tysons Galleria on
Tuesday at 6:30 for a pork and Pinot pairing with a trotter from Virginia’s Bay Haven Farm.
The four-course dinner includes swine in every bite, including a maple-bacon doughnut for dessert. $85 per
person. Call 703-442-9110 for reservations.
Start summer: It’s still spring, but
Helix Lounge launches two summer-long promotions this week. First up is local beer night with
$4 Washington-area drafts every
Tuesday through August. Then on
Wednesday you’ll find the start of a weekly patio party from 5 to 7 with $8 burgers (as well as chicken and black-eyed pea alternatives).
Relax in AdMo: Cashion’s gets in the laid-back summertime mood with the first of many patio parties on
Wednesday. There are no reservations; just head to the outdoor tables, where $30 gets you two
beers and barbecue. Tickets are available online.
Taste of Sonoma: Brabo hosts the first in a series of four-course winemaker dinners prepared by chef Robert Wiedmaier on
Wednesday. Sommelier Matt Carroll and Jeff Stewart of Sonoma’s Hartford Family Winery lead
a discussion about the pairings alongside the five-course menu ($125 per person). You can also purchase the wines from the Butcher’s Block after, and also receive a 10 percent discount on cases.
Dine like Bond: Channel your inner international man of mystery at
Plume on Thursday during a James Bond-inspired dinner.
The five-course menu and wine pairings are inspired by the Bond ladies, such as Kissy Suzuki charred asparagus
with red miso vinaigrette. Call for reservations and more details.
Spirits tasting: Start your
Saturday night with a sampling of spirits from Virginia’s
Catoctin Creek Distillery at
A.M. Wine Shoppe. $20 per person. From 5:30 to 7:30 you can taste rye, white whiskey, and a few other
boozy sips.
Brewery concert: Indie rock band Of Montreal play a concert alongside
Baltimore’s Us and Us Only on
Saturday at the
Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick. Go for the tunes and the chance to dance on the brewery’s lawn where
the concert is being held; stay for super-fresh beers. Tickets are $20 online.
Get crabby: If you can’t hit the bay this Memorial Day, consider heading to
Policy for the third annual crab feast on
Sunday from noon to 5. Set up on one of the three outdoor patios for all-you-can-eat crabs
($35 per person) with corn, slaw, and wings for the impatient hungry types. Blue Moon
takes over the taps, and releases two exclusive drafts: Raspberry Cream Ale and ginger-spiked
Honey Grand Cru. Tickets are available online.
Springtoberfest: Since Monday’s a holiday, you might as well spend Sunday drinking outside. One option:
Springtoberfest at the
Caucus Room in Georgetown, which hosts a party with seasonal sausages like boudin blanc with pickled
ramps and plenty of beer. Ticket options vary from VIP to general admission ($50 to
$75), and are available online.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
