Calling industry groupies: If hanging with the cool kids of the restaurant world sounds like a grand time, then
head over to
Graffiato on
Monday starting at
10 for the first in a series of industry takeover nights.
First up is chef
Bryan Voltaggio and bartender
Owen Thomson of the newly opened Range;
you’ll find complimentary late-night snacks drink specials until 1 AM and most likely
a bevy of food scenesters showing support. The event is free and open to the public.
Pay tribute: The
Hamilton sends DC Central Kitchen founder
Robert Egger off to his new Los Angeles project in style, and you can join the party. Starting on
Monday at
6, you’ll find celebratory cocktails and food followed by music from the likes of Kid
Congo Powers (the Cramps) and Ashish Vyas (Thievery Corporation). Tickets are $100
and can be purchased on the event site.
Wintry eats and drinks: Del Frisco’s Grille heats up a chilly
Monday starting at
6:30 with a five-course dinner with beer pairings
from Colorado’s New Belgium Brewery. Think along the lines of Fat Tire cocktails,
slow-cooked venison chili, and a fudge brownie à la mode. The meal is $60, including
tax and gratuity, and can be reserved by calling 202-450-4686.
Global bubbles: Didn’t toast enough last week?
Wildfire hosts a four-course dinner paired with
sparkling wines from around the world on
Wednesday at
6:30. In addition to the menu,
a wine rep is on hand to lead guests through the selections. Call 703-442-9110 for
reservations ($80 per person).
Truffle kerfuffle: Race fellow tartufo lovers to
Fiola,
which pays homage to Italy’s pricey shroom with specially priced dishes while supplies
last. The prized topping is shaved tableside onto dishes like Parmesan risotto and
taglietelle with sunny-side-up eggs, and can be purchased in amounts ranging from
a half ounce to a shareable 28 grams or larger ($50 to $100-plus, respectively). Call
202-628-2888 for reservations.
Looking ahead: Several big upcoming events have tickets available for purchase this week.
Suna grand opening:
Johnny Spero’s intimate Capitol Hill eatery has been open since November but he officially celebrates
the debut of Suna on
Wednesday, January 16, at
6 with guest chef-brothers
Bryan and
Michael Voltaggio,
Alex Talbot (Ideas in Food), and
John Shields of the shuttered Town House,
where Sperro once cooked. Reservations for the ten-course meal ($175 per person, plus
snacks and pairings) can be made by e-mailing events@sundadc.com.
Pigs ’n’ Pinot: Join chef
Brian McPherson at
Jackson 20 on January
16 for a feast of two foodie favorites: pork and Pinot Noir. The six-course menu plus hors d’oeuvres and pairings is $85 per person, with tickets purchased through
the event page on City Eats.
Daikaya pop-up: We’ve been closely following the soon-to-open
Daikaya since Sushiko co-owner
Daisuke Utagawa shared plans in 2011, and now you can literally get a taste during a LivingSocial pop-up. Tickets are currently on sale ($79 for six courses plus three pairings) for dinners on
Friday and Saturday, January 18 and 19.
All-star dining: Dreaming of an intimate dinner cooked by
José Andrés,
Mike Isabella,
Cathal Armstrong and other big-name toques? The annual DC Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table culinary
fundraiser,
Sips & Suppers, provides the chance. Tickets are available
now for both the chef-prepared dinners on
Sunday, January 27, and less-pricey cocktail reception on
January 26. Both have sold out in the past, and you’ll want to budget in that $550-plus meal
for the month.
Sugar and Champagne: The
Washington Human Society fundraiser isn’t until
January 31, but if this year is like any other, tickets ($90 to $150) will sell out. Restaurants and mixologists are still being added, but
you can browse the impressive list on the WHS website.
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.
