Tuesday, May 31
In conjunction with the beer extravaganza Savor, there are a number of brew-centric events at Rustico, CurchKey, Smith Commons, Thunder Burger & Bar, Pizzeria Paradiso, and more. The Savor Web site lists all the festivities, which includes tonight’s dinner at Birch & Barley with nine rare Sierra Nevada beers and five courses. Brewery ambassador Steve Grossman and the restaurant’s beer director, Greg Engert, will talk about the beers. Dishes include seared hake with orzo, asparagus, and ramp pesto; grilled beef ribeye with braised kale, rice pilaf, and almonds; and spiced fritters with candied walnuts, bananas, and caramel. The dinner, which begins at 7, is $75 per person. Call 202-567-2576 for reservations.
Wednesday, June 1
There’s more brew flowing at Belga Café, which is hosting a four-course dinner with Belgian beers from Ommegang Brewery. Brewmaster Phil Leinhart will talk about his beers throughout the meal; pairings include pea-and-bacon soup with Hennepin; beef bourguignonne with spring vegetables and Abbey Ale Cup o Kyndes; and the Indulgence and a chocolate dessert with raspberry beer, chocolate ice cream, and a vanilla waffle (see the full menu here *PDF). The dinner begins with an aperitif at 6:30 and is $59 per person. Call 202-544-0100 for reservations.
Thursday, June 2
The Park Hyatt Washington is hosting four days of dining and drinking events for Masters of Food & Wine, which runs today through Sunday. Tonight’s five-course dinner at 8 PM ($140 per person) features wines from Barboursville Vineyards in Charlottesville, and winemkaer Luca Paschina will talk about the dinner’s pairings. Other activities include a local-wine-and-cheese tasting ($35 per person) with Washington Post wine columnist Dave MacIntyre; a barrel tasting of wines with light bites; and farm table dinners with chefs Joshua Hopkins of Abattoir in Atlanta and Brian Huston of the Publican in Chicago. Visit the event Web site for the lineup of events, times, and prices. For tickets, e-mail masters.phwashington@hyatt.com or call 202-419-6768.
Victory Brewing Company’s head brewer, Bill Covaleski, is teaming up with chef Robert Wiedmaier for a five-course dinner at Brasserie Beck. The meal begins at 7 with a duo of Alaskan salmon (seared and tartare) with warm citrus-periwinkle vinaigrette and Victory’s Whirlwind Wit. Other pairings include Golden Monkey with wild-mushroom-stuffed quail with corn purée; and a mascarpone-stuffed peach poached in beer with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and the Storm King. For reservations ($75 per person), call 202-408-1717. Click here for menu details and more information about the brewery.
Friday, June 3
The first Truckeroo event, a monthly food-truck festival organized by GeorgetownEvents and Das Bullpen, is from 11 to 9 at the corner of Half and M streets, Southeast (across from the Navy Yard Metro). Seventeen food trucks—including Takorean, CapMac, Red Hook Lobster Pound, and Pleasant Pops—will join live-music acts. For more information and to see all the participating vendors, click here.
Saturday, June 4
Anyone with an overabundance of basil, chives, mint, and other herbs can head to Maple Ave Restaurant in Vienna for a neighborhood herb exchange to swap or share with fellow gardeners from 9 to 11 AM. There’ll be drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Call 703-319-2177 for information.
Chef Amy Brandwein is hosting a cooking class on food from Italy’s Campania region at Casa Nonna. After 90 minutes of demonstration, there’ll be a four-course sit-down lunch. The session is $100 per person and runs from noon to 3. Call Erica Frank at 202-689-8989 or e-mail Erica@bltrestaurants.com for reservations.
Don your finest stripes for the Seersucker Bike Ride and Social at DC’s Hillwood Estates. You can start off with a fashionable cycle at 2 (location of the start will be disclosed just before to the event), or join the riders at the estate’s post-ride party from 3:30 to 7 ($10; free for children under six). Hendrick’s Gin is providing cucumber sandwiches and cocktails and beer, wine, and food from the BBQ Bus will be available for purchase. You can also play croquet and badminton. Click here for tickets and more information.
Sunday, June 5
Dino chef/owner Dean Gold is preparing a family-style meal with meat from Eco-Friendly Foods (owned by famed pig farmer Bev Eggleston) starting at 6:30. Representatives from Eco-Friendly will be on hand to talk about the ethically raised meat, which is featured in dishes such as “trotter” tots, grilled Tuscan-style pork and lamb ribs, Tuscan bacon, and salsiccia. The meal is $65 for Slow Food DC members, $70 for nonmembers. See a full menu and register here.
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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.
