Calling home mixologists: Amateur barkeeps hoping to see their own concoction on a restaurant menu can enter a contest held by Bastille. Whip up a Parisian-style drink inspired by the city’s gardens, now through June 13, for your chance to win two tickets to the RAMMY gala and a spot on the bistro’s summer menu.
Herndon Fest: The 34th annual Herndon Festival starts Thursday, bringing four days of carnival rides, live entertainment, family fun, and, of course, plenty of food. In addition to fair favorites like funnel cakes, you’ll find local food trucks such as Rito Loco, Thai and Greek eats, beer vendors, and more. Times and prices vary, so check out the lineup.
Local goddesses of food: Industree hosts Hail to the V, a series of discussions centered on women in the food and beverage industry. Four panels filled with some of the leading ladies of the local scene gather Thursday at E Street Cinema at 6, all “femme-c’d” by Carla Hall. In addition to the discussion you’ll find snacks and sips from the likes of Hank’s Oyster Bar. Tickets are available online for $60.
Hole-up: Those rueing the lack of New York-style bagels and bialys in Washington can check out a Bullfrog Bagels pop-up at Cork Market Friday through Sunday. Flavors including sesame and everything can be paired with house-made spreads like smoked salmon cream cheese and citrus-goat cheese. Those looking for orders of a dozen or more should call 202-265-2674.
Sinatra-style sips: BLT Steak pays homage to Frank Sinatra’s love of Jack Daniels and the brand’s new limited-edition whiskey, Sinatra Select, with a pairing dinner on Saturday at 6:30. Chef Jeremy Shelton matches Italian dishes such as veal Milanese with different Jack Daniels sips ($100 per person).
Virginia wine time: The Vintage Virginia Wine and Food Festival happens on Saturday at the Bull Run Events Center in Centreville. Sip vino from a variety of Virginia wineries, sample food truck fare, attend chef seminars, and more. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday vary, starting at $30 for adults, $7 for kids.
Bikes and brews: New Belgium Brewery’s national Tour de Fat festival returns to the Yards Park on Saturday, bringing together bikes, brews, and live entertainment. Guests can participate in a costumed bike parade and more two-wheeled events, and can sip a variety of beers and grab food from Mellow Mushroom and other vendors.
Go green: The Green Festival arrives in Washington, hosted at the Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday. Guests can watch vegan and vegetarian cooking demos, shop at the eco-friendly marketplace, listen to speakers on topics such as the vanishing honeybees, and much more. Tickets start at $10 for a day pass.
Taste of Tysons: A new food festival goes down on Saturday and Sunday: the Great Taste of Tysons, held at the Lerner Town Square at Tysons II. You’ll find cooking demos from chefs like Pabu’s Jonah Kim and Michael Friedman from the Red Hen, mixology lessons, live music, and a variety of eats and drinks. Ticket prices start at $59 for general admission.
More crawdads: Evening Star’s chef Jim Jeffords hosts the restaurant’s third annual crawfish boil on Sunday from 1 to 5. Guests can head to the front porch and back parking lot for a block party-style event, complete with a boil of crawfish, corn, and potatoes ($14 per pound), Southern beers and eats including jambalaya and fruit cobblers, and live music. Admission is free, with food and drink tickets for $1.
Chefs unite: Chef Frederik de Pue of Menu MBK teams up with Blue Duck Tavern’s Sebastien Archambault and Dan O’Brien of Seasonal Pantry on Sunday at 6:30 for the first in a series of collaborative dinners at de Pue’s restaurant. The multi-course menu ($95 per person) focuses on a seasonal ingredient—in this case, asparagus—with optional wine pairings for $55.
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.
