Monday, June 14
Marking 20 years of delivering meals to Washingtonians living with life-challenging illnesses, Food & Friends holds its annual Chef’s Best party and auction at the Hilton Washington Hotel. Food and cocktails will be provided by as many as 60 participating area chefs, including event chair Jamie Leeds of Hank’s Oyster Bar and CommonWealth, David Varley of Bourbon Steak, Ris Lacoste of Ris, and PS 7 chef Peter Smith and mixologist Gina Chersevani. So far, more than 1,300 guests have bought tickets, so expect a crowd. Enter the “golden-ticket raffle” ($100) for a chance to win five nights at the Ritz-Carlton in Cancun, Mexico, including airfare. The party, $250 per person, begins at 6:30. Click here for tickets.
Tuesday, June 15, through Sunday, June 20
Head to Café Atlántico for the start of Chilean Gastronomic Week, which features a tasting menu ($70) designed by chef Richard Brandenburg and guest chef Matias Palomo of restaurant Sukalde restaurant in Santiago, Chile. Offerings include a Chilean king-crab pudding, purple fried salmon, and cheesecake with Ulmo honey. The special menu will be available during normal restaurant hours, 5 to 10 Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and 5 to 11 Friday and Saturday. Call 202-393-0812 to make a reservation.
Wednesday, June 16
Join sushi expert and author Trevor Corson (The Story of Sushi) at Zentan for a five-course dinner that explores the history and significance of sushi in Japanese culture. The menu includes sea urchin with salmon roe, firefly squid with miso and baby shad, and bonito with ginger and chives. The dinner, $120 a person, begins at 6. Call 202-379-4366 to reserve.
Thursday, June 17
Busboys & Poets at 14th and V streets, Northwest, hosts Will Allen, CEO of the sustainable-food nonprofit Growing Power, who will lead a discussion about urban agriculture, food inequities, and public-health epidemics in Washington. Free hors d’oeuvres by Busboys & Poets and Restaurant Nora will be available, and there will be a cash bar. All proceeds will be donated to help local urban farming projects. The event, $25 per person, runs from 6 to 8. Click here for tickets .
Thursday, June 17, through Sunday, June 20
Drop into the Park Hyatt for Masters of Food & Wine Washington, a gathering of the area’s top chefs and sommeliers who are committed to supporting sustainable agriculture and local farmers. The weekend’s events include discussions, tea tastings, wine tastings, guest chef dinners, and an outdoor pig roast. Tonight, there’s a dinner with winemaker Dan Duckhorn at Blue Duck Tavern; it begins at 8 and is $215 per person. Events are individually priced—the full calendar of events is here. Call 202-419-6768 or e-mail masters.phwashington@hyatt.com for reservations.
Friday, June 18
Masters of Food & Wine Washington events at the Park Hyatt tonight includes a panel discussion led by FreshFarm Markets’ Ann Yonkers ($40; 10 to noon), a Chardonnay tasting with sommelier Nate Ready ($60; 2 to 4), and a wine tasting with Dan Duckhorn featuring Merlot and Cabernet vintages from the ’80s and ’90s ($60; 4 to 6). A Taste of America four-course dinner with wine pairings will be held at Blue Duck Tavern. There are two seatings—6 and 8:30—and the dinner costs $140 per person. Call 202-419-6768 or e-mail masters.phwashington@hyatt.com for reservations. Click here for the full calendar of events.
Friday, June 18 to Saturday, June 19
The 20th annual Taste of Reston festival will be held this weekend at Reston Town Center. There will be live music, games, and of course, samples of local food, wine, and beer. On Saturday at 5, there will be a carnival and a chili cook-off between the Fairfax County police and fire-and-rescue departments. The festival runs from 3 to 11 Friday, noon to 11 Saturday, 10 to 6 Sunday. Tickets are $1 each or $20 for a sheet of 24. Click here to buy tickets online.
Saturday June 19
Check out the block party at 15th and G streets, Northwest, thrown by Old Ebbitt Grill, which gets into the summer spirit with live music and a cookout. DC Central Kitchen will be collecting can openers as well as canned and packaged nuts and raisins. Tickets ($35) include entrance to the festivities; a $110 VIP pass offers unlimited food and drink in the VIP lounge as well as entrance to a special main stage viewing area. The party runs from 4 to 11. Click here to buy tickets.
On schedule today for Masters of Food & Wine at the Park Hyatt: a tea tasting with certified tea master Chas Kroll ($50; 10 to noon) and a dinner featuring roasted pig, held on the outdoor terrace at Blue Duck Tavern ($120; 7:30). Call 202-419-6768 or e-mail masters.phwashington@hyatt.com for reservations. Click here for the full calendar of events.
Sunday, June 20
Lots of area restaurants are offering specials for foodie dads this Father’s Day, from decadent three-course brunches to heavy-duty grilling classes. Get the rundown in our Father’s Day dining guide .
Sou’Wester at the Mandarin Oriental hotel celebrates Dad with a cooking demonstration and lawn party with chef Eric Ziebold. Fare includes grilled steak, sausages, vegetables, and variety of summer salads and desserts. Go for lunch at 11:30 or dinner at 6—each is $75 per person. A bluegrass band plays from 6 to 8. Call Celia Laurent at 202-787-6068 or e-mail claurent@mohg.com for reservations.
For the last day of Masters of Food & Wine Washing
ton, head to the 1500 block of 20th Street, Northwest, between Massachusetts Avenue and Q Street for a tour ($50; breakfast at 9, tour at 10:30) of Dupont Circle’s FreshFarm Market and a cooking demonstration by Brian McBride of Blue Duck Tavern. In the evening, another Taste of America dinner will be held at Blue Duck. There are two seatings—6 and 8:30—and the dinner costs $140 per person. Call 202-419-6768 or e-mail masters.phwashington@hyatt.com for reservations.
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