Dining deal for veterans: Vets and active military members can head to BLT Steak at any point on Veterans Day (Monday) and receive a 50 percent discount for parties of two or less, and 25 percent off for larger groups (the discount is taken from the total check).
Everyone else can help fund programs for veterans throughout the month of November by heading to Ris for weekday lunch and ordering the Salute to Our Veterans menu; 20 percent of proceeds go to organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project.
Happy birthday, Jackie’s: Jackie’s is turning eight on Monday, but since restaurant years are equivalent to dog years, it’s actually turning 45. The Silver Spring spot will dish up its signature skillet-fried chicken, and is bringing back old-school dishes from past menus. Additional attractions: half-price cocktails and brews all night.
Gluten-free tasting: If celiac disease has stopped you from considering a multicourse menu with beery pairings at Birch & Barley, then Monday at 7 is the night to make the trip. The kitchen crew has teamed up with Virginia cider makers for a five-course gluten-free menu with pairings from Foggy Ridge, Castle Hill, and Albemarle CiderWorks ($73 per person). Call 202-567-2576 for reservations.
Cooks at the book fair: The National Press Club hosts its 35th annual Book Fair & Authors’ Night on Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30. You’ll find several cook and cocktail book authors in the mix, including Jim Meehan (The PDT Cocktail Book), Karen Sommer Shalett (True Blood: Eats, Drinks, and Bites From Bon Temps), and Deb Perelman (The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook; check out our interview with her to learn all about it). Tickets are $10.
Duck dinner: There are only a few tickets left for a duck-centric wine dinner with varietals from Napa’s Duckhorn Winery at the Grille at Morrison House on Wednesday at 6:30. The five-course feast with pairings is $125 per person.
Happy birthday, Four Seasons: The
one-year-old Four Seasons in Baltimore celebrates its birthday this
week with plenty of specials at its on-site restaurants. Head to Wit & Wisdom through Friday for a three-course “local appreciation” dinner ($39 per person), or go Wednesday for complimentary cupcakes and a Champagne toast. Pabu
also offers a similarly priced tasting menu in addition to a Japanese
cultural festival on Wednesday and all-night happy hour on Friday. Finally, Lamill Coffee serves $1 cupcakes and coffees on Wednesday. Find more details on each event online.
March of Dimes: The annual March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction returns to the Ritz-Carlton Washington DC on Wednesday at
6, with a host of top-tier restaurants, master mixologists, and
wineries. Tickets start at $200 and can be purchased on the event site.
Party like a Parisian: Central
celebrates the release of Beaujolais Nouveau on Thursday with specials, tastings, and “wine games”—score trivia points from engaging wine director David Hale to
win free glasses and tastes along with special discounts. Other perks:
tunes from gypsy jazz band Laissez Foure and Gallic dishes such as cote
de boeuf for two, apple tatin, and crème brûlée French toast.
Beaujolais No-veau: Over
on U Street,
Vinoteca is out to
prove that not all Beaujolais wines should be relegated to the sale bin
with a Better Beaujolais deal on Thursday. You’ll find $10 specials on two wines: a “Cru” from Marcel Lapierre and a 2011 Jean-Paul Brun white Beaujolais.
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.
