Food

Can’t-Miss Food Fun This Week: Snallygaster Beer Festival, Curbside Cookoff, Lord of the Wings Competition

Plus family fun at the DC State Fair.

Win Smoke & Barrel's competition and get free wings for the NFL season. Photograph courtesy of Smoke & Barrel.

Food truck takeover: DMV Food Truck Week has arrived, and with it a series of collaborative lunches and dinners between street vendors and brick-and-mortar restaurants. The lineup of events includes a Pho Wheels dinner at Toki Underground on Wednesday, and a Del Campo Wagyu brisket sandwich aboard Astro Doughnuts’s truck all week long. Capping off the festivities: Curbside Cookoff in Noma on Saturday at 11 ($8 tickets available online).

Eat more barbecue: Brookland’s Finest Bar & Kitchen teams up with Sloppy Mama’s barbecue for a pop-up menu of smoked meats and sandwiches this week at the Brookland restaurant. Dishes include ribs, smoked chicken mufaletta sandwiches, s’more rice crispy treats, and more (prices vary by item).

Silver Spring dining: Looking for another restaurant week to close out the summer months? Silver Spring eateries serve specially priced meals— $12 two-course lunches, $17 two-course dinners—through Sunday.

Wing wars: Want to win free wings for the entirety of the NFL season? Head to Smoke & Barrel on Thursday, where chef Logan McGrear challenges competitors to a wing speed-eating competition. The challenge: consume 12 smoked pork shank wings faster than McGrear, and win free wings for the entirety of the football season and a $50 gift card. Sign up begins at 5, and the games start at 8.

Women in the arts: Head to the Mansion at Strathmore on Thursday from 7 to 9 for the kickoff to Women Chefs: Artists in the Kitchen. A free opening reception combines 22 female toques offering demos, with 21 visual artists. No reservations are needed.

Food truck Friday: Truckeroo returns to the Fairgrounds on Friday from 11 to 11. Over 25 trucks participate, while live music and corn hole keeps guests entertained. There is no charge for admission; prices vary.

Snallygaster: One of the biggest craft beer fests in DC goes down on Saturday at The Yards from 1 to 6. Neighborhood Restaurant Group beer director Greg Engert (Bluejacket, Churchkey) picks over 300 brews and ciders, while a range of food trucks and restaurants provide eats. VIP entry is sold-out, but online passes for regular admission are available ($35).


Turkish Restaurant Week:
The annual Turkish culinary festival begins on Saturday in restaurants across Washington. Participating eateries such as Ankara and Cafe Divan serve three-course lunches ($18) and four-course dinners ($30). Visit the event page for the full lineup of activities.

DC Fair: Though still a District, Washington DC hosts the sixth annual DC State Fair on Saturday from noon to 8 at Old City Farm and Guild. Partake in a pie-baking contest, snack from local food vendors, and sip brews in the beer garden. Admission is free.

Chef party: Restaurateur Mike Isabella throws a Ballston block party on Saturday, bringing together Kapnos Taverna, Pepita, and the upcoming Yona noodle bar. Guests will be treated to unlimited sips and bites starting at 1. Tickets (available online) are $65 per person.

Greek festival: Head to St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 8 for the annual Greek Festival. Stalls offer a feast of sweet and savory dishes, oils and take-home items, while a kids corner entertains the young ones. Admission and parking are both free.

Seafood festival: The Maryland Seafood Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at Sandy Point State Park from 10 to 7. Culinary entertainment includes the 25th crab soup cook-off, the Department of Natural Resources’ fishing challenge, bountiful seafood, and chef demonstrations. A portion of proceeds go to local charities. Tickets ($10 to $220) are available online.

Crab festival: Cafe Saint-Ex finishes the summer with a crack on Sunday beginning at 12. Picnic tables will be adorned with heaps of crabs and cold beers. Unlimited sides of french fries, corn, and coleslaw accompany the meal. Make reservations for the event ($49) by calling 202-265-7839.

Food Editor

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.