Cider hour: The Source teams up with ANXO Cidery and Pintxos Bar for a happy hour at the Wolfgang Puck restaurant on Thursday from 4 to 7. Sample fifteen pintxos ($6 to $9) with options like shishito pepper crostini, pork dumplings, and stuffed squid. Quench your thirst with three hard ciders, including a collaboration between ANXO and Millstone Cellars. Admission is free; no reservations required.
Wine tasting: Head to the B&O Railroad Museum on Thursday at 6 for a winter wine tasting event. Sip local pours from Maryland and talk with the winemakers behind the bottles, which are also available for purchase to take home. Tickets ($65 to $80) are available online.
Anniversary dinner: Mandu chef Danny Lee brings together a dozen chefs for the restaurant’s anniversary on Friday from 9 pm to midnight. The anju-style event includes creative Korean bar fare from the guests like Victor Albisu (Del Campo), all served family-style. Alcoholic beverages are included. Tickets ($75) are available by emailing info@mandudc.com.
Restaurant week: Montgomery County Restaurant Week begins on Friday. Participants serve three-course lunches for $18 and dinner for $36, including Barrel + Crow, Cava Mezze, and many more. Make reservations by calling the restaurant directly or visit OpenTable.
Frigid fun: If an “adult-friendly winter wonderland” sounds like your cup of cocoa, head to Ice Yards on Saturday from 2 to 6. The 21+ event in Navy Yard features cocktails served from ice bars, a frosty beer garden, boozy snow cones, fire pits, local eats, an ice sculpture gallery, and more icy entertainment. Admission is $10; food and drink are priced individually.
Celebrity chefs unite: One of the biggest gatherings of all-star chefs in Washington goes down this weekend at the annual Sips & Suppers fundraiser, benefiting Martha’s Table and DC Central Kitchen. Over seventy chefs from around the country participate in the culinary weekend, including local talent and visiting toques like Sean Brock of McCrady’s/Husk in Charleston, and Charles Phan of San Francisco’s Slanted Door. The festivities begin with the Sips cocktail reception on Saturday at 7:30pm at the Newseum ($125 to $200), where you can sample a variety of dishes and cocktails. Suppers on Sunday ($600-plus) take place at private homes throughout the city, where the chefs will cook dinner for an intimate group of guests. All proceeds benefit the two charities.
Beer-as-art contest: Pizzeria Paradiso in Alexandria hosts their annual can art contest on Sunday from noon to close, where guests create original works from craft beer cans. The winning design gets free pizza each week for a year, and a signed copy of Canned! by Russ Phillips. Email joshfernands@eatyourpizza.com with your name and contact information to participate.
Coming soon: Monday, January 25 marks the beginning of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s Winter Restaurant Week. Check out are our top picks for $22 set lunches and $35 dinners, plus a brunch option or two. The event is always popular, so reservations are highly recommended.
