The Weekly Feed: Veritas Edition
John Harvard's Brew House Has Dropped Out
It looks like the District can't even keep sub-par brewpubs. Already a eighth-year senior, John Harvard's Brew House on Pennsylvania and 13th Streets NW has closed its doors. With the phone dead and its banishment from the mothersite, it looks like the Ad Board has asked it to take a loooooong leave of absence.
DCist had mixed feelings about the place. I'd return for bit of post-college nostalgia, but the place never kept up with its flagship big-brother in Harvard Square. With beer ranging from Budweiser clones to approximations of Murphy's Stout, as well as from honey to pumpkin to blueberry, the idea of the D.C. Johnny Harvard's was nice, but it couldn't carry out its promises. Service was habitually poor, the food was too greasy, and the design was completely incongruous with the restaurant's vibe.
Where does that leave us? Are there any really good brewpubs left in D.C.? Capitol City Brewing Company brews its own, but, candidly, we don't find it all that special. District Chophouse occasionally has some pretty good beer (like its Bourbon Stout), but it's a chain owned by Rock Bottom, Inc. And don't even get us started on Gordon Biersch. We see an opening here, entrepreneurial D.C.; don't make us drive to the suburbs! We can't stumble home from there.
Jaleo's Paella Festival Around the Corner
José Andrés is making a real fortnight of it. Starting on February 20 and lasting until March 5 is Jaleo's fourth annual Paella Festival. Happy hours at all three Jaleo locations during the festival will feature free paella samplings from guest chefs Juan Guillén and Emilia Belmonte. The two will bring recipes such as mushroom-squid black rice paella and lobster-chicken paella from their restaurant in Santa Pola, on Spain's Mediterranean Coast. There will also be a special event at each location, including a private dinner in Bethesda on the 21st, a meet-and-greet with the guest chefs in D.C. on the 22nd, and a dinner and wine-tasting on the 23rd in Crystal City. If you have a pit in your stomach for some saffron rice or just some sangria, call (202) 628-7949 for more information.
Free Martini and Champagne Tasting
Man, do we wish Friendship Heights were closer. Paul's Wine & Liquors at 5205 Wisconsin Avenue NW is hosting a free Champagne and martini tasting Friday from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. We're a little flabbergasted. Free? Really? Wow. All you interns/college students/people looking for some free bubbly might want to plan to meet up on the Metro. Tell Paul hi for us.
Morou in His Own Words
The WaPo has a really interesting interview with Morou, the chef at Jack Abramoff's now-defunct Signatures (why are they still paying for a Web site?). Morou makes it clear that he was never focused on the politics of the whole Abramoff affair, saying he doesn't wish to "get involved in something [he doesn't] understand." He says that Jack was "one the best bosses" he's had, which leaves a little bit of a bad taste in our mouths. But we suppose it's possible to be an awesome boss and a duplicitous felon at the same time. Morou does get points for commitment to his staff, however. Evidently, he spent time after the shuttering calling around to place his staff in other restaurants. We understand that it's the way of the trade, but it's classy nonetheless. We look forward to Morou landing a good spot (or opening his own!) so we can try his handiwork without worrying about the taint of Abramoff.