The Weekly Feed: Let's Go 'Shroom Huntin' Edition
Ocean City Sea Scallops with Morel Mushrooms. Photo by Andrew Chriss.
Where:1789 Restaurant
Morel season is here! The Great Morel trumpets the mushroom's seasonal arrival: "The morel’s winter hiatus has officially come to a close and the Great Morel has once again made its grand appearance. We've all waited in patience for this glorious rite of spring, which brings us the Great Morel and for some it is now upon us." Similar to the way that pigs are used to hunt truffles, morels are not cultivated so much as hunted. You can track reported sightings and hunt your own morels in the area, if you so desire. Beware false morels, though, which can be poisonous if not prepared properly.
As part of his seasonal menu update, 1789 Restaurant Executive Chef Daniel Giusti pairs Oregon morel mushrooms with seared sea scallops from off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland. The dish is finished off with some asparagus and topped with a frothed foie gras jus. The sweet nuttiness of the morels matches the scallop, with neither flavor overpowering the other. The crisp asparagus adds texture to the buttery morels and scallops, while the jus accentuates the richness of the dish. So even if you can't put together a hunting expedition to find your own morels, seek them out at restaurants that have already done the work for you.
Small Bites
Farrah Trattoria?
Washingtonian reports that Farrah Olivia will be serving its last meal in its Old Town location on April 29. Chef Morou Ouattara will be opening a new restaurant/bar/lounge in Crystal City with his brother, presumably in the location of the now-closed Bebo Trattoria, with bigger plans for a joint in the District.
Free stuff to go
The fifth Organic To Go in the Washington, DC metro area will open on Monday, April 20 at 1200 19th St. NW. There will be a week of giveaways as listed:
Monday, April 20 - Free Honest T with purchase (11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Tuesday, April 21 - Free Cup of Soup with any salad bar purchase (11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Wednesday, April 22 - Free Coffee with any bakery item purchase (7 a.m.-9:30 a.m.)
Thursday, April 23 - Free Cheese Quesadilla with Soup purchase (11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Friday, April 24 - Free Coffee, Espresso, or Hot Tea (7 a.m.-9:30 a.m.), Free Cupcake with any purchase (11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Earthy Position
April 22 is Earth Day, and to celebrate, Poste Brasserie will officially re-open “The Garden at Poste” with a garden party honoring FRESHFARM Markets. A $5 admission fee will be donated to FRESHFARM, and guests can enjoy wine tastings from regional wineries (Poste is launching an all-Virginia wine list in The Garden), cheese tastings from Cowgirl, and samples of new punch-style cocktails being served in the garden.