Photo by Pianoman75
Drink of the week: The mojito
Where: Ceiba, El Centro, Rumba Cafe, Zengo
It’s as hot today in D.C. as it is in Havana, so we’ll gladly cool off with Cuba’s most refreshing cocktail. The sweet-tart combination of mint, lime, soda, and white rum is the next best thing to air conditioning on a sticky summer day.
Legend has it that the mojito can be traced back to explorer Francis Drake, whose crew was in desperate need of a remedy for scurvy and dysentery. They supposedly found their solution in Cuba, bringing back lime and rum which they sweetened with sugar and mint. If the curative powers of the cocktail (or at least of lime juice) aren’t a good enough reason to drink a mojito, then consider this: the drink was also a favorite of Ernest Hemingway, a man who clearly knew a thing or two about alcohol.
You can snag a mojito at a number of bars and restaurants around town, but the best ones are well-balanced between sugar and citrus. They taste minty, but not like mouthwash. El Centro (1819 14th St. NW) may be famous for its margaritas, but you can also get an expertly crafted regular mojito or a Mojito Mexicano with a kick of chili and ginger. If you like your drinks fruity, there are melon, pineapple, and mango and lycee variations at Zengo (781 7th Street NW). But maybe the best mojito is the one that’s easy on the wallet—stop by Zengo or Rumba Cafe (2443 18th St) during happy hour, and you can get ’em for only $5.
Small Bites:
Georgetown, tasty, tasty Georgetown
The 20th Annual Taste of Georgetown is this Saturday and will feature food from 30 different restaurants, craft beer and wine, and live music. Stop by Wisconsin Avenue between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. for nibbles of 60 different dishes. Tickets are $5 per tasting or $20 for five tastings and can be purchased online or at the door. Tickets to the Craft Beer and Wine Pavilion are $4 per tasting or $10 for three tastings. As always, the proceeds benefit the Georgetown Ministry Center.
Union Market, now with 100% more gospel choir
Stop by Union Market (1309 5th Street NE) this Saturday for its inaugural gospel brunch, featuring the Israel Baptist Church youth choir. The market will host gospel brunches the first Saturday of the month at 12:30 p.m. Brunch foods are available from a variety of vendors in the market, including Buffalo & Bergen, Peregrine Espresso, Neopol’s Smokery, and Border Springs Farm.
Going to the dogs
Vinoteca (1940 11th Street NW) will be serving up hot dogs and cocktails to support City Dogs Rescue during its “‘Dogs + ‘Tails” event next week. Throughout the week, $1 from the sale of each housemade hot dog, veggie dog, half-smoke, or glass of punch will be donated to City Dogs Rescue. Stop by on Sunday afternoon from 3 to 8 p.m. for a kick-off party featuring a charity bocce tournament, grilling on the back patio, and some adorable doggies available for adoption.
