Grapefruit slushito at Estadio Dish of the Week: Slushitos
Where: Estadio
During the summer, I always crave Slurpees after a long walk or gym session. Even better: when that frozen drink has some booze in it. And if you’re tired of frozen margaritas or daiquiris, the slushitos at Estadio fit the bill.
Estadio typically has two slushitos available, swirling around in mixers that remind me of strolls Bourbon Street in New Orleans with a hurricane in hand. But these are far more refined than your normal Kool Aid-flavored sugar-booze. At the moment, my favorite is the grapefruit with amontillado sherry and lemon- and chamomile-infused bourbon. I’m almost equally in love with the star anise-heavy cranberry, cava, lime and spiced gin variety.
In my opinion, one of the greatest challenges to making a good frozen drink is ensuring that it does indeed freeze. I spoke to bar manager Adam Bernbach about how he figured out the right proportions of ingredients to ensure that the cocktails freeze. “Physically making the slushitos requires the same principles used to balance a cocktail,” Bernbach explained, noting that the ingredients “serve a dual purpose.” First, the water, which is an analog to the ice that is shaken or stirred with a cocktail to chill and dilute it — but instead, it’s frozen to create the slushy aspect. Then the addition of sugar helps the ice crystals to form more quickly, as well as playing the traditional role of “softening the acid.” Regardless of the chemistry involved, the end result is pure excellence in a glass.
Small Bites
Sustained feasting
The Smithsonian is hosting a discussion focused on the condition of the Gulf of Mexico and its seafood a year after the BP oil spill on June 9 from 6:45-8:15 p.m. This will be followed by a reception featuring sustainable seafood dishes from numerous local restaurants and selected restaurants from New Orleans and New York. General admission tickets are $95, and $80 for Resident Associate members.
A Taste of Armenia
St. Mary Armenian Church is hosting their first annual Spring Armenian Food Festival today (5-9 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m.-5 p.m.). For several years, they’ve hosted a fall food festival, and this is more of the same deliciousness, including Armenian beer and kebabs.
Beans, beans good for the heart
Cafe Saint-Ex is hosting their third annual chili cook-off on May 30 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The cook-off will feature chefs from up and down 14th Street, and will raise money for Garrison Elementary School. The event will also feature live music, an on-site Peroni truck and kids’ activities.
Frozen hotness
Serendipity 3, the New York establishment well known for its “frrrozen” hot chocolate, plans to open its Georgetown location at 3150 M Street, NW, sometime before Memorial Day. This marks the chain’s fourth location, joining one in Las Vegas and another in Boca Raton, Florida.
