Photo by Ernesto Andrade.

Dish of the Week: Chilled noodles

Where: Daikaya, Sushi Taro, Tono Sushi

There is nothing more comforting than a steaming bowl of noodle soup on a cold, damp day. But those days are behind us. Given this week’s blistering temperatures, there’s no question that summer has officially arrived. So what’s a ramen lover to do in the heat? Fill that noodle-y hole in his or her stomach with some cold noodles.

In Japan, it’s common to slurp on cold noodles to help beat the summer heat. Skinny somen noodles are frequently dunked in a bowl of ice water and served with a gingery soy sauce for dipping. Chewy buckwheat soba noodles are also eaten in a similar manner; this dish is sometimes called zaru soba because of the bamboo tray (zaru) on which the noodles are served. The noodles or sauce may be topped with a few garnishes — an onion here or a sprinkle of nori there — but the preparation is largely a simple one. It may sound a little weird, but, like revenge or cheap beer, some things are best served cold.

If you’re trying to stay cool this summer, consider trying your noodles chilled for a change of pace. The deliciously cold soba, along with a side of tempura, is always on the menu at Sushi Taro (1503 17th Street NW) or Tono Sushi (2605 Connecticut Avenue NW). And while the coldest thing in the Daikaya (705 6th Street NW) ramen shop is normally the air conditioning, the kitchen is currently rolling out two cold ramen dishes for summer. The Hiyashi Ramen is a traditional Japanese summer dish made with cold noodles topped with all your favorite ramen goodies — roasted pork, a soft egg, wood ear mushrooms, and bamboo shoots — along with fresh veggies and a citrus soy vinaigrette. There will also be a spicy version for those who like to sweat. And in July, Daikaya’s Izakaya will be serving cold somen noodles to celebrate Tanabata, the Japanese Star Festival.

Small Bites

All the crawdads you can eat
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace’s (1612 14th Street NW) is hosting their annual crawfish boil next Saturday, June 28th. The event features all you can eat crawfish, all you can drink Abita ale (because Louisiana), pork buns from a whole roasted hog, and plenty of tasty Southern sides and desserts. Tickets are $71.50 and must be purchased for either a 12-2 p.m. or a 2:30-4:30 p.m. seating.

This festival improves with age
Beer aficionados have SAVOR and Snallygaster, so it’s only fair that someone throw a party for the winos. Enter VinoFest, a wine and music-fueled block party taking place at Union Market (1309 5th Street NE) from 2-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 28. Check out an art installation by No King Collective and enjoy music from Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation, among others. Tickets are $75 ($50 for a concert only pass) and include a complimentary glass of wine, along with access to a four-hour wine tasting starting at 2 p.m.

Tiki no more
The Going Out Guide reports that Hogo (1017 7th Street NW) will be closing its doors for good in August. While the building’s other establishments, The Passenger and Columbia Room, will be forced to shutter because the property is being redeveloped, owner Thom Brown feels that Hogo’s concept has simply run its course. In any event, now is time to get your fill of tropical libations and expect a rum-soaked closing party in early August.

Tiki some more
As the saying goes, when one tiki bar closes, another tiki window opens (or something like that). In this case, Doi Moi (1800 14th Street NW) is rolling out a roster of new tiki beverages starting July 1. You can expect pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and flaming bowls of rum. Check out the full menu on Eater.