This is how much paella you should be eating today. (Photo by The Q Speaks.)
Dish of the Week: Paella
Where: Barcelona, Jaleo, Taberna Del Alabardero
It’s National Paella Day! Granted, that doesn’t mean much when practically every random food has it’s own official day. Tomorrow is apparently Something on a Stick day, and we’re also in the midst of National Celery Month. But unlike celery, paella is delicious, and some goofy holiday is as good an excuse as any to tuck into a hearty platter of the classic Spanish dish.
The concept behind paella is simple: protein and vegetables simmered with rice, preferably until a crust of toasted grains forms a crisp layer on the bottom of the pan. Like risotto, the dish lends itself to endless permutations. Barcelona (1622 14th St NW) offers a vegetarian version with butternut squash, brussel sprouts, fennel, and chickpeas. For something more carnivorous, there’s the Salvaje Paella made with three types of sausage and a roasted leg of lamb. And despite being a humble rice dish, paella also cleans up nicely. Downtown staple Taberna Del Alabardero (1776 I St NW) has five varieties on the menu, including an ebony-tinged squid ink platter topped with squid and octopus and a high-priced rendition with lobster.
Jaleo will be celebrating National Paella Day in style with an all-day cooking demonstration at their Crystal City location (2250 Crystal Dr, Arlington). Stop by before 4 p.m. and you can snag a free plate; after that you’ll have to shell out $6. All three locations will be offering personal size portions of paella Valenciana (made with chicken and rabbit) for $6, or you can get a full size version to share.
Small Bites
Party on H Street
Head over to the Atlas District tomorrow for a family-oriented visual arts and music festival featuring food and cocktails from H Street restaurants like Toki Underground, Sticky Rice, and Impala Cantina. The event, which organizers at D.C.’s The Joodlum Group, are calling “Salta Bloss,” takes place from 4 to 10 p.m. Check out the Salta Bloss website for details on venues and a list of participating artists and musicians. —Elizabeth Packer
With a cherry on top
The fact that it doesn’t feel like spring hasn’t stopped restaurants and bars from debuting a range of spring specials. Although we most likely won’t see cherry blossoms until mid-April, you can console yourself with the slew of cherry-themed dishes popping up around the city, like Astro Doughnuts’ (1308 G Street NW) new cherry blossom doughnut, filled with cherry jam and topped with a cream cheese glaze. But like the blossoms themselves, this treat is fleeting: the doughnut is available for $2.95 until Saturday. —Elizabeth Packer
Seder celebration
If you’re in need of Passover cooking inspiration, the Jewish Food Experience is hosting a series of demos at area Whole Foods. D.C. chefs will prepare dishes from JFE’s list of top 10 Passover recipes, with samples to taste and recipe cards to take home. Mike Friedman, of the Red Hen, will prepare brisket-style short ribs on March 29 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Rockville Whole Foods, and Amy Brandwein, chef of the forthcoming Centrolina, will be at the Kentlands Whole Foods on March 29 from 6 to 7 p.m., making matzah sfogliatelle with lamb ragu, just like your Bubbe used to make. —Elizabeth Packer
Ain’t no party like an empanada party
It’s probably already on your calendar, but in case you forgot, National Empanada Day is coming up on April 8th. Head over to Cuba Libre (801 9th Street NW) to celebrate with $1 empanadas, along with other happy hour specials, from 5 to 7 pm. There will be other empanada specials available throughout April, including a goat cheese and sour cherry version available April 1-12, the perfect snack to accompany cherry blossom sightseeing. —Elizabeth Packer
