Photo by Robert Valencia.
By DCist Contributor Travis Mitchell
Dish of the Week: Elote
Where to Find it: El Chucho, El Verano Taqueria, Impala Cantina
Summer is high season for corn on the cob, and there are many ways to enjoy this abundant crop beyond just boiled or grilled. Consider upping your game with elote, a traditional Mexican street food, at one of many restaurants around the city.
Elote is corn on the cob served on a stick and slathered with condiments like mayo, cheese, herbs, and spices. And honestly, everything is better when it’s covered in cheese. Elote is the perfect sweet and savory snack to enjoy alongside a plate of tacos and a margarita during the dog days of D.C. summer.
The popular elote callejero at El Chucho Cocina Superior (3313 11 Street NW) is covered with aioli, cotija cheese, and cilantro and served on a stick. Or, try the elote loco at Impala Cantina (1358 H Street NW), made with roasted jalapeno aioli. And just this week, PoPville spotted an elote street vendor at 14th and Irving Streets NW.
You can also find elote at Nationals Park, of all places. If you’re sick of eating hot dogs, head up to El Verano Taqueria on the mezzanine, where well-topped elote is served alongside a selection of tacos and nachos. So the next time you’ve got a hankering for Mexican cuisine, consider adding a few portions of elote to your order.
Small Bites
A Bastille Day blowout gets even bigger
L’Enfant Cafe’s (2000 18th Street NW) annual Bastille Day party has gotten too big for its Adams Morgan location. The 11th annual event is relocating to the new Wunder Garten space (150 M Street NE) and will be held Saturday July 11 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets to the event are $7 and should be purchased in advance. Entertainment will include can-can dancers, a brass band, and a French maid relay race. Beer and wine will be available and DC Slices and Crepes Parfait will on hand selling food.
Retro cocktails in Adams Morgan
Grab your leisure suit and head down to Cashion’s Eat Place (1890 Columbia Road NW) this Sunday from 10 p.m. to midnight for an evening of 1970’s-themed cocktails. This third installment of the restaurant’s “Decade of Cocktails” series will revive the sweet and herbal Harvey Wallbanger—a cocktail made with Gaillano, vodka, blood orange, ginger beer and lavender bitters. There will also be some appropriate 1970s snacks like clams casino, cocktail weenies, and shrimp cocktail.
Happy birthday, Richard Simmons
This week’s double movie screening at Satellite Room (2047 9th Street NW) coincides with the birthday of fitness icon Richard Simmons. The bar will show two of his aerobic videos beginning at 8 p.m. on Sunday, so get ready to groove out to “Party Off the Pounds.” There will be karaoke inside and a $5 “Disco Sweat” speciality cocktail.
Funnel cakes for brunch
It seems that brunch menus know no bounds. Provision No. 14 (2100 14th Street NW) is going all out with its new menu, which will include funnel cakes, whole fried chickens, and boozy slushies. You can also try the pata, a suckling pig leg that has been braised and fried. The new brunch begins July 11 and runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m to 3 p.m.
