Photo by Blue moon in her eyes.
Dish of the Week: White truffles
Where: Dino’s Grotto, Equinox, The Oval Room
Somewhere in Italy, dogs are sniffing around a forest in search of the grandest culinary prize of all: a beige-ish lump that can fetch over $1000 per pound. White truffles, one of the rarest (and priciest) variety of mushroom, are in season for a few short weeks each fall. This week marks the start of the most magical time of the year for fungus lovers, who will find the elusive white truffle popping up on local menus right now.
So what’s the big deal with white truffles? Unlike other types of mushrooms, farmers haven’t figured out a way to grow them; white truffles must be harvested in the wild, often assisted by trained dogs or pigs. But it’s perhaps the fragrance of a white truffle that’s the most captivating. Late food writer Josh Ozersky wistfully describes it as “a combination of newly plowed soil, fall rain, burrowing earthworms and the pungent memory of lost youth and old love affairs.” There are few other foods that would elicit such a poetic response.
If you’d like to get a taste of this magical white mushroom, be prepared to pay for it: A couple grams can cost as much as a regularly-priced entree. Dino’s Grotto (1914 9th St NW) is rolling out the white truffle carpet tonight and offers one of the more affordable options: they can be added to any dish for $29 per order, though Dino himself recommends truffle shaved over the osso bucco, paparadelle, or duck and celery salad.
Despite last year’s $300 truffle debacle, Equinox (818 Connecticut Ave NW) will be serving white truffles again this season. The ‘shroom can be added to any dish for $30 or enjoy the flavor in more budget-friendly options like their truffled mac and cheese or chestnut veloute.
For an extra fungus-filled experience, there’s the white truffle tasting menu at The Oval Room (800 Connecticut Ave NW). For $85, diners get four courses, including truffled polenta and guinea hen, tagliatelle with shaved truffles, and truffle ice cream. Lost youth never tasted so good. For those with richer blood, Eater has a list of additional white truffle tasting menus around town.
Small Bites
Sherry, baby
It may be the tail end of international sherry week, but there’s still time to get your fortified wine on. Tonight at 7:30 p.m. Dolcezza Factory (550 Penn Street NE) will host an Asian night market festival featuring unlimited sherry and sherry cocktails and nibbles from Buredo, Dirty South Deli, Compass Rose, Copycat Co., and Chao Ku. Tickets are $47 and include unlimited beverages (food sold separately).
These drink specials brought to you by global warming
Celebrate today’s absurdly mild weather by drinking like summer never ended. Tonight Vinoteca (1940 11th St NW) is re-opening their back patio tonight for their Endless Summer Fete. All bottles of rose will be on special for $25, which is sure to improve your bocce throwing skills. Or nab some outdoor action at Provision 14 (2100 14th St NW), which will be serving $6 mai tais and their All Bets Off cocktail (mezcal, tequila, lime, tamarind, soda) from 4-7 p.m. on the patio during their Global Warming Gone Wild happy hour.
Dueling beer festivals
Oktoberfest is over, but there’s still Novemberfest. On Saturday, Rustico (827 Slaters Lane, Alexandria, Va.) will host their fourth annual beer-centric block party from noon to 5 p.m. Greg Engert (of Bluejacket and ChurchKey fame) selected the menu of 50+ local beers, ensuring a diverse and interesting afternoon of imbibing. Be on the look-out for hard-to-find beers from Virginia breweries like Rusty Beaver (not a joke), Chaos Mountain, and Smartmouth. Virginia wines will also be available, along with food from Rustico and live bluegrass music. Tickets are $10 at the door or buy a package of 20 food and drink tickets for $25 online. A portion of the proceeds benefit Arcadia Food.
If traversing the Yellow and Blue line isn’t quite your thing, there’s also the DC Beerathon, a beer crawl also being held on Saturday starting at noon. The tour covers 26 different bars from Farragut to 14th Street and includes a beer and food specials at each stop. Tickets start at $55. A portion of the proceeds benefit Dreams For Kids DC.
Get an early taste of ANXO cider
If last week’s Feed piqued your interest in Spanish cider, stop by D’vines ( 3103 14th St NW) for a 32 oz growler (a “growlette”) of cider from local Millstone Cellars and forthcoming ANXO Cidery. There will be just 40 growlettes for sale starting at 5:30 p.m. and priced at $26 each.
