The cherry-inspired Visnja cocktail at Capitol Hill’s Ambar. (Photo by Ambar)
Dish of the Week: Cherries!
Where: The Oval Room, Macon Bistro and Larder, Espita Mezcaleria, Off The Record Bar, and so many more.
It’s that time of year when we fondly remember a tradition that has slipped by now that we are responsible adults: Spring Break. No longer do we have a scheduled week off each spring when we are actually sanctioned to nap in the sunshine, belly flop into the pool, or funnel down Coronas. This week’s Metromageddon gave us a tantalizing taste of freedom, encouraging us to sneak off to the nearest open-air bar for an early happy hour — or two.
The cherry blossoms have caught some of that spring fever as well, and it looks like they’re about to pop this weekend, just as the National Cherry Blossom Festival starts, meaning that local restaurants and bars are rolling out their cherry-inspired cocktails and dishes starting on Sunday. Although cherries are not actually in season for a few more months and D.C.’s cherry blossom trees don’t bear the fruit, cherry recipes are a mainstay of spring menus in Washington. It’s a true sign that summer is just around the corner—which may be a little hard to believe on Sunday when there are actually snowflakes in the forecast. Just put a pair of flip-flops inside your winter boots.
The Oval Room (800 Connecticut Avenue NW): Nibble on the Suzuki Crudo with salted cherry blossoms, black cherry emulsion, and vanilla sea salt or the Frozen Cherry Blossom “Soufflé” with toasted Marcona almond emulsion while waiting for the bartender to mix up a Sakura Bliss with Hendrick’s gin, Benedictine, borage and cherry syrup, and cherry-vanilla bitters, topped with cava and a sesame honeycomb garnish.
Macon Bistro and Larder (5520 Connecticut Avenue NW), which already caught our eyes earlier this week for St. Patrick’s Day, piqued our interests again with its cocktail created to commemorate the 104th anniversary of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, The Gift of 1912, named for the 3,000 cherry trees donated to Washington D.C. from Tokyo in 1912. They’ve given it some D.C. flair with One Eight Untitled whiskey #6 and locally brandied cherry syrup, adding Drambuie and Bittermens orange liqueur before topping it all off with sparkling wine, an edible flower, and brandied cherry.
Espita Mezcaleria (1250 9th Street, NW), the newest darling in the Shaw restaurant community, is offering a spin on cherry blossom season with its own variation of a classic Japanese cocktail created by American bartender Jerry “the Professor” Thomas. It was recorded in the earliest cocktail book, written by “the Professor” in 1862, and was inspired by a Japanese missionary named Tateishi “Tommy” Onojirou, who frequented the Professor’s bar in New York City. Espita’s version is made with mezcal, Japanese whiskey, house-made “Orgeat-a”, Angostura bitters, and chocolate bitters.
Head to the Hay-Adams’ Off The Record Bar (800 16th Street NW) for the Off The Record Blossom, made with Hendricks gin, maraschino liquor, lemon juice, and Crème de Violette liqueur, garnished with a limoncello marinated cherry. Make a point of getting there between 4 and 5 p.m. any day through April 17th to check out Executive Pastry Chef Josh Short’s Cherry Blossom Cupcake Tree and nab a complimentary chocolate and cherry cupcake.
Other cherries to check: The Visnja cocktail at Ambar (523 8th Street SE); Washington’s Cherry Temple at The Hamilton (600 14th Street NW,); and the Pancetta Arrosto, slow cooked pork belly with cherry glaze, baby potato, baby carrots, and blu di bufala cheese, at Lupo Verde (1401 T Street NW).
Small Bite
Hamantaschen, a traditional Jewish cookie for Purim. (Photo by Baked by Yael)
Palatable for Purim
Purim, the holiday sometimes referred to as the “Jewish Mardi Gras”, is March 23-24, bringing seasonal treats and merriment aplenty. If you have a pulse and you’re over 21, you are invited to “Mischief: Queer Purim Carnival for Adults” at the Jewish Community Center (1529 16th Street NW). The event takes place on March 19 from 8:30 p.m. to midnight and includes an open bar for those in costume (liberally defined), nosh, and all manner of revelry, including but not limited to a mechanical bull, bounce house, and drag queen MC. Though it’s sponsored by the Jewish Community Center’s LGBTQ program, non-Jews and non-LGBTQ are welcome and encouraged to join the party. Tickets are $30 online or at the door. Recover on Sunday because Monday brings Pre-Purim-Palooza from 7 to 9 p.m. at Commissary (1443 P Street NW). Tickets for the March 21 event are $20 and include an Israeli buffet of falafel, hummus, tzatziki, pita, olives and hamantaschen. A portion of the proceeds benefits Jewish Food Experience. Last but not least, if you just want a taste of the holiday at home, Baked by Yael (3000 Connecticut Avenue NW) is handcrafting apricot, chocolate and raspberry hamantaschen,available by the dozen through the holiday.—Andrea Adleman
