Here are some of the best food and drink events to watch out for in the coming days. We’ve also included some of the high-profile openings around D.C., including new sandwiches from a local Top Chef contestant.
Chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley and other Smoked & Stacked employees at a New Kitchens on the Block event. (Photo by Travis Mitchell)
This Week’s Food Events:
Two years of Italian country shopping (and eating) in Georgetown
It’s hard to believe that Via Umbria is already celebrating its second anniversary. The colorful and authentic Italian market and cafe has quietly become part of the neighborhood. To mark the occasion, it’s hosting a “Sip and Shop” event on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with cocktails, wines and giveaways. You’ll get 10 tickets for showing up, which can be put toward bites like mini porchetta sliders or meatballs along with beverages and desserts. Additional tickets will be available for purchase, and a portion of the sales will go to benefit victims of the recent earthquake in Italy.
Sweet and sour … beer?
Pizzeria Paradiso in Old Town (124 King St.) is hosting a sweet and sour beer takeover today in anticipation of D.C. Beer Week (Sept. 24 to Oct. 1). The bar will be pouring a selection of radlers, goses, wild ales, fruit beers, and more. There will be around six sour beers and six sweet for all types of palates.
Celebrating Bourbon Heritage Month
Bourbon lovers should pencil in Monday night Sept 12. at The Royal (501 Florida Ave, NW) for its next installment of the popular Monday night cocktail series. This round will feature $8 bourbon cocktails from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., developed by The Royal’s Lee Carrell and guest bartender Brian Nixon of McClellan’s Retreat. There will also be some rare Willett bourbon and southern snacks available as well.
Comings and goings:
Ashburn, Virginia’s Old Ox Brewery has a new head brewer. Allison Lange, who worked previously in positions at 3 Stars Brewing Company and Port City, joined the team this week.
This week in openings:
After much anticipation, the meat and sandwich paradise Smoked & Stacked (1239 9th St. NW) is finally open in Shaw. The restaurant is the latest project from Marjorie Meek-Bradley of Ripple, Roofer’s Union, and Top Chef fame. They have plenty of sandwiches stuffed with pastrami, brisket and smoked chicken. Breakfast offerings will begin on Monday from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. Today, hours run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., so make time on that lunch break to swing by.
Georgetown mainstay 1789 Restaurant (1226 36th St. NW) has reopened after a few months of summer renovations, and the changes go beyond cosmetic. A new tasting menu (they’re becoming increasingly popular in D.C. lately) has been rolled out, replacing the old a la carte format. The four, five and six course menu runs $85, $97 and $107 a person. Menu items can also be ordered individually, but it’s no longer the default way to go.
Other recent newcomers on DCist’s radar include the locally-sourced food, coffee and cocktails at Emissary in Dupont Circle and The Den, the revamped coffee bar below Politics and Prose bookstore.
