By DCist Contributor China Riddle
It’s the beginning of a new season filled with festivals, historic museum openings, chaotic presidential debates, and an abundance of craft beer. Try our Dish of the Week, which is not quite a french fry. Or read on to find out other ways to eat and drink your way through Washington, D.C. this week.
You can savor OR shotgun your booze at D.C. Beer Week (Photo by 3 Stars Brewing)
This Week’s Food Events
All Week
D.C. Beer Week: More than 40 happy hours, tastings, tap takeovers, and ticketed events will take place from September 24 to October 1 in celebration of D.C. Beer Week. To attend five marquee events, including the September 24 Brew-Ha-Ha launch party at Old Ebbitt Grill, multi-event passes are available for $164. For all other events, check out D.C. Beer Week‘s event calendar.
Friday, September 23
Free Chicken & Andouille Jambalaya: If you still don’t have Friday plans, head to Ivy City for Bayou Bakery’s NOLA-style, pop-up happy hour with Abita Beer at Big Chief. The festivities are from 5 to 8 p.m. You can receive free chicken and andouille jambalaya with your first beer. There will be live music by Brass Connection Band. And Chef David Gaus will be there offering up muff-a-lottas made to order.
Saturday, September 24
Veg Out at The Yards: Another free event, D.C. VegFest features live music, speakers, and plant-based food samples from 40 food vendors and restaurants. The celebration lasts from 11 to 6 p.m. To make the most of it, check out this DCist guide.
Sunday, September 25
Cannabis Cooking: The aphrodisiac supper club, Yes Please More Please, is back to help pro Proposition 71-ers make the most of marijuana plants through baking and cooking. Located in Adams Morgan, tickets for “Buttered and Baked 3: Cooking with Cannabis” run $50 to $60. Naturally, the class starts at 4:20 p.m.
Monday, September 26
Debate Drinking: The first presidential debate airs at 9 p.m. Monday night and you might as well make the most of it. Pennsylvania 6‘s debate happy hour series features $1 Chesapeake oysters, $5 oyster shooters, $10 bubblies, $7 house wines and $1 off draft beers. Watch Clinton and Trump face off on multiple flat screens while you gorge on cheap oysters.
Thursday, September 29
Kombucha Class: The Union Market test kitchen will open to Washingtonians interested in brewing a batch of kombucha. Tickets to Kombucha 101 by Craft Kombucha are $50, which includes both the class itself and items needed to make an at-home batch.
Friday, September 30
Colossal Kolaches: Republic Kolache has been popping up at Hill Country Barbecue Market 8 to 11 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Stop by Friday morning and start your weekend with a braised beef cheek and cilantro chimichurri-filled barbacoa pastry.
Openings
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture officially opens on September 24, as does its eatery, Sweet Home Cafe. We recently interviewed Head Chef Jerome Grant and previewed its menu, which is packed with a variety of regional cuisines.
If you find yourself downtown, refuel at Compass Coffee’s newest location at Farragut Square. If all of that caffeine keeps you up at night, just order Insomnia Cookies, which now delivers until 3 a.m.
Plan Ahead
Ceviche-Making: China Chilcano is launching its Ceviche Class series on September 28, led by Head Chef Carlos Delgado. Attendees will head to a semi-private space to learn the basics of ceviche making from Delgado, along with make-at-home recipes, two Peruvian cocktails and light bites throughout the evening.
Tickets are $75, but they are already sold out for September 28. China Chilcano is currently taking reservations for October 26 and November 30. Classes only hold 10-12 people, so if interested, make reservations ASAP.
