(Photo by Thip Khao)
By DCist contributor Emelyn Rude
December has finally roared its ugly head, but the city has plenty of culinary and imbibing events next week to help you keep warm. Here are the happenings we’re most excited about in the coming days:
This week’s food events:
Help the environment, one bite at a time
Charlottesville-based journalist Jackson Landers is tackling the globe’s invasive species problem one bite at a time and wants us all to do the same. Tonight, Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center (1100 Jefferson Dr. SW) is hosting a conversation between Landers and chef and cookbook author John Shields about how we can “transform ecosystem menaces into menu items.” The event begins at 6:45 p.m. and costs $35 for Smithsonian members ($50 for non-members). The price includes tastings of delicious, albeit invasive, bites.
Spicy brews and tasty bites at Oyamel
Chef José Andrés and his team are hosting a dinner with Flying Dog Brewery in celebration of the brewery’s limited launch of its “Heat Series,” a fleet of spicy beers that debuted earlier this year. Head to Oyamel (401 7th St. NW) on Monday, Dec. 12 to enjoy selections like Jalapeño White Ale paired with cayo aguachile de manzana (bay scallops tossed with apples) and Ancho Lime Paradise Lager alongside pescadeo adobo a la parilla (grilled whole North Carolina red snapper). Tickets are $75, all-inclusive, and the event runs from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Specialty cocktails inspired by the silver screen
As a business student by day and bartender at night, Tom Cruise shook up a storm in 1988’s less-than-smash-hit film “Cocktail.” On Monday, Dec.12, The Royal (501 Florida Ave. NW) is hosting an evening of “Cocktails & Dreams.” Actual, real-life bartenders Will Alvarez and Jake Kenny will be taking up the movie’s tacky 80’s mantle to create a series of eight cocktails for $8. Stop by anytime between 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. to sip on creative Cuba Libres and enjoy some awe-inspiring appletinis, all accompanied by flair bartending worthy of Mr. Cruise himself.
Lao holiday cooking class at Thip Khao
On Tuesday, Dec.13, Thip Khao (3462 14th St NW) chefs will be teaching guests how to infuse their holiday feasts with all the flavors of Southeast Asia. Participants at this Lao cooking class will learn how to make Jaew Bong (grilled rockfish dipping sauce), sticky rice, Khao Soi (wide rice noodles soup), and Nahm Wahn (tapioca mocha and pumpkin coconut soup). The class begins at 4 p.m. and includes a delicious meal, culinary training, and all the materials to recreate a Laotian feast at home. That includes a cookbook, mortar and pestle, sticky rice steamer, and a t-shirt. The class is $150 for an individual or $250 for a couple.
Openings:
After much pomp and circumstance, the MGM National Harbor (101 MGM National Ave, Oxon Hill, MD) opens its doors this week. Alongside its entertainment and gambling offerings, the casino and resort is also home to a fleet of restaurants from (and named after) brand-name chefs. José Andrés has his own place—Fish—while Swedish-raised chef Marcus Samuelsson is opening Marcus, and Chefs Michael and Bryan Voltaggio are unveiling the Voltaggio Brothers Steak House. The entertainment complex is also home to a pan-Asian restaurant called Ginger, a sports bar, and the National Market, MGM’s version of a multicultural food court. Dining options are certainly as abundant as ways to spend your money at the D.C. area’s latest casino.
For Rent, the speakeasy formerly known simply as The Speak, just reopened on this past week on K Street NW. Located just below Vieux Carre (1413 K St NW), the establishment’s French-influenced menu includes offerings with very D.C. themed names like the U Street, a blend of cognac, triple sec, and lemon juice, and NOMA, a mix of tequila, crème de cassis, lime, ginger beer, and just a dash of mezcal. The place is easy to miss so keep your eyes peeled for a tell tale “for rent” sign.
Ari’s Diner (2003 Fenwick St NE) is opening this Friday, Dec. 9 in Ivy City and is the sixth outpost of restaurateur Ari Gejdenson and his Mindful Restaurant Group. The menu promises to be true to its name and will be including diner classics, such as eggs any way and heaping stacks of pancakes, alongside District specialties, like an omelet stuffed with half smoke and smothered with mumbo sauce.
And Ten Tigers Parlour opens Saturday in Petworth. Check out this quick look at the space and what to expect.
Upcoming Events:
For those who want crave a side of knowledge with your suppers, the Smithsonian has some fascinating food events coming up in 2017. Author Victorino Matus will be at the Ripley Center to discuss the life and times of vodka in the U.S. on Wednesday, Jan. 25th while Croc-lover extraordinaire Mario Batali will be discussing his latest cookbook at the National Museum of Natural History on Saturday, Jan. 28. A full list of next year’s events, including a dinner from down under, a discussion of the environmental impacts of the human diet, and talk about Mexican tortillas, can be found on the Smithsonian’s website.
