(Photo by Racelg-dc)
The calendar turns from January to February this week, and with it comes a slate of events including Restaurant Week and Chinese New Year celebrations.
This week’s food events
Renaissance, without the faire
Chef Francesco Ricchi will celebrate the Renaissance on Sunday evening at his Cesco Osteria (7401 Woodmont Ave.) in Bethesda. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the National Gallery of Art’s acquisition of Leonardo da Vinci’s Ginevra de Benci, the only painting of his in the Americas, the Italian chef will host an evening of music, poetry, and art history conversation along with Tuscan wines and small plates of his food. It will be far more refined than gnawing a turkey leg at a Renaissance Faire, and it only costs $25.
DC Restaurant Week
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week runs its annual winter promotion from Monday, Jan. 30 through February 5. Three course lunches and brunches are $22 and dinners are $35. This year, look for Bulgarian wines being promoted along with the fixed price dining specials.
Culinary education on Capitol Hill
A Barracks Row Culinary Education Crawl is featuring cooking classes and more up, down, and around 8th St. SE this weekend and into next week. Students can learn how to cook the perfect steak at Medium Rare, prepare a slew of desserts with Bart Vandaele at Belga Cafe, debone birds at Eastern Market Poultry, compare champagnes, and more. Most experiences are in the $25 to $49 range.
Chinese New Year
The Chinese Lunar New Year comes on Saturday, Jan. 30 and restaurants across Washington will be celebrating. The Source (575 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) hosts their Bao Down on Saturday night with buns and dishes from Scott Drewno and friends and a night market dinner on February 2. Laoban Dumplings pops up tonight at the Passenger (1539 7th St. NW). And Hazel (808 V St. NW) is advertising a focused dim sum brunch on Sunday.
Forever Heart happy hour
Beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 1 and lasting through the month, you can have happy hour at City Tap House (901 9th St. NW) any time you like. Upon arrival, buy a keepsake 3 Stars Brewing glass for $10 and all proceeds of the purchase going to the American Heart Association. Once you do, happy hour is on for you until you leave. Select drafts will be $5, house wines will be $6 and a shot and a beer combo will be $7.
DC Harvest winter menu
The seasonal and local focused DC Harvest (517 H St. NE) launched their winter menu. Hearty house-made pastas include cocoa rigatoni with venison ragu, and spelt bucatini carbonara with lamb bacon. After attending a preview event, I suggest not missing the Israeli couscous black rice pilaf and its smokiness shining alongside Chef Arthur Ringel’s braised brisket.
Mezcal happy hour
Espita Mezcalaria (1250 9th St. NW) is debuting a daily new happy hour from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. One mezcal will be featured for half of its normal price each week with affordable mezcal negronis, rum punches, sangrias, wines, and beer. Food accompaniments include masa turnovers called tlacoyos and tacos with maitake mushrooms, skirt steak, and smoked pork jowl.
Free Shake Shack
Shake Shack will give customers a free burger now through February 28 for downloading their app. Mobile ordering will mean you can put in what you want, select a pickup time, and avoid what can be long lines at the popular burger, fries, and shake chain. Entering the code “shackappy” at checkout will get that gratis first burger.
Plan Ahead
Gourmet Symphony
The innovative classical music and cuisine group Gourmet Symphony is bringing together a renowned violinist, a local chef, and an orchestra together on February 8. Grammy winning violinist Joshua Bell will spend a weekin residency at the Kennedy Center. He will play and evening concert next Wednesday in the Ronald Reagan Building’s Atrium, backed by the National Symphony Orchestra, and complemented by a five-course meal, wine pours, and cocktails curated by Mike Isabella. He is working with Gourmet Symphony to put together dishes that “reflect abstract concepts, hidden connections, or thematic ideas drawn from the musical works.” Classical music and fine dining don’t come cheap, though, as tickets are $300.
Mardi Gras at Black Jack
With Mardi Gras month almost here, Black Jack (1612 14th St. NW) is gearing up its celebrations. Tickets are now available for a Funk Brunch on Sunday, Feb. 26, featuring music by Black Masala. It’s $65 for drinks and all the raw bar, Creole cuisine, and mini king cakes you can eat. There’s also a debut party on Saturday (with drink specials, a Mardi Gras menu, and beads), a Sazerac party on Monday night, and a culminating Fat Tuesday party with hurricanes being poured down an ice luge.
