Happy hour wings at Kyirisan (Photo by Rey Lopez).
Though April isn’t over quite yet, the showers seem to have subsided for now. That’s a good thing, because this week in eating includes a patio party, outdoor festivals, and the return of a food truck feast.
This week’s food events
Kyirisan debuts happy hour
Tim Ma’s Shaw locale already has a Bib Gourmand designation from the Michelin Guide, which signifies affordable quality. Now, Kyirisan (1924 8th St. NW) has decided to launch a happy hour. Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., go to the bar to snap up half-price wings ($5.50) and an assortment of beer, wine, and cocktail specials ($3-$6). Try the vodka concoction they’re calling “OMG! Work was just so crazy this week, I NEED a cocktail.”
Brunch with the kids, por favor
Joselito (660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) is teaming up with the kid-friendly dining gurus at Nibble+Squeak to offer a Spanish style brunch for families on Saturday, April 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Adults eat for $66 plus fees, and children enjoy the same menu for free. Choices for the three course feast include one-year-old Manchego cheese, a seasonal vegetable omelette, and Andalusian-style french toast.
Have a taste of Barracks Row
If you want more after Taste of Shaw and Taste of Dupont last week, worry not. More than 20 restaurants, including Balkan favorite Ambar and DCanter wine boutique, will be participating in the Taste of 8th Food Festival on Barracks Row, taking place Saturday April 29, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tasting tickets bought in advance are five for $20 (each ticket gets you one tapas-sized tasting), or five for $25 if purchased at the event. Ticket sales benefit Barracks Row Main Street.
This patio’s ambience is on fire
Executive Chef Kyoo Eom will be welcoming guests to the courtyard at Dirty Habit (555 8th St. NW) on Saturday April 29, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission to the patio party is free. On offer will be beef tartare and special pintxos, and the entertainment will include DJ CYD, as well as a live percussionist and a fire breather.
A Cinco de Mayo warm-up
Bring back memories of that Spring Break trip to Cancun with the DC Margarita March ($65), a tasting tour that includes eight specialty margaritas, food bites, and endless people-watching fun. Choose either April 29 or April 30 for your tequila-fueled crawl to venues including Madhatter (1319 Connecticut Ave. NW) and the Satellite Room (2047 9th St. NW). Sombrero wearing is encouraged.
A spirited National Harbor outing
Not to be outdone by D.C. neighborhoods, National Harbor will offer its own Wine & Food Festival on April 29 and 30. Advance tickets are $39 (VIP for Sunday $69) and include all you care to sample of 150 different beers, wines, and spirits, plus cooking demos and tastes of food. A portion of the proceeds benefit Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation.
A green spring treat at Anxo
Every spring, the people of Barcelona and the surrounding region of Catalonia celebrate Calçotada, a spring festival to honor the glory that is grilled green onions. Now Anxo (300 Florida Ave. NW) is bringing Calçotada to their patio for the first time. On Sunday April 30, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., expect grilled onions and romesco while catching cider straight from the barrel. Plus, admission is free.
Truckeroo returns
May 5th marks the first Truckeroo of 2017, with all your favorite food trucks returning to their rightful places in The Bullpen (1299 Half St. SE), from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. While you’re waiting for your turn at the bean bag toss, enjoy grilled cheese from The Big Cheese, or a lobster roll from Red Hook Lobster Pound. Or both, because you can.
Openings
Siren by Robert Wiedmaier is open for business inside The Darcy Hotel (1515 Rhode Island Ave. NW). The chef behind Marcel’s, Brasserie Beck, and Mussel Bar teamed with Chef Brian McBride to present a seafood-focused menu paired with locally inspired ingredients.
Long before Instagram, or, for that matter, electric lighting, Louis-Ernest Ladurée founded a bakery in Paris. Today that humble confectioner is the macaron juggernaut that bears his name. The first D.C. location of Ladurée (3060 M St. NW) is set to open in Georgetown. Come for the brightly-colored macarons and stay for the house’s line of teas and its breakfast options.
Plan Ahead
Spoil your mom
Want a Mothers’ Day present that isn’t a physical gift? Look no further than Casa Luca’s (1099 New York Ave. NW) next cooking class ($80 per person). On May 6th from 2-4 p.m., Chef Erin Clarke will teach you how to make a brunch that will wow the family. Dishes include Spanish style frittata and Ricotta Bomboloni. Mom will be proud you planned ahead.
Explore the best of Northeast D.C.
May 6 marks the return of Northeast Eats, a showcase of local food and drinks to benefit the Washington Jesuit Academy. Tons of vendors have signed on, including Cotton & Reed, Green Hat, Brookland’s Finest, Mason Dixie Biscuit Co., and more. There will also be entertainment for children and adults. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the school’s campus at campus at 900 Varnum St. NE. Tickets are $50 (they’ll also be sold at the door) and include all the food and beverage you can handle.
