The annual Zoofari tasting event returns this week. (Photo courtesy of FONZ, Friends of the National Zoo)
Things are getting wild in the District this coming week, complete with Cow Baos, dinners with tigers, and hidden beer tickets. And don’t forget Mother’s Day, either.
This Week’s Food Events
Taco bao at The Public Option
Taco Bao Smoke Shop, purveyor of both smoked bao and smoked tacos, is popping up at The Public Option (1601 Rhode Island Ave. NE) this Saturday, May 13. Stop by anytime between 2 p.m. and 8 pm for a Cow Bao stuffed with beef brisket, a Shroom Boom topped with avocado crema, or a Hawaii Tac-o, with smoked pork shoulder mixed with grilled pineapple. Menu items range from $3 to $5 a piece and go well with The Public Option’s fine selection of house-brewed beers.
Buy one, get one specials at Ice Cream Jubilee and Peet’s
Ice Cream Jubillee is celebrating D.C.’s moms this weekend with free kiddie cones with every regular scoop purchase. Stop by the Navy Yard (301 Water St. SE) or Logan Circle (1407 T St. NW) location between noon and 7 p.m. through May 14 to grab a cone or two. After you get your ice cream fix, head to any one of Peet’s Coffee’s District locations for another BOGO of any beverage on their menu. The deal lasts between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and will continue throughout the summer.
Lions and tigers and beers. Oh, my!
More than 100 restaurants will be descending on the National Zoo this coming Thursday, May 18 for its annual ZooFari event, an evening of food, wine, and even encounters with naked mole rats. The dining will be accompanied by an auction, live music, and after hours tours of the Reptile and Great Ape House. Tickets range from $200 to more than $2,000, and all proceeds go towards protecting wildlife.
Ticket hunting with the Brewers Association
For those looking to unravel a riddle or two by lunch time, the Brewers Association is hiding a total of five pairs of tickets to their annual SAVOR event (June 2 and 3) in three distinct spots around the city. The hunt runs from May 15 until the 19 and the clues to their locations are as follows:
•A Philadelphia native, this D.C. hot spot perfects the classic combination of beer and (wood-fired) pizza.
•Beer and meat lovers visit this spot for the porkstrami sandwich and handcrafted charcuterie.
•D.C. natives head here, in the Shaw neighborhood, to dine on their craft favorites and Italian-influenced cuisine.
Tredici Enoteca goes gluten-free
In honor of Celiac Awareness Month, the newly opened Tredici Enoteca (2033 M St. NW) is debuting a special four-course gluten-free menu for $35. Menu items include gluten-free spaghetti, Moroccan spiced short ribs, and butter scotch pot de creme. The option lasts until May 31 and the full menu can be found here.
Personalized cookies for Mom
Indulge your mother’s sweet tooth with a personalized cookie from Raresweets (963 Palmer Alley NW) today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The CityCenter bakery is welcoming calligrapher Michele Hatty Fritz, who will be writing personalized (and complimentary) messages with edible icing. Cookies will be sold a la carte for $3.50 a piece.
Restaurant openings
An new bar and lounge called Saint Yves (1220 Connecticut Ave. NW) is opening Friday May 12 in Dupont, and the space really is, as it humbly declares, “exceedingly gorgeous.” The spot will be open Fridays between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. until the end of May, at which point it plans to expand to Saturdays as well. Come for the Instagram-worthy looks and stay for the caviar service.
A new East meets West watering hole opened this week in Clarendon. Bar Bao (3100 N Clarendon Blvd.) is the latest addition from the Social Restaurant Group, which also operates D.C. favorites Provision No. 14 and The Prospect. Expect wonton nachos with sriracha mayo, fries smothered with bulgogi, and an assortment of (what else) bao buns starting at 5 p.m. at their nightly dinner service.
Plan ahead
Embassy chef challenge
A culinary World War III is brewing in embassy kitchens throughout the city in preparation for the DC Embassy Chef Challenge, an annual throw down of the local diplomatic community. Over 30 different countries will be represented at the Ronald Reagan Building (1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) on Wednesday, May 24. They’ll be showcasing their traditional dishes and vying for the title of best chef. Tickets to the event, which include samples and drinks, can be purchased for $75 to $125 here.
