Sweets from Matsukawaya, founded in Japan in 1862 and now collaborating with Teaism at Union Market (Photo courtesy of Matsukawaya)
Don’t let the heat slow you down. Our calendar is teeming with food events this week, including the return of a heritage pig cook-off, the ultimate tiki quest, and more.
This Week’s Food Events
Handcrafted Japanese desserts
When it comes to enjoying tea, there are your standard dessert pairings, and then there are wagashi. These Japanese sweets pair with matcha during traditional tea ceremonies, and they’re so pretty you almost feel bad eating them. Emphasis on the almost. Teaism is once again teaming up with Japanese confectioner Matsukawaya at their Union Market booth (1309 5th St. NE). Starting Friday at 11 a.m., and running through September, they’ll be testing all kinds of recipes. The lineup of offerings will be changing constantly, because the art of wagashi is about looking forward and celebrating the coming season, explains Teaism co-owner Michelle Brown. “You might come one day and have an amazing experience, and then you might come back a week later and enjoy something entirely different,” she says. Make sure you stop by with an open mind, she adds. “Wagashi is supposed to stir all your senses.”
The return of Cochon 555
The multi-city pork-a-palooza known as Cochon 555 is coming Sunday, August 6 to the Watergate Hotel (2650 Virginia Ave. NW) from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.. Chefs including BJ Lieberman from Rose’s Luxury and Jon Sybert from Tail Up Goat will compete in the ultimate nose-to-tail tourney. Each chef gets one week to prepare six dishes from an entire heritage breed pig. Judges will pick a winner to advance to Chicago’s finals in October. Come for the swine, stay for the two beverage competitions—Somm Smackdown and Punch Kings. Tickets start at $125, and a portion of sales goes to The Piggy Bank, which aims to create a heritage pig sanctuary to benefit small family farms.
X marks the tiki spots
If you are partial to cocktails served in pineapples, then don’t miss the Tiki Trail, a month-long treasure hunt through the District. All you have to do is order one of the designated tiki drinks at each of the participating bars: Archipelago (1201 U St. NW), Cotton & Reed (1330 5th St. NE), The Good Silver (3410 11th St. NW), McClellan’s Retreat (2031 Florida Ave. NW), Passenger/Hogo (1539 7th St. NW), Quarter & Glory (2017 14th St. NW), Service Bar (928 U St. NW), and Truxton Inn (251 Florida Ave. NW). Keep track of your progress with the treasure map, which you can get at any of the eight locations. You’ll get a stamp at each bar you visit. A filled passport gets you access to the celebratory luau on September 3. The luau’s location is top-secret, so keep your eyes peeled for clues at each bar.
Happy hour debuts at Bardo Brewing
Who says it has to be game day to knock back some beers at Navy Yard? Bardo (25 Potomac Ave. SE), the riverside beer garden by Nationals Park, is introducing a happy hour for weeknights on non-game days. Bardo’s outdoor brewery typically has a selection of 10 to 15 brews on draft, with options including ginger beer, saison, stouts, and barleywine. Craft brewed pints are $3 Monday through Friday, 5 p.m to 8 p.m., and $2 on Tuesdays from 5 p.m to 8 p.m. Bring the kids and the dog—both a sandbox and a dog park are on-site.
Dozens of restaurants and Studio Theater
A long list of establishments, including Birch & Barley and Bantam King, is teaming up for ticketed tastings on August 5 at Taste of Studio, Studio Theater’s (1501 14th St. NW) 3rd annual open house. Free programming includes live music, mini acting workshops, and a flea market. An all-access food and drink pass will run you $100, but tickets are available for as little as $3.
A pair of pickling proceedings
It won’t be summer forever, and you may be curious about how to make that late-season bounty last. On August 5, H Street Farms (910 Bladensburg Rd. NE) manager Dan Weisshaar will share recipes and tips for pickling watermelon, okra, beets, green beans, and of course, cucumbers. Tickets ($15 or $25) include samples and an optional jar of pickles. Proceeds support Cultivate the City. If you can’t make it on short notice, plan ahead for August 21, when chef Amy Brandwein and cookbook author Domenica Marchetti will share their preserving expertise at Centrolina (974 Palmer Alley NW). They’ll explain how to a water bath to process jam, how to quick pickle produce, and more. Tickets are $45 and include snacks as well as a copy of Marchetti’s latest cookbook, “Preserving Italy”.
Gin up some excitement
On Saturday, August 5, New Columbia Distillers (1832 Fenwick St. NE) is throwing a release party for its Old Tom Gin. This is a new incarnation of a classic—Old Tom is a style of gin that peaked in England in the 1700s. Old Toms are typically sweeter, but the New Columbia team opted to dial down the sweetness and then add citrus for balance. The distillery will offer free tours and tastings, as well as happy hour priced cocktails and treats from Girardot’s Crumbs Bakery.
Glassblowing and beer downtown
Stella Artois’s The Art of The Chalice will feature local artists, Belgian food, and outdoor music on Thursday, August 10 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW). D.C.’s own No Kings Collective was commissioned by Stella Artois to create an original installation influenced by the city as well as the chalice. Glassblowers McFadden Art Glass will be on hand, and Washington D.C. chalices will be available while supplies last.
Openings
North Bethesda is welcoming Pinstripes bowling (11920 Grand Park Ave.) this weekend. The two-story, 37,000 square foot locale in the Pike & Rose development boasts 14 lanes, 10 indoor and outdoor bocce courts, and an outdoor patio space. On the menu are Italian and American chef’s creations, a curated wine cellar, and craft beer selection.
Zenebech, the beloved Shaw Ethiopian restaurant that closed in 2016, plans to open its much-anticipated Adams Morgan location (2410 18th St. NW). They expect to open today, Friday, at 5 p.m.
Qualia Coffee’s second location in Eckington (Corner of Eckington Pl. and Harry Thomas Way) is open for business, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. The original Petworth location will be closing on August 7 for repairs.
