(Photo by Crimson Whiskey Bar)
The city may have cooled off, but hotly-anticipated restaurants are providing early peeks this week. Plus Oktoberfest fun, a massive food festival, and more.
This Week’s Food Events:
Spud smackdown for disaster relief
This Friday, October 6, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., chefs Spike Mendelsohn and Nick Wiseman will duel to earn $5,000 (or $1,000 for the runner-up) for the disaster relief charity of their choice. Their weapon? The humble french fry. It’s Mendelsohn’s “Chickery Poutine”, to benefit Feeding America, against Wiseman’s “Patty Melt Fries”, to benefit Direct Relief. The fries will be served free of charge at Sir Kensington’s food truck, parked outside The Chickery (1300 Connecticut Ave. NW), and passersby will have a chance to vote for the winner. Unilever, which owns Sir Kensington’s, will match both the winner and runner-up donations.
Take these libations out to the ballgame
The Nationals are in the postseason, and whether D.C. ultimately celebrates or drowns its sorrows, a stiff drink is always a good idea. To root for the home team, Quill at the Jefferson (1200 16th St. NW) has crafted a series of cocktails that pays homage to baseball. Boston transplants may enjoy “Revenge of the Green Monster,” made with Jameson Irish Whiskey and Rare Wine Co. Boston Madeira. For the Nats fan, though, there’s “Another Curly ‘W’,” which looks like a beer but is more like a Pisco sour, complete with egg white foam and team logo.
Thai street food pops up with cider
Chef Alex McCoy is bringing his Isaan pop-up Alfie’s to the kitchen at Porrón (525 8th St. SE) at 5 p.m. this Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7. That means a grill turned up to eleven, and some seriously tasty pork, chicken, squid and catfish dishes. With some sticky rice on the side and a selection of ANXO ciders to wash it all down, this is a match made in heaven.
Get your brat and braü on
What’s October without Oktoberfest? The good people at Atlas Brew Works (2052 West Virginia Ave. NE) certainly wouldn’t want to think about that. A couple of weeks ago they released their Festbier, a lighter-colored and lighter-bodied brew than is typical of Oktoberfest beers. This Saturday, October 7, they’re celebrating by pouring $5 Festbiers and grilling brats all afternoon on the patio at the Dew Drop Inn (2801 8th St. NE). Come for the limited-edition Festbier steins (while supplies last), and stay for the live music. The party starts at 3 p.m. and goes until closing time at 2 a.m.
Taste the District
You’d be hard-pressed to find too many events that offer more than 65 restaurants and food trucks in one place. This weekend, the 2017 Taste of DC Festival rolls into the Fairgrounds at RFK Stadium (2400 East Capitol St. SE). The festivities run on Saturday, October 7 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., and on Sunday, October 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission costs start at $9.99, with “tastes” from the various restaurants costing between $1 and $8, and beverages costing between $6 and $10. Expect entertainment on three stages, one of the area’s largest outdoor beer gardens, and the D.C. Chili Cook-Off.
The return of New Kitchens on the Block
It’s the ultimate first-world problem: too many new restaurants and not enough time to try them all. The team at the Mess Hall food incubator (703 Edgewood St. NE) has fixed that with their recurring “New Kitchens on the Block” series, which provides a first look at the most buzzed-about restaurants before they even open. This third incarnation, happening Sunday, October 8, has two sessions due to popular demand, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. A $65 ticket buys two hours’ worth of all-you-can-eat signature menu items from 11 restaurants, including Brothers and Sisters and Spoken English at The LINE Hotel by Erik Bruner-Yang, Pluma by Camilla Argano and Tom Wellings, and Dorjee Momo by Lobsang Dorjee Tsering. Springing for the $105 VIP ticket adds a swag-tacular bag of goodies.
Maydan sneak preview
The team from Compass Rose (1346 T St. NW) has yet to open its next venture, Maydan (1346 Florida Ave. NW). But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck waiting to sample its wares. On Wednesday, October 11, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Compass Rose is hosting a Maydan pop-up night market. Come learn the story of the team’s epic five-country tour across Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Georgia, and Turkey, as told through the food they’ve prepared. Tickets ($30) include a sampling of dishes plus a signature cocktail.
Openings:
Southern hospitality has arrived in Chinatown with the opening of Crimson Whiskey Bar at the Pod DC micro-hotel (627 H St. NW). Managed by the duo behind American Ice Company, Chez Billy Sud, and Marvin, the bar showcases artisanal moonshines and local producers in a sophisticated, wood-accented space.
City Tap House (1250 Connecticut Ave. NW) opens October 9 in the Dupont location once occupied by STK. A wrap-around bar will be front-and-center in the 9,300 square foot space. Happy hour will run weekdays from 4pm-7pm, with $6 bar snacks and drinks in the $4 to $6 range. Brunch begins Saturday, October 14.
