The annual gin and tonic festival is on at area Jaleo locations. (Photo by ThinkFoodGroup)
This week in food and drink invites D.C. to snack on Hawaiian fare with a Top Chef favorite, learn to make a meatball, or sip on a gin and tonic at one of the city’s favorite Spanish hangouts.
This week’s food events:
Osteria Morini goes mini
Waterfront Italian outpost Osteria Morini (301 Water St. SE) plans to expand in the spring of 2018 with a walk-up boardwalk snack stand, Morini Piccolo. That’s a long ways out, so it’s throwing a preview on October 19 and 20. The menu will feature several dishes off the expected menu, including delicata squash with whipped ricotta ($8), arancini ($13), and a selection of focaccia panini ($12). There will also be sweets like gelato sandwiches ($2 each) and Nutella doughnuts ($6).
Chiko gets a Hawaiian twist
On a normal day, the fast-casual cooking at Chiko (423 8th St. SE) fuses elements of Chinese and Korean cooking from chefs Scott Drewno and Danny Lee. Next Friday, October 27, they’ll add a Hawaiian flare to the mix with the help of chef Sheldon Simeon. The Top Chef finalist will be in the kitchen for one (late) night only, serving $8 dishes from 10 p.m. until midnight. Space will be first come, first served as there are no reservations.
Not your typical gin and tonic
D.C. area locations of Jaleo (Penn Quarter, Bethesda, Crystal City) are in the middle of their annual gin and tonic festival. It’ll run through the coming week with three special gin and tonic tapas, including a gin and tonic “sphere,” a gin and tonic oyster, and a gin sorbet. The four drinks include the seasonally appropriate Gone Apple Picking, with aromas of fall and warming notes of figs, nuts, and sherry. There’s also the Green Shades, which uses local Green Hat gin, rosemary, cucumber, and lime.
Make a meatball
Join Via Umbria (1525 Wisconsin Ave. NW) Scott Weiss on Tuesday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. for a meatball making class. The hearty recipe is sure to get use as the weather turns cooler. Tickets are $35 per person, with beer and wine available for purchase during the event for an additional charge.
All the pumpkin beer
It’s time for the annual “Pumpkin Smash” weekend at The Black Squirrel (2427 18th St. NW) in Adams Morgan. The bar is tapping some rare pumpkin brews beginning today in the run up to Halloween. Choices include Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, Souther Tier Warlock imperial pumpkin stout, and Schlafly pumpkin ale. Food pairings include an arugala salad with diced pumpkin as well as fish tacos with a pumpkin slaw.
Openings:
Chef Kwame Onwuachi is back cooking in D.C. with Kith and Kin, (801 Wharf St. SW) his anticipated follow up to The Shaw Bijou. The restaurants is located inside the Interncontinental Hotel at the shiny new The Wharf development and focuses on African, Caribbean, and Creole dishes from Onwuachi’s upbringing and travels.
Lovers of local food, drinks, and products can now visit Shop Made In D.C. (1333 19th St. NW), a store filled only with District goods. Neighborhood Restaurant Group, meanwhile, has loaded up its in-house cafe with baked goods, packaged foods, tacos, dumplings, drinks, and more from D.C. producers.
Plan ahead:
The massive shopping and eating market Emporiyum is returning to Dock5 at Union Market (1309 5th St. NE) from November 10 through 12. Tickets are on sale now for all days, and VIP entries are nearly sold out. Come to sample goods from local and national producers and get a beat on what is new and hot in the world of food, wine, and much more.
This post has been updated.
