(Photo by James Palinsad)
By DCist contributor Lenore T. Adkins
Craving some fun distractions to take you away from D.C.’s depressing weather? We’ve got you covered at Todd Thrasher’s Tiki-themed pop up at Archipelago. Or trek over to Alexandria’s Bastille for chef Will Artley’s pop-up tasting menu, relax with bourbon flights at José Andres’ America Eats Tavern or sip some vintage wine from Georgia (the country) at Supra.
He’s baaaaack!
Noted chef Will Artley made his name for himself on Chopped, at the Grist Mill Restaurant, and the White House. And now he’s returning to Alexandria’s award-winning Bastille restaurant this week as a guest chef for his second pop up there. Artley’s five-course tasting menu will include tuna tartare with smoked balsamic, beets and sesame; popcorn Vichyssoise with smoked crab and charred avocado; and sea scallops with cauliflower silk and raisin eggplant jam. The items are a sneak peek at Artley’s forthcoming Scotts Restaurant, Bar & Cask Club, a “British brasserie” due to open this fall in downtown D.C. The pop-up menu is available Wednesday through Saturday. Reserve a table online, or call 703-519-3776. (Bastille, 606 N. Fayette St., $59. Optional wine pairings $35)
Issa brunch
On Sunday, Sarunas J. Jackson who plays Dro on HBO’s Insecure, hits up the Old Maryland Grill in College Park, where he’s headlining “Brunch and Bloom.” The brunch is being held in conjunction with the sixth-annual Naturalista Expo, which celebrates black female beauty. Johnson will chat about love, life, and his role on the show while brunchers munch on crab cakes, chicken and waffles, and more. (Old Maryland Grill, 7777 Baltimore Avenue, $75. You must purchase a ticket to the expo for access)
Tiki, Tiki, Tiki BOOM
Why wait until November for mixologist Todd Thrasher to open his buzzed-about Potomac Distilling Company on The Wharf in when you can sample 15 of the James Beard Award nominee’s rum-drenched tiki cocktails starting next week? For the next three Mondays, head over to Archipelago, an island-themed spot where Thrasher is rolling out a preview of Tiki TNT, the distillery’s Polynesian-style neighborhood tavern. The menu changes every week. This Monday, we’re most excited about Thrasher’s frozen piña colada and his “3 Dots and A Dash” cocktail, made with Barbancourt 8-year rum, El Dorado 5-year rum, orange Curaçao, the sweet-spicy syrup falernum, allspice dram, honey syrup, lime juice, and Angostura bitters. (Archipelago, 1201 U Street NW, 6 p.m.-midnight, cocktails are $14 each)
Georgian wine on my mind
Supra, one of the Michelin Guide’s newly crowned Bib Gourmand restaurants, is living up to its reputation as a high-quality, affordable eatery with a free Georgian wine tasting on Tuesday. Mamuka Tsereteli of the importer Georgian Wine House will lead guests through sips of three vintage wines from Georgia: the new ‘Dahlia’ Saperavi Rosé from Schuchmann as well as Orgo’s 2017 Rkatsiteli (amber) and 2017 Saperavi (red). Reserve your spot on Facebook. (Supra, 1205 11th St. NW, 5 to 7 p.m., FREE)
Lobster Saturdays
As part of Calico’s Saturday Seafood Feasts, the Blagden Alley hotspot is slinging 1 ¼-pound lobsters with potatoes and corn on the cob on the side at market price every Saturday this month. Reservations aren’t required, but it’s probably a good idea to put one in anyway. Call Calico at 202-791-0134 to reserve your spot or shoot an email to bernie@calicodc.com. (Calico, 50 Blagden Alley NW, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.).
Blow out the candles for Dio Wine Bar
H Street’s natural wine bar Dio is turning one year old and needs your help celebrating its birthday during a week of events. The celebration kicks off Sunday with a Rare Juice Party, featuring music, half-priced bottles, and rare wines from 3 p.m. to closing time. On Tuesday, the bar will host a pizza party, pairing slices with sparkly Lambrusco from 5 p.m. on. (Dio Wine Bar, 904 H St. NE, free entry)
Update:Dio has moved its birthday celebrations to October. More information here.
Bourbon galore at America Eats Tavern
Revel in your love of bourbon at the patriotic America Eats Tavern, which is celebrating National Bourbon Heritage Month with a special cocktail called the Maple Leaf. The $13 drink is made with Buffalo Trace bourbon, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Cocktails not your jam? Then try a special Urban Bourbons flight with three, one-ounce pours featuring bourbons from across the United States, including homegrown Rock Creek Bourbon from One Eight Distilling. (America Eats Tavern, 3139 M St. NW, flights are $35 each)
Malaysian brunch vibes
Bib Gourmand darling Toki Underground, District Fishwife and Number One Sons are teaming up to hold a Malaysian-themed brunch pop up Sunday, since leadership at all three eateries have connections to Malaysia. The menu includes apam balik, a leavened pancake stuffed with peanuts and cane sugar; and nasi lemak, Malaysia’s natural dish of coconut rice, sambal, peanuts, dried anchovies and hard-boiled egg wrapped in a banana leaf. (Toki Underground, 1234 H St. NE, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Menu items range from $4 to $11)
This post has been updated.
