Pig roast and bourbon bash this weekend. (Photo courtesy of Barley Mac)
The first weekend in October is full of opportunities for special menus, food festivals, and drink events. Adventurous diners can experience the cuisines of Mexico or Peru, or peruse the many restaurants and bars of Bethesda on Saturday.
Flavors of Veracruz at Oyamel
Join Oyamel head chef Omar Rodriguez on Wednesday as he shares dishes inspired by a recent trip to Mexico’s coastal Veracruz region. Each of the five courses will be paired with a wine, spirit, or cocktail. Expect dishes like an ancho chili-braised pork tamal and a whole grilled trout with serrano ham and epazote. Space is limited and the tickets are all-inclusive. (401 7th St. NW, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., $65)
Pork, bourbon and all of the fixings
Barley Mac in Arlington is preparing for a full-on pig roast this Saturday afternoon. The all-you-can-eat feast includes pork along with sides of vegetable skewers, baked beans, corn on the cob, and more. Admission also comes with three drink tickets good for a bourbon, beer, or wine. (1600 Wilson Blvd., Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., $37.60)
Allagash beer and seafood in Ballston
Sip on some of Maine’s finest beers and enjoy a patio meal of New England-style seafood this Saturday at Rustico. More than a dozen kegs from Allagash brewery will be on hand, including rare finds like Coolship Red, an oak barrel-aged wild ale with raspberries. The restaurant will be cooking up lobster rolls, stuffed clams, and oysters to go alongside the brews. (4075 Wilson Blvd, Saturday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., a la carte)
Taste and sip around Bethesda
The Taste of Bethesda food and drink festival returns this Saturday for its 29th year. The street fair promises to feature nearly 50 restaurants in addition to live entertainment. Participants include Jaleo, Olazzo, Duck Duck Goose, CherCher, and many others. Booths will be set up in the streets that make up the city’s Woodmont Triangle, just a short walk from the Metro station. Tickets will be $5 for four tickets, with servings individually priced at one to four tickets each. (Woodmont Triangle, Bethesda, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., $5 and up)
One last gasp of summer
Those not quite ready to embrace fall can hang out Sunday at the Yards Park boardwalk for outdoor drinking, dining, and socializing. The ticketed block party will feature food and beverages from Osteria Morini, Whaley’s, District Winery, and other neighborhood businesses. Tickets can be purchased online and include plenty of food, drink, and entertainment. (301 Water St. SE, Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., $35)
Take a culinary journey around Peru
China Chilcano is diving deep into the Peruvian side of its menu this month, offering dishes from various regions across the South American country. The “Passport to Peru” special will feature dishes from the Pacific coast, the Sierra highlands, the Amazon rainforest, and the capital city of Lima. See the website for full details. Diners will get a stamp for each week they try a dish, which can then be redeemed for cocktails. (418 7th St. NW, through October 28, a la carte)
Cocktails inspired by fall foraging
A new batch of hyper-seasonal cocktails has arrived at Service Bar on U Street. Bartenders took inspiration from a local fall foraging trip to create the four-drink menu, which is expected to be very limited in its availability. Options range from the frozen pawpaw Hillbilly Mangolada to the Wood Sorrel Paloma. Get them before they’re gone. (926-928 U St. NW, while supplies last, $12 per cocktail)
Pizzas get political
Today marks the start of Pizzeria Paradiso‘s monthlong special promoting women running for political office this November. Five candidates will be honored throughout October with a pizza and beer inspired by their home states, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the League of Women Voters. First up is Georgia’s Stacey Abrams, who is running to the be country’s first black female governor. The state is represented by a Georgia peach pizza with a peach sauce, vidalia onions, okra, green tomatoes, and shrimp. Pair it with a pint of Mosaic IPA from Sweetwater Brewing Company (not included with the pizza). The pizzas will cycle weekly and be available at all four Pizzeria Paradiso locations. (Georgetown, Hyattsville, Dupont, Old Town Alexandria, $15 for a 9″ pizza or $21 for a 12″ pizza, beer priced a la carte).
