Osteria Morini will serve $13 pastas on Halloween, including a pumpkin risotto and these butternut squash ravioli. (Photo by Osteria Morini)
Most of the action over the weekend and into next week is centered around Halloween. But it’s not all ghouls, ghosts, and treats. Options around the city include hands-on classes on both wine and classic cocktails, a huge food festival and some special Italian dinners.
Learn some cocktail basics
Join True Syrups and Tonics at Mess Hall on Wednesday for a classic cocktail class. The two-hour seminar will provide some history of cocktails and distilling as well as instruction on bartending techniques like garnishing, shaking and stirring. Attendees will learn three styles of drink: a sour, a fizz, and a lowball. (703 Edgewood St. NE, Wednesday, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., $75).
Dinner and wine inspired by Puglia
Explore Italy’s Puglia region at Wednesday’s wine dinner at Hank’s Pasta Bar in Old Town Alexandria. The four-course meal will showcase dishes like house-made spaghetti with shrimp and white wine sauce and braised short ribs with Parmesan herb polenta. Each course will be matched with a wine, ranging from white to red to rosé. (600 Montgomery St., Alexandria, Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. seatings, $45 plus tax and gratuity.)
Taste of D.C. this weekend
Audi Field provides the backdrop for this year’s Taste of D.C. festival, to be held this Friday and Saturday. There are a variety of cashless concession packages for purchasing food and drinks from the more than 50 area restaurants expected to attend. A large beer garden, two stages of live music, and local artisans round out the entertainment schedule. (100 Potomac Ave. SW, Friday 6 p.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m.-10 p.m., free to $49.99 plus).
Get schooled on Chardonnay
As far as wine goes, Chardonnay can get a rap as an unexciting variety. Flight Wine Bar is out to change those perceptions of the grape and expose the full range of its possibilities. Over the course of Saturday’s “Not Your Grandmother’s Chardonnay” class, guests will taste Chardonnays from vineyards in regions including France, South Africa, and Italy, each of which has its own unique taste. Complimentary bites are included and participation is capped at 14 people. (777 6th St. NW, Saturday, 4 p.m., $65).
Hands-on truffle making
Anyone with a sweet tooth can book a slot at Sunday morning’s Halloween chocolate truffle class at The Watergate Hotel. The class is co-hosted by acclaimed chocolatier SPAGnVOLA. Space is limited and certain times are already sold out. The two-hour event includes a box of chocolates to take home. (2650 Virginia Ave. NW, Sunday, 11 a.m., $60)
Discounted pasta on Halloween
Fuel up for the evening’s festivities with a bowl of noodles from Osteria Morini. The waterside restaurant is hosting a midweek session of its Morini Monday menu, which includes $13 pastas like tagliatelle with ragu or seasonal risotto with roasted pumpkin, fried sage and creamy Parmesan. The bar will offer up a Hocus Pocus cocktail ($12) for the holiday, mixed with Republic Restoratives vodka, fresh roasted pumpkin, allspice dram, and ginger beer. (301 Water St. SE, Oct. 31, 4 p.m.-9 p.m., a la carte)
A food truck cook-off
The DMV Food Truck Association is throwing its annual Curbside Cookoff this Friday, featuring 10 area food trucks. Participants include PhoWheels, Crepes Parfait, Captain Cookie and the Milkman, Dirty South Deli, and others. There will be free entertainment and games with food, beer, and wine for purchase. Each truck will feature full menus along with one special item for the event, and guests are encouraged to vote for their favorite bite. (The Lot SW at 425 M St. SW, Friday Nov. 2, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m., free entry).
This post has been updated.
