We’ve got you covered this coming week with two tastings—one from a “Top Chef” alum and another from co-owner of Stellina Pizzeria—plus a Shark Week cocktail from Todd Thrasher, Tiki vibes, stories from some of food’s biggest names, and more.
Christmas in July
Sip holiday cocktails, write holiday cards, chill with Santa, and take part in other holiday activities Thursday to benefit N Street Village, which supports homeless and low-income women in the District. Its second-annual Christmas in July fundraiser, to be held at ANXO Cidery and Pinxtos Bar in Truxton Circle, also includes a pop up flower stand from She Loves Me, prizes, wreath-making lessons, food and drink specials, and more. Ten percent of happy hour proceeds and 100 percent of flower sales during the event go right to N Street Village. (ANXO Cidery and Pinxtos Bar in Truxton Circle, 300 Florida Avenue NW, Thursday, 5 p.m., no entry fee)
Eric Adjepong swings by the Big Chief
Top Chef Finalist Eric Adjepong rolls into D.C. Sunday with a tasting menu featuring his take on the African foods he amplified during his run on the hit Bravo TV show’s last season. The event is part of Dine Diaspora’s Chop Bar, a food festival highlighting African food with music, fashion, a marketplace, and décor that channel “chop bars” or “come as you are” restaurants across Africa. As such, Adjepong’s Chop Bar menu offers five tasting dishes, including ribeye skewers with tamarind glaze and pickled red onion, braised short ribs served with injera and Yassa onion jam, as well as palm wine and sorrel “dippin’ dots.” International DJ and Grammy-nominated producer Nana Kwabena provides the evening’s soundtrack that’ll include go-go, Afro beats, and dancehall. (Big Chief, 2002 Fenwick Street NE, Sunday, 2 p.m.- 6 p.m. general admission $55)
It’s story time
Hear stories from some of the biggest names on the local and national food scene Saturday at Breaking Bread: Stories By Celebrity Chefs & Industry Insiders. The lineup includes James Beard Award-winner Kwame Onwuachi, author of Notes from a Young Black Chef and executive chef of Kith/Kin; Simone Jacobson, co-owner of Toli Moli and Thamee; David Hagedorn, dining columnist for Arlington Magazine and Bethesda Magazine; Joe Yonan, food editor at the Washington Post; and chef Carla Hall, of Top Chef and Good Morning America. The event is presented by Story District, which uses the art of storytelling to build community, promote empathy, and deepen an understanding of our common humanity. Splurge for the VIP pass and you’ll get to join the cast at an after party hosted by Miss Pixie’s Furnishings and Whatnot with food and drink from Barcelona, Rice, DC Brau, Flying Dog Brewery, Shouk, and more. (Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW, Saturday, 7 p.m., $35 – $50, or $150 for the VIP pass)
Stellina goes beyond street food
Stellina Pizzeria switches up its street-food focus Saturday when chef and co-owner Matteo Venini launches Chef Matteo’s Night, a multi-course tasting menu of creative Italian fare. The July menu includes seared duck breast with cherry-stuffed morel, porcini carpaccio, lasagnetta fritta, and more. In case you didn’t know, Venini worked as executive chef at Lupo Verde before opening Stellina earlier this year. Expect the dinners the final Saturday of every month. (Stellina Pizzeria, 399 Morse Street NE, 9 p.m. Saturday, dinner is $84.50 a person with optional wine pairings for $45.50)
Surf’s up in Yards Park
Beat the heat in style at The Yards on Saturday, which hosts a Tiki-themed block party on the boardwalk by the waterfront, complete with tiki drinks, a limbo contest, a misting station, a surfing simulator, hula dancing, live performances, and more. Your ticket buys you a mini-rum welcome punch and lei. The first 250 guests to enter score a tiki pineapple cup. (Yards Park, 355 Water Street SE, Saturday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., $10)
Melty Fest Tour Hits D.C.
Tillamook, a farmer-owned dairy brand based in Oregon centered on cheddar cheese and ice cream, has devised the Melty Fest Tour, giving folks a chance to sample the brand’s products in two local spots. First up now through Sunday is Little Red Fox, where the brand teamed up with its chef/owner Matt Carr to take over the menu. Expect specials including Bacon Mac N Cheese, eggplant Parmesan made with Tillamook’s cheese, and Tillamook x SugarFox specialty ice cream sandwiches. Or head over to Wunder Garten Saturday for games and to sample Tillamook ice cream. (Little Red Fox, 5035 Connecticut Avenue NW, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesday – Sunday, Wunder Garten, 1100 First Street NE, Saturday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., FREE, but register at the two links above)
The Barmini experience
The staff at Barmini teams up with Diego Cabrera and his crew straight out of Salmon Guru, in Madrid—voted one of the World’s 50 Best Bars—come through Wednesday. They’ll serve up a menu with three signature cocktails from the Madrid hotspot and collaborate on a single cocktail. Expect to offer your input on some of the drinks like Salmon Guru’s mezcal-based Chipotle Chillón, which comes with either mint or ginger lemonades on the side, leaving it up to you to choose the drink’s final balance. On another note, this marks the Madrid bar’s first-ever event stateside. (Barmini, 501 9th Street NW, Wednesday, seatings available for 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., $125)
Shark Week gets the Todd Thrasher treatment
Todd Thrasher, owner of Tiki TNT, has concocted a special frozen cocktail just in time for Shark Week, running July 28 – Aug. 4. Thrasher’s Bull Shark in the Potomac cocktail features green-spiced rum, mint, pineapple, pea flour, and, of course, floating gummy body parts. (Tiki TNT & Potomac Distilling Company, 1130 Maine Avenue SW, $14)
Never enough crab
Stuff your face with steamed and seasoned crabs at Ivy City Smokehouse’s Atlas Crab Pop-up Saturday where the eatery will serve you from trucks they’re parking outside Atlas Brew Works. Enjoy crab, potato salad and coleslaw before or after you tour the brewery. (Atlas Brew Works, 2052 West Virginia Avenue NE, Saturday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m., tickets $35)
