All the D.C. news that’s fit to eat (and drink).
This week in BYT Food: Taste Tests, First Looks and More
- We met up with Michael Stember to preview last Friday’s Sushi Belly Tower pop-up, and he cooked us dinner.
- A new Spanish restaurant called SER gave us a reason to travel to Ballston. It was worth it.
- Oyamel previewed their annual Tequila and Mezcal festival and we took pictures. And ate insanely good food.
- Sotto opens on March 3 and we got the first look. And pictures.
Upcoming Food Events:
- Check out our guide to YOUR BEST MARCH for all the upcoming food news you should care about this month.
- March 2 – Chaplin’s restaurant is having the first Closed Sessions Industry Night where guest bartenders around the city and country come through for Monday night parties every month.
- March 2 – There’s a pre-Purim Palooza at Commissary tonight with a bottomless buffet for $18, featuring falafel, hummus, tzatziki, pita and three kinds of hamantaschen.
- March 2 – National Harbor Restaurant Week begins. Restaurants such as Rosa Mexicano and Walrus Oyster & Ale House are having a special prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner.
March 3 – It’s IHOP‘s National Pancake Day and they’re serving a FREE short stack of buttermilk pancakes (with a suggested donation to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals). Only one per person though, and while supplies last – so get there early!- March 3 – Taberna del Alabardero is offering a Spanish wine dinner for one night only, featuring a special menu by Chef Javier Romero.
- March 3 – Flight Wine Bar and Righteous Cheese are pairing their respective wine and cheese offerings tonight. The cost is between $10-$40, depending on the number of pairings you choose.
- March 4 – Tap reigns at four Tryst Restaurants for Tap Takeover Week. Drink up some local beer from Denizens Brewing Co all week.
- March 4 – Chef Jonah Kim’s long-awaited Yona noodle bar pop-up starts today at G by Mike Isabella and will be open for the next month.
- March 6 – In honor of DC’s cocktail obsession, the National Archives is opening an exhibit called “Spirited Republic” all about ’em. And other sorts of drinks. Check it out – and stay tuned for word on an after hours event!
- March 7 – Ready for St. Patricks day? Take your kids to Maggiano’s in Chevy Chase, where they’re holding a cooking class for children ages five to 12.
- March 7 – Organic, natural, gluten-free, GMO…are all the labels driving you crazy? The D.C. Metro Celiac Organization is holding an afternoon seminar with all the answers to your questions.
- March 7 – The D.C. Brewer’s Ball is here, with over 30 regional craft breweries at the National Building Museum and plenty of food stands.
- March 7 – The Grand Hyatt Washington D.C. is hosting Whiskey Live, a night of unlimited tastings, a dinner buffet and live entertainment.
- March 10 – Whether you are craving Italian or Argentinean cuisine, you can experience both at Del Campo’s collaborative dinner with chefs Victor Albisu and Amy Brandwein.
- March 10 – Go Eat Give is celebrating their DC chapter launch at Hierarchy restaurant. There will be refreshments prepared by Hierarchy’s 2-star chef, Gerard Panguard as well as a cash bar.
- March 11 – Hill Country Barbecue Market is celebrating its fourth anniversary in Penn Quarter with $3 Shiner Birthday Beer, a complimentary pint glass and cupcake and karaoke.
- March 16 – Occidental Grill & Seafood is reopening their patio with a brand new spring menu, featuring dishes like the Swordfish BLT and Poached Eggs Benedict.
- March 22 – Cochon 555 is hosting an EPIC pork feast at Union Market featuring a competition between Spike Mendelsohn of Bearnaise, Victor Albisu of Del Campo & Taco Bamba, Jeffrey Buben of Vidalia, Danny Lee of Mandu and Jonah Kim of Yona.
Other Food News:
- D.C. ran out of mussels (blame the weather). Lucky for you, this means that Granville Moore’s is offering a special on their Bison & Veggie Burgers all night long on Mussel Monday. Close enough, right?
- Custom Fuel pizza in Dupont closed last week. Here’s a picture of what we’ve all lost:
- Don’t panic – there’s ‘s a new pizza place on Pennsylvania Avenue called Black Iron Pizza. They’re serving a full course meal including dessert, with cheesecake, raspberry and Nutella pizzas, all under two minutes.
- We’ve got your Lunch Hookup – STK Washington D.C. The restaurant is running a special for VIPs, offering a free three-course lunch after a customer has dined there for four lunches.
- Happy hour? Try Happy DAYS. Harth is launching a new series of food and drink specials for every day of the week. This is the future.
- Spike Mendelsohn, the top chef contestant who’s brought D.C. Good Stuff Eatery, Béarnaise and We, The Pizza, was named the first chairman of D.C.’s Food Policy Council. FREE THE FOOD!
- The Black Cat is now opening at 5 p.m. on weekdays at 7 p.m. on Sunday for happy hours, featuring Jameson, Founders All Day IPA, Tecate tallboys, and rail drinks each for only $4.
- It’s a month long chili cook-off at Gypsy Soul, where every Monday a Fairfax County firefighter will compete against chef RJ cooper to make the best chili.
- It’s the month of the Irish, and in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Dolcezza is offering an Irish Coffee Gelato.
