Weekly Food News Round-Up

All the D.C. news that’s fit to eat (and drink).

This week in BYT Food: Taste Tests, First Looks and More

• Our D.C. Restaurant Week Guide is LIVE and it is filled with fantastic pro-tips. Use it all day, everyday. Or until Restaurant Week is over. That makes more sense.

• We planned a 12 hour day drinking guide so that you don’t have to! Now go out and get absolutely obliterated.

• We celebrated Room 11’s sixth birthday with some decadent food and summery cocktails. Boy they grow up quick.

• We stopped by Union Market’s Bidwell and ate a ridiculous amount of cheese. So much cheese. Just look at it.

• We got close and personal with D.C.’s newest dessert, the kolache.

• We drank way too many beers at BrewHaHa AND were the best wingmen ever.

• We ran all the way to National to try Cava Grill’s brand new breakfast menu.

• Brookland’s Finest had a crab boil, so of course we showed up and ate everything.

• We learned (once again) that Jose Andres is a goddamned magician.

Upcoming Food Events:

• August 23 – STK doesn’t want Restaurant Week to end, so they’re extending their specials through August 30th. Head on over for a power lunch or if you just enjoy feeling like you’re in a club while you dine.
• August 27 – City Tap House is throwing a party dedicated to the best summer beer, SOURS. Head on over between 11:30am and 1am to try sours from around the world.
• August 29 – STK is holding a Michael Jackson birthday celebration because they are the weirdest steakhouse in DC. Not that that’s a bad thing.
• August 29 – Get decked out in your fanciest clothes and enjoy Diner en Blanc in an undisclosed area in DC.

• August 30 – 701 Restaurant is closing for five days while its being remodeled.
• August 30 – Do you like running long distances and then chugging wine? Then the Chardonnay Run is definitely for you.
• September 3 – Gourmet Symphony and Capital City Symphony are co-hosting a food inspired musical experience at The Hamilton. There’s going to be a four course dinner and lots of Beethoven, so it sounds pretty good to me.
• September 7 – Roll on over to City Tap House to celebrate Labor Day with a crab feast just the way you should.
• September 10 – New Belgium’s Clips Beer & Film Tour is stopping at Reston, Virginia. There will be beer, films, and opportunities to donate to non-profits! What a party.
• September 10 – Blue Duck Tavern is hosting a cheese tour with cheese from Sophie’s Cheese Table.
• September 20 – If you’re too excited to watch the Redskins play the Rams then check out City Tap House’s tailgate party. There will be half smokes, New Belgium beers, and so much more.
• Summer Long – Bamayo will be open Monday through Wednesday at EatsPlace with menu’s changing weekly.
• Summer Long – Matchbox has launched their Summer Sessions Happy Hour equipped with drinks and bites at special prices. Participating restaurants include Commissary, Grillfish, Logan Tavern & The Pig.
• Summer Long – Chef Christopher Morgan of The Partisan curated a new menu at McClellan’s Retreat in Dupont, featuring new bites Angostura Beef Jerky and a Pork Belly Cuban sandwich.
• Summer Long – D.C.’s Middle Eastern inspired pop-up Kafta Burgers is serving up fresh burgers for those with adventurous pallets.Summer Long – Del Campo will be offering a fixed price traditional Argentine asado dinner.

• Summer Long – TICO has a new “Funday” menu (*sigh*) that is available at the bar and communal table during weekend brunch and includes $6 draft cocktails, brunch cocktails, and pretty cheap beer.
• Summer Long – Prequel is starting a Monday night supper club called Rising Stars that lets different chefs come in and completely control the night’s menu. Tickets are $50 each, and upcoming chefs include Jerome Grant (Executive Chef at the Museum of the American Indian), Nick Sharpe (After Peacock Room in Georgetown), and Colin McClimans (Equinox).

Other Food News:

• Mike Isabella and and Top Chef finalist Jennifer Carroll will be opening a new French restuarnt at The Wharf called Requin. (via press release)
• L’Hommage Bistro Francais opens in Mount Vernon Triangle in early September for those of you who need more French food in your life. (via press release)
• Astro Doughnuts is opening a new locations in Falls Church with even more seating than their D.C. location and a bigger menu. This will probably be the death of many people. (via Eater)
  Mad Fox Brewery is opening a brand new location in D.C. There’s going to be beer, food made with beer, oh, and did we mention beer? (via Urban Daddy)
• The Royal has a new Happy Hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. that is seven days a week including $5 on draft vermouth (do people actually drink vermouth straight?) and $7 classic cocktails. The same specials will also be available Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., for those of you that do not sleep. (via The Royal)

• Sonoma Cellar, a new wine bar in Old Town just had its soft opening last Monday. If you love California wines above all else, this will probably satisfy. (via Urban Daddy)
• Along with it’s upcoming Adams Morgan location, a Philz Coffee will also be opening in Navy Yard. (via Eater)
• Here is a very helpful map that shows all of the new restaurants coming to Shaw. It’s like gentrification is happening before our very eyes. (via Eater)
• Neighborhood Restaurant Group is taking over the old Kraze Burgers space on Barracks Row. (via PoPville)
• Ulah Bistro on U is 100% closed, but a new ~mystery~ restaurant is opening in its place. (via PoPville)
• If you’re traveling out of D.C., here are great places to eat in and around Union Station so you won’t starve on the way there (via Eater).
• Founding Farmers Tysons has developed a sunflower program in partnership with Sweet Virginia to educate the importance of honey bees in the environment (via press release).
• If you’re traveling out of DC, here are great places to eat in and around Union Station so you won’t starve on the way there (via Eater).
• Alfa Piehouse has opened a cafe which will be serving Greek foods and desserts (via Eater).
• Whole Foods in Ashburn has opened up a pub which will feature barrel-aged cocktails and local absinthe (via Eater).
• Columbia Heights has welcomed sushi into its neighborhood with the opening of Shanghai Tokyo (via Popville)
• And in other unexpected press releases, Hard Rock Cafe will now be serving Hard Rock Energy Drinks at all locations for Hard Rockers playing Hard Rock Guitars (via press release).
• How about an interactive arepa map? Do you even know what arepas are? Get familiar here (via Eater).
• Looking for a place to take your date on without blowing major cash? 17 Cheap dates under 20 includes Little Red Fox and outdoor movie screenings (via Thrillist).
• Stanton & Greene on Capitol Hill started serving “all day brunch,” which doesn’t make sense for a meal that is a portmanteau of the words “breakfast” and “lunch” (via press release).

• Zeke Emanuel will start serving a breakfast menu at Union Market for two weekends only (via City Paper).
• Luke’s Lobster in Bethesda reopened Wednesday, and they’re not just takeout anymore (via Eater).
• Plus Bandolero closed in Georgetown, a bummer for those looking for Mexican food in the area (via Eater).
• An editorial in the Post examines the problematic usage of the term “ethnic” to describe food (via WaP0)
• Big things are coming to the Shaw neighborhood. La Jambe, a French cheese and wine bar is set to open next year (via City Paper).
• Heat Da Spot Cafe is slated to open soon in the old Tibet shop on Georgia Ave, complete with extremely cozy interior decor (via PoPville).
• There’s a new farmers market on Wednesdays in Columbia Heights from now until September 30 (PoPville).