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

• Diner En Blanc happened. People carried food, tables, and chairs to an undisclosed location and chowed down while wearing the least food friendly clothes. The photos look great.

• Come with us on a magical (and delicious) tour of D.C.’s Indian food scene. You will not be disappointed.

• We drank our way through Serbia with Rico Wisner of Ambar. Please do not try this at home.

• We went on a carb overdose at City Perch’s Farmer’s Market Dinner. Seriously. The bread was the best part.
• We learned it’s 100% fine to eat pork belly for every meal at The Majestic Cafe.

• Then we went to Big Bear and ate even more pork because why not?

• We tried DC’s new fast casual kabob joint, SKWR. It was fine.

• The Smithsonian made us into bigger foodies than we already are.

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

• 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.

Upcoming Food Events:

• September 2 – Thally turns 2 this week! Head on over to enjoy three courses for $35 dollars all week / weekend long.
• 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 4 – Graffiato and Kapnos are celebrating Labor Day the right way, with plenty of food. Head to Graffiato for Italian BBQ (whatever that means) then stop by Kapnos for a good old fashioned crab roast.
• September 5 – Boqueria has finally taken brunch to its final form with three full days of unlimited brunch. From Saturday to Monday enjoy unlimited drinks like sangria, cava mimosas, leche de pantera (vodka, coffee, condensed milk) as well as a variety of delicious dishes including torrija (caramelized French toast with seasonal fruit and caramel sauce because every breakfast should include dessert), surtido de tapas (a Manchego cheese and Serrano ham omelet with olives, country bread, and a Majorcan potato allioli), and more.

• September 6 – The DNV Rooftop is throwing a Labor Day party that will include live music, and late night swimming, but more importantly, Japanese BBQ from Zentan and giant coconut cocktails. Sign me up.
• September 7 – Brookland’s Finest is teaming up with Sloppy Mama’s Barbeque to bring you a litany of smoked meat. Just like true Americans would.
• September 7 – Roll on over to City Tap House to celebrate Labor Day with a crab feast just the way you should.
• September 7 – Ambar,  Masa 14, El Centro DF, El Centro DF Georgetown, and Zengo will all be open for Labor Day and will be serving up bottomless brunch so you can get boozy in honor of the labor movement.

• September 8 – Sticky Rice in Baltimore turns five and they’re throwing a five week long party to celebrate. Including, 50% off their sushi menu and $5 specials.
• September 8 – Chef Tod Gray of Equinox stops by BRABO to cook up a storm. Expect fatty tuna belly, sweetbreads, and charred summer squash, and so much more. Call (703) 894-3440 to get tickets.
• 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 12 – Kapnos Taverna, Pepita and Yona in Arlington are throwing a Mike Isabella block party. There is going to be jazz, and food, and dranks and everything good.
• September 12 – Urbana is celebrating the end of summer with a pasta class because nothing screams summer like a big old bowl of pasta.
• September 17 – Jackson 20’s “Soil to Soul” is a neighborhood block party that benefits the Old Town Farmers’ Market SNAP program. As you can imagine, there is going to be a lot of fresh food from local farms, as well as snacks from Jackson 20, BRABO, The Grille at Morrison House, Mason Social, Vermillion and Society Fair.
• September 19 – Zentan’s head bartender Matt Allred wants to teach you about bottled cocktails and then drink some with you. Not a bad deal.
• 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.
• September 20 – Poste is throwing the fourth annual Brainfood fundraiser on their patio. There is going to be a burger grill off and beer from DC Brau and 3 Stars Brewing. My favorite kind of fight is a burger fight.

• September 24 – DNV is closing its pool up with a party. Since its in conjunction with EdibleDC, the party will include handmade sushi rolls, special hot dogs, and drink specials.
• September 29 – If you’re really into gardening, check out Urbana and FreshFarm’s Dupont Harvest Dinner. It’s a family style event that is focused on showing off the delicious side of urban gardens. Call (202) 956-6650 if you’re interested in purchasing tickets.
• 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:

• Check out this roundup of the most anticipated fall restaurant openings. We’re all going to be so fat and so broke but who cares? (via Eater)
• Villian & Saint has a brand new food truck. You would think that means no more having to trek up to Bethsda, but it’s actually just going to be parked outside of the restaurant. I don’t really get it. (via press release)
• The DMV Food Truck Association has announced the “star ingredient” for their bake off competition. It’s spent grain, which are basically the leftover malt after you brew beer. That sounds simultaneously delicious and gross. (via press release)
• A second Stanford Grill is opening up in Rockville! The Stanford Grill is actually super delicious and I highly recommend you eat all the jalapeno cornbread you can. I hate cornbread but that stuff is awesome. (via press release)
• Landmark Music Festival had José Andrés curate the food vendors who will be at the festival and they’ve finally announced the list. Vendors include Amsterdam Falafelshop, Beefsteak, Ben’s Chili Bowl, Duke’s Grocery Maketto, Toki Underground, Maki Shop, The Hamilton, Oyamel, PEPE, Proof, Rocklands Barbeque & Grilling Company, Shake Shack, and more. (via Landmark)

• 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).
• 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).

• 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).