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

• We wrote about some of D.C.’s least douchey bars. If you’re a douchebag, please stay away.

• We found a reason to visit Lovettsville, VA and it’s to brunch at the Restaurant at Patowmack Farm.

• We have a new NFL themed Happy Hour Hotline, how timely! Share with friends, family, acquaintances, co-workers, etc.

• The two most important food groups of football season: buffalo wings and beer. Take a look at our definitive guide to the best buffalo wings in DC.

• We tried Taco Bell’s new Cap’n Crunch Delights and… well they definitely taste as good as they look.

• Bar Dupont taught us how to make some delicious cocktails. Now we can get drunk at home in style.

Upcoming Food Events:

• September 11 – Truckeroo is hosting a food truck festival on Friday from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. at the Fairgrounds. If you need anymore of a reason to have 25+ food trucks to choose from, this is the very last Truckeroo of 2015. GO! Before you know it, 2015 will be over.
• September 12 – What do you get when you combine art, food, and ladies? During Strathmore’s Women Chefs, you’ll get cooking demos from DMV chefs and you’ll get to see their portraits as created by some more women.
• September 12 – D.C. Wine Fest is HAPPENING. Get tickets. Get wine. Get happy.

• 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 13  – Head to Crystal City this Sunday for wine, tapas, and a bite to eat from some local D.C. restaurants during Sip and Salsa. Oh, and dancing. You might enjoy chips and salsa, but you will definitely enjoy free salsa lessons from The Salsa Room.
• September 13 – 14 -http://brightestyoungthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/21248533386_bcd81917d4_z1.jpghttp://brightestyoungthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/21248533386_bcd81917d4_z1.jpg
• 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 23 – Commissary’s Yom Kippur Break Fast is serving up a buffet of everything from Bullfrog Bagels and House Smoked Salmon to Potato Latkes and Honey Baklava.

• 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 25 – Are you ready for one last Del Campo at Dusk? 7-10 pm at Del Campo’s rooftop, be there or be…somewhere else – but this sounds like a good time. There will be panoramic views of the city along with Spanish sangria, gin & tonics, sherry cocktails, beer, and wine. Tickets are $37 per person and available through Sosh (via press release).
• 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).
• Summer Long – Up until September 30, if you spot a Logan’s Sausage Company truck out on the road, take a picture, and send it to Logan’s on either Facebook or Twitter, you can win a variety package of the best-selling sausages from Logan’s (via press release).
• October 4 – October 11 – the Brooklyn Brewery Mash Tour – the largest international traveling food, beer and arts festival – is coming to D.C. (via press release).

Other Food News:

• Snallygaster, one of D.C’.s biggest craft beer festivals is happening this Saturday.
• Landmark Music Festival, September 25 – 26 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).
• 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).
• Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken will be collaborating with Del Campo’s chef Victor Albisu for DMV Food Truck Week to bring you a Wagyu brisket sandwich. It has smoked tomato jam, Manchego cheese, house slaw and aioli on a savory Astro Doughnut bun. Sounds out of this world (via press release).
• The most cost-efficient way to take a trip to Paris, Laudurée, has just announced that it’s coming to Georgetown (via Eater).
• 99M in Capitol Riverfront, located near the Navy-Yard Ballpark Metrorail station, will now be home to a new CIRCA (via press release).