• 07Sep

    Complimentary Chocolate Tasting This Friday Evening At Biagio!

    Christopher Elbow.

    In my inbox.

    -JAY

    ————————————–

    Complimentary Tasting

    Christopher Elbow, Fall Flavors

    Friday 9/9/11

    6:00PM – 7:30PM at Biagio Fine Chocolate

    Meet the Man Behind the Chocolate.  Join us this Friday, September 9th, from 6PM to 7:30PM for a free public tasting of Christopher Elbow’s new Fall flavors. Chris will be on hand to sample and answer questions about his new Truffle Collection, and perhaps an old favorite or two. 

    We will have some of Chris’ new chocolate truffles just released last week. This includes Brown Butter Molasses, Banana Curry, Mango Ginger, Pear, and several others.

    We will have some other treats for you as well. Please come early for the best selection. Tasting is open to the public, free, and no reservation is required.

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  • 07Sep

    Bitters on the Brain

    Bitters on the Brain

    With the mixology scene delving deeper and deeper into the origins of cocktailing, using this as fodder for both quaffs concocted with the historical accuracy of civil war reenactors, and as a spring board for inspired potable experimentation.  Nowhere can this be more evidenced than with the current explosion of bitters behind the bar.  These days, along with the top shelf classics,  home infusions, and locally sourced garnishes, anyone who touts themselves as “Mixologist” must have an impressive and obscure array of these herbal tinctures, if not a brewed bitter of their very own recipe.

    Gina Chersevani of Tabard

    By definition, a bitters is an alcoholic beverage that is embued with strong herbal essences, giving it a bitter or bittersweet flavor and generally having about 45-50% alcohol by volume content.  Originally imbibed in the 19th Century for medicinal purposes, bitters can come in a myriad of varieties, involving blends of herbs, roots, barks, botanicals and even fruits and vegetables. Before the birth of the real cocktail craze in the 1880’s, anything sited to be a cocktail or “bitter sling” always entailed a combination of liquor, water, sugar and aromatic bitters.  The Old Fashioned (perhaps the most classic of cocktails) got its name because it combined those four essential ingredients and nothing else.

    Probably the most globally recognized name in bitters, Angostura, is also likely the original brand.  Legend has that it was first compounded in Venezuela in 1824, by a German physician as a cure for stomach ailments, and sold to sailors.  Today, these most famous bitters are produced in Trinidad and Tobago, but their medicinal properties—in addition to their wonderful cocktail enhancement—are still vastly appreciate by anyone who’s labored at a bar (I remember Sunday brunch shifts, with the whole staff guzzling soda with a dash of bitters to quell hangovers).

    In our fine Capital City, saturated in history both dazzling and decadent, it goes without saying that the appreciation of fine libations is implicit in its personality.  Though it’s not difficult to come across a joint with a decent old fashioned (I am thrilled to say, five years ago that was a different tune), here’s a short list to sweeten your search of bitters:

    The Bar at the Tabard Inn utilizes a small array of specialty bitters including Dandelion & Burdock Bitters on their impressive, historically sourced cocktail menu.

    PS7 has an incredibly creative cocktail list, derived from the master mind of Gina Chersevani.  High bitter notes come in the form of an ever-evolving roster of homemade concoctions including the likes of chocolate bitters.

    Other bars with bitter notes:

    Multi-story, multifaceted mixology at its boldest: The Gibson (2009 14th St. NW, 202-232-2156)

    Homemade bitters and experimental spirits: Proof (775 G St. NW,  202-737-7663)

    The Passenger’s cozy backroom bar of cocktailing creative genius:  The Columbia Room (1021 Seventh St. NW, 202-393-0220)

    –Guest Blogger Ava (writing from the enthusiastic perspective of barHappy.com)

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  • 02Sep

    New Date For DC State Fair (& Call For Vendors!)

    In my inbox.

    -JAY

    ————-

    New date and location: Saturday, October 1, at Crafty Bastards (2200 Champlain Street NW).

    Friends, because of the unfortunate Hurricane Irene cancellation of Columbia Heights Day, DC State Fair had to reschedule. The DC community really showed incredible support for the Fair, suggesting new locations and alternatives, and community Festival organizers reached out with offers to host the event. Thanks to the wonderful community, DC State Fair is now going to be held at Crafty Bastards, an exhibition of local handmade crafts and arts run by Washington City Paper.

    If you’ve already entered the Fair online, don’t worry–we have your entry logged, so just bring your entry by on October 1 (check the website for schedule details, which will be available soon). Crafty Bastards is expanding into showcasing craft foods, and DC State Fair will be powering the first-ever Crafty Food Awards in homebrew, pickles, and preserves. Deadlines to enter these contests has been extended to Tuesday, September 6, so get your entries in! The other DC State Fair contest entry forms for Baked Goods, Crafts, and Vegetables are re-opened with new deadlines and are available on our website.

    Crafty Bastards has introduced a Crafty Food Market, where craft foodmakers (that’s you, DC State Fair contestants!) can sell their goods–but the deadline to get in is also September 6. DC State Fair will be held in the Crafty Food Market area, where there will also be a DIY space with guest presenters.

    The event is on Saturday, October 1, from 10 AM to 5 PM at Marie Reed Elementary in Adams Morgan. Yes, this is a little late for some of the vegetable contests–the Tastiest Tomato will not be a contest at the Fair this year, but Longest, Heaviest, and Funkiest-Looking Vegetable are all still open for entry! Get your entries in for our Crafts, Baked Goods, and Vegetable contests by midnight on Thursday, September 29, to qualify! (And again, you picklers and jammers, the deadline to enter is September 6!)

    Let’s all do anti-natural-disaster/Acts-Of-God dances on the Friday before the Fair, alright?

    —————————————–
    Calling All Indie Food Crafters! Deadline Extended to Tuesday 9/6!

    Washington City Paper is looking for independent food crafters to sell their homemade, edible goods at Crafty Bastards! Applications are due September 6th for both the Crafty Food Awards and the Crafty Food Market.

    The Crafty Food Market is open to all types of food crafters. If you bake your own bread, make killer kale chips, mix up your own hot sauce or create other tasty food products and want to sell your goods in a public market, submit your Crafty Food Market application here.

    Do you make pickles, preserves or brew your own beer? You can enter your products in the first-ever Crafty Food Awards! Three D.I.Y. food crafters will be crowned the best in three categories: PICKLES, PRESERVES & BEER. Think you deserve to win? Download the Crafty Food Awards submission form and follow the instructions to be considered.

    Deadline to submit your entries for the Crafty Food Market and the Crafty Food Awards has been extended to September 6, 2011.

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  • 02Sep

    Free Dance Party This Sunday Including Free Bacon & Fried Chicken!

    In my inbox from Scoutmob. Scoutmob is great because the site gives you 50% off coupons instead of making you buy certificates.

    -JAY

    ———————————

    MOOMBACON MASSIVE!

    Sunday, September 4, 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.

    Honestly, this party had us at bacon. But in case you hate meat and still aren’t convinced, let’s delve into the details: four of the biggest party people in DC and Baltimore and way more DJs are coming together to throw the first annual Moombacon Massive. Join Scottie B, King Tutt, Uncle Jesse, James Nasty, DJ Smudge, Keenan, Denman and Reed Rothchild as they spin Bmore Club, Moombahton, hip-hop, electro, and dubstep this Sunday at the Rock & Roll Hotel. It’s a holiday weekend! And we mentioned the bacon right? They’ll have some for free, along with fried chicken and condoms because, obviously, greasy food is an aphrodisiac…if you’re Paula Deen. Facebook page

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  • 02Sep

    Topic of Discussion: Union Jack’s (Ballston) Dress Code

    Isn’t odd that Union Jack’s (a restaurant/bar in a shopping mall) in Ballston has a dress code with only two rules for women and 11 for men?  What is the message being sent here?  We value female business more than male business?  If I was denied entry for wearing this Jon Wye shirt (it has a skull), UJ would lose a (current and future) customer. and my group and I would go next door to Rock Bottom. I’m just not understanding why they are giving men (potential customers) detailed style advice. Anyone else think their dress code is excessive for men?

    These rules go into effect at 9pm.

    On a lighter note, a friend said “Someone using that font is giving style advice?”

    -JAY

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    Permalink Filed under: Restaurants Tags: , 1 Comment
  • 01Sep

    Keep it Short. Keep it Reel!

    In my inbox.

    -JAY
    —————-

    Keep it short. Keep it reel!

    DC Shorts, a showcase of the largest audience-driven collection of short films in the USA, is partnering with Whole Foods Market as they celebrate their 8th year. Named by MovieMaker Magazine as “one of the nation’s leading short film festivals” and “Best Festival” by Washington City Paper, Whole Foods Markets P Street, Georgetown and Arlington will celebrate the opening of this event by re-showing past DC Shorts entries relating to food, gardens and the environment.

    We invite you to come mix, mingle and explore the world of short cinema (popcorn included!):

    September 6th at 8 PM– Whole Foods Market P Street Outdoor Café
    September 7th at 7 PM – Whole Foods Market Arlington Café
    September 8th at 6 PM – Whole Foods Market Georgetown Café

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