Upcoming Events: Taste of Georgetown and More!

The 20^th Annual Taste of Georgetown returns on Saturday, June 1, 2013 from 11:00 am – 4 pm.  Hosted once again by the Georgetown BID this year’s event benefits the Georgetown Ministry Center’s services supporting the homeless.  Over thirty of Washington, DC’s finest restaurants, culinary personalities and sixty delectable dishes will be onsite and ready to tease your palate; not to mention an expansive Craft Beer and Wine Pavilion and accompanying live entertainment.  One of the featured events will be the Iron Chef-style Competition that will pit Georgetown’s hottest chefs in a culinary challenge to test their skills and will be judged by DC’s top food experts and media.

'Dogs + 'Tails Fundraiser for City Dogs Rescue: The U Street neighborhood restaurant Vinoteca will be hosting a 'Dogs + 'Tails charity promotion from June 2-9 to raise money for DC's City Dogs Rescue. During the week, Vinoteca will be serving housemade hot dogs such as classic frankfurters, DC-style half-smoke sausages, and spiced-up veggie dogs topped with a variety of garnishes offered with a special "Dog Days of Summer" punch made with gin, Montenegro Amaro, Dolin Dry Vermouth, fresh lemon juice and rosemary simple syrup. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to City Dogs Rescue. The week-long promotion will kick off with a Neighborhood Grill Out on Sunday, June 2 from 3-8pm with food, furry friends available for adoption, and a charity bocce tournament led by DC Bocce. Space is limited and teams/players should register in advance at www.dcbocce.com/home/VinotecaCharityTourney.aspx. It’s the perfect way to kick off summer grilling for a good cause!

DC's popular Union Market announces Gospel Choir Brunches. Held on the first Saturday of every month, the brunches will feature a dynamic performance of soulful sounds from the Israel Baptist Church. Brunch items will be available from vendors like Buffalo and Bergen, Peregrine Espresso, Neopol's Smokery and Border Springs Farm. The next Union Market Gospel Choir Brunch is this Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 12:30 pm. The Israel Baptist Church's Youth Choir will be performing.

Doukénie Winery Hosts the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon: Exercise, wine, music, and relaxation in Virginia’s wine country - nothing sounds healthier or well-balanced. Doukénie Winery in Purcellville, Va. will host the 3rd Annual Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon on Saturday, June 1, 2013. Produced by Destination Races and sponsored by Visit Loudoun and presenting sponsor Subaru, the popular event registration is already sold out. However, there is plenty of room for attendees to cheer the runners on and enjoy the vineyard landscapes and Doukénie’s Tasting Room. The 13.1 mile race begins and ends at Doukénie Winery, which also plays host to the post-race Wine and Music Festival. The event will feature 15 regional wineries, a local brewery as well as exhibitors and food vendors. The Short Hill Mountain Boys will be present to add their bluegrass stylings to the atmosphere. The Tastings portion is $20 (glass included) and open to the public this year. Last year, the Half Marathon and correlating events raised over $2 million for charities, including the Chrohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America through the Team Challenge program and the Loundoun County Special Olympics making this event a sure winner. 

On Monday, June 3 Chef Jamie Bissonnette of Boston’s Toro and Coppa will be sharing his nose-to-tail cuisine at the monthly Graffiato Industry Takeover Night. Joining him will be a trio of Baltimore talents: Jonah Kim, executive chef at PABU, Chris Ford, executive pastry chef at Wit and Wisdom and PABU and Tiffany Soto, Beverage Manager and Master Sake Sommelier, Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore.  Like all Graffiato Industry Takeover Nights, guest chefs will offer complimentary snacks from the pizza bar, and drink specials will be available from 10pm to 1am.  The current line-up of Industry Takeover guests is available online.

The Eighth Annual DC Crab Cake Competition held by The Source by Wolfgang Puck:  The American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF) and The Source by Wolfgang Puck (located in the Newseum) are pleased to host the Eighth Annual Crab Cake Competition on June 9, 2013 from 12-3 pm.  The competition is designed to raise awareness for local and sustainable seafood initiatives, as well as funds for culinary internships, scholarships and educational programs.  The contest will pit eight of the area's top chefs against one another in a crab cake battle that will exclusively utilize and shocase Department-verified Maryland blue crab.  The winning chef will receive funds to support a culinary intern in their kitchen. In addition, six students from area culinary schools will compete for a chance to win a $500 scholarship towards their studies.  Tickets are $70 per person inclusive of tax and gratuity, and include tastes of all the crab cakes, local oyster bars, and beer and wine stations.  Further information and tickets are available at aiwfcrabcakes.eventbrite.com.

From now through Sunday, June 9^th, Legal Sea Foods presents the Chilean Wine Festival showcasing the distinctive regional wines of Chile by the glass or bottle for a limited time only.  Escape to the vineyards of Chile without hopping on a plane, and experience a wide range of varietals and unique wine blends while relaxing at one of Legal Sea Foods' four Washington area locations.  Prices range from $8.50 and $10.50 by the glass, and from $26 and $55 by the bottle.  Additionally, a red wine flight showcasing two-ounce pours of three wines, Pinot Noir, Emiliana “Novas” Gran Reserva; Carmenere, Santa Rita Reserva, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Emiliana “Novas” Gran Reserva, will also be available for $9.75.

Photo by Bart Kendrick