Upcoming Events: Taste of Reston and More!

The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the 23rd Annual Taste of Reston, produced by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce on June 14-15, 2013. Taste of Reston is the largest outdoor food festival in the area and was voted “2012 Best Food Festival” by Virginia Living magazine. Join us at the Reston Town Center for two days of restaurants and community vendors, live entertainment on three stages, a carnival, the Family Fun Zone! and our Wine ‘n Dine area. Located at the Reston Town Center at the following times: Friday, June 14: 3PM – 11PM; Saturday, June 15: 12PM – 11PM.

AARGH!  Matey, it's time to channel your inner pirate!  Jack Rose Dining Saloon hosts a pirate costume contest in honor of Van Steenberge's Piraat beer.  Prizes for best get-ups range from large-format bottles of Piraat, sampler packs of Van Steenberge brews, t-shirts, bottle openers and more.  Brewery Van Steenberge is the only remaining brewery in the Belgian province of East Flanders, a region that housed 660 breweries in 1900.  Known for its dangerously drinkable strong ales including the World Beer Cup Gold Member Winner, Piraat, Versele's family has been brewing for seven generations since 1784.  Charismatic Belgium Brewmaster and Brewery Van Steenberge owner, Jef Versele will be flying to DC for this special tap takeover and "Piraat" themed rooftop party.  The Belgian draft takeover begins at 6:00 pm, Thursday, June 13th and ends at9:00 pm.  The party is free and will feature 15 of Brewery Van Steenberge award-winning brews for $6.00.  For more information, please visit www.jackrosediningsaloon.com or call (202) 588-7388.

In celebration of DC Coast's 15th anniversary on Thursday, June 13, the restaurant is hosting an anniversary wine dinner from 7-10pm. Chef/owner Jeff Tunks, Gus DiMillo and David Wizenberg are inviting guests to join this special occasion and prepared an elaborate menu showcasing many of the favorite dishes, including a Mini Tower of Crab, Veal 'Osso Buco' Ravioli and Porcini Crusted Halibut. Thoughtfully selected wine pairings will be included with each course. Chef Tunks and Wine & Beverage Director Scott Clime will guide guests through the menus and wines along with many memorable stories from the past 15 years. For reservation and more information: passionfoodhospitality.com

Robert Mondavi’s 100^th Birthday Dinner Celebration:  To mark what would have been the centennial birthday of Robert Mondavi, a true icon of Napa wine, the Wine Cooperative will host a unique dinner event on Friday, June 14, 2013 from 6:30pm – 9:00pm.  Executive Chef Xavier Deshayes, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and Chef Todd Gray, Equinox Restaurant will expertly pair a four-course dinner with wine from the Mondavi collection.  The reception will begin at 6:30pm to be followed by a four-course wine and food pairing from 7:00-9:00pm at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Tickets are available for $100 and can be purchased online through Eventbrite atwww.mondavi100.eventbrite.com.

Bourbon, Beer, and Barbecue at the Occidental...need I say more? The Occidental Grill and Seafood is featuring some beloved B's, including Bob Schieffer, host of CBS' "Face the Nation," as the entertainment for the evening with band, "Honky Tonk Confidential" all in support of Microgreens, a non-profit that helps families on a government-supplemented budget purchase heart-healthy groceries. The occasion will also feature the Occidental’s signature corn bread, slaw and pickle bar, blueberry cobbler, fudge brownies and snow cones. So come out on Saturday, June 15th from 12 to 3 pm and support this great nonprofit, while enjoying some good eats and treats on the Occidental’s patio – just two blocks away from the White House. Doesn't get more Washingtonian than that!

Elissa Altman, author of the James Beard Award-winning food blog PoorMansFeast.com, speaks about her book of the same name on Tuesday, June 18. In conversation with Washington Post Food Editor Joe Yonan, Altman will weave a tale of finding sustenance and peace in a world of excess and in authenticity, and shows us how all our stories are inextricably bound up with what, and how, we feed ourselves and those we love.

June 17th-30th …Paella aficionados will enjoy tasting the creations of Joan Escriba of El Xiringuito de Escriba in Barcelona at Jaleo. More than a menu change or food demonstration, guests will experience and taste their way through regional varieties found throughout Spain. The Escriba family is famous for owning one of Barcelona’s oldest and legendary bakeries.

Summer Kickoff at Jackson 20:  Kickoff the summer season at Jackson 20’s concert and courtyard BBQ onFriday, June 21.  The courtyard BBQ will include a spread of al fresco summery dishes such as crispy suckling pig tacos with various house-made salsas, Jackson 20’s signature fried chicken, BBQ ribs with chef inspired fixings bar, and house-made ice cream sandwiches.  Jackson 20’s new head bartender, Dean Feddoui, will be mixing up refreshing summer cocktails, such as the El General made with Herradura Silver, cucumber water, fresh lime, agave and ginger beer, and a frozen version of the Hummingbird with Maker's 46, strawberry water, fresh lime, garden basil and lemon bitters.  The BBQ will feature live music from the Yacht Rock tribute band, Three Sheets to the Wind, who will perform classic yacht rock hits from the 70s and 80s. The BBQ starts at 6:30 p.m., the opening band starts at 7 p.m., and Three Sheets to the Wind will perform at 8 p.m.  Tickets are $75, and are available for purchase through CityEats at http://www.cityeats.com/dc/restaurants/jackson-20-dc/restaurant_offers/171.  Each ticket includes admission for one to the concert, plus unlimited food. Cocktails, beer and wine will be available for purchase a la carte.

Alexandria Food and Wine Festival - June 22: Sips, slurps, chomps, and laughter will fill the air in Old Town Alexandria in the Carlyle District (300 John Carlyle Street) as the local community gathers together to enjoy the diverse restaurants of Alexandria and Virginia’s wineries for the 1st Annual Alexandria Food and Wine Festival. Enjoy this new lively festival, complete with live entertainment, a children’s corner, food and wine tasting, a food demonstration showcase area and a VIP networking reception for our sponsors. Attendees will be able to sample food and wine from a variety of local restaurants and Virginia’s wineries. Cost: FREE; however tickets are needed to sample food and beverages. Hours: 12-7 p.m.

The Park Hyatt Masters of Food and Wine will be hosted by the Park Hyatt Washington on Saturday, June 22nd. Located at the Port City Brewing Company (3950 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria, Va. 22304), the event will feature a special tour (from 12pm to 2pm) and tasting led by Port City's founder, Bill Butcher. To compliment the tour and tasting, Park Hyatt Washington and Blue Duck Tavern's Executive Chef, Sebastien Archambault will prepare savory dishes celebrating summer flavors. Tickets are priced at $55 per person, all inclusive and seating is limited to 20 guests. Reservations may be made by emailing masters.phwashington@hyatt.com or by calling (202) 419-6768. For more information on other Park Hyatt Masters events, please visit www.mastersfoodandwine.com. 

Tickets on Sale for 2013 RAMMY Awards: Tickets are now on sale for the DC area's hottest foodie fete, the 31st annual RAMMY Awards, celebrating the city's vibrant restaurant industry. The black tie event will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Sunday, June 23rd. This year, the awards ceremony format has expanded to accommodate the 1600+ bartenders, restaurateurs and other industry professionals in attendance. The highly anticipated ceremony will announce coveted honors such as "Chef of the Year," "Best New Restaurant" and "Rising Culinary Star" which are bestowed to only the city's top restaurant leaders.  The evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 6pm followed by the awards ceremony, a buffet-style dinner, and a live band with dancing until midnight. Tickets to the RAMMYS are available for $225 for RAMW members, $300 for non-members, and may be purchased online at www.therammys.org, by calling 202.331.5990 or by email at therammys@ramw.org.

Join José Andrés and friends at the Dine n Dash on Tuesday, June 25th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (VIP tour starts at 5:30pm). Map out a culinary adventure through Penn Quarter and sample specialty plates and drinks from six of the top DC restaurants, including Azur, Jaleo, Oyamel, Poste, Proof and Zaytinya. Tickets start at $150 for the culinary tour and $350 for a VIP experience that includes an additional stop at the exclusive barmini alongside José Andres himself. All proceeds will benefit World Central Kitchen. To purchase tickets, please visit: www.worldcentralkitchen.org.