Thursday, January 31, 2013

Upcoming Events: Sugar and Champagne

Sugar and Champagne:  Come celebrate all things sugary and sweet on January 31st at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. For the 12th consecutive year, Chef Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray of Equinox Restaurant and Muse at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Salamander Resort are our gracious hosts, and will be honoring our local crusaders against animal cruelty. All proceeds will directly benefit the animals and programs of the Washington Humane Society.


VINOTECA'S ALL NIGHT SUPER BOWL HAPPY HOUR:  Vinoteca, the popular U Street neighborhood hosts an All Night Super Bowl Happy Hour and viewing party on Super Bowl Sunday, February 3rd. Watch the Baltimore Ravens face off against the San Francisco 49ers at the cozy neighborhood hot spot and enjoy 15 amazing wines at $5/glass, and specials on small plates like their famous Pan Con Tomate ($5), tomato and garlic-rubbed toasted bread topped with jamon Serrano and Manchego, and Cod Fritters ($6), celeriac, green apple and fresh horseradish. Vinoteca's 7-day-a-week happy hour usually runs from 5-7pm. Vinoteca is located at 1940 11th St NW. For more information please visitwww.vinotecadc.com.

TRADEMARK'S BALTIMORE VS. SAN FRANCISCO FACE-OFF:  It's time to declare your allegiance at Alexandria's newest gastropub and root for your chosen home team. Featuring six HD flat screen TVs, with a massive 80-inch flat screen at the center of it all, the new Trademark has an expansive bar perfect for groups and this year is pitting Baltimore and San Francisco against each other, with themed cocktails and sandwiches for each team. Mixologist Chris Bassett has crafted two specialty libations (each $8) - Baltimore's Lewis' Last Stand made with cognac, rum and blackberries and the San Francisco Treat made with Pisco, kumquat, lime and rosemary. Executive Chef Matthew Miller has also created two special team-themed sandwiches ($5 each) - the Baltimore Pit Beef Sandwich and the Frisco Bahn Mi Sandwich - and will also offer other specials including ½ priced Grilled Wings ($4) and 2 Dogs and a Beer for $10. Trademark is located at 2080 Jamieson Avenue in Alexandria, VA. For more information please visit www.trademarkdrinkandeat.com.

"EAT FOR FREE, DRINK FOR ALMOST FREE" SUPER BOWL PARTY at JACK ROSE DINING SALOON:  Live like a king this Super Bowl Sunday at Jack Rose Dining Saloon: they're hosting an "Eat for Free, and Drink for Almost Free" bowl party from 6-10 p.m. Jack Rose will serve up complimentary bar eats including Chili and Corn Bread, Buffalo Wings and Sausage & Peppers for the big game on February 3rd, while Beer Director Nahem Simon is bringing in brews from Maryland's Evolution Craft Brewing Company and San Francisco's Speakeasy. They will also offer $5 pints, hot punch and whiskey. Fans can watch in comfort and style on Jack Rose's popular heated rooftop terrace featuring three jumbo sized flat-screen TVs all tuned in to Super Bowl XLVII. Jack Rose Dining Saloon is located at 2007 18th St. NW in Washington, DC. www.jackrosediningsaloon.com.

Red, White and Bleu Wine Shop launches a power hour of monthly wine tastings in collaboration with sommelier Christianna Sargent, formerly of Kimpton Hotels and Wolfgang Puck's The Source. SAVE-Hour, a casual hour of exploring wines and your palate, kicks off Monday, February 4th at 7:30 pm in Red, White and Bleu's downtown Falls Church tasting room, accessible by the East Falls Church Metro. Every first Monday of the month, wine lovers of all levels can convene to swirl, sniff, sip, save and socialize while sommelier Christianna guides them through an educational and themed tasting for only $10 per person. Your admission fee can be applied towards a purchase of any two featured bottles of that night. The first tasting will be a tribute to the infamous Valentine's day wine and dining trends. Sink your teeth into wines that pair perfectly with filet mignon and dark chocolate--the most used ingredients on Valentine's Day--and learn the science behind why these wines pair well. Visit http://talesofasommelier.blogspot.com/2013/01/save-hour.html for more details on wine selections featured February 4th. Contact Red, White and Bleu at 703.533.9463 to book a reservation.

Have a great pie recipe you want to share with the DC area? Check out the 3rd Makes-Me-Wanna SHOUT! Baking Challenge  which is baking and making memories while building community around food. The 2013 Makes-Me-Wanna SHOUT! Pie Baking Challenge is open to passionate amateur bakers ages 18 years and up residing in the Washington DC metropolitan area.  First prize is $500, the winning pie on the Eatonville Restaurant (www.eatonvillerestaurant.com) dessert menu, a $250 Gift Card for purchases on the King Arthur Flour online catalogue, and 3 hours of business strategy consulting services from Operation: Eatery to get a baking business started on the right foot. The entry form is available online at www.shoutbakingchallenge.com and must be received by February 4, 2013.  For a paper form, mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to Pie Baking Challenge, c/o Michon Boston Group, P.O. Box 21204, Washington, DC 20009 (Mailed entries must be postmarked February 4, 2013 and received by February 6, 2013) Up to 12 entries will be selected for the semi-finals tasting and judging March 23, 2013 at Martha’s Table.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit Martha’s Table (www.marthastable.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping at-risk children, youth, families and individuals in the DC community improve their lives by providing educational programs, food, clothing and enrichment opportunities.

February 5, Pine Ridge Vineyards: Pine Ridge in Napa Valley has a long reputation for creating elegant, distinct, and expressive wines. Hear Michael Beaulac's firsthand account of Pine Ridge's past and present winemaking and savor its phenomenal lineup of red wines. $135  Tickets for The Capital Wine Festival can be purchased atwww.capitalwinefestival.com



Beat the Winter Blues at the Food and Wine Festival:  By this time in the winter season, we are all itching to get out of hibernation and enjoy good food and wine… and the Washington, DC International Food and Wine Festival has you covered! The festival will be hosted at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center from Tuesday, February 5 through Saturday, February 9.  There are lots of seminars, tasting events and programs at this year’s event including:
·         A Sideways Look at Pinot with Doug Mason – an opportunity to taste and discuss the explosion of Pinot Noir in the US 
·         Cabernet Building Blocks with Kendall Jackson’s Matt Smith – a chance to learn about the building block aromas of Cabernet and participate in an exclusive tasting of famed Kendall Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon
·         An Exclusive Tasting with Achaval-Ferrer from Eclio Dumon – a special tasting of the vintages of this acclaimed winery, considered to be makers of the best Malbecs in the world.
·         IWFF Showcase Dinner featuring Achaval-Ferre – an incredible dinner highlighting the famed Mendoza winery complimented with food parings to enhance the flavors and aromas of Argentina.                
For more information and tickets, visit http://www.wineandfooddc.com/.  

Wine Cooperative Wine Tasting:  Tired of driving around to different vineyards to sample wines?  The Wine Cooperative Wine Tasting Room has made it easier.  Featuring premium wines from around the world’s premier wine regions, this special event, as part of the Washington, DC International Food and Wine Festival brings wine tasting to you.  Guests will have the opportunity to purchase tastes/glasses of wine as well as participate in a Silent Auction displaying items that will benefit Cohn’s Kitchen.  Admission to the tasting room is free and is open from Tuesday, February 5 through Saturday, February 9 from 4-8 pm.  For more information, visithttp://www.wineandfooddc.com/.   

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