Whet your whistle, wow your dinner guests and check out who’s new in town.
By Anne Kim-Dannibale
New Brews
Beer lovers have plenty to toast with the arrival of Italian craft brews at Churchkey and Maryland’s own Flying Dog’s Belgian Devil at The Daily Dish. Ahead of Beer Week, Churchkey is rolling out suds from two fun-loving Italian producers: Toccalmatto and Brewfist on Monday, August 5, while The Daily Dish is offering up Belgian Devil August 8 at a happy hour price of just $4.
Churchkey
1337 14th St. NW
202-567-2576
The Daily Dish
8301A Grubb Rd.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-588-6300
The Source (File photo)
Get Your Hands Dirty
Put those idle hands to good use by joining two of Washington’s best chefs in the kitchen. Learn to make burrata with Trummer’s on Main‘s Chef Austin Fausett, who is breaking out his own recipe for this one-time class. Enjoy the fruits of your labor after with heirloom tomatoes, watermelon and avocado ice cream. For something a little more involved, reserve a spot with The Source‘s Chef Scott Drewno, who is teaching two classes — one on Chinese cooking and the other on Thai cuisine — to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Trummer’s on Main Burrata Making Class
Saturday, Aug. 17
1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Trummer’s on Main
7134 Main St.
Clifton, VA 20124
Reservations: 703-266-1623 or email Victoria Trummer, vtrummer@trummersonmain.com
The Source Asian Cooking Classes
Saturday, Sept. 7 (Chinese) and Saturday, Sept.
21 (Thai)
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Source
575 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
$75 per person ($25 of each ticket donated to American Cancer Society for Chef Scott Drewno’s Fit for Hope Challenge)
Reservations: 202-637-6106 or email Erica Frank, erica.frank@wolfgangpuck.com
Gin Yummy
With the pace of Washington slowing to a crawl this month, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to (try to) make your way through more than 20 gin varieties from America, England, France and Scotland on Central‘s new gin menu. Pitched as the “Summer of Gin Cocktails,” it’s a gin-lovers’ paradise. Try a classic martini, a Rickey or something a bit more exotic. We’re eyeing the Lavender Gin Rickey (FEW American Gin, lavender/turmeric syrup).
Highballs and martinis are $8-$15, while Central specialty cocktails are $12.
“Summer of Gin Cocktails”
Central
1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
202-626-0015
A class act, the Old Fashioned (Photo by ReeseCLloyd via Flickr)
Oldies But Goodies
Who makes the best Old Fashioned in town? You can judge for yourself at Bourbon Steak’s “Old Fashioned Showdown,” which replaces the restaurant’s annual “Porc Out.” The Passenger’s Alex Bookless, Firefly’s Jon Harris, The Gibson’s Frank Jones, Jack Rose’s Amy Russell, Atlas Room’s Chris Surrusco and Occidental’s Jo-Jo Valenzuela throw down their best recipes of the classic cocktail. For $70 bucks a pop, you get tastes, bison bites (tacos!) and even oysters on the half.
“Old Fashioned Showdown”
Sunday, August 25
Noon-3 p.m.
Bourbon Steak
2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
$70 per person, available online
202-944-2026 for more info
Naomi Gallego (Photo by Len Depas)
Dessert Course
After making a splash as the opening pastry chef at Stephen Starr’s Le Diplomate, Naomi Gallego, 38, has moved on to Park Hyatt’s Blue Duck Tavern. Gallego brings 22 years of experience which includes a rare Konditormeisterbrief designation from Germany to Chef Sebastien Archambault‘s team. Though she was born in Michigan and grew up in Texas, Gallego is no stranger to Washington, D.C. having worked at Vidalia, PS7 and with Top Chef contender Daniel O’Brien‘s Seasonal Pantry. No word yet on what confections Gallego is thinking of creating at Blue Duck Tavern, but we’re looking forward to seeing her flex her pastry muscles. UPDATE: Gallego’s dessert menu is slated for a September roll-out. In the meantime, look for her hand in the daily market desserts.
