Café Bonaparte Adds Liquor to the Menu

Let the bubbly flow! Georgetown’s Café Bonaparte recently received its liquor license. Now, you can sip mimosas or wine while dining on crepes, a delicious selection of pastries, homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. This local European café, located at 1522 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., serves appetizing omelets and other breakfast delicacies all day long.

Baseball As America

It was a rare treat for baseball fans to be in the same room as Dave Winfield, Johnny Bench, Gary Carter, Carlton “Pudge” Fisk and Ernie Banks. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History hosted a preview and reception celebrating the opening of “Baseball as America” exhibit on March 31. Over 30 Baseball Hall of Famers were in attendance to introduce the traveling exhibit from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Tim Russert of “Meet the Press” introduced each legend with much fanfare as the former players waved enthusiastically at the crowd. Over 500 baseball artifacts, including the bat swung by Cal Ripken, Jr. at the 2001 All-Star game and the ticket stub from the last Senators game at Robert

Washington Chefs Gain Nationwide Recognition

The 2004 James Beard Foundation Awards nominees were announced in March and four out of the five nominees in the “Best Chef” category in the Mid-Atlantic region are from D.C.: Ann Cashion of Cashion’s Eat Place in Adams Morgan, Todd Gray of Equinox, Gerard Pangaud of Gerard’s Place and Peter Pastan
of Obelisk. Last year’s Mid-Atlantic winner was José Andres of Jaleo.
In addition, Fabio Trabocchi of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Tysons Corner, Va., was nominated in the “Gallo of Sonoma Rising Star Chef of the Year.” Winners will be announced during the May 10 James Beard Foundation Awards and Gala Reception in New York. Known as the “culinary Oscars,” the 65 category-awards are the some of the most prestigious in the field, awarded to the country’s top chefs, restaurant workers, journalists, cookbook authors and restaurateurs. For a full list of nominees, visit www.jamesbeard.org.

Parkway Dry Cleaners Receives Prestigious Award

Congratulations to Parkway Custom Drycleaning! The Chevy Chase drycleaners has earned the prestigious honor of “Best Drycleaner” in the D.C. area for 2004. Owner Jon Simon flew to Dallas, Tex. to accept the award at a banquet hosted by America’s Best Cleaners, the national organization that recognizes and locates the best dry cleaning establishments. Parkway was chosen after a rigorous screening process because it provides “exceptional quality work (including advanced stain removal and restoration capabilities, finishing and packaging factors) and delivers exceptional customer service.” Parkway has been in Chevy Chase since 1926 and counts numerous ambassadors, politicians and athletes among its clients.

Mandarin Oriental Opens for Business

Mayor Anthony Williams and Councilmembers Eleanor Holmes Norton and Jack Evans celebrated the newest addition to the Southwest Waterfront when the Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C., opened its doors on March 27 with a ribbon cutting and feng shui ceremony. The 400-room hotel contains the Café MoZU restaurant and Empress Lounge and a ballroom that can accommodate up to 900 people. As with all Mandarin Oriental hotels, this one has a distinctly oriental style. Many of Washington’s Spring balls, galas and other events will be held there in the upcoming months.

Palette’s New Chef

James Clark is the new chef at Palette, the downtown restaurant that has been getting a lot of buzz since it opened in conjunction with the newly renovated Madison Hotel. Clark combines his New England culinary training with extensive experience in such important Southern restaurant cities as New Orleans, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Palette’s menu continues to feature dishes combining 21st century American cuisine with North, South and Central American influences.