Ritz-Carlton Two Martini Lunch

Summer is here, and many people are thinking about playing hookey the office. What better excuse than 50 cent martinis? That’s right, the Fahrenheit Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Georgetown, is serving martinis for 50 cents for the months of June, July and August. The “Two- Martini Lunch” is a throwback to the ‘30’s, when FDR marked the end of Prohibition by mixing the first legal martini in the White House. Guests may have up to two gin or vodka martinis with lunch at the discounted price.

Pandamania

Meet Café Milano’s newest regular, Pandela Anderson, part of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Party Animals exhibit, “PandaMania.” Pandela’s creator, artist Maggie O’Neill, is one of 150 artists who decorated the sculptures displayed around D.C. throughout the summer. The D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities provided artists with the pandas, studio space and a $1,500 honorarium. The pandas will be auctioned off in September at Panda Palooza, and proceeds will benefit grants and education programs for artists. Last year’s display of elephants and donkeys raised $1 million.

In turn, Café Milano is featuring Pamela Anderson’s favorite salad as a special on its menu (it is made with tender bamboo sprouts, scallops and tomatoes.) As the menu states, “Legend has it that if you dine on Pandela Anderson’s Favorite Salad, then go outside and rub her, you will encounter the man or woman of your dreams.” That explains Milano’s guests rubbing Pandela...but what explains the fondling by pedestrians?

New Swedish Embassy

Mayor Anthony Williams joined Marita Ulvskog, Sweden’s Minister for Culture, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Swedish Embassy, the House of Sweden on April 23. Currently, the Embassy of Sweden is located in rented offices at 1501 M Street, N.W. The new site is on 30th Street, N.W. in Georgetown, on the bank of the Potomac just north of the Kennedy Center. Swedish architects Gert Wingardh and Tomas Hansen of Wingardh Architects designed the sleek and modern glass-encased structure. The new embassy, which will include two floors of private residences with balconies overlooking the Potomac, a conference center, exhibition areas and an auditorium, should be completed in 2006.

Robeks Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats

This month, Robeks Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats will open its first location in the D.C. area on L Street, N.W., between 17th Street and Connecticut, where it is offering made-to-order fruit smoothies and freshlysqueezed vegetable juices as well as wholesome sandwiches and healthy snacks. Robeks Acaí drinks, made with a small purple palmberry whose taste has been described as a mix between berries and chocolates, have been getting a lot of attention wherever they are sold. The berry grows wild in the Amazon and contains strong antioxidants (10-30 times the amount found in red wine) help to combat premature aging and helps prevent heart disease. Brazilians have been eating acaí for centuries and more recently, it has begun to make a splash among surfers. Robeks also offers soup, frozen yogurt and gourmet sandwiches. The Chicken Pesto Focaccia and Turkey Cranberry sandwich have been reformulated to contain 40% carbohydrates, 30% proteins and 30% fats, like the popular Zone diet.

Plymouth Gin

Plymouth Gin, the U.K.’s best-selling brand, is taking off in the U.S. Plymouth’s Master Distiller, Sean Harrison, was in town from Plymouth, England in April to talk about the history and different styles of gin and conduct a taste test of the liquor. In a blind taste test at Smith and Wollensky’s, five Washington Life staffers unanimously chose Plymouth Gin over Bombay Sapphire Gin and Tanqueray Gin, two leading sellers of gin in the U.S. Below is a refreshing summer drink recipe to try with Plymouth Gin to conduct your own test:

Plymouth Summer Sunset
1 1/2 ounces Plymouth Gin
1/2 ounce Chambord Liqueur
1 ounce fresh Lemon Juice
Club Soda
Raspberries
F I Y DC
Klein
Marshall
Pour the first three ingredients over ice in a high-ball glass.
Top with soda and garnish with raspberries.