• 03Apr
    Sundried Pork with green  apple som tum sriracha was a favorite of ours. Pic by Eugene Smith of DC Life Magazine.

    Sundried Pork Pic Courtesy of Eugene Smith of DC Life Magazine.

    I hosted April’s DC Food Blogger Happy Hour at new DC Thai restaurant, Mango Tree a couple of days ago, and definitely need to recommend a few items. The Sundried Pork (served with with green apple som tum sriracha) was a group favorite. I heard that the Vegetable Spring Rolls were quite tasty, but they contain an ingredient I can’t eat (mushrooms), so I could not try them. The Strawberry Basil Caipirinha and Lychee Mojita were tasty and refreshing drinks.

    I will say that a few of the dishes were a bit spicy for some of the diners, and that the sangria wasn’t my thing, but this new restaurant is definitely one to watch. And, the space/décor and service were excellent.

    Congratulations to Mango Tree for appearing in Eater’s list of hottest restaurants in DC!

    BTW, it isn’t posted yet, but save the date (May 6th) for the next DC Food Blogger Happy Hour. It was be hosted by Eugene of DC Life Magazine at STK, although the event has not been posted yet on the DCFBHH Facebook page.

    -JAY

    Mango Tree on Urbanspoon

  • 03Apr

    belvedere_wild_berry_displayBelvedere Vodka’s newest flavor, Belvedere Wild Berry, just made its DC debut. Barcode hosted a happy hour reception last week to celebrate. Guests were treated to complimentary wild berry cocktails and food bites.

    Barcode sectioned off part of its lounge area for the event, which quickly became packed with guests. Guests with reserved tables enjoyed bottles of the new vodka. The wild berry cocktails delivered a fresh, smooth and clean finish. The combination of strawberries and blueberries made the cocktail soft and inviting to the palate. This new vodka flavor mixes perfectly with lemonade or tonic water, topped with fresh fruits. Buy Belvedere Wild Berry vodka on the Belvedere Vodka website, and look out for it in DC liquor stores and bars.

    -SDM

    Barcode Restaurant, Bar and Lounge on Urbanspoon

  • 25Mar

    Many heartfelt moments in our lives start with the opening of a bottle of wine. We may not realize it in the moment, but family and friends form bonds over wine. Whether at a family gathering or at a dinner party with friends, wine is a staple at events. Sisters Robin and Andréa McBride show how wine can help bring people together. The age-old beverage helped inspire the wine-making sister duo.

    This past Thursday, March 19th, the McBride sisters celebrated the debut of their new wine collection, Truvée Wines, in DC. Partnered with Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, Truvée Wines is the latest wine release from DC&E. The event was held at The Manor, a relatively new restaurant and lounge located in the heart of Dupont Circle. Guests enjoyed Truvée’s Chardonnay and Red Blend, spritzers, sangria cocktails, and food bites at the chic event.

    The McBride sisters’ story is, to say the least, a remarkable one. Both born in Los Angeles, the two sisters were raised continents apart by their mothers, unaware of each other’s existence for nearly half of their lives. Robin grew up surrounded by vineyards in Monterey, California, while her younger sister Andréa was grape farming with her uncle in Marlborough, New Zealand. It was their father’s dying wish that his two daughters finally meet. When the sisters reunited at last, they discovered a shared interest in the wine business. As the wine title Truvée, derived from “to find” in French, tells, the two sisters found in each other something worth holding onto and formed a close sisterhood. The entrepreneurial duo became the first African American sisters to found and own a wine company. Robin and Andréa  serve as an inspiration to women and contemporary wine lovers.

    The sisters told their heartwarming story at the Truvée Wines launch party held at The Manor, as guests were served complimentary wine and cocktails. Upon entering the event, I was almost immediately offered the Princely Peach Sangria, a cocktail featuring the Truvée Chardonnay. It was light, crisp and refreshing: the perfect start to the evening. I then enjoyed the Saucy Spitzer, mixed with the Truvée Red Blend Wine. This cocktail was by far my favorite at the event: fruity, smooth and flavorful. Then I sampled a taste of the Truvée red and the white. The lightly oaked Chardonnay was light, balanced and not too sweet. The outstanding Rhône Style Red Blend delivered a decadent fruit taste and a bit of a spice. It was rich, velvety and the right amount of sweet. As a red wine fan, I especially enjoyed the Truvée Red Blend .

    With a recommended retail price of $15.99, these sophisticated, high-quality wines are attainable for today’s wine drinkers. Browse the Truvée website for more information on this affordable indulgence. Keep an eye out for Truvée wines at DC liquor stores and bars, including The Manor.

    -SDM

  • 23Mar

    Norwegian Ambassador’s Executive Chef, Mr. Sindre Risvoll!

    We were in attendance at a recent Norwegian seafood reception at the temporary residence of the Norwegian Ambassador. The event was created in cooperation with the Norwegian Seafood Council. In attendance were members of the Norwegian seafood industry and their clients (including a Fairfax based Asian supermarket with a great seafood department). (Asia is a huge market for Norwegian seafood.)

    The reception featured phenomenally fresh and delicious Norwegian seafood in Asian preparations. It even was talking to a fisherman whose boat probably caught the mackerel I was eating at the time.

    We were happy to finally try Nøgne ø‘s Sake, since we tried their wonderful beers at a previous Norwegian event a few years ago.

    -JAY

  • 21Mar

    We’ve written about Washington DC’s 25 year old outpost of La Taberna del Alabardero many times, since it’s hard not to keep returning to the wonderful and authentic Spanish restaurant. This time, we are going to focus on pictures of Alabardero’s delicious food. Also, the restaurant has two upcoming “Lobster Weekends,” March 27-29 and April 24-26. Click more below for additional photos. They kept us pretty busy eating — these photos don’t even represent all the dishes we sampled.

    Read the rest of this entry »

  • 10Mar

    The next DC Food Blogger Happy Hour is April 1st at Mango Tree!

    Please RSVP on the DCFBHH event page. Mango Tree is a new City Center Thai restaurant. We will be at the upstairs back bar (in the main dining room). Their Happy Hour menu is looking good!

    -JAY

    April DCFBHH Mango Tree

     

     

  • 06Mar

    CEO and co-founder Ariane Daguin of D’Artagnan and Chef Anthony Lombardo of The Hamilton, along with Chef Nate Anda of Red Apron Butcher, celebrated D’Artagnan’s 30th anniversary at The Hamilton on Tuesday, March 3rd. There was a lot of talent in the room, and the charcuterie was a testimony to that. It was melt-in-your-mouth, tender, and the right amount of salty. The guests who weren’t drinking at the bar were hovering over the charcuterie, mouths probably salivating.

    The bar area where the celebration was held quickly became packed with guests. The complimentary bar options included DC Brau or house red or white wine. I had one DC Brau first. Then I enjoyed a glass of the red while I ate the charcuterie, as they are a winning combination. I seemed to be the only one who went to the event solo, but the bartenders were friendly and talkative to me despite being so busy. This was my first night at The Hamilton, and I plan on going back soon for the great service they provided.

    Check out D’Artagnan, the leading supplier of meats and charcuterie in the nation, online.

    -SDM

    Permalink Filed under: Etc, Events Tags: 1 Comment
  • 02Mar

    С Днем Рождения (or, Happy Birthday in Russian) to Mari Vanna!

    Mari Vanna, a Dupont favorite, celebrated its two-year anniversary in style on Tuesday night, February 24th. The birthday celebration took place at the third floor cocktail lounge of the Russian bar. At the opening of the event, guests entered the lounge to Mari Vanna’s usual electro-house sound. Upon arrival, we were treated to an open bar of vodka and champagne. The house-infused vodka list featured some of the most distinctive vodka flavors I’ve had the pleasure of trying. In particular, the refreshing cucumber and dill vodka stood out as a favorite. It paired well with the strong flavors of the Russian bites, one of which was the melt-in-your-mouth salmon and cream cheese roll. Other heart-warming tarts were the cured herring on rye, the Olivier salad, and the vinegret bites. The amount of food at this event seemed endless, with the plates quickly refilled one after the other. It was much needed, as the lounge soon became packed with guests.

    Once guests had plenty of time to enjoy their food and drink, internationally renowned accordionist Peter Dranga took center stage. Not too long after Dranga started playing, guests paused in their chatter to circle around. They could either be seen capturing the moment with their smartphones or dancing to the music. You could, really, feel the excitement in the air. Dranga’s passionate energy and upbeat dance music brought big smiles and cheers to the lively crowd. Simply speaking, Dranga makes the accordion cool.

    Then, the huge chocolate birthday cake and more champagne emerged. The night felt like one fun indulgence after another, for the pleasure of the ears, mouth, and heart. Mari Vanna knows how to celebrate their birthday right. I will definitely be going back to Mari Vanna soon.

    Photo Credit: Travis Vaughn.

    -SDM

    Mari Vanna on Urbanspoon

  • 27Feb

    DCFüd is giving away 10 pairs of tickets for one day (you can select Saturday March 7th or Sunday March 8th) at the DC Travel & Adventure Show (details below). So, who wants to win a pair of tickets to the event? If so, email contest@dcfud.com with the subject “Travel Show Entry” and specify March 7th or March 8th. Also make sure to include your first and last name in the body of the email.

    The deadline for submissions is 5:00 pm (EST) on Tuesday March 3rd.  Only one entry per person (regardless of how many email addresses you have). You will need to show ID (at “Will Call”) at the venue to pick the tickets up. When the winners are chosen, I’ll email them, hopefully sometime that evening.  Good luck!

    Rick Steves, Samantha Brown, and Pauline Frommer are all speakers this year.

    -JAY

  • 27Feb

    Grills Gone Wild is back at Rocklands BBQ from March 2nd to the 7th! This time around, they are serving:

    Grills Gone WildAlligator Brunswick Stew served with honey jalapeño cornbread triangles Individual – $3.59 Pint – $7.99

    Wild Beaver Sausage Sandwich, served with collard greens $8.99

    Bullwinkle Chili, served with honey jalapeño cornbread triangles Individual – $3.59 Pint – $7.99

    Wild Canadian Halibut, served over rice with mango salsa $9.99

    So, no Muskrat Poppers this year; I remember trying them with Uncle Brutha a few years ago.

    Wow, that’s an interesting graphic–I bet it was designed by the guy who decided to feature “beaver sausage.” John, was that you?

    -JAY

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