Dining In Dc – Food and Restaurant Blog

The First Annual Grape Festival at Zaytinya

Just in time to be thankful, the First Annual Grape Festival at Zaytinya is going on now through Sunday, November 27, 2011. Now you can partake in a celebration honoring the little fruit that changed the world, with special dishes, cocktails, wines, and tasting events! José Andrésand his team at award-winning mezze restaurant Zaytinya, led by chef Michael Costa, are offering a festival celebrating...

A Weekend Getaway to Historic Frederick, MD

After being married almost eight years, my husband and I finally decided to take a special trip to celebrate our wedding anniversary.  With two kids (ages seven and three), we don’t often get the opportunity to disappear for a week or even a weekend. If you have kids, then you can relate.  If we were going to be able to get away, then we needed a place that didn’t take half of a day...

Spooktacular Roundup: Halloween special events and promotions in DC area restaurants.

Celebrate Halloween with all Treats … and no Tricks! Many DC restaurants and lounges will celebrate Halloween with everything from a Ghost Roast at Poste, to a Doggie Happy Hour Costume Contest at Jackson 20, Pumpkin Carving competitions at Helix Lounge and Bar Dupont, a tweetup at Policy, and treats from Co Co. Sala! Have a huntingly good time while getting into the spirit of Halloween. Spooktacular...

DC Area Restaurants and Bloggers Unite to Take a Bite out of Breast Cancer in October

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and for the first time in the Nation’s Capital, breast cancer awareness is served on a plate. For the entire month, more than 24 participating restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to the first annual Take A Bite out of Breast Cancer to support Pink Jams!, an outreach and fundraising campaign focusing on early detection in young...

José Andrés’ Oyamel Cocina Mexicana Celebrates the Fourth Annual Squash Blossom Festival

From August 1st through 15th, José Andrés and his culinary team at Oyamel (401 7th Street, NW), led by Chef Joe Raffa, will celebrate the fourth annual Squash Blossom Festival. During the Squash Blossom Festival, Oyamel will showcase the squash blossom or “flor de calabaza”, which is a common ingredient in Mexican cooking due to its great versatility,  in a variety of tempting menu...

Sip a Cocktail to Win RAMMY Tickets.

Now that we are in late-May, June is right around the corner and one of the summer’s most anticipated food events in Washington, DC is the RAMMY gala hosted by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington on June 26th. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend two years in a row, and I’m looking forward to this year’s event! The hottest ticket in town this summer is the...

To Do: Eat the Vote!

In the Washington, DC Metropolitan area restaurant industry, no single award holds the same esteem as the respected Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) ‘RAMMY’ awards. RAMMY voting for the 3 public voting categories opens this Thursday, April 28th and the RAMW is kicking off the voting with a fun ‘Eat the Vote’ promo. The 3 categories (Neighborhood Gathering Place,...

Art and Soul Wins ARTini 2011 Competition.

Throughout the month of March, mixologists from 12 of Washington, DC’s best restaurants and lounges competed for the coveted annual best ARTini title. Each mixologist created a unique artistic cocktail inspired by a work of art in the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s collection. In order to determine who would take home the title, the public was able to sip and sample each of the participating mixologist’s...

Dinner in the Old Havana. A Review of the new DC Cuba Libre. Part I.

The new DC Latin-inspired Cuba Libre Old Havana Restaurant & Rum Bar with locations in Philadelphia, Atlantic City and Orlando opened Friday, October 1st at 9th and H. Although I am usually the one that gets the treatment at DC restaurants, this time it was my husband, Ben. He won a contest offered via Thrillist, a daily e-newsletter (basically the Daily Candy for men) that provided a $350 credit...

Potenza trumps Restaurant Week offering 3 courses for $28 with wine pairings.

With a supreme location in DC, just a block away from the White House, Potenza offers Washingtonians a chance at fresh bread or baked goods from their bakery, a place to unwind at their spacious bar and lounge, and authentic Italian food sure to make your belly smile. I was invited on Thursday for a media gathering, which was my first opportunity to visit Potenza. I won’t stay away now …...

Dish of the Week Spotlight: Masa 14

I reported on the opening a week or so ago; however, to sum up, Chef Richard Sandoval, who brought us his marriage of Latin-Asian flavors, Zengo has partnered with award winning Chef Kazuhiro “Kaz” Okochi of Kaz Sushi Bistro to bring us their new joint concept serving Latin and Asian small plates. After several months of anticipation, the 5,000 square foot restaurant just north of...