Foodie Radar
Here are a few things on my foodie radar this week.
Yesterday, the James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists in the 2012 Restaurant and Chef Awards. Congratulations to the Penn Quarter chefs and restaurants that have been selected!
Best New Restaurant: Fiola (601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW)
Outstanding Bar Program: Columbia Room (1021 7th St NW)
Outstanding Restaurateur: Ashok Bajaj (Knightsbridge Restaurant Group)
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic: Scott Drewno (The Source, 575 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) and Vikram Sunderam (Rasika, 633 D St NW)
The shortlist will be announced in late March and the finalists in May.
As noted in “Heard in the Hood,” Red Apron Butchery, a whole animal butchery and small batch producer of handmade charcuterie, will open at 709 D St. NW in fall 2012. This will be a great addition to the neighborhood and my go-to spot for party nosh.
From March 5-18 enjoy special cocktails, menus and mixology sessions at Oyamel (401 7th St. NW) during their fifth annual Tequila & Mezcal Festival.
In other ThinkFoodGroup news, the much-anticipated food truck from Jose Andres is supposedly launching before the end of the month, meaning sometime in the next week if they are on schedule. Keep an eye out and please let us know if you see Pepe around the ‘hood.
Also, in response to diner demand, Minibar (405 8th St NW) is now open on Sundays. Good luck getting a reservation!
Finally, before Jaleo DC (480 7th St NW) closes on Sunday for renovations, you can take a photo with the mural of the flamenco dancer, post it to Facebook and tag Jaleo Tapas Bar to win a pitcher of sangria when the restaurant re-opens and the possibility of an all-inclusive Sunday brunch for 50 of your closest friends.
Graffiato (707 6th St NW) will now offer brunch menus on Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 3 p.m. A $20 weekday lunch special is also being introduced.
Doron Peterson of Sticky Fingers fame is speaking next week at Sixth & I. With vegan diets becoming all the rage, I’m certainly curious to know how she makes something healthy taste good.
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Just because something is vegan doesn’t mean that it is healthy. A treat loaded up with margarine/shortening instead of butter doesn’t all of a sudden become healthy because there is no butter/eggs.