Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, located steps from CityCenterDC at 801 9th Street, NW, 20001, will celebrate the release of Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot’s second cookbook, CUBA COOKS: RECIPES AND DESRETS FROM CUBAN PALADARES AND THEIR CHEFS (October 2018) with a book signing party on Tuesday, November 13.
Guests pay $50 per person to enjoy select open bar to include beer, red and white wine by the glass, house red and white sangria, Pyrat Mojitos, Mango Mojitos and Spiced Cuba Libre’s along with an array of passed and stationary tapas, ceviches, and desserts profiled in CUBA COOKS. Dishes are subject to change, but may include Ceviche de Pez Perro, hog fish ceviche with blackeyes peas, coconut milk, cilantro and cachucha Chile sauce; Sopa de Cilantro, chilled cilantro soup with tempura of clams; Tacos de Berenjenas, malanga tacos with eggplant salad; Buñuelos de Espinaca, spinach and manchego cheese fritters, served with goat cheese sauce; Croquetas de Pollo, chicken croquettes with cachucha aioli; Alitas de Pollo a lo Chino, Chinese barbeque chicken winglets; Tostones con Ropa Vieja de Pato,braised pulled duck legs with Hawaiian toston, as well as Cuban Porchetta, pork belly and pork loin roast with Moros y Cristianos pilaf. Desserts are just as enticing and include Churros con Chocolate; Macarrones de Coco; Guayaba con Mousse de Queso Crema as well as El Arroz con Leche de Mami Totty. Cookbooks will also be available for purchase throughout the evening and priced at $40 each.
A vibrant celebration of the island’s bold flavors, creative techniques, and unique inspirations of Cuba’s finest paladares, readers of CUBA COOKS will find a rich variety of dishes which have been adapted from some of the best private restaurants from Old Havana to Santiago de Cuba. Showcasing a cuisine which marries traditional foundations with modern influences, Pernot and Co-Author Lourdes Castro have thoughtfully collected recipes and stories that reveal a vibrant contemporary cuisine. Throughout the book, readers will find illuminating and insightful notes about Cuba’s culinary heritage, as well as helpful notes found with every recipe.
Guillermo Pernot is a nationally renowned chef and restaurateur, and chef-partner at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Orlando and Washington, DC. Named “Chef of the Year” by Esquire magazine and one of “America’s Ten Best New Chefs,” by Food & Wine, Pernot is a two-time James Beard Award winner for Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic) and Best Single-Subject Cookbook for Ceviche: Seafood, Salads, and Cocktails with a Latino Twist (Running Press, 2001).
Lourdes Castro is a professor, recipe developer, and author of three cookbooks, Latin Grilling (Ten Speed, 2011), Simply Mexican (Ten Speed, 2009), and Eat, Drink, Think in Spanish (Ten Speed, 2009). A recurring judge on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, Castro has also appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show and The Talk, and on news and lifestyle programs for Better TV, Univision, Telemundo, and CNN en Español. Her recipes have also appeared in Food & Wine, Latina magazine, and The New York Times.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 13, 2018, from 6 PM to 8 PM.
WHERE: Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar is located at 801 9th Street, NW, Ste. A, Washington, D.C. 20001;
– On Nov. 14, 2018, NCMEC will host its first ROCK THE BLOCK. Guests will enjoy
specialty plates and craft drinks at more than 12 of Old Town Alexandria’s top restaurants and food
trucks in one evening – all for one price. All proceeds from the event will benefit NCMEC – a national nonprofit located in Old Town Alexandria – that leads the fight against child abduction and exploitation – because every child deserves a safe childhood.
From 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., event-goers will walk through Old Town Alexandria, enjoying food, drink and music at all of the participating restaurants. Restaurants include: Vermilion, Augie’s Mussel House, The Majestic, Columbia Firehouse, select food trucks at Market Square, Pizzeria Paradiso, Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Virtue Feed & Grain, Hi -Tide Lounge and more to come.
VIP ticket holders will have access to two VIP-only restaurants, including Hi-Tide Lounge. VIP access will also include a pre-party reception from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (location TBD) and an “after-party” with live music upstairs at Virtue Feed & Grain from 9-11 p.m.
General Admission tickets are $125 and include unlimited food and drinks at all participating
restaurants. VIP tickets are $300 and include admission to all participating restaurants, the VIP pre-party reception, VIP-only restaurants and the VIP-only after-party.
– Pre-sale Tickets (20 percent discount) are available on Sept. 10
– Full Price Tickets are available starting Oct. 1
– www.Rocktheblocks.org
TRUFFLE TRASH BRUNCH
NOVEMBER 25TH
Known as the “black diamonds” of the kitchen, truffles are the world’s most prized mushroom. truffles have a mild, subtly musky, earthy flavor that enhances many foods. The winter white truffle (Tuber magnatum) is sometimes called a Piedmont or Alba Truffle, because Italy has been blessed with an abundance of white truffles. Harvested from October to December, the short winter season adds to the mystique that surrounds this fungus. they are harvested by truffle Hunting trained dogs. They are prized by chefs and cooks all over the world. Today we use the “peelings”, “skins” and “bits” of the tuber (that are otherwise too small to shave on a truffle mandoline) from our white truffles and add them to these delicious plant based brunch dishes.
Enjoy!
THREE COURSE MENU $40.00
OR A LA CARTE
Our regular brunch will also be available
When: Saturday, December 1, 6 to 8pm
Where: Soulex Float Spa, 1010 Massachussettes Avenue, NW
What: Celebrate the holiday season than with an evening of meditation, mindfulness, and creativity. In partnership with Mental Health America (MHA), SOULEX float spa is excited to host a DIY Bath Salts Charity Workshop. The evening will open with a discussion lead by a representative from Mental Health America. Then we will guide you through a brief meditation to set your mind into a state of calm. The remainder of our evening will be dedicated to creativity. We will provide all the attendees with a portion of bath salt and a myriad of dried herbs, florals, and essential oils to infuse into your very own take-home bath salts. Proceeds will go to help Mental Health America on their mission to spread mental health awareness and aid across the country. 100% of ticket sales will be donated to Mental Health America. Attendees will be able to purchase promotional pricing on float packages that evening in which 30% of the total sales will be donated to Mental Health America.
How: Tickets are $10 available here
Avoid letting winter wreak havoc on your skin, and head to Aura Spa. The popular day spa is hosting a Winter Wonderland Mixer at its U Street location, promising an evening of pampering on Wednesday, December 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at1612 U St NW, Washington, D.C. Complimentary cranberry mimosas and holiday themed desserts will be served throughout the evening.
Guests are invited to sample various spa products and enjoy a refreshing night with free chair massages and skin analyses by expert Aura Spa estheticians. Aura Spa and Bang Salon swag bags will be provided, and attendees who pre-book spa services at the event will receive 15 percent off. All GM Collin skincare and retail products will be 25 percent off. Guests will also be entered into a raffle to win an assortment of Aura Spa products. This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Elaine@vidafitness.com, and for more information on Aura Spa, visit www.auraspa.net.
WHO: Aura Spa – U Street
WHAT: Winter Wonderland Mixer
Complimentary Cranberry Mimosas & Festive Desserts
Complimentary Skin Analyses & Chair Massages
15 percent off all spa services when pre-booked at the event
WHEN: Wednesday, December 5th
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Aura Spa – U Street
1612 U St NW
Washington, DC 20005
RSVP: Guests may RSVP to Elaine@vidafitness.com
Hanukkah Latke Brunch / eat.YOGA.drink. @ City Tap Dupont – Sunday, December 9
Visit City Tap Dupont on December 9 for a special Hanukkah iteration of their weekend brunch, featuring platters of latkes served with sour cream and applesauce for $8 as well as featured beers from Shmaltz Brewing. Stick around after grabbing an early brunch for a 12pm eat.YOGA.drink. instructor-led vinyasa class in City Tap Dupont’s private room. Tickets are $20 and include the class, small bites afterward, and an alcoholic drink of your choice. Make reservations for brunch and purchase tickets to the eat.YOGA.drink. class at www.citytap.com/location/
Let your cocktails and your yoga practice flow this holiday season with VIDA Fitness. On Tuesday, December 11 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., VIDA Fitness will host a public Chaturanga & Cocktails event at District Distilling to benefit Thrive DC – a local nonprofit dedicated to ending and preventing homelessness in DC. For the first hour of the night, VIDA instructor Alexandra Chili will lead a yoga flow. After the yoga session, guests will try skinny versions of District Distillery cocktails, as well as a special VIDA cocktail menu that features health-conscience beverages. The money raised that night will benefit Thrive DC, who can provide much-needed clothing and supplies to DC’s homeless community. To reserve your place at VIDA’s Chaturanga & Cocktails, make at least a $5 donation to Thrive DC by visiting http://www.thrivedc.org/vidayoga.
WHO: VIDA Fitness, District Distillery & Thrive DC
WHAT: Chaturanga & Cocktails
VIDA Instructor Alexandra Chili will lead yoga flow
Sample healthy cocktail samples and special VIDA cocktail menu
$5 dollar or greater donation to Thrive DC holds your spot and benefits those in need
Please bring your own mat
Reserve your spot here: http://www.thrivedc.org/vidayoga
WHEN: Tuesday, December 11
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: District Distillery
1414 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
VIDA Fitness is relieving the DC area of gift-giving anxiety by bringing fun, local retailers into their studios for a Holiday Bazaar this December. The Holiday Bazaar will be open to the public on Wednesday, December 12 at VIDA’s City Vista location and again on Thursday, December 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at VIDA’s U Street location. Retailers include District Distillery, District of Clothing, Dani Marie Artistry, Prescription Chicken, LuLaroe, Grape Intentions, Freres Branchiaux, Milk Bar,Snowing in Space Coffee, Metal and Stone Creations and Bicycle Trash. All local merchants will provide a discount and distribute free samples.
WHO: VIDA Fitness
Vendors Include:
- District Distillery
- District of Clothing
- Prescription Chicken
- LuLaroe
- Grape Intentions
- Freres Branchiaux
- Milk Bar
- Snowing in Space Coffee
- Metal and Stone Creations
- Bicycle Trash
WHAT: Holiday Bazar
Register: vidafitness.com/bazaar
WHEN: VIDA – City Vista
Wednesday, December 12
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
VIDA Fitness is relieving the DC area of gift-giving anxiety by bringing fun, local retailers into their studios for a Holiday Bazaar this December. The Holiday Bazaar will be open to the public on Wednesday, December 12 at VIDA’s City Vista location and again on Thursday, December 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at VIDA’s U Street location. Retailers include District Distillery, District of Clothing, Dani Marie Artistry, Prescription Chicken, LuLaroe, Grape Intentions, Freres Branchiaux, Milk Bar,Snowing in Space Coffee, Metal and Stone Creations and Bicycle Trash. All local merchants will provide a discount and distribute free samples.
WHO: VIDA Fitness
Vendors Include:
- District Distillery
- District of Clothing
- Prescription Chicken
- LuLaroe
- Grape Intentions
- Freres Branchiaux
- Milk Bar
- Snowing in Space Coffee
- Metal and Stone Creations
- Bicycle Trash
WHAT: Holiday Bazar
Register: vidafitness.com/bazaar
VIDA – U Street
Thursday, December 13
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.