Mar
7
Tue
Restaurant Brain Trust Panel @ Matchbox
Mar 7 @ 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Matchbox Food Group, Centrolina and Noble Chef Hospitality Join Restaurant Brain Trust Panel
Inaugural Event Showcases Notable DC-Area Restauranteurs; Offers Insights into Successful Businesses

Who:Peter D’Amelio, President & CEO, Matchbox Food Group

Amy Brandwein, Chef/Owner, Centrolina Mercato E Osteria
Jack Sosnowski, President & CEO, Noble Chef Hospitality

What: A lively panel discussion featuring notable DC-area restauranteurs who have successfully navigated the bumpy road to their first and  subsequent grand openings, offering candid insights about the challenges, delays and surprises that tested their mettle. Hear their lessons learned, rewards realized and how to create your own personal recipe for success. Remarks by Michael Sternberg, President & CEO, Sternberg Hospitality with Bethany Kazaba, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Neighborhood Retail Group as event moderator.

Where:  Matchbox

1901 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
When: Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Misc: Tickets: Restaurant vendors, $30; Restauranteurs/Restaurant Staff, $15;
Agenda: Registration, 2-2:30 p.m.; Program, 2:30-4:00 p.m.; Cocktails & Light Fare: 4-5:00 p.m.

Media
Contact:  Jessica Scott
Moki Media
E: jessica.scott@mokimedia.com

About Restaurant Brain Trust: Restaurant Brain Trust is a collective effort by several active members of the Greater Washington, DC restaurant community to develop an educational and networking series geared for restaurateurs and their staffs. Our mission is to help local restaurateurs realize their growth plans by equipping them with the educational content and professional contacts that will be integral to their success.

Founding Members:

Elaine Chon-Baker, Mokja Ventures
Bethany Kazaba Scanlon, Neighborhood Retail Group
Trish McHugh, BDO
Jody Ruth, Redstones
Michael Sternberg, Sternberg Hospitality

Mar
16
Thu
History & Hops with Bill Madden @ Heurich House
Mar 16 @ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Bill Madden will be the inaugural host of a revamped History & Hops series at the Heurich House Museum. On Thursday, March 16, 2017 from 6:30-8:30 pm, the Mad Fox Brewing Company CEO and Executive Brewer will host the Dupont Circle Museum’s monthly beer-themed after-house event, but now with a new twist. Madden kicks off a year of “beer star” hosts that will include industry insiders from throughout the area. During March’s intimate evening, guests will have more personal access to Bill to discuss a variety of beers he has hand-selected. Guests will have the unique opportunity to enhance their local beer knowledge by learning from an expert, while also being able to self-tour the historic Brewmaster’s Castle.

A nationally recognized brewmaster, Bill Madden has operated seven brewpub locations in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. He has also won numerous medals at the Great American Beer Festival® and the Chicago Real Ale Festival. His achievements in the brewing industry speak to his finesse and skill as a brewer. Now it is your chance to learn from this beer insider!

“Even though History & Hops continues to be one of our most popular public events, we wanted to give our guests an even richer experience,” said Heurich House Museum Executive Director Kimberly Bender. “We are excited to introduce them to the best beer minds in DC in an intimate and interactive setting. Christian Heurich would be proud that his home is being used to educate people about his craft.”

Tickets for History & Hops hosted by Bill Madden are $30 per person and include tastings, snacks and self-guided tours of the Heurich House Museum. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://bit.ly/HHMar2017. Guests must be 21 or older. All proceeds benefit the preservation and growth of the Heurich House Museum.

 

Mar
24
Fri
Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine: Great American Craftsmanship @ Thos. Moser
Mar 24 @ 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Park Hyatt Washington D.C. will host a Spring 2017 Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine: Great American Craftsmanship, a seasonal culinary & beverage experience on Friday, March 24. This culinary gathering salutes the ingredients, flavors, and talents of local chefs, and the artistry of American designer Thos. Moser.  Guests will join newly appointed Executive Chef Troy Knapp and Blue Duck Tavern Chef de Cuisine Brad Deboy for an evening of carefully sourced, and artfully prepared culinary delights paired to match the craftsmanship of Thos. Moser’s renowned handmade American furniture (https://www.thosmoser.com).  The evening will begin in the Thos. Moser showroom with welcome cocktails, inspired by woods used to create original Thos. Moser’s original designs, paired with house-made charcuterie.  Next, the group will continue to the living room for appetizers and wine, followed by a seated chef’s table dinner where one will have the opportunity to talk with Chef Knapp and the Thos. Moser team about each of the dishes they’ve sampled, designs they’ve seen, and the connection between these two great arts. As a very unique feature to the event, a Thos. Moser craftsman from Maine will be handcrafting and assembling a piece of furniture in the showroom. This will mirror the creation of dishes and drinks from the Park Hyatt Washington in the same space.  Guests will conclude the evening with wine and cheese, and desserts presented on a handcrafted Thos. Moser bookshelf. This final sweet ending will be the artful work of Pastry Chef Erin Reed. This event is priced at $150 per person (all-inclusive). Each course will have wine selected by Chef Knapp, a trained sommelier, and will include wine pairings from Boekenhoutskloff Winery, located in Franschhoek Valley, South Africa as well as many others.

 

WHERE:        Thos. Moser

                        1028 33rd Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20007

 

WHEN:          Friday, March 24, 2017, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

 

HOW:            Tickets for the event can be purchased by calling (202) 419-6620 or emailing masters.phwashington@hyatt.com.

 

Mar
31
Fri
Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival @ Maryland State Fairgrounds
Mar 31 @ 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Maryland’s largest hoedown returns to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on March 31 and April 1.  The Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is produced by local Trigger Agency as a benefit to the Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation.

This year marks the 11th annual production which started very humbly in Timonium, MD and has grown to a National Tour reaching hundreds of thousands of guests from New York to Florida.

The all-you-care-to-taste extravaganza starts with a Friday Night Whole Hog Session from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.This session will offer a dinner plate of BBQ with all the fixings as well as unlimited sampling of bourbon and beer. Saturday sessions run from noon to 6 p.m.  An exclusive VIP only tasting will be held Noon until 2 p.m. and then General Admission will follow from 2 p.m.  through 6 p.m.

A souvenir glass is included with every ticket purchase and offers guests unlimited tastings of 60 of the best craft beers and 75-80 top-notch bourbons. In addition, delicious samples of barbeque from the South’s best Pit Masters will be available throughout the day. The event will offer live music, arts, crafts, memorabilia exhibits and a cigar tent outside for the enthusiast.  Full schedules and menus are posted on the website.

“This show has spawned many knock-offs all over the country – but if the truth be known – we started here at the Timonium Fairgrounds ten years ago in one of the smaller buildings.  To see where we’ve grown and to share it with all the fans is quite an honor,” explains the festival founder, Greg Nivens, a Baltimore resident. Guests can expect some fun and exciting features this year:

 

  • The Shrine of Swine is back – but the whole hogs are always intriguing and new.  Each hog is totally different and even tastes different.
  • New Gaming Area – this includes Air Hockey Table Games, Foose Ball, Pinball Machines and Skeet Ball
  • Great Live Music is back with some new faces.
  • Fun crowd competitions will be featured on the Main Stage including the Stein Holding Competition, The Drink like a Lady Contest, Baltimore’s Best Beer Belly, and Two Rounds of Bacon Eating.

General admission to the festival is $39 in advance / $45 on –site and includes admission to event and a souvenir glass. VIP Saturday admission is $59.   The special Friday Night session is $49 per person. Designated Driver admission is also available for $29 and includes admission to the event. Kids 12 and under are free. For more information on purchasing tickets for the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, please visit www.BeerAndBourbon.com or call 800-830-3976. There are thousands of free parking spaces on site, or take the light rail. Please drink responsibly and bring a designated driver.

 

Apr
1
Sat
Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival @ Maryland State Fairgrounds
Apr 1 @ 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Maryland’s largest hoedown returns to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on March 31 and April 1.  The Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is produced by local Trigger Agency as a benefit to the Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation.

This year marks the 11th annual production which started very humbly in Timonium, MD and has grown to a National Tour reaching hundreds of thousands of guests from New York to Florida.

The all-you-care-to-taste extravaganza starts with a Friday Night Whole Hog Session from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.This session will offer a dinner plate of BBQ with all the fixings as well as unlimited sampling of bourbon and beer. Saturday sessions run from noon to 6 p.m.  An exclusive VIP only tasting will be held Noon until 2 p.m. and then General Admission will follow from 2 p.m.  through 6 p.m.

A souvenir glass is included with every ticket purchase and offers guests unlimited tastings of 60 of the best craft beers and 75-80 top-notch bourbons. In addition, delicious samples of barbeque from the South’s best Pit Masters will be available throughout the day. The event will offer live music, arts, crafts, memorabilia exhibits and a cigar tent outside for the enthusiast.  Full schedules and menus are posted on the website.

“This show has spawned many knock-offs all over the country – but if the truth be known – we started here at the Timonium Fairgrounds ten years ago in one of the smaller buildings.  To see where we’ve grown and to share it with all the fans is quite an honor,” explains the festival founder, Greg Nivens, a Baltimore resident. Guests can expect some fun and exciting features this year:

 

  • The Shrine of Swine is back – but the whole hogs are always intriguing and new.  Each hog is totally different and even tastes different.
  • New Gaming Area – this includes Air Hockey Table Games, Foose Ball, Pinball Machines and Skeet Ball
  • Great Live Music is back with some new faces.
  • Fun crowd competitions will be featured on the Main Stage including the Stein Holding Competition, The Drink like a Lady Contest, Baltimore’s Best Beer Belly, and Two Rounds of Bacon Eating.

General admission to the festival is $39 in advance / $45 on –site and includes admission to event and a souvenir glass. VIP Saturday admission is $59.   The special Friday Night session is $49 per person. Designated Driver admission is also available for $29 and includes admission to the event. Kids 12 and under are free. For more information on purchasing tickets for the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, please visit www.BeerAndBourbon.com or call 800-830-3976. There are thousands of free parking spaces on site, or take the light rail. Please drink responsibly and bring a designated driver.

 

Apr
6
Thu
5th Annual Best of D.C. Celebration @ Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square
Apr 6 @ 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Washington City Paper Fetes Best of D.C. Finalists at 5th Annual Best of D.C. Celebration April 6th Presented by Events DC

The Washington City Paper and Events DC invite you to join them in honoring the best of the best in D.C. at its 5th annual Best of D.C. Celebration at the DC Armory on Thursday, April 6th beginning at 6pm. Some of D.C.’s best restaurants, mixologists, local breweries and distilleries, bands and retailers will provide the entertainment as guests sip, sample, and dance the night away.

What:                 Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C. Celebration

Date:                  Thursday, April 6, 2017

Times:                VIP 6-10pm; General Admission 7-10pm

Location:            Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square (801 K Street NW, Washington, DC)

Price:                 VIP – $110; General Admission – $70

Tickets:              https://www.xorbia.com/events/wcp/Best-of-DC-Celebration-2017

Apr
10
Mon
Refugee Orchestra Project in collaboration with Gourmet Symphony @ Fillmore Silver Spring
Apr 10 @ 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM

As the world grapples with the most severe global refugee crisis since World War II, musicians convened by conductors John Devlin and Lidiya Yankovskaya, herself a refugee who found asylum in the United States, are coming together to provide a voice to refugees in the country.

At 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 10, Yankovskaya and instrumentalists whose friends and families have fled to the U.S. to escape violence and persecution will perform a special concert for residents in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The performance will take place in The Fillmore Silver Spring and will feature a full symphony orchestra and soloists—including award-winning soprano Zhanna Alkhazova—performing works by refugee composers, such as Iranian composer Gity Razaz, Béla Bartók, and Irving Berlin, as well as music that involves refugee themes written by Verdi and Puccini, among others. The concert will showcase, through music, the positive impact that those who have come to this country seeking safety and a better life have had on American culture and society. It is one of three fundraising events that the Refugee Orchestra Project is organizing this spring.

“I organized the Refugee Orchestra Project as a way to demonstrate, through music, the critical role that these individuals play in our cultural landscape,” said Refugee Orchestra Project Conductor and Artistic Director Lidiya Yankovskaya. “In light of the negative rhetoric we regularly read and hear in the news today, I felt it important for all of us to once again be reminded of the essential role that refugees play in making American culture vibrant and strong.”

Devlin and the D.C.-based Gourmet Symphony will support this endeavor by recruiting local musicians to participate in the concert, as well as food vendors who will provide product and services to encourage donations for the cause.

“Gourmet Symphony was thrilled when the Refugee Orchestra Project representatives reached out to us about a possible collaboration around this worthy cause,” said John Devlin, co-founder and Artistic Director of Gourmet Symphony. “As artistic leaders in the nation’s capital, we feel that it is our responsibility to play an active role in our community and in matters of national importance. The concert will also allow us to engage culinary partners who are passionate about this cause. Our common goal is to offer a sense of connectedness and hope through the music and fellowship shared in this performance.”

Admission to the concert is free, donations are suggested. Guests who make a donation of at least $50 will receive premium seating and a gourmet gift box including snack bites from Gourmet Symphony’s culinary partners at Beuchert’s Saloon and Mike Isabella Concepts, among others—this will be capped at 100. Proceeds from donations will go toward the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), the global Jewish nonprofit that protects refugees in support of those seeking asylum in the U.S. and abroad.

 

Apr
13
Thu
Lincoln 6th Anniversary Party @ Lincoln
Apr 13 @ 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

On Thursday, April 13th historically-themed hotspot LINCOLN will celebrate its 6th anniversary and you’re invited to join in the festivities! The anniversary party, which will run from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, is the perfect way to start your weekend a little early.

Take a photo with Honest Abe (a presidential impersonator will be on site starting at 5:00 pm) and test your knowledge of American history with LINCOLN Trivia.  Be sure to bring your competitive spirit with you – 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will all go home with prizes (the most coveted being two tickets to a Washington Nationals baseball for the 1stplace winner!)

Complimentary bar bites will be served from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Those who want to continue the celebration can grab a table for dinner and enjoy some of Executive Chef Demetrio Zavala’s signature dishes like Creekstone NY Strip (with Horseradish Spaetzle, Marrow, Mustard Apple Sauce, Red Wine Reduction & Spinach,) Braised Lamb Osso Bucco (Baked Carrots, Yuzu, Natural Jus, Mustard Greens,) and Poached Halibut (Vanilla Onion Soubise, Shrimp Bisque, Peppermint Basil, Grapefruit.)

A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to Martha’s Table, a local organization that supports and strengthens children and families by increasing access to healthy food and quality education.

While there is no cost to attend LINCOLN’s anniversary party, guests are asked to kindly RSVP via e-mail: rsvp@lincolnrestaurant-dc.com.

 

Lincoln is located at 1110 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC

Apr
19
Wed
DC’s Taste of the Nation @ Nationals Park
Apr 19 @ 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Residents of our nation’s capital can enjoy the most celebrated food in the area on April 19, when DC’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry returns to a new venue, Nationals Park. The annual tasting event will showcase the city’s top chefs, sommeliers and mixologists teamed up for a cause: making sure all children in this country get the healthy food they need every day. One hundred percent of proceeds from the event benefit No Kid Hungry’s efforts to end childhood hunger in America.

Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Location: Nationals Park, 1500 S Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Time: 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. for VIP/VIP Plus; 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. for General Admission

Led by Chef Chair George Pagonis (Kapnos, Kapnos Taverna, Kapnos Kouzina), Dessert Chair Tiffany MacIsaac (Buttercream Bakeshop), Mixology Chair Derek Brown (The Columbia Room, Mockingbird Hill, Southern Efficiency, Eat the Rich), and Sommelier Chair Nadine Brown (Charlie Palmer Steak), DC’s culinary tastemakers will provide guests with bite-size fare, craft cocktails, and sweets treats, driving taste buds out of the park. Taste of the Nation will offer foodie fans a chance to sample the city’s latest dining spots. Guests will also enjoy live DJ entertainment and the chance to win one of a kind auction items.

 

Every Kid, Healthy Food, Every Day

Nearly one in five children in this country struggles with hunger, including more than 29,000 kids in Washington, DC. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger in this nation by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. Since the campaign’s launch, No Kid Hungry and its partners have connected kids struggling with hunger to more than 500 million meals.

 

In 2016, DC’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry raised enough to help feed children in need more than 2 million healthy meals. Area beneficiaries include Capital Area Food Bank, DC Hunger Solutions, and Mary’s Center.

 

DC’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry is supported by national presenting sponsors Citi and Sysco®, national media sponsor Food Network, and national sponsors OpenTable, and The Glenlivet.

 

Tickets start at $100 for General admission. For additional information and to purchase tickets, please visit: ce.nokidhungry.org/dc

 

The best eateries in the DC area will be represented at the event, including:

Agora Restaurant | Art and Soul | B&O American Brasserie | Bangkok Joe’s | Bar Pilar | Barrel | Best Buns Bread Company | Beucherts Saloon | Bidwell | Birroteca | Bub and Pop’s | Carlyle | Del Campo | Dino’s Grotto | Dirty Habit DC | District Distilling Company | Dolcezza Gelato |Espita Mezcaleria | Firefly DC | La Cuchara | Mandu | Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. | Medium Rare | Osteria Morini | Plume | Policy Restaurant & Lounge | Preserve | Radiator DC  Sweet Home Cafe at the National Museum of African American History and Culture | RPM Italian DC | Sixth Engine Restaurant | Sonoma Restaurant & Wine Bar | Soup Up | Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee |The Prospect | The Food Market | Whaleys | Wit & Wisdom | Zentan

Taste of the Nation @ Nationals Ballpark
Apr 19 @ 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Residents of our nation’s capital can enjoy the most celebrated food in the area on April 19, when DC’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry, presented by Citi and Sysco, returns to a new venue, Nationals Park. The annual tasting event will showcase the city’s top chefs, sommeliers and mixologists teamed up for a cause: making sure all children in this country get the healthy food they need every day. One hundred percent of proceeds from the event benefit No Kid Hungry’s efforts to end childhood hunger in America.

 

Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Location: Nationals Park, 1500 S Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Time: 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. for VIP/VIP Plus; 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. for General Admission

 

Led by Chef Chair George Pagonis (Kapnos, Kapnos Taverna, Kapnos Kouzina), Dessert Chair Tiffany MacIsaac (Buttercream Bakeshop), Mixology Chair Derek Brown (The Columbia Room, Mockingbird Hill, Southern Efficiency, Eat the Rich), and Sommelier Chair Nadine Brown (Charlie Palmer Steak), DC’s culinary tastemakers will provide guests with bite-size fare, craft cocktails, and sweets treats, driving taste buds out of the park.

 

This year, Citi is excited to host Judah & the Lion on the mainstage overlooking the ballpark. Judah & the Lion blend the twang of folk, the beat of hip-hop, the drive of rock & roll and the punch of pop to create a truly genre-bending sound.

 

The new venue will also bring a refreshed cocktail scene. National sponsor Glenlivet will host an on-site pop-up bar and mixologist Gina Chersevani will serve Casa Noble Margaritas out of her Union Market airstream Suburbia

 

As always, Taste of the Nation will offer foodie fans a chance to sample the city’s latest dining spots, including ANXO Cidery & Pintxos Bar, Clarity, RPM Italian, Succotash and Whaley’s, and the greater DMV through “Baltimore Row” and “VA is for Food Lovers” sections. Baseball fans will also get a taste of the ballpark. A District Dugout area will feature some of Nationals Park’s favorite vendors, including Blue Smoke, Shake Shack, and On Rye!

 

Every Kid, Healthy Food, Every Day

 

Nearly one in five children in this country struggles with hunger, including more than 29,000 kids in Washington, DC. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger in this nation by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. Since the campaign’s launch, No Kid Hungry and its partners have connected kids struggling with hunger to more than 500 million meals.

 

In 2016, DC’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry raised enough to help feed children in need more than 2 million healthy meals. Area beneficiaries include Capital Area Food Bank, DC Hunger Solutions, and Mary’s Center.

 

DC’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry is supported by national presenting sponsors Citi and Sysco®, national media sponsor Food Network, and national sponsors OpenTable, and The Glenlivet.

 

Tickets start at $100 for General admission. For additional information and to purchase tickets, please visit: ce.nokidhungry.org/dc

 

The best eateries in the DC area will be represented at the event, including:

 

1789 Restaurant | Agora Restaurant | Al Dente | Alba Osteria | Alta Strada | ANXO Cidery & Pintxos Bar | Art and Soul | B&O American Brasserie | Bangkok Joe’s | Bar Pilar | Barrel | Belga | Best Buns Bread Company | Beuchert’s Saloon | Bidwell | BLT Prime | BLT Steak | Blue Smoke | Boqueria | Bub and Pop’s | Buttercream Bakeshop | Captain Cookie and the Milkman | Carlyle | Casolare Ristorante + Bar | Chloe | Choolaah Indian BBQ | Compass Rose | Cork Wine Bar | Del Campo | Dino’s Grotto | Dirty Habit DC | District Distilling Company | District Doughnut | Doi Moi | Dolcezza | Don Churro | Espita Mezcaleria | Estadio | Farmers & Distillers | Firefly DC | Fluffness | Fork & Wrench | Gravitas | Hersh’s | Homestead | Ice Cream Jubilee | Insomnia Cookies | Jack Rose Dining Saloon | Kapnos | L’Hommage Bistro | La Cuchara | Le Diplomate | Mandu | Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. | Matchbox | Medium Rare | Modern Cook Shop | Mon Ami Gabi | Oceanaire Seafood Room | Olivia Macaron | On Rye | Osteria Morini | Ottoman Taverna | Palette 22 | Pen & Quill | Petit Louis | Pinea | Plume | Policy | Preserve | Proof | Radiator DC | RASA | RPM Italian DC | Shake Shack | Sixth Engine Restaurant | Sonoma Restaurant & Wine Bar | Soup Up | Stella Barra Pizzeria | Succotash Restaurant | Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffeee | Summer House Santa Monica | Sweet Home Cafe at the National Museum of African American History and Culture | Ted’s Bulletin | The Bird | The Charmery | The Fainting Goat | The Food Market | The Prospect | The Royal | The Salt Line | The Sweet Lobby | Thip Khao | Tico DC | Trummer’s On Main | Vinoteca | Whaleys | Whisked | Wit & Wisdom | Zentan