Events/Things To Do

What:  Pommery Champagne Social

When:  Wednesday, October 4

Time:  6:30-9:30 p.m.

Where:  BRABO Tasting Room. 1600 King Street #200. Alexandria, VA 22314

Details:  BRABO Tasting Room is toasting the end of summer with its annual Pommery Champagne Social! Executive Chef Sebastien Rondier will provide a beautiful spread of hearty appetizers from black arancini with lobster cream to garlic frites as guests enjoy glasses of Pommery’s Champagne offerings, including Cuvée Louise. The evening will be spent al fresco on BRABO Tasting Room’s patio. The wine pours will be paired with passed hors d’oeuvres designed to complement the array of bubbles. Cheers!

Tickets: $85. Tickets include food, beverage, and an evening outdoors exploring Pommery Champagne.

TV personality and entrepreneur Scott Disick will host Sugar Factory American Brasserie’s Grand Opening at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City Mall on Thursday, October 12 in Arlington, VA. The candy-themed event will take place from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Dinner reservations at Sugar Factory are available by calling 703.258.3374 or by visiting OpenTable.com.

WHEN: Thursday, October 12 from 6 – 10 p.m.

The fast-casual Middle Eastern restaurant, Naf Naf Grill, is making its way to Washington D.C. and plans to satisfy the taste buds of customers at a rapid pace. On Wednesday, October 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Naf Naf is celebrating its market entry into D.C. with “Free Pita Day” at 1875 K Street. Guests are invited for free pita sandwiches, fries and a drink from 11 am- 3 pm ET (while supplies last). The new restaurant officially opens on Thursday, October 19.

Whether it’s a pillowy pita or bowl of basmati rice to start, romaine lettuce, couscous or hummus, scratch-made signature Middle Eastern sauces, or an award-winning spit-roasted chicken shawarma, steak or crisp and tender falafel added in, customers are sure to be satisfied.

Naf Naf is committed to making a difference in the community and is proud to partner with No Kid Hungry . During the month of October, Naf Naf will donate $1 to the organization for every entrée purchased at the D.C. location.Just $1 can provide a child with 10 healthy meals and the restaurant is committed to raising enough funds to provide 50,000 meals to children in need.

On Wednesday, October 18^th Slate Wine Bar + Bistro invites you to join them for a very special wine tasting event benefitting the victims of the recent Northern California fires. 

Slate’s Sommelier Night Wine Tasting: Pinot Noir Wines, (Sonoma vs. Willamette) will allow guests to taste five different pinot noirs from the popular Sonoma, CA and Willamette, OR regions. Each wine has been hand selected by Slate’s chef/owner (and sommelier,) Danny Lledó.  A portion of proceeds from the evening will be donated directly to the North Bay Fire Relief, an aid initiative set up by Senator Mike McGuire, The Press Democrat newspaper and the RCU Community Fund, Inc. to assist those affected by the devastating fires in Northern California.

The is priced at $25/person and the event will run from 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm.

* Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling (202) 333-4304 or online via OpenTable.

Slate Wine Bar + Bistro is located at 2404 Wisconsin Ave. NW in Washington, DC’s Glover Park neighborhood.

At this event, local restaurants, chefs, and bars donate food, beverages and/or their culinary skills to set the tone for a fun, casual evening. Over 175 Guests at Uncorked! mix-and-mingle while sampling dishes provided by participating chefs, and then vote for their favorite dish – at the end of the evening whichever chef has the most “votes” is named the Providence Uncorked Champion.

Acting as culinary ambassador and lead participant for the second year in a row is chef Alex McCoy, owner of Alfies and Lucky Buns. Other participating chefs this year include Alex Garcia (The Capital Grille), Travis Weiss (Rebellion & Commodore), Zachary Ridenhour (Sixth Engine/The Salt Line) and Johanna Hellrigl (Johanna’s Table).

The hospital, which is located in Brookland, was founded by the Daughters of Charity in 1861 and had its charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln. Its mission is to care for all regardless of their background or ability to pay.

Food & Friends will be hosting a community Pie Day in support of its annual Slice of Life Pie Selling Campaign, which funds nutritious, home-delivered meals and groceries to the critically ill in our community. During the event, we will be distributing information aboutSlice of Life and giving away FREE samples of our delicious pies that are for sale to raise funds to support Food & Friends’ mission.

WHEN:            Thursday, November 9^th from 11:30am-2:00pm

WHERE:          Farragut Square, K St. and 17th St. NW, Washington, DC                                                                        

DETAILS:        The 11^th Annual Slice of Life Thanksgiving pie sale is a simple and delicious way for members of the public to support Food & Friends’ large-scale effort to deliver 1 million healthy meals this year to those in the community living with life-challenging illnesses. The goal this year is to sell 9,000 pies. Each pie purchased will provide ONE FULL DAY of meals, from our kitchen to delivery, for a Food & Friends client.

During the event, community members will have the chance to sample our Pumpkin and Apple pies and cast their vote for their favorite flavor! The winner of our “In Pie We Crust” election will go on a flash sale for the remainder of the afternoon. Everyone who votes will be entered into a drawing to win a full Thanksgiving dinner for 4, plus 2 pies.

Pies may be purchased directly from Food & Friends or through one of our corporate or individual pie sellers. Visitwww.foodandfriends.org/pie to find a directory of pie sellers, to sign up to help sell pies or to purchase online. Pie sales close on Thursday, November 16th. Pre-purchased pies can be picked up on Tuesday, November 21^st at Food & Friends or 30+ convenient locations throughout the region.

The Culinary Historians of Washington Are Pleased to Present

Susan Benjamin

A Survey of Food History and Changes
as they Relate to Candy…with a Tasting!
Sunday, November 12, 2017
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To be held in: Bethesda/Chevy Chase Regional Services Center

4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD

Discover the little-known history of sweets and how they shaped the nation. In her presentation
CHoW member Susan Benjamin will start with the Native Americans and move through
enslavement, the Industrial Revolution, war rations and today’s candy favorites. She’ll discuss
our mixed emotions about candy—love, hate, guilt, and nostalgia—which originated in the mid-
1800s. You’ll sample the candy from historical flavors of roots and resins to retro classics like Pixy
Stix.
Benjamin is the founder of True Treats Historic Candy, in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, the
nation’s only research-based candy company, listed by Food Network Magazine and delish.com, as
one of the nation’s top 50 “Sweet Spots.” She has researched communications and the history of
culture for almost 40 years and is the author of ten books. She has worked as a journalist, college
professor, and communications strategist for Fortune 500 companies and other large
organizations, including a Clinton and later George W. Bush White House initiative. She presents
at museums, historical societies and other venues nationwide, including the Smithsonian
Museum of American History. A lifelong entrepreneur, Ms. Benjamin now devotes her attention
to researching the history of sugars and sweets.
Her tenth book, Sweet as Sin: The Unwrapped Story of How Candy Became America’s Favorite Pleasure
(Prometheus, 2016), made the Smithsonian’s “Best of Books about Food for 2016.” Her articles
and op-eds have appeared in the Chicago Tribune and Miami Herald, as well as other newspapers,
magazines, and on-line publications. She has also appeared on National Public Radio, NBC
News, Voice of America, ABC News Hour Radio, CNN and many more.

WHAT: SEOULSPICE, a new fast-casual restaurant specializing in Korean comfort food hosts its grand opening to the general public in the District’s Tenleytown neighborhood. SEOULSPICE offers a choice-driven menu of quick, healthy, and delicious Korean dishes served in a modern setting. For the full menu, please visit www.seoulspice.com.

WHERE: 4600 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

WHEN: Monday, November 13, 2017 from 11am-10pm

WHO: Open to the general public

SPECIAL OFFER: A free first entree to all visitors on November 13, 2017

The arrival of crisp, fall weather calls for a celebration of seasonal cuisine and spirits from Virginia! For the first time ever, and for one night only, beloved homegrown establishments BRABOand Catoctin Creek will present a special evening of autumnal flavor pairings in Old Town Alexandria.

On Monday, November 13, Catoctin Creek founders, Becky and Scott Harris, will be taking over BRABO’s brasserie to offer an exclusive tasting of the distillery’s popular products including the Roundstone Rye whiskey, the Pearousia Pear Brandy, the Quarter Branch Apple Brandy, the 1757 Virginia Grape Brandy, and the “Distiller’s Reserve” 92 Proof Roundstone Rye whiskey. Becky and Scott will share the stories behind the creation of each product while pouring a healthy taste for guests to enjoy.

As whiskey and brandy enthusiasts decide whether they prefer their beverage neat or on the rocks, BRABO’s Executive Chef Sebastien Rondier will serve a menu of Belgian-French hors d’oeuvres thoughtfully created to pair with the featured spirits, proving how food-friendly whiskies and brandies are. The evening’s menu will be presented side by side with each spirit and includes the following highlights:

• Belgian tart with roasted pear, bacon, and French blue cheese
• Venison lollipop with dried apricots, toasted walnuts, vanilla, and orange zest
• Foie gras torchon crostini with brandied cherries, duck fat popcorn, and black pepper
• Boar slider topped with charred scallion & jalapeño jam, and sweet & spicy grape condiment
• Apple terrine with cocoa-smoked pork belly and puff pastry

The fall evening will be filled with lively conversation, plenty of whiskey and brandy, and surprising flavor pairings reflecting the best of the season!

What:  BRABO & Catoctin Creek Present: Fall Flavor Pairings

When:  Monday, November 13

Time:  6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Where:  BRABO. 1600 King Street. Alexandria, VA 22314

Tickets: Tickets are $75 each, include all food and drink, and available at  https://catoctincocktails.eventbrite.com. Guests must be 21+ to attend.

Title: Winternational- 6th Annual Embassy Showcase

Date: December 6, 2017

Time: 11 am- 2 pm

Location: Atrium at Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

Description: Winternational is an exciting celebration showcasing the cultural and culinary traditions of Washington’s diplomatic community. This festival has the atmosphere of a bustling global marketplace with each embassy promoting their country through vibrant displays of visual art, food, handcrafts as well as travel and tourism exhibits. Free and open the public, guests have the opportunity to travel the world and do some fun holiday shopping-all during the lunch hour!

Participating embassies include (list subject to change): Afghanistan, African Union, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, European Union, Georgia, Ghana, Haiti, Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Lithuania, Malawi, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman (Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center), Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.

Price: Free

Register at: http://itcdc.com/winternational/