Boasting the city’s best restaurants, one-of-a-kind animal demonstrations and inspiring conservation stories, ZooFari: Bite Night, a benefit for wildlife sponsored by GEICO, returns to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on May 16 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Hosted by Friends of the National Zoo, this year’s event promises to be a glamorous night of dining, drinking, bidding and dancing—all to support the Zoo’s important mission to save species.
“We love hosting ZooFari every year,” said Lynn Mento, executive director of FONZ. “What makes it so special and popular is not just that the food and drink are amazing, but that you’re enjoying the restaurant tastings in this beautiful setting where you have the chance to see animals, and meet some of the world’s leading conservation scientists. It’s a unique combination of great food, great drink and helping to save the planet … that’s a pretty good night!”
Most animal houses will be open, and the VIP Lounge, hosted by Charles Schwab & Co., will be at Great Cats Circle, where there also will be exclusive animal demonstrations. The only DJ to spin beats and cook at the same time, DJ Chef, will entertain all attendees, as will electric violinist Ben Hoyt, Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar and a food sculptor.
In addition to providing a unique dining and entertainment experience, the event will celebrate conservation work around the globe. Smithsonian scientists will be on hand to share stories with guests about how they’re saving endangered animals. Special stations will showcase five wildlife projects supported by Conservation Nation, an initiative of Friends of the National Zoo.
A silent auction is open to the public before and during the event. The auction features conservation-themed prizes, including animal paintings, behind-the-scenes tours at the Zoo and even the opportunity to name a wild tapir.
General admission tickets include access to the general event area, as well as complimentary food tastings, beer, wine, soft drinks and water, plus live entertainment and animal experiences. Four extravagant VIP packages include access to an exclusive VIP Lounge with the finest food and cocktails, as well as special parking opportunities, express check-in and more.
On Monday, June 10th, 40 of the area’s best chefs and mixologists will serve up special tastings of their signature dishes at Food & Friends’ annual Chef’s Best Dinner & Auction. Hosted at the Marriott Marquis, Chef’s Best will benefit Food & Friends, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that provides life-sustaining meals to those living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses.
Thanks to the efforts of Chef Chair Kevin Tien of Himitsu, Hot Lola’s, and Emilie’s, guests will enjoy tastings prepared by some of the region’s most talented chefs and mixologists including: Eric Bruner-Yang, Maketto, Tony Chittum,Iron Gate, Sanjay Mandhaiya, Pappe, Jong Son, Tiger Fork, Amy Hosseinnian, Buffalo & Bergen,andMalkhaz Maisashvili of Supra,among other notables from the D.C. dining scene. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on an array of exciting silent and live auction items featuring fantastic trips, one-of-a-kind experiences and private dining opportunities.
This year, guests will also hear from Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), a leading Congressional advocate on issues of food security, nutrition and health. He serves as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Rules and is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition in the House Committee on Agriculture. In 2018, he co-founded the Food is Medicine Working Group as part of the House Hunger Caucus, which he also co-chairs.
Proceeds from Chef’s Bestwill ensure the delivery of nutritionally tailored meals and nutrition counseling to Food & Friends’ clients living with cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-challenging illnesses. This year, Food & Friends aims to provide 1 million meals to more than 3,000 seriously ill individuals in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland.
“I am honored to serve as Chef Chair of this year’s event,” said Kevin Tien. “To me, it doesn’t matter who you are, at the end of the day, food is something that connects everyone. I am touched by the impact that Food & Friends makes in the lives of its clients, delivering nutritious meals and a healthy dose of compassion during life’s most trying times. It gives me comfort to know that Food & Friends fills such a critical need at no cost to those who rely on the organization’s services.”
Tickets are $350 and sponsorships start at $1,000. Visit www.foodandfriends.org/ChefsBe
HORTON’S KIDS ARE STAR CHEFS IN
JUNIPER RESTAURANT
-Graduates of Fairmont’s Culinary Program Show-off Skills Benefitting Horton’s-
WASHINGTON – DC – May 15, 2019 – On Wednesday, June 19th, Juniper Restaurant, at Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown, will serve a very special pre-fixe dinner at 6:00 p.m. Five students from Horton’s Kids* spent time this winter with the hotel’s culinary team learning cooking skills. In celebration of their graduation, they are taking their talents to the next level, by assisting Executive Chef Jordi Gallardo and Sous Chef Mitch Eldridge with meal preparation for Juniper Restaurant’s Horton’s Kids Dinner. Juniper will donate 25% of the proceeds from the pre-fixe dinners directly to Horton’s Kids.
Pre-Fixe Dinner
Cast Iron Cornbread | honey jalapeño butter
Starters Choices
English Pea Soup | crab, fennel
Lola Rosa Greens | red onion, orange citrus, endive, sunflower seeds
Maryland Crab Cakes | espelette remoulade
Entrée Choices
Tagliatelle Pasta | shaved vegetables, torn herbs, pecorino
Scallops | shishito, tomatoes, saffron
Braised Veal Cheeks | spring vegetables, white wine reduction
Beef Tenderloin (6oz) | green beans, charred onion, blue cheese bordelaise
Dessert & Champagne
“Snickers” Parfait | salted toffee, chocolate cake, peanut brittle
available gluten or nut free *
A glass of Thiénot Brut
The Pre-fixe menu is $75 per person and will be prepared with the assistance of Horton’s Kids Star Chefs on June 19th at 6:00 p.m.. The special menu will also be available through June 26th with 25% of the proceeds going to Horton’s Kids. Diners will enjoy an amazing meal while helping Horton’s Kids. To make reservations, please call (202) 457-5020 or email wdc.restaurantreservationsdl@fairmont.com.
In July 2019, children from Horton’s Kids will participate in a new program at Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown learning about hotel operations.
Juniper Restaurant in Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown is located at 2401 M Street, N.W., is in the city’s West End and adjacent to historic Georgetown. Juniper is open for breakfast and lunch daily and for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday Brunch is served from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Join City Tap Penn Quarter on Thursday, July 4, for its annual BeerBQ Battle, a competition with local breweries serving up the best barbecue with drink specials, patio games and live music. Sample barbecue offerings from City Tap, 3 Stars Brewing (DC), RAR Brewing (Maryland), and Port City Brewing (Virginia) and vote for the winner, while enjoying a barbecue platter ($20) with favorites like potato salad and coleslaw. Featured beers ($5) from each brewery as well as adult capri suns ($10) will also be available.
WHEN: Thursday, July 4
11:30am to 4pm (City Tap Penn Quarter)
Guests are invited to an all you can eat and drink experience at City Tap Dupont’s All-American Cookout, complete with cornhole on the patio. For $40, enjoy endless hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, coleslaw, and ice pops, paired with house wines, Founders Solid Gold Lager, Dogfish Head SuperEIGHT, Southern Tier Swipe Right, and other beer offerings. Available a la carte options include bourbon slushies ($6), grapefruit crushes and orange crushes ($7), and watermelon limoncello cocktails ($8).
Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown is turning its courtyard into a Wimbledon Garden Party on Sunday, July 14th in honor of 2019 Wimbledon Championships. From 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., all players and spectators will love viewing the men’s finals on huge screens, trying out their backhand and forehand on a miniature tennis court, feasting on fabulous English fare and sipping champagne, Pimms cups and G&Ts. Wear the colors green, purple or white to youradvantage to win prizes for best garden party and tennis attire. Overnight stays, dinners and brunches are some of the prizes to be lobbed at the winners.
Executive Chef Jordi Gallardo and his team will ace an all you can eat $25 per person round robin that will be passed without any foot faults:
Traditional, Finger Sandwiches
Salad Buffet with Salmon, Smoked Trout and Sirloin Steak
Scottish Eggs
Lamb Chops and Sausages from the Grill
Fish and Chips
Mini Pork Pies
Singles and doubles will make a match point at Pastry Chef Charles Froke’s dessert buffet:
Strawberries and Cream Station
Scones with Clotted Cream
White Chocolate & Cherry Tennis Balls
Summer Berry Trifle
Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake
English shortbreads
Strawberry rhubarb crème
Go bottomless with Pimm’s cups and mimosas for $15 per person, or enjoy other specialty cups such as the Juniper G&T or Thiénot Brut Champagne at $10 each.
Live entertainment will be provided by the Dom Petrellese Quartet as they play British favorites without incurring tennis elbow.
There is no fee for Fairmont’s Wimbledon Garden Party. For reservations, please visit Eventbrite at: à https://fairmont-washington-
Want to leave London for Paris? It’s only a ten minute drive to Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square where they are celebrating Bastille Day with their second annual picnic in Opaline Bar & Brasserie from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
With complimentary cake, champagne, tequila rounds
& more surprises
$5 El Jimador shots
$5 16-oz Bud Lite
$8 Mission Margarita
$8 22-0z Dos Equis
Mission Navy Yard
1221 Van Street SE
@MissionNavyYard
Bar: Four bar areas, including the city’s longest bar at 150 feet long. The cocktail menu includes 16 draft lines- ten
for beer, three for wine/prosecco and three for margaritas and cocktails.
Menu: Tex-Mex inspired menu includes tacos, enchiladas, burritos, nachos and guacamole, as well as generous
salads and appetizers.
Design: With more than 10,000 square-feet, the two-level Mission Navy Yard is located directly across the street
from Nats Stadium. A two-story atrium entry leads to the first of Mission Navy Yard’s four bars. The downstairs bar
welcomes guests to the space, blending an indoor and outdoor courtyard feel. Guests climb a sprawling staircase,
anchored by a two-story tower overlooking the downstair bar. DC’s longest bar (150 ft) fills the middle of the
second floor, flanked by six garage doors leading to spacious outdoor balconies. As guests walk through the
second floor, they pass the dining room, which also has its own balcony and another bar wrapping up the
corner. Lastly, the private dining space has its own bar
On Saturday, July 20, City Tap Dupont will host a Christmas in July themed drag brunch from 11am to 3pm. Guests who bring new clothes and toys to donate to Martha’s Table will receive a complimentary beer or wine. Enjoy holiday decor and brunch specials like “Bad Santa” stuffed French toast for $10 and a “Tipsy Elf” specialty cocktail for $8. Reservations can be made at [https://www.citytap.com/
on Sunday, July 21, don your flannel for City Tap Penn Quarter’s 90’s themed trivia brunch from 12-2pm offering pizza bagels and dunkaroo dip. Port City Brewing will provide a tap takeover for guests to enjoy a variety of beers, and trivia players will have the chance to win swag bags.
Festive grand opening party for the expanding plant-based fast casual brand’s second DC location in Dupont Circle.
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Free lunch for the first 100 people in line.
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Free sweet potato fries all day.
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Giveaways and samples all weekend.
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Meet HCV founder Nicole Marquis.
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HipCityVeg pedicabs will transport customers back to their offices or to Dupont Circle for picnic lunches (5 block radius).
WHEN: Wednesday July 24, 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free samples and giveaways to continue throughout the weekend.
WHERE: HipCityVeg Dupont Circle, 1300 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC., 202-318-6010.
DETAILS: HipCityVeg’s 2nd DC location will be the first in DC to feature the new Banana Whip Topping Bar and Golden Nugget deals. It will also be the headquarters for HipCityVeg’s expanded catering operation.
