Food.Fun.Stuff: So Much to Do, So Little Time…

Go on vacation for a week from the District and it seems like an eternity. We return today only to find that there are a host of new things in the District to see, do and of course, eat. For starters, New Heights has a new $38 prix-fixe menu ($60 with wine pairings) which includes such tasty bites as buttercup squash soup with chicory, smoked honey and cardamom, pan-seared rockfish with celeriac puree, tomato-mussel vinaigrette and Tahitian vanilla bean creme brulee.

Tom Sietsema is at it again with the Washington Post’s 10th Annual Dining Guide where you’ll find his top 50 restaurants in and around the District. This time around, readers can submit photos and enter for a chance to win a dinner with Tom (*Not sure what the photos should include…we say just smile and stay away from the porn stuff…

Turkey Day is right around the corner and Sou’Wester is gearing up for its first major holiday season in the District. The restaurant will feature 8 different turkey dishes on Thanksgiving (November 26) from 12 pm-8 pm. Stuffed Turkey Neck, Herb Roasted Turkey Breast and Turkey Leg Confit are a few dishes that make the cut. Save up some room for the Pecan Pie and Pumpkin Pie at the end of the meal. Great way to avoid all those dishes at the end of the Thanksgiving Day meal and with the 10-seat Communal Table, there should be enough room for everybody (*Well, unless you’re like our family which seems to be the size of a small army…)

Neediest Kids and Papa Johns team up. The Neediest Kids Organization provides District children with the basics that they need to attend and succeed in school. This fall/winter, Neediest Kids and Papa Johns have partnered for an online promo with proceeds going directly to kids in need. Papa John’s Pizza Pies for School Supplies and more will donate $1 for every large pizza with up to 5 toppings ordered online using the promo code NEED. Papa John’s used to be our favorite during college so we know all of our college readers will be ordering sometime soon…don’t forget to put in the Code!!

No name restaurant comes to the District. WP’s Tom Sietsema gives the scoop on Great American’s new restaurant which will open next fall (*Are we already thinking about Fall 2010?!). Italian cooking will be the focus and the restaurant will be located in Fairfax. That’s all we know. Honestly. Well, we do know they have a potential name they’ve been playing around with…more info here.

Everybody’s talking about Old Bay’s 70 years in the business. Did you know that Gustav Brunn, the Old Bay creator, was fired from McCormick & Co. for being Jewish which inspired him to invent the Old Bay company?? Wow, great example of how adversity makes you stronger. Kudos to Old Bay for 70 years strong!