Spring into DC

[ 2 ] April 4, 2012 |

Cherry Blossom Picks

District Commons Cherry Old Fashioned & Cherry Mash Sundae

Though the Cherry Blossoms peaked a little early this year (*and naturally I missed the picturesque moment of the year), there are still specials around the city celebrating the 100 year old annual festival.  One restaurant is featuring a combination I would not have thought of in a hundred years:  bourbon and ice cream.  District Commons Cherry Blossom Combo includes the District Cherry Old Fashioned (Virginia Gentleman Bourbon, House Made Cherries, Cherry Balsamic, and House Made Orange Bitters) with the Cherry Mash Sundae (Cherry Ice Cream,  Hot Fudge Sauce, Roasted Peanuts).  Oddly enough the pair did not repel one another, but I would stick to one serving if you’re feeling both: too much bourbon mixed with the ice cream could turn the celebration into a night of sorrow.

Equinox is celebrating the 100 year festival with a Cherry Blossom menu.  Cherry Lime Collins cocktails greet you at the door followed up with ravioli of lobster and gulf prawns, slow cooked pekin duck and Equinox’s bittersweet chocolate tart.  The menu will be available until the end of the festival, April 27, for $75.

Johnny Rockets took on the task of creating the Cherry Blossom Shake to celebrate the area’s cherry blossoms.  The veteran burger joint recently celebrated with their event, Bring on Spring!, featuring milkshakes, burgers and added Redskins wide receiver, Anthony Armstrong in the mix.

Easter

Image via Equinox

This is the point in the week where you should have already made your Easter reservations because every restaurant will be insanely packed and booked once Sunday church services end.  Equinox is still taking reservations for this Sunday, April 8 (12 pm-4 pm), and will be featuring local lamb, english peas and asparagus.  In addition to a buffet, the restaurant will offer made-to-order dishes.  Brunch is $45 for adults and $25 for children under 11.  More dibs on the menu here.

Pies & Fashion

Blossom Bake & Brew: Scoutmob has paired up with Dangerously Delicious Pies and Chocolate City Beer to host a day (April 21, 2012) of beer and pies (*naturally).  Admission tickets ($25) for the event include:

  • 2 Chocolate City blossom brew beers (must be 21 to participate)
  • Dangerously Delicious cherry pocket pie
  • Live local music showcase from Listen Local First
  • Access to food & drink specials at participating H street businesses
  • Select digital download of music by event musicians

More info on the event found here and on Facebook here.

Charity in Chocolate

Heart of America’s Charity in Chocolate:  The event features tastings from more than 50 top local chefs/restaurants, with the highlight of the night being DC’s only Chocolate Fashion Show, where models walk the runway in dresses and accessories made from chocolate and sugar.  On April 23, 2012, the National Building Museum will be filled with savory and sweet tasting stations, silent and live auctions and an open bar.  Get tickets here.

New Menus, New Looks & New Doors Open

Green Pig Bistro opens.  Possibly one the most anticipated openings in the region with the exception of those by Chef Isabella, Green Pig Bistro has garnered quite a buzz in the D.C. food scene.  The new restaurant takes over the space @ 1025 Filmore Street, Arlington, VA.

The nation’s capital city is full of power players and lunch is never a long affair, which is the reason Equinox has introduced their latest menu:  The Equinox Power Hour.  For $19 (2 courses) or $25 (3 courses), guests will begin with dishes such as the Equinox Young Lettuce Salad (red radish, Fuji apple, hazelnut and burnt honey vinaigrette).  Dishes such as Equinox’s pan roasted salmon and Tahitian Vanilla Panna Cotta wraps up the downtown power lunch.  More info here.

The dining room at Bar Pilar got a face lift.  The new dining room also comes with new menu items courtesy Chef Justin Bittner and cocktails courtesy mixologist, Jonathan Fain.

Noodles & Company

The last time I set foot in a Noodles & Company was during my junior year of college and I fell in love with the concept of good food made fast.  After having one too many stomach aches from “fast food”, Noodles was a refreshing twist to my college budgeted diet.  Now some odd years later, I was delighted to find that the business will expand its wings over the DC area with over five more openings before the end of the year.  Now off the college budget, its also pleasing to see they’ve added menu selections including “Grown Up” mac n’ cheese, my palate has developed as my pockets grew up too.

Spirit of Washington Tilapia Fillet with Lobster Cream

Another part of my past I revisted:  entertainment cruises.  Being in the tightwad, uptight streets of DC can sometimes make me forget there’s a world out there that actually still dances to YMCA…for fun.  This is why I found myself intrigued by the idea of boarding the Spirit of Washington on a random Monday afternoon to taste not only the new Spring menu, but to see who and what I would find on this brief journey.  Fun times.  As we glided along the Potomac getting tidbits of information on the areas history and nibbling on the newly added tilapia topped with lobster sauce, I realized how much I missed cruises.  With limited funds in site and a need for a small escape, I will look to the Odyssey Cruises to fulfill these voids.  Really, who doesn’t love a good rendition of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” every now and again??

The Capital Grille has launched its Spring “Plates” menu, featuring three new selections that celebrate Spring:  Asparagus Soup, Shrimp and Piquillo Peppers with Crisp Bomba Rice and Grilled Spring Vegetables.  Patrons can customize their lunch, choosing from nine “plates” offerings – soup or salad, sandwich and a side – for $18.  I appreciate a menu that highlights the best of this season: asparagus!

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Category: Announcements, Food.Fun.Stuff., Washington D.C.

About the Author ()

Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.

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  1. Fashion in DC | April 20, 2012
  1. Great article! We will be linking to this particularly great article on our site.

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