Grape Juice for Adults

Food Field Trip Napa Valley 2010

A glass of crisp chardonnay on a summer day cools and refreshes. A flute of champagne exudes excitement and celebration. A Burgundy on a brisk fall evening warms and charms.  And let's face it, in a city that works as hard and as much as DC, I am one of many wine worshippers. 

Rohan over at District 365 has decided to do something to address the appetites of DC oenophiles.  Recognizing the market for wine delivery and the desire for wine-themed dinners, classes, and tastings, Rohan is getting ready to create a virtual hub for all things wine in DC. 

In celebration of the launch, District 365 is running a contest for a wine getaway in the burgeoning wine regions of Virginia and Maryland.  While admittedly I have not yet come to appreciate our local wine market (and am not sure I ever will), a weekend in the country imbibing on local wines gratis does not sound half bad.  Click here to enter and learn more about District 365 Wine.

As the Heat Wave Subsides, the Races Begin!

Once this oppressive heat releases DC from its grasp and hungry Washingtonians can again leave their cubicles for lunch, try out a unique Bastille Day Celebration this Thursday.  Since I work in Tyson's, I will be unable to carry the baguette baton, but you can!  Check out the details below from Paul Bakery.
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Remember when Les Halles used to have its Bastille Bartender Race down Pennsylvania Ave??? All of DC came out and had a blast watching the bartenders race down the street holding an open bottle of champagne on a tray. Well… now that Les Halles is gone, and there’s a new FRENCH establishment on Pennsylvania Avenue, PAUL Bakery and Café’ is creating a new Bastille Day tradition of its own! This Thursday, July 14th, PAUL will throw a “Bastille Day Baguette Relay Race” and the public is invited to join in the fun and participate!!!

What: BASTILLE DAY BAGUETTE RELAY RACE at PAUL Bakery and Café
To commemorate France’s National Holiday, PAUL – France’s leading bakery – invites the public to come have some fun and participate in a “Baguette Relay Race” which will take place in front of PAUL in Penn Quarter, where relay team members will take turns running a lap around the plaza of the US Navy Memorial with a fresh baguette in hand, in lieu of a traditional baton.

We'll divide up racers into teams of six people. Each team will be led by a PAUL employee. Each racer will do one lap around the circle of the US Navy Memorial and then hand off his/her baguette (baton) to the next teammate. All members of the winning team will get a $25 gift card to PAUL. We'll be encouraging relay racers to sign up in advance on our FB page.

When: Thursday, July 14, 2001 at 11:30am

Where:
PAUL Bakery and Café in Penn Qtr. (at the US Navy Memorial)
801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Tel: 202-524-4500/01

Let the Good Times Roll: Mardi Gras in DC

Mardi Gras is quite the foodie holiday, bringing wanton gluttony to the winter doldrums. But unlike Thanksgiving, with its bounteous food, or St. Patrick's, with its free flowing libations, New Orleans-style Carnival celebrations can last several days, and hold claim to both good food and drink. 

DC offers some surprisingly authentic Mardi Gras options.  Below are the details on two of my past favorites as well as a new one this year.  And where will I  be spending the evening you ask? -- at a work training in Cleveland!  And not only in Cleveland, but out by the airport, so while the good times may be limited for me, Tuesday, March 8th should be a great time if you find yourself in the DC area.

In DC, Central's annual celebration runs from 5 - 10:30pm and includes live music from Laissez Foure, traditional New Orleans inspired food and cocktails (both areas where Central excels), and of course, beads and trinkets.

Over the bridge in Arlington, the local parade starts rolling at 8pm, bringing a tinge of the feeling you get when watching the parades roll by in the Big Easy ... less the open containers of course.  But the area around Wilson Boulevard has plenty of opportunities for both pre- and post-parade libations.

Ragtime is always a festive choice for Mardi Gras, with hurricane and cyclone specials and plenty of Cajun fare backed by live New Orleans style jazz from Le Bon Tempes Krewe.

Bayou Bakery is new to the mix this year but might well prove the most authentic for Mardi Gras food and drink with Louisiana native David Gaus serving up $7 "Chew Dat" specials (gumbo, jambalaya), as well as beignets and king cake from 5 - 10:30pm.  Wash it all down with Abita Amber available on tap.

Outside of New Orleans, DC is a pretty good place to be for Fat Tuesday.  Sigh... if anyone knows of celebrations in Cleveland, please let me know!