Crab Soup Cookoff

I don't know about you, but, I really don't take advantage of the immediate access to Maryland Crabs that I have living in this area.

If you're the same, I would suggest checking out the CRAB SOUP COOKOFF (!!) in Arlington. For ten bucks you can sample a host of crab soups from participting restaurants. Other food, for sale, will be available from vendors as well.

Check out more information about the event here.

Free HOT CHOCOLATE at TangySweet.

Today. Thursday. Noon-11pm. 'nough said.

http://www.tangysweet.com/

Cyber Monday Free Lunch

Another post about Christmas shopping? According to the stockings and candy canes in the dollar bins at Target, it's right around the corner! I never really understood the hype about "Cyber Monday" since by my understanding the whole point of buying gifts online is that you can do it whenever you want. But Shop.org is trying to get consumers typing away with a free lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, complete with laptops set up for shopping while you eat and raffles for giftcards. You'll probably have to fight your way through a few visiting packs of school kids, but a free lunch is a free lunch. And if you win anything you may have one less gift to buy, online or otherwise.

We Love DC: Free Lunch on Cyber Monday

Election Night (Part 2)

If you have a pulse and a TV, chances are you're either sick to death of hearing about the election for the past two years, or so nervous about the results that if you can't distract yourself, you may get an ulcer. For those who want to get through Tuesday night without seeing a single red and blue map, here's a few non-election related activities. We can't guarantee, however, that you won't overhear someone whispering about the numbers from Ohio while furiously tapping on their iPhone.

Adams Morgan First Tuesdays: Restaurants and retailers in AdMo offer discounts on the first Tuesday of every month. Hit up Bourbon, Grill from Ipanema, or one of many other participants (scroll down a ways) with someone who promises not to address you as "my friend", and the two of you could eat and drink for just $25.

Tonic: It is both Wine Night- get a free bottle of wine with the purchase of two entrees and an appetizer- and Taco Night- 50 Cent Tacos and $ 4.00 Sam Adams Seasonal Draft. Sounds like a pretty great night either way.

Leftover Turkey class

Target is already carrying Christmas decorations, which means that Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Make the most of the leftovers you scavenge from your parents' house with this class at the Tenley Whole Foods:

Wednesday, November 12th

7:00-8:15 p.m. |

• Turkey Stuffed Potato Cutlets - potato cutlets stuffed with leftover turkey and spices and cooked on a griddle
• Turkey Dhansak - a Persian dish that contains lentil soup with turkey pieces along with spices
• Turkey Keema - ground turkey with spices and green peas
• Spiced Rice Pilaf - an accompaniment to the Turkey dishes, this spiced rice pilaf is made with basmati white rice and whole spices.

Election Night (Part 1)

It seems like everyone in this city has to have a plan for watching the results come in on Election Night. Even trying your hardest to ignore it is a plan, although we'll tackle that later in the week. If you're looking for a festive atmosphere in which to watch John King play with his fancy map and maybe take the edge of the suspense with a cold one, here's a few spots.

Good Stuff Eatery Election Party: For the past month or so, GSE's been tallying the popularity of their McCain Burger(Monteray Jack Cheese, Chipotle Mayo and Red Pepper Corn Salsa) and
Obama Burger (Blue Cheese, Apple-Wood Bacon, Onion Marmalade and Horseradish Mayo). I don't know what Spike Mendelsohn's politics are, but I pity any candidate who's up against bacon. Vote with your taste buds, enter to win nosh for 10 at the "farm table", and check out a few as-yet-unspecified menu additions from 5:30 on.

Sixth & I Historic Synagogue: Watch the results on a big screen, hear commentary from local pundits (where'd they scare those up?), eat some "all-American food", partake in the cash bar, and the clincher- take your picture with cardboard cutouts of the candidates. It's free (aside from the booze), but RSVP is required.

Darlington House: Spots in this event, sponsored by Yelp!, will probably go fast. Watch the election on the Maker's Mark "War Room"; the "Lobbyist Lounge" with Canadian Club drinks, free shoe shines and the like; and the Imperia Vodka "Inaugural Ballroom". RSVP to dc@yelp.com by October 31.

Taste of Georgetown

I have to admit my ventures into Georgetown usually consist of the movie theater, the Anthropologie sale section, alright, alright, all the sale sections...and a favorite gelato spot. Aside from a post Dean & Deluca post-shopping snack, I RARELY eat in Georgetown. Granted, Georgetown is filled with renowned restauarants, but most of the then are a little too eminent for my wallet.

If you are the same way, and even if you aren't a great way to check out the many fabulous Georgetown restaurants is the upcoming Taste of Georgetown. Five dollars gets you one tasting and a complementary wine. If you spend $20, you can five tasting (all for the price of 4!). Participating restaurants include:

o 1789
o Agraria
o Baked & Wired
o Bangkok Joe's
o Café Bonaparte
o Chadwick's
o Clyde's
o Fahrenheit Restaurant
o Filomena Ristorante
o Hook
o J Paul's
o La Chaumiere
o Los Cuates
o Martin's Tavern
o Mendocino Grille
o Mie N Yu
o Morton's the Steakhouse
o Neyla
o Nick's Riverside Grille
o Old Glory BBQ
o Paolo's
o Ristorante Piccolo
o Rugby
o Sea Catch Restaurant
o Tacklebox
o Third Edition
o Tony & Joe's

Taste of Georgetown
Saturday, October 11, 2008
11am - 4pm

H Street Festival

Street fair season continues with the H Street Festival on Saturday, September 20. There's quite a range in attractions-from burlesque to a former Redskins cornerback-so your whole posse is bound to find something of interest. Hint for the non-Metrobus savvy- you can get on the X2 at Gallery Place under the big gate and it'll take you all the way down H Street. If you get there early grab a latte at lovely Sidamo, one of the most pleasant coffee shops in the city.

H Street Festival
1200-1400 H St. NE
Saturday, Sep. 20 12-6
FREE

Frozen Tropics: H Street Festival Saturday

Adams Morgan Day

I've noticed it too...it's getting darker, hints of yellow are blossoming on the leaves, fall is quickly approaching. Take advantage of the gorgeous end of summer/beginning of fall weather and come out to Adams Morgan Day! What, Adams Morgan is alive, awake and running during the day?! Shocking, I know. I had a hard time believing it at first too. Adams Morgan makes for a great stroll without the lingering waft of Jumbo Slice (and etc.)

Sunday the street is closed off to cars and will be celebrating local vendors and local performs. Food and fun for the whole family.

In the very least, you should check out Batala, who will be performing on the Dance Stage (basketball courts) at 1:30pm. They're an all-female afro-brazilian drum band and amazing (it may be that one of the blog writers is in the band).

Adams Morgan Day
18th St. NW, between Florida Ave and Columbia
http://www.adamsmorgandayfestival.com/
noon-7pm
FREE

Free Salad at Chop't

I'm inclined to say that Metro Center has all the soup/salad/sandwich joints it needs, but that's no reason to pass up a free salad. To celebrate the opening of its new Metro Center location, Chop't will be giving out free salads there between 11 and 2 today.

Chop't
618 12th Street, NW

Penn Quarter Living: Metro Center Chop’t…There Is A Free Lunch

Mandu Happy Hour

Last night I went to Mandu, a Korean place on S and 18th. My friend and I were both very happy with our meals, but the happy hour- over, alas- also caught my eye. From 4 to 7, their selection of Asian beers are just $2 a bottle (normally $6), and mandu, the dumpling from which the restaurant takes its name, are just $3 for a plate of 6 (also $6). If you can snag a set of the small cold vegetable dishes that accompany meals, you're set for the night. Yelpers have griped about the lack of culinary purity, but if you've got a craving for dolsot bibimbap and can't make it to Annandale or are just looking for a happy hour that goes a step beyond Miller drafts and soggy nachos, this is a good bet.

Vapiano Mini Dolce

Sometimes you just need a little bite of sweetness to finish off your dinner, but $7 bucks for a giant slab of cake can be excessive for your wallet and your waistline. Vapiano has rolled out three small desserts for just $2.50 each- tiramisu, panna cotta, and strawberries with mascarpone- that should do the trick.

Vapiano M Street
1800 M Street N.W.

FREE: Dolcezza Bethesda

Dolcezza sells its delicious Argentine gelato at its Georgetown store, where you can also get Counter Culture Coffee and a churro if you're in the mood for something a little more warming, Cowgirl Creamery, and at various farmers' markets. On Thursday between 6 and 11, in celebration of the grand opening of their Bethesda location, they're giving out free gelato until they run out. This week's long list flavors include blackberry, coconut dulce de leche, grapefruit Campari, and Valrhona Chocolate Amargo. You can read about their construction woes, favorite gelato spots in other cities, and their process for selecting new flavors and ingredients on their blog.

Dolcezza Bethesda Row
7111 Bethesda Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814

Grand Opening Thursday, June 26, 6-11

FREE: fro-yo

TangySweet the newest edition to the Dupont outskirts (it's on P-street people) opens today. And to celebrate their grand arrival they are giving away FREEEEEE samples, and relatively generous ones! They have three flavors: (1) normal, (2) green tea, and (3) pomegranate. And then you get to add a topping which could include anything from frutti pebbles to kiwi. And it is all natural and fat free, and (on yeah!) delicious.

Plus, despite the growing line, my server was incredibly nice - added bonus. So, if you are in the area, celebrate Friday and cool off with a visit to TangySweet. I have to say, though, now that I have it, I'll definitely be dropping bank at this place.

Tangysweet
2029 P Street NW
(between 20th and 21st)
www.tangysweet.com

Free Iced Coffee Day

A few weeks ago, it seemed that in typical DC fashion, we were going to jump straight from Arctic winds to humid torpor. Now I'm just happy to see the sun. Enjoy it today with free iced coffee at Dunkin' Donuts. You can find your closest location here.

Free Haagen-Dazs

Today until 8, Haagen Dazs is giving out free scoops of its new flavor, Vanilla Honey Bee. The "vanilla honey bee ice cream blends creamy vanilla with a touch of golden honey," and if that's not enough, it funds research to protect disappearing honey bee populations.

FREE CONE DAY @ Ben and Jerry's

Participating DC Stores:

• Ben & Jerry's Dupont Circle
  1333 19th Street NW
  Washington, DC 20036-1722
  202-785-4882
• Ben & Jerry's Eastern Market
  327 7th Street, SE
  Washington, DC 20003
  202-546-2253
• Ben & Jerry's Georgetown
  3135 M Street, NW
  Washington, DC 20007
  202-965-2222
• Ben & Jerry's Old Post Office
  1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC 20004
  202-842-5882
• Ben & Jerry's Union Station
  50 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
  Washington, DC 20002
  202-842-2887

Pete's Apizza opening Monday

If you've lived in DC for a while, at some point, an acquaintance from Long Island has bitched to you about the lack of good pizza in this city. Someone from New Jersey or -shudder- Philly then chimes in, and a heated debate ensues over which region can claim pizza supremacy over the Northeast. They might have to make way for Connecticut with the opening of Pete's Apizza on Monday. The restaurant, located right over the Columbia Heights metro next to Potbelly's, will serve New Haven style pizza made from organic ingredients. I can't say I know exactly what New Haven style pizza is, but the owners say here that key elements are the cooking time and temperature, which produce a crust that's crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Yalie? In their post on Columbia Heights News (link above), they say "Above all else, let us know if you've got a NEW HAVEN connection. We'll treat you real special."

Free lecture and what's at market

If you’ve got spring eating on the mind (as I obviously do), RSVP immediately for “Urban Gardening: Spring Menus from an Urban Kitchen Garden.” Ed Bruske, president of DC Urban Gardeners, will walk you through seasonal vegetables, fruit cultivation, and harvesting.

Saturday, April 26, 2008
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
The Historical Society of Washington, DC (801 K St NW)
Admission: Free
Reservations: Required
Phone: 202-383-1828
Email: rsvp@historydc.org

On that note, FRESHFARMS notes that the following are available at the market-

Apples, Arugula, Asparagus, Basil, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cilantro, Cucumbers (greenhouse grown), Dandelion Greens, Escarole, Frisee, Green Garlic, Honey, Kale and Stirfry Mixes, Leeks, Lettuce and Salad Mixes, Mustard Greens, Mint, Mushrooms (including Morels), Spring Onions, Parsley, Potatoes (new whites and reds), Radishes (French breakfast variety), Ramps, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes (grape and slicing varieties, both greenhouse grown), Turnips and Watercress.\

Last week at Penn Quarter I got some excellent Loudon lettuce and persian cucumbers.

Slow Food USA

If you are feeling up for a splurge and benefiting a good cause, check out this info on Slow Food Benefit Dinners-

For $75, you get a four-course meal with biodynamic wine pairings, restaurant gift bag and your copy of "Kitchen Memories" by Alexandra Greeley. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the DC Chapter of Slow Food USA. Pretty good price for everything that’s included. Reserve by calling Jeanne Hommel at 703.507.9071 or email at jeanne@threelockharts.com.

Slow Food Dinner Schedule:

~ Monday, May 12, reception at 6:30pm and dinner at 7:00pm at Mio Restaurant featuring Chefs Stefano Frigerio (Mio), Todd Gray (Equinox), Anthony Chittum (Vermilion) and Josh Short (Buzz Bakery).

~ Monday, June 2, reception at 6:30pm and dinner at 7:00pm at PS 7's Restaurant featuring Chefs Peter Smith (PS 7's), Kevin Reading (Nage), Heather Chittum (Hook) and Cathal Armstrong (Restaurant Eve).

Slow Food USA envisions a future food system that is based on the principles of high quality and taste, environmental sustainability, and social justice –in essence, a food system that is good, clean and fair.

You can also support Slow Food USA by subscribing to GOOD Magazine (which is super interesting and always provides you with dinner time conversation points!)