‘The Pour’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

It’s a drink-focused round-up this week, but I think that’s because spring is in the air and all of us are practically clawing at our office doors to escape to grab a beer on the patio with friends. That said – Earth Day, jazz brunches, cocktails from the city’s best mixologists and a new team at Sonoma make up all the news that is fit to eat in the District this week.

Earth Day is soon upon us (April 22nd) and area restaurants are pulling together prix fixe menus. (Cause what is an event where a restaurant can’t have a prix-fixe menu? Don’t look at me, I don’t know the answer!) Restaurants like Urbana and Firefly have pulled together locovore menus just for the occasion, featuring lots of Virginia and Maryland proteins. So if you’re hungry after all that river cleaning or whatever, om nom nom locally.

Sonoma finally announced their new team: Chef de Cuisine Nicholas Sharpe and Wine Program Director Brian Cook, who are now focused on developing a new menu and wine list for spring 2009. The new team will highlight the Italian influences on Sonoma’s seasonal Mid-Atlantic menu, and take advantage of the bountiful spring supply of ingredients from local sources. Nicholas Sharp comes from Vidalia, and has worked under Fabio Trabbochi at Maestro and was most recently the sous chef at Mio Restaurant.

It’s old news, but with a fresh twist: Anthony Bourdain filmed the DC version of No Reservations, except now, gasp, you can see a DELETED SEGMENT where Bourdain visits Eamonn’s A Dublin Chipper in Old Town. I do not watch No Reservations, so this does not thrill me. But maybe you do, and it does thrill you. See? I’m a sharing and caring kind of gal.

So spring maybe has sprung (right? let’s hope.) and one of the signs is that the KC has brought back Jazz Brunches. Every Sunday, starting April 19th, The Roof Terrace Restaurant at the Kennedy Center will feature a Jazz band that coincides with the shows at the Kennedy Center. How posh.

Cork is hosting an afternoon wine tasting on April 19 with Pierre Bettinger of Darroze Bas-Armagnac to taste five different Armagnac’s from the Darroze Collection. Cork is certainly *not* my favorite wine bar (we can get into that later, or in the comments, or whatever) but I love the idea of a Sunday afternoon tasting, so I thought I’d share regardless.

Proof is pleased to announce its participation in World Cocktail Week for the second straight year. On Monday, May 11th, the restaurant will host a cocktail party and dinner benefiting The Museum of the American Cocktail and sponsored by Washington Wholesale. Many of the Washington area’s top mixologists will work together to provide sensational sips for this special evening, including Adam Bernbach of Bar Pilar, Derek Brown of The Gibson, Tom Brown of Cork, Gina Chersevani of PS 7’s, Justin Guthrie of Blue Ridge, Owen Thompson of Bourbon, Todd Thrasher of Restaurant Eve, Chantal Tseng of Tabard Inn, Rico Wisnor of Poste, Jill Zimorski of Café Atlantico and Sebastian Zutant of Proof. Oh holy crap, that is some good drinking. Tickets will set you back though, $145. And this event sells out quickly, so email proof@proofdc.com for reservations.

Anything I missed? That is what the comments are for. Want to send me news for the next foodie round-up? Email me. Until next time, kiddies, cheers!

Katie

Katie moved to DC in 2007, and has since embarked upon a love affair with the city. She’s an education reform advocate and communications professional during the day; at night and on the weekends, she’s an owner here at We Love DC. Katie has high goals to eat herself through the entire city, with only her running shoes to save her from herself. For up-to-the-minute news and reviews (among other musings), follow her on Twitter!