‘indigo landing at dusk’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’
It’s Friday already? Twas a fast week, at least in my world. Again, a shorter-than-ususal roundup, but some worthy bites of info. Twitter, the takeover of the National Gallery’s cafe, and summer beers round out all the news fit to eat in the District this week.
Joe Palma, the chef at Westend Bistro, joins the ranks of the DC chefs on twitter. He seems to still be trying to get the hang of regular updates, though, so don’t expect any Ashton Kutcher or Lily Allen type frequency of tweets.
To celebrate the exhibitions Luis Meléndez: Master of the Spanish Still Life (May 17–August 23, 2009) and The Art of Power: Royal Armor and Portraits from Imperial Spain (June 28–November 1, 2009) at the National Gallery of Art, José Andrés (of Zaytinya, Jaleo, etc.) has created a menu of signature Spanish dishes inspired by the exhibitions, to be served in the Gallery’s West Building Garden Café, renamed Garden Café España. The Garden Café España’s à la carte menu features aceitunas aliñadas al aceite de oliva naranja y tomillo (olives marinated in orange- and thyme-infused olive oil), ajo blanco con camarones, uvas y almendras (cold almond and garlic soup with shrimp, grapes, and marcona almonds), cebolla asada con queso picón (roasted vidalia onion with picón cheese, oranges, frisée, and walnuts), sandia con queso de cabra (watermelon salad with goat cheese, pine nuts, and tomatoes), and costillas con pimientos del piquillo confitados (braised shortribs with potato puree and piquillo pepper confit). Traditional Spanish desserts round out the menu.
Summer beers are back, ya’ll, and I’m officially a happy girl. When I spotted Bell’s Oberon American Wheat at Rustico last weekend I decided even if the weather isn’t behaving, it must be spring. Places around the area are ramping up light, fruity seasonal brews. One of my favorite hidden spots, the small sandwich shop next to Indigo Landing at Washington Sailing Marina is back with Sam Adam’s Summer Ale. CommonWealth is in on the act, now offering a few specialty brews including Great Britain’s Coniston Bluebird Bitter, Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen from Boston, Strawberry Wheat from Pennsylvania. Love it.
Around We Love DC in food news (hold onto your hats): Jenn checks out the drinks and bar food at Ben’s Next Door, I discuss my favorite spring food trends, Shannon ponders food on the Metro, I talk with local chef Antonio Burrell about what he digs about DC, I tell you where I’d take my own Mother for Mother’s Day Brunch, Tom breaks the news that Biden and Obama hit up Ray’s Hellburger, I cheer for a new rewards card at Chop’t, Max reveals the first couple’s date night at Citronelle, I divulge why I won’t be eating out the third week in June, Jenn tries out Steak Tartare for the Omni 100 and attempt to figure out if the new eat place at the Phillips Collection, Cafe This is Not That is too deep for me to understand. Whoof.
Happy weekend, I’ve got my fingers crossed for sunshine and brunches on patios for everyone.
