Inaugural Eats

When the events that will come to pass in our fair city soon are retold in the history books, little mention will be made to the accompanying urban chaos. Dining companions J., O., and visiting dignitaries have decided to embrace the madness and resist the temptation to skip town and put up our humble abodes for rental (T. left the country promptly after the elections). I now have the enjoyable task of figuring out what to do with our extended bar hours, courtesy of the DC City Council.

To get things rolling, Fyve Restaurant Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City is flying in Chef John Zaner from The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua to honor the President-elect’s home state of Hawaii with a prix fixe menu for $38 from January 13th to the 20th. Taste of Aloha features pork, poke and pineapple.

In Penn Quarter, Minibar at Cafe Atlantico is hosting an Inaugural Fundraiser for DC Central Kitchen on January 18, 19 and 20. The special $444.44 menu (tax and gratuity included) will give a $222.22 donation (tax deductible!), special wine pairings and cookbooks.

In Capitol Hill, Spike Mendelsohn is hosting a Burger Ball at Good Stuff Eatery.

Several restaurants (including Adour at the Saint Regis) are featuring prix fixe menus in a themed-out Restaurant Week.

The folks at Campus Progress have put together a list of Obama Delicacies, featuring one of my favorites, ACKC.

The Klimpton restaurants always partake. With restaurants on both sides of the Potomac and with the menu at Morrison House also inspired on Lincoln's Second inaugural luncheon, they've covered everything. Most of the events will take place between January 17th and 20th:

Firefly (Dupont) will feature the “First Lady Marmalade,” a cocktail made with a house-made preserve of Meyer lemons and candied ginger, citrus vodka and sparkling wine and have menus that highlight American wine, beer and cheese.

Poste Moderne Brasserie (Gallery Place) will offer a celebratory champagne tasting menu s, serve donkey cookies and the bar will have hometown beer for both Obama and Biden. Their featured cocktail will be the "Americano = Change," made with Bluecoat Organic Gin, Campari and sweet vermouth foam and the bar will also offer cocktails honoring past presidents.

Urbana (Dupont)will offer the “Urbana 44 tasting menu” which is an indulgent tasting of 4 American sparkling wines from Schramsberg Vineyards paired with 4 dishes from Chef Alex Bollinger’s menu. A great way to try a wide range of their wines far, far away from the security perimiter.

Domaso and Domasoteca (Rosslyn)
Domasoteca will offer special edition Obama chocolates from Zoes Chocolate Co. A box of two signature line chocolates and truffles will be wrapped featuring either the words “Obama”, “Hope” or “Change,” and will be sold for $5 in the store (They will be a great hostess gift for that nice friend who is lending your her couch instead of renting it). Domasoteca will also offer a 20% discount on all items between January 18th and January 20th. Domasoteca will have cocktail specials and their happy hour will run until 8 PM, with several bottles going for $44 and fix prix lunch and dinner for $20 and $44.

Jackson 20 (Old Town)is named after President Andrew Jackson and accordingly it will go back to his inauguration in 1829. He is, after all, the man that came up with the public balls in the first place. To honor the ensuing debauchery, the bar will feature its own Presidential Punch, “Jackson Inaugural Mob,” made with Leblon Cachaca, Peach Schnapps, sparkling cider, house-made raspberry syrup, fresh apples, peaches, and pineapple.

The Grille at Morrison House (Old Town)
From January 17 – 21, Chef Marron’s ‘Ode to Lincoln’s Inauguration Dinner’ will feature a modernized interpretation of dishes served at Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural dinner in March 1865. Inadvertently they staged quite the culinary coup, as the Congressional Inaugural Committee has announced that the Inaugural luncheon was inspired by that meal. The menu will be available a la carte or as a four-course prix fixe option for $65 and a 7-course prix fixe for $95.

Any other interesting events or culinary happenings for next week? Send me an e-mail or add them to the comments section.