Mari Vanna to open early next year

From an email:

According to Slavic legend, Mari Vanna was a fairytale grandmother known to welcome hungry travelers into her house. She would feed her guests a home-cooked meal before sending them back out on their voyage. In mid January, Russian hospitality powerhouse Ginza Project will bring this legend to life with the opening of Mari Vanna's second US location in the heart of downtown D.C. With an established reputation of excellence in authentic Russian cuisine in New York, London, Moscow and beyond, the capital's 6,500 square-foot eatery will be Mari Vanna's largest location in the world. Located at 1141 Connecticut Ave., NW, the hotspot finds its home in one of the district's most upscale locales. Just five blocks from the White House and steps away from the historic Mayflower Hotel, the new restaurant nestles perfectly between K Street's bustling business district and D.C.'s trendy Dupont Circle neighborhood. 

Although the restaurant has plans to add various DC-centric menu items, a few Russian specialties won't change from the other Mari Vanna locations. Classic menu offerings range from cold appetizers such as pickled vegetables, salt-cured pork and black caviar to hot appetizers such as pirozhok, blinis and hand-made Russian dumplings. Delectable entree options will include Mari Vanna's world famous beef stroganoff, chicken kotletki and fishcakes.

 Apparently this space used to be leased by Randstad.

New Nightspot opening on K St.

Apparently there's a new nightspot opening on K St this weekend. From an email:

DC hotspot Capitale (1301 K Street, NW DC), is set to captivate party goers with its opening this Saturday, September 8, 2012. With a breathtaking and unique design scheme, the Hogwarts-meets-Hollywood inspired nightlife venue is the brainchild of hospitality masterminds Tony Hudgins and his nightlife mogul partners. With four massive, brass leaning columns taking center stage in the venue’s Great Hall and commissioned art of celeb socialites like Scott Disick and Tuesday Weld, the same men who brought Washingtonians venues such as K Street Lounge, Play and Public Bar have joined forces to wow DC’s party scene once again.

Not being a big nightspot person these days, that bit isn't terribly interesting to me. What is interesting is their happy hour concept:

With plans to implement a rotating “food truck” happy hour in late September, Capitale will serve as not only a late-night hotspot, but also as a new option for DC’s flourishing happy-hour scene. The food truck happy hour idea is that of partner Tony Hudgins.

“I’m constantly following DC’s foodie scene and was always intrigued by the accessibility and on-the-go nature of our booming food truck empire. Our venue has no kitchen, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want our patrons to snack while they sip. I think a weekly, rotating selection of food trucks will offer Capitale guests the luxury of a casual, delicious bite in a cozy and elegant venue,” says Hudgins.

Capitale’s hours of operation will change once the happy hour schedule is released in late September.

Their current hours of operation are 10pm - 2am during the week, 10pm - 3am on the weekend, closed Monday and Wednesday.

Pearl Dive Anniversary Party

Happy First Birthday Pearl Dive! Hard to believe it's already been a year, but Pearl Dive / Black Jack are celebrating their first anniversary on September 20th. Courtesy of Borderstan:

Pre-sale tickets are priced at $150 and include unlimited fresh seafood (including oysters, of course!) with signature dishes from Pearl Dive’s menu, live music, and an open bar. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Food & Friends on behalf of the Black’s Family Foundation.

 I'm sure it will be a lot of fun.

Ba Guo Bu Yi

Photo by Milos Kravcik, on flickr. This is bian lian, a traditional mask-changing show.

Recently I've been making an effort to have more regional Chinese food, instead of the typical stuff you see most often in the United States (I think it's typically Cantonese food, but I could easily be mistaken.) The last time we were in New York City, we had some Yunnan food, and DC has a very good Sichuan place in Great Wall Szechuan. But I'll take more, so I was excited to read this in the Washington Post:

Washington has never seen anything like Ba Guo Bu Yi, a Chinese chain dedicated to spreading Sichuan culture outside the province. That could change next year if all goes as Oren Molovinsky plans; the veteran restaurateur and partner in Mala Tang in Arlington has been talking to the parent company of Ba Guo Bu Yi to open a location in the District, possibly in the Penn Quarter area.

They're apparently avoiding Chinatown so that they don't look cheap. What is Ba Guo Bu Yi like?

Each location is large, usually two stories, and serves not only authentic Sichuan cuisine but also authentic Sichuan culture on stage, including the so-called “face-changing” performances from Sichuan opera. According to the Theatre Beijing Web site, face-changing involves a performer who “whips through half a dozen or more fearsome and brightly colored face masks seemingly by magic.”

Sounds great, I can't wait to try it.

Attention Beer Lovers!

This is apparently going to be a very good weekend for beer people in DC, according to the Going Out Gurus. On Saturday, Churchkey is pouring five different beers from the Russian River Brewing company, starting at noon. Russian River is most their most famous, known for being one of the few IPAs to get a perfect score on Beer Advocate, but all of their beers are supposed to be quite good. They'll be pouring Pliny the Elder, Blind Pig IPA, Supplication, Consecration, and Sanctification.

Sunday, Meridian Pint is celebrating their 2nd anniversary by bringing to $2 pints of select local beers. Not only that, but Chef Logan Grear of Smoke and Barrel will be manning a barbecue outside from 3 until 6. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it to Churchkey, but I'll probably swing by Meridian Pint some time on Sunday.

The Brixton

I'm excited about all the cool stuff that's coming to the corner of U St. and 9th. I mean, Nelly's is already pretty cool, but in just the past couple years, we've added Dickson Wine Bar and Dodge City. And now The Brixton is coming. Prince of Petworth hears their just a few week from opening, and you can be sure we'll be there when they do. For now, check out these pictures.

Safeway Barbecue Battle

The annual Safeway Barbecue Battle is coming to the National Mall this weekend:

The 20th annual Safeway Barbecue Battle, one of DC's largest and most unique food and music festivals, gets cookin' on June 23rd and 24th!

Over the course of two days, $40,000 in cash and prizes will be doled out to the best of the best in barbecue, as top vendors compete in the Safeway National Barbecue Championship. What does that mean for you? A full weekend of delicious barbecue and tasty treats, a variety of food samples, plus cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs and cookbook authors on the Safeway Demonstration Stage.

In addition to turning Pennsylvannia Avenue into a meat-lover's paradise, the festival will also feature over 30 bands on 3 stages, including acts like Soul Asylum, ConFunkShun, Cowboy Mouth, the Chuck Brown Tribute Band, and many more.

You can get tickets here.

Toast of the Town

This Friday, Wine Enthusiast is hosting Toast of the Town at the National Building Museum. This event showcases 500 different wines from around the world, as well as food from area restaurants. General admission tickets are still available for $100. I can't wait!

Feasting for the Environment

Photo by Mandy, from flickr.

Apparently, going to an all-you-can-eat oyster festival is good for the environment. Poste is hosting a all day oyster festival they've dubbed Oysterstock. Some might wonder whether eating tons of oysters is good for the environment in a day and age when stocks of oysters have been depleted. Apparently, it's very good, according to the City Paper:

Shells from the day's feast will be collected and replanted to help restore the natural oyster population that filters the Chesapeake Bay. "Each shell collected through our Shell Recycling Alliance program can plant 10 new oysters," says Epkins. "So for every oyster someone eats, there's a potential for 20 new oysters to be planted into our bay." In other words, those 4,000 oysters that have been ordered for the event could potentially foster the homes of upwards of 80,000 new ones.

So eat away, guilt free! An oyster saved is apparently an oyster earned.

New Beach Bar coming from Passenger

Photo by Ian Carroll from flickr

According to Prince of Petworth, there's going to be a new bar coming to Mt. Vernon Square. A beach bar:

In May, Brown [Tom owner of The Passenger] plans to unveil the New York Avenue Beach Bar in what is now an empty parking lot adjacent to the Warehouse Theater, around the corner from the Passenger’s front door. He and his partners are bringing “about 80 tons” of sand to fill the 5,500-square-foot space, along with multiple bars, picnic tables, umbrellas, lounge chairs, food trucks and “luxury trailers” containing bathrooms outfitted with running water.

 I honestly don't know what to think. If it were anyone other than Tom Brown, I'd think it sounded horrible. But I love the Passenger, and I really think he could pull it off. If nothing else, I'll definitely give it a shot.

Taste of the Nation

Photo by Jason B, from flickr

Next Monday, April 2nd, Taste of the Nation comes to D.C. Taste of the Nation is the nation's premier culinary benefit. Connected to Share our Strength, it brings together chefs and mixologists to raise money to end childhood hunger. The event is led by a Chef's Council comprised of the areas top chefs. There is also a wine chair, Nadine Brown, and a mixology chair, Gina Chersevani. Taste of the Nation allows you to enjoy awesome drinks and dishes, all for a good cause. Tickets are still available.

Bistro Bohem Soft Opening Tonight

Picture by Prince of Petworth

The Prince of Petworth reports that Bistro Boheme is doing a soft opening tonight, from 7-10pm, and they're hoping to do a grand opening next week. I don't know if I'll make it there tonight, but I'm hoping to check them out sooner rather than later. Bistro Boheme is an Eastern European themed bistro. Of course, a lot of my personal excitement comes from the prospect of possibly having a good selection absinthe in the neighborhood. They already have plans for expansion into a patio area once it warms up, and into the next door space once occupied by Zee's. Bistro Boheme is located on the corned of 6th and Florida, NW.

Irish Whiskey

The restaurant, not the drink.

I'm looking forward to trying this place out; I thought Porter's was one of the better bars in the area -- not that that's hard -- but their food was a bit lacking. Looking at these pictures, it looks like Irish Whiskey's offerings might be quite a lot better! Check out the slide show on the Best Bites Blog.

An Early Look at Irish Whiskey (Pictures) - Best Bites Blog (washingtonian.com)