Food Exploration
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood
*About a month ago, I had the rare experience of seeing a lamb literally turn from full bodied animal to the lamb chops you see at every other DC dining destination (*Chef Nick Stefanelli of Bibiana did the honors). Now the American Lamb board is coming to the District to see what Washington really knows about lamb with the American Lamb Jam tour. The tour stops in DC on May 22, 2011 from 2 pm-5 pm where chefs will create dishes from local lamb featuring the leg, loin, shank and shoulder cuts. Guests will have the opt to taste, sip on paired wines and vote for their fave lamb dishes in the “People’s Choice” competition.
Why am I telling you this early? Well, there is a Shepard’s Special going on right now where you can get 3 tickets for the price of 2 (*Tickets $50) during the month of March 2011. Tickets get you 16-20 tastes of lamb dishes, wine from the Washington State wines, local beer and a lamb butchery demo.
*The Travel & Adventure Show comes to the Washington Convention Center this Saturday and Sunday (March 12 & March 13, 2011). I’m geeked (*Translation: excited) about the addition of the Culinary Stage featuring the International Fiery Foods Challenge (*Sweet Mango Café and Rumba Café are among the contenders), cooking demos by local restaurants, Embassy chefs (*Belgium, Hungary, Morocco, Sri Lanka and South Korea). The Travel Channel’s Taste of America host, Mark DeCarlo will host the Culinary Stage.
Schedule
Saturday, March 12: 11 am-1:30 pm Embassy Chef Demo’s; 2 pm-4:30 pm Fiery Foods Challenge
Sunday, March 13: 12 pm-1 pm Mark DeCarlo Interactive Demo’s; 1 pm-3:30 pm Embassy Chef Demo’s
*The Masters of Food & Wine 2011 event comes to the Park Hyatt DC on June 2-5, 2011. The three day event will feature nightly wine dinners with guest chefs such as Blue Duck Tavern Executive Chef Brian McBride and Chef de Cuisine Brian Huston of the Publican (Chicago). On the high end, guests can spend an evening with a 5-course dinner hosted by Caymus Vineyards (Napa Valley) for $140 and/or attend a wine & cheese tasting at the Park Hyatt’s Lounges for $35 (per event). Do all or pick a few to check out…all in all it will be a great weekend for the wine and cheese lover in you. Tickets can be purchased by emailing masters.phwashington@hyatt.com or by calling (202) 419-6768.
*Artini 2011 is back. The month long tribute to art and innovative cocktails will close out with a night of the area’s top mixologists, music and a dessert buffet on April 2, 2011. Until then, connoisseurs can sample the artini’s on “Feature Nights” (*complete list here) and vote for their favorite Artini on the Washingtonian’s website. Who’s your favorite mixologist??
Category: Announcements, Food.Fun.Stuff., Washington D.C.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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*Detailed info on wine & cheese tasting events @ the Masters of Food & Wine 2011*
The Lounge’s Communal Tables, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
The Washington Post’s wine editor, Dave McIntyre, will lead an educational tasting, introducing varieties of local wines. Across the Lounge, local cheese makers from Firefly Farms, in Maryland, will provide samplings of their artisanal cheeses, paired with unique wines from around the country, selected by Sommelier Andrew Stover.
$35 per each event, inclusive.