Fall is about a week away from my life and the thought of cooler temperatures confirms I might be walking around with a undiagnosed disorder:  seasonal depression.  Cold weather honestly changes my, and what seems like 50% of the DMV’s, attitudes.  Lucky for me I live in a city that has a host of events that makes the adjustment a tad easier with warm cocktails and nifty little treats.  So here we go:

>>>Tomato Feast- The Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival is an annual reception celebrating regional produce of the Mid-Atlantic by pairing top area farmers with leading area chefs with enthusiastic home gardeners and cooks with tomato tastings and wine pairings.  Each year the event will showcase a “red” fruit and 2010 kicks off with the TOMATO.  I’m working on my tomato recipe as we speak…

The Who:  Hosted by The International Wine & Food Festival

The What: The Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival

When: Friday, September 24, 2010 from 6-8 p.m.

Where: Woodrow Wilson Plaza at the International Trade Center and Ronald Reagan Building

>>>Lobster and Beer pair up this Thursday- Chinatown Coffee Company and Red Hook Lobster Pound DC team up for “Lobster Roll and Beer Happy Hour.” Red Hook Lobster Truck will be parked outside of Chinatown Coffee Co., on the corner of 5th and H Street, NW, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Thursday, September 2, 2010.  In celebrating its new liquor license, Chinatown Coffee will be offering $3 Lagunitas IPA, Dale’s Pale Ale and an assortment of different wines.

>>>Learn how to mix up Fall/Winter cocktails with Againn mixologist, JP Caceres.  For $35 a pop, guests will learn the art of mixing the perfect cocktail and Caceres will offer a history lesson on the origins of the world’s most popular libations, starting with the first known cocktail and ending with a personal DC favorite. 

The When:  September 15, 2010 @ 6:30 pm

The Where:  Againn, 1099 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

>>>Ladies Unite!  On October 3, 2010 (*5 pm-8 pm), over 30 leading women chefs will unite for an “indoor food festival”  @ Willow Restaurant.  Tickets are $50 and can be purchased here.  Foods will range from crepes made to order to an array of wines, beers and spirits.

The Modern Gentlemen Series comes to Bibiana this Fall. The four-part series begins October and runs through November on Saturdays.  Participants will learn about cigars and whisky, craft beers and deft grilling, cocktails and bespoke tailoring.  Additionally, participants will learn carving, champagne sabering and the art of a classic shave. 

The Series is based on Jason Tesauro’s book, The MODERN GENTLEMAN: A Guide to Essential Manners, Savvy & Vice, and is priced @ $125 per class or $95 for each class if you purchase them at once.  More info here.

Back where it all started.  The DC Food Blogger’s take over Poste next Wednesday for cocktails, snacks and restaurant review convo’s.  This month is really special for the group because this marks the 1st Anniversary of the DC Food Blogger Happy Hour.  Woohoo! Over the past year, it’s been a pleasure chatting, exchanging cute biz cards and getting to know those in all arenas of the food industry in the DMV area.  Big thanks to Gradually Greener (www.graduallygreener.com) and Modern Domestic (www.moderndomestic.com) for hosting this months happy hour!

1. DC is honest.  No kidding.  Check it out here, the nations capitol scored 93% as one of the most honest cities according to a survey conducted by Honest Tea. 
2. Morton’s Steakhouse and Mondavi will come together on October 7, 2010 to host a wine dinner and charity auction at the Charles Krug Winery Carriage House to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation®.  Tickets are $175 and you can book your reservation here.
3. Restaurant Week is not over!  If Sei and Oya are on your list, the Penn Quarter restaurants are also cranking out crafty cocktails in celebration of the week long restaurant deals.  Think plenty of Chocolate Dessert Wines to go around and Liquid Wasabi Cocktails.
4. Zoës Kitchen is now open in Park Potomac, MD.  The Mediterranean inspired menu will feature a host of simple salads, sandwiches, sides and entrees.

Finally DC has a State Fair!  When I used to live in North Carolina, the State Fair was a big deal (*funny…we would take this annual class trip to the state capital for this event) and now DC is inheriting the same local pride.  This time the fair is in the hands of the foodies in the area i.e. not quite ready for Ferris Wheels and Cotton Candy machines…  The awesome part about the DC State Fair is that everyone can play a part in the production.  How?  Enter one of the various food contests!  Enter here.  What are you waiting for?!  Those tomatoes are beautiful, so show them off and maybe take home a few dollars while you’re at it.  More Info below:

The When:  August 28 

The Where:  11th and Irving Streets NW (Columbia Heights Day)

Funkiest-Looking Vegetable - Entry Drop-Off: 12:30-1PM - Judging: 2PM-2:30PM
Biggest Vegetable (Container Garden) - Entry Drop-Off: 1-2PM  – Judging: 2:30PM-3PM
Biggest Vegetable (General) – Entry Drop-Off: 1-2PM - Judging: 2:30PM-3PM
Tastiest Tomato - Entry Drop-Off: 2:30-3:30PM – Judging: 4PM-4:30PM

>New Food App for the iPhone-  SeamlessWeb.com has released a new iPhone application that allows users to order their take out or delivery anywhere using their iPhone or BlackBerry GPS locator.  This new feature means users can order food while headed home from work, in a cab or simply sitting poolside.  The new app boasts “no fees, no cash and no hassle” for users…if it’s that simple, I say this is a #Win for the iPhone application pool.  What shall I order on the way home from the airport on that note??…

Additional Information: 

Delivery or pickup option

GPS locator

Restaurant information: browse or search for restaurant by operational hours, location, member ratings, estimated delivery/ready times, etc.

Re-order options for fave meals

Add special instructions for food preparation on any item

Quick, easy and secure check out via credit card – no cash required (even for tip!)

View maps and get directions for easy pickup

Available in: 

Manhattan, NY·         Queens, NY·         Brooklyn, NY·         Stamford, CT·         Greenwich, CT·         Boston, MA·         Chicago, IL·         Houston, TX·         Los Angeles, CA·         San Francisco, CA·         Hoboken, NJ·         Philadelphia, PA·    Washington, DC·        Arlington, VA·         Bethesda, MD·         Chevy Chase, MD

>I miss New Orleans.  It is rare that I leave anywhere but New York and feel a little sad coming back into the DMV.  That is until I met New Orleans again ten years after my first trip.  Tears actually welled up in my eyes as I boarded the United flight back home.  Lucky for me, New Orleans is not too far from reach in regards to my stomach.  Chef Jeff Tunks’ of Acadiana is ending the summer on the right note with a fundraiser he started five years ago after Hurricane Katrina (*Did you know Acadiana opened just 12 days after Hurricane Katrina??) 

The restaurant is offering two special po’ boys at lunchtime, each for $12 beginning August 23-31, 2010.  When you order the catfish or roast beef sandwich, a net portion of the proceeds will be donated to the www.friendsofthefisherman.com fund, established by the Louisiana Seafood Board, and to www.stbernardproject.org, which is providing care for mental wellness and building homes for people still in trailers, many of whom are the hard-hit fisherman and their families.  If you have a seer sucker anything, bring that out too because from August 28-31, 2010 all wearing the striped fabric will receive a Pimm’s Cup half off.

>New!  Smith Commons is joining the H st. NE restaurant family in September.  The restaurant is set to bring internationally-inspired cuisine and craft beers and cocktails to the “everyman’s” table. The eclectic music mix, low lighting and soft lounge furniture will surely make Smith a close relative to the low key vibe that is H st. NE.  Much like the neighborhood, the menu offers a wide variety of everything from Fish & Chips to Eggplant Lasagna.

>Eat local and fresh…even at your local diner.  Silver Diner has a new promo that promotes this very idea.  The local diner has a new eat Fresh & Local menu that Facebook users have the opportunity to try for $10 off.  Here’s the deal:  everyone who “likes” them on Facebook gets a $10 off coupon.  Enter your email address into the form and get your coupon emailed to you once they have reached 5,000 fans.  That simple.  Now there are no excuses for not opting for a healthier option after a night out on King Street…

>I have heard good things about 1789 Restaurant cooking classes which is why I was so excited to hear about this opportunity coming up on Sunday, August 15, 2010.  The class will focus on one of my favorite cooking ingredients:  tomatoes! The class is priced at $100 per a person which includes a three-course lunch, showcasing the dishes prepared in the cooking class, paired with wine from 1789’s award-winning list.  Guests can look forward to from scratch Bloody Mary cocktails and Pan Roasted Scallops with sweet roasted tomato compote and sweet corn and tomatoes.  Reservations are required (*call here to reserve 202-965-1789) and see footage from past classes here to see what you’re getting into: http://www.1789restaurant.com/monthly_cooking/index.shtml.

It’s that time again.  Food Blogger’s Happy Hour!  This time we take over the space @ TenPenh for quirky cocktails and delectable small plates.  This month is especially exciting for me because we are descending upon another 20 odd-something birthday for yours truly.  Hot and steamy, refreshing and hip…fitting that this is my month and TenPenh is the first stop on my month-long journey of drinks and birthday treats.  Specials include $5 cocktails/drinks (*8 Specialty Cocktails, Draft Beers, and a Selection of Wines) and to pad your stomach there will be 50% off the Izakaya Small Plate menu which features Asian specialties Shredded Duck Springrolls, Lobster  Rangoons, Korean Pork Belly Bites, Chili Brined Chicken Wings and American Kobe Beef “Sliders”.  Cheers!

The phrase “dead of summer” has new meaning after the past couple of weeks.  The temperatures have been deathly hot.  Sitting outside to enjoy a cocktail or two with friends is less than appealing unless it is 9 o’clock at night and the humidity has given the city a break.  Nonetheless it is summer and after the winter we had, I welcome any opportunity to be outside of my house even if it is not exactly sitting outside.  Cocktails are in order.  Zola is lightening the heavy load of heat and humidity with a happy hour that features $4 to $5 wines, four beers on draft, and select signature cocktails from 5 pm to 7 pm Monday-Saturday and 5 pm to 10 pm on Sundays.  The sweetest part is not the drink specials, however, it’s the $1.50 bar bites.  Lamb meatball sliders with grilled romaine and pepper slaw with goat cheese aioli;  pulled BBQ pork served with bourbon barbecue sauce, coleslaw and cayenne spiced onions;  steak and cheese slider with braised beef cheek, caramelized onions, peppers and mushrooms; and brie/Roma tomato bites with fresh Roma tomatoes, triple crème brie cheese and basil aioli.  I’ll take one of each, please.

While revamping my blog, I had to take a little hiatus except for the usual suspects:  Etiquette Tuesday, World Tour posts…now I have finally reached a point where I can read all of the emails, articles and other blogs that keep me up to date on what’s going on in and around the District.  I missed out on a lot of stuff! Some, I’m super peeved that I had to miss out on and could not share with my readers, luckily there are some that are coming up and I still have time to show and tell…Here we go:

>The first thing I tell people about my cooking life is that I am a cook, not a chef.  Be that as it may, I still have a ton of questions/issues/frustrations in the kitchen that need answering.  Claire Robinson (*Food Network “5 Ingredient Fix“) alongside Chicken of the Sea have come to the rescue with a live Twitter chat on August 5, 2010.  From 5 pm-7 pm, Robinson will answer questions and share tips on how to create simple, yet creative meals.  Follow @COSMermaid or follow the hash-tag #COSChat to ask your questions or to just stay in the loop.

>One of the District’s most popular gardens now has a blog:  City Blossom Blog.  Check it out to learn tricks in gardening and share all your fresh herb secrets.

>Too bad I read this one after visiting during the hefty-price happy hour.  Buddha Bar has a new wallet-friendly lunch menu:  For $13-$16, you can choose from a variety of lunchtime treats including the Kurobuta BLT, a Korean BBQ sandwich and Japanese Sea Bass Tacos.  The lunch menu is available Monday thru Friday from 11:30 am-2:30 pm and Saturday/Sunday from 12 pm to 2:30 pm.

>New Food Truck Alert!  I am seriously loving the food truck movement in D.C. It’s like having the food you want literally at your fingertips.  Wonky (*Translation:  Weird, whacked out) hits the streets next month with American comfort food with a twist.  Think grilled cheese sandwiches, all beef hot dogs and plenty of fries to go around.  Keep your eyes on the truck here.

>New brunch with Asian spice:  Wolfgang Puck’s The Source debuts its new brunch menu which includes Market fresh berry French Toast served with country-style pork sausage; as well as burgers and sandwiches including the “American Style” Kobe burger with onion marmalade and herb aioli and the Maine lobster club with bacon vinaigrette.  Prices range from $12-$24 and is offered on Saturdays from 11:30-2 pm.

>More new brunch from Agora:  Guests can look forward to menu selections such as Pastirma Egg Benedicts, two poached eggs with cured loin of beef topped with traditional Hollandaise sauce on an English muffin for $9, and Scrambled Eggs with Sucuk, spicy Turkish sausage for $8.50.  Nice prices and another place for me to eat my favorite breakfast food:  poached eggs.

>Potenza has some new savory and sweet treats for the European at heart.  For the remainder of the summer, guests can lounge in the outdoor seating (*or maybe indoors would be better, it’s 100 degrees outside!) and enjoy small plates of Seared Diver Scallop with Cauliflower Puree, Crisped Blossoms stuffed with Truffled Chicken and Ricotta Cheese served with Asparagus Sauce and finish it off with Nutella Chocolates.  There are, of course, many more items to choose from…these are just the ones that get me excited.  Guests can choose three savory small plates or three desserts from the seven featured in each category.  Selections are then paired with two complementary glasses of wine.  The pairings are priced at $28 for the three savory selections or three sweets, and the selected wine.  The menu is available from 3 pm to 10 pm Sunday through Wednesday (except holidays) and can be enjoyed at the bar or on the outdoor patio.

>A pork lovers feast:  On Sunday, August 1, 2010 from 3 pm to 6 pm, Bourbon Steak is hosting an all-you-can-eat pig roast.  In honor of Executive Chef David Varley’s glorious Grand Cochon win at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, the Georgetown restaurant is hosting a day of BBQ, traditional/non-traditional side dishes and desserts with bacon.  Priced at $25 per person for food, $40 inclusive of food and drink, guests can buy tickets by calling (202) 944-2026.