Washington, DC New Menu Report: Week Of 02/09/15
Presidents' Day Celebrations
Acadiana
Rather than lump all our presidents together on one day, Acadiana is celebrating Abraham Lincoln's 206th birthday with a special prix fixe menu that includes oyster stew with a buttermilk biscuit; chicken fricassee with Andouille sausage, and Mahatma rice; and apple pie and vanilla ice cream for dessert.
El Centro D.F. 14th Street, El Centro D.F. Georgetown
In honor of Presidents' Day, El Centro is throwing a fiesta brunch on Monday, February 16, in both D.C. locations. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., their all-you-can-eat Mexican brunch is $35 person, not including tax and gratuity, and includes spicy options like bacon, egg, and cheese tacos served with Chihuahua cheese and scallions; fried egg divorciados smothered in red and green salsa with chorizo and black beans; and the potato and chorizo pambazo sandwich with crema fresca, lettuce, and Cotija cheese. Bottomless brunch drinks are of course part of the party fare, and include the Michelada, Bloody Maria, and choice of seasonal Aqua Fresca cocktails.
Mardi Gras Celebrations
Acadiana
If you can't make it to the Mardi Gras parades and festivities on Bourbon Street but still want a taste of "The Big Easy," celebrate at Acadiana on Fat Tuesday, February 17 from 6 to 10 p.m. For $100 per person, not including tax and gratuity, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat and drink selections set to the tunes of a live New Orleans jazz band. There will be three seafood stations celebrating the Gulf Coast's bounty including a raw oyster bar, peel-n-eat shrimp, and cocktail crab claws, as well as other New Orleans staples like mini muffalettas, deviled eggs, shrimp and grits, gumbo, and jambalaya. For sweet endings there will be passed beignets, pralines, and heavenly hash, which naturally pair perfectly with Acadiana's free-flowing cocktails and special bourbon tasting and martini bar.
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
New Orleans native and host of Travel Channel's American Grilled, chef David Guas is hosting his own Mardi Gras party that includes a short parade with Bayou Bakery's Boogie Float V, and he's inviting you to help him celebrate the 4th Annual Bayou Gras Block Party on Tuesday, February 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery is setting up a huge tent and will feature "Krewe de Roux" parade route fare like Andouille and shrimp gumbo, muffalettas, and a little "Lagniappe" – Pralines and "BB" King Cake by the slice. There will be N'awlins-style sips, and Richmond's Croxton cousins are back with their freshly harvested raw Rappahannock River Oysters. Kids 12 and under eat free and have their own special menu and Abita root beer.
· Krewe de Roux - Food Ticket [choice of 3 different dishes] – $30
· Krewe de Booze - Drink Ticket [3 cocktails from a choice selection] – $25
· Krewe de Brewe - Beer Ticket [3 New Orleans Abita draft beers in Mardi Gras Souvenir Cups] – $15
Burger Tap & Shake
Every month, this Foggy Bottom burger joint creates new burger and shake recipes. For February, the milkshake of the month is passion fruit and the burger is "Fat Tuesday." All of Burger Tap & Shake's burgers are made from 3-day aged, naturally raised Local Harvest beef chuck and brisket that is ground in-house, char-griddled, and served on a buttered, toasted, house made bun. These people don't skimp on quality and make everything—from pickles to ice cream—in their own kitchen. Try the "Fat Tuesday:" a char-griddled hamburger Po' Boy with mozzarella, provolone, olive salad, and Zydeco Sauce—and it's only $9!
City Tap House
City Tap House is combining two holidays into one and celebrating Lundi Gras, or "Fat Monday" On Monday, February 16, which also happens to be President's Day. They will be pouring Abita Brewing Company's Wrought Iron IPA from their cask beer engines as part of a special Cask Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For entertainment, local vocalist and guitar and percussionist from the Lloyd Dobler Effect of Silver Spring, Maryland will perform as you dine on standouts like Louisiana crawfish cake Benedict with creamed spinach, poached eggs, Hollandaise Sauce, and red bliss potato hash; Louisiana red fish pontchartrain with crawfish, crispy oysters, lump crab meat, and creamy Parmesan Carolina gold rice; and bananas Foster flambéed with rum served over Dolcezza vanilla bean gelato. There will also be dinner specials, Mardi Gras beads, and Hurricane drink specials all day. Night owls can sip into the wee hours with a late night happy hour from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.—now that's the proper way to welcome in Fat Tuesday.
EcoFriendly Presents: BevEggs Pork & Grits at EatsPlace
Last month, we introduced you to D.C.'s EatsPlace, and their new pop-up for February is EcoFriendly Presents: BevEggs Pork & Grits, founded by Beverley Eggleston. Their mission is "to create sustainable networks of enlightened farmers who raise eco-friendly livestock and food crops that nourish people and the land. They focus on humanely raised, locally grown, and specially bred livestock from a regional network of farmers." Their menu will include cured and smoked meats, a customizable grits bar (that can also be vegan-friendly), and sweet treats such as pastries and Dolcezza gelato. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m., brunch is served on Sunday, and they will be at EatsPlace until Sunday, February 22.
Summer Whitford is the D.C. City Guide Editor at The Daily Meal and the DC Wine Examiner. You can follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva.