Posts Tagged ‘Rustico’
NoVA Chefs Heed White House’s Call
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, June 4th, 2010
(Image: James Beard Foundation)
The South Lawn was flooded with a sea of toques this afternoon as chefs from every state descended on the White House to show their solidarity for Michelle Obama’s “Chefs Move to Schools” campaign.
The program aims to enrich school lunch programs by encouraging trained chefs/food service professionals to “adopt” a public learning institution and then work towards improving the quality of meals served to students.
“You can teach kids to cook something that tastes good and is good for them; and share your passion for food in a way that’s truly contagious,” Mrs. Obama told the assembled chefs. She also stressed that participating chefs would hardly be going it alone.
“When you go into the schools … work closely with our food service professionals to support the work that they do every day. They’re looking forward to getting some extra help–they need it–doing everything from teaching basic cooking skills in the cafeteria to encouraging healthy choices in the lunch line. But it’s got to be a collaboration,” Obama counseled.
Early reports from the White House suggest that roughly 1,000 chefs and 500 schools have signed on to the nascent program.
A quick scan of chefs who had signed on to “Chefs Move” through Share Our Strength showed approaching 40 hospitality vets from all around Virginia, including several do-gooders that should be very familiar to our readers:
* Cathal Armstrong/Restaurant Eve
* Will Artley/Evening Star Cafe
* Chris Ford and Clayton Miller/Trummer’s on Main
* Justus Frank and Miles Vaden/Eventide
* David Guas/DamGoodSweet
* Steve Mannino/Rustico
* Dennis Marron/Grille at Morrison House, Jackson 20
* James Watson and Robert Wiedmaier/BRABO
Most of the chefs we spoke to were still in the process of selecting their adoptive school. But all seemed enthused about the possibility of giving back in a whole new way.
–Warren
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, May 21st, 2010
(Image: The Next Web)
Oh, pseudo-serious-aggregation-of-140-character-or-less-bursts-of-brilliance, how I’ve missed you!
Mad love for all those who managed to get the poison out this week, including:
* Del Ray suds source Rustico (@RusticoVA) for twisting technology into a 24/7 excuse to tie one on;
* Reality TV junkie Jeff Houck (@JeffHouck) for astutely taking Top Chef DC with a grain of salt antacid;
* Culinary freethinker Johanna Kindvall (@kokblog) for turning bacon haters into believers one delicious dish at a time;
* D.C. rabblerousers Brightest Young Things (@BYTEatDrink) for challenging folks to eat way outside their comfort zone; and,
* Interweb weirdness trawler Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) for unabashedly relishing bizarro food festishes.
Great stuff. Keep on keepin’ on, all of you.
A Toast to American Craft Beer
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, May 20th, 2010
I Am A Craft Brewer from I Am A Craft Brewer on Vimeo.
This week, May 17-23, is American Craft Beer Week (ACBW). It’s a time to celebrate the small, independent, and traditional breweries.
To be classified as a craft brewery, the Brewers Associations defines a craft brewer as:
- “small”- having an annual production of beer less than 2 million barrels,
- “independent” whereby less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer, and
- “traditional”- a brewer with either an all mat flagship or at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which used adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.
Can’t understand any of those terms? Fortunately there are classes throughout the Northern Virginia region. Shenandoah Brewing Company hosts classes and allows customers to brew their own beer in Alexandria.
(Video: Shenandoah Brewing Company)
Virginia Tech students can take a Brewing Science and Technology class. Just another reason why I love Tech.
During 2009, 1595 small craft breweries operated in the US, which is the highest amount of breweries since before Prohibition. The craft brewing industry has grown since last year and sold an estimated 9,115,635 barrels of beer during 2009, compared to 8,501,713 barrels in 2008.
Congress recently toasted American Craft Brewers in a Resolution stating:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the goals and ideals of American Craft Beer Week, as founded by the Brewers Association; recognizes the significant contributions of craft brewers to the economy of the United States; and encourages beer-lovers of the United States to celebrate American Craft Beer Week through events at microbreweries, brewpubs, and beer stores across the United States to appreciate the accomplishments of craft brewers.
That’s right; Congress is telling you to drink craft beer! BrewFanatics even has a convincing Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Drink Craft Beer.
While the week is almost over, it doesn’t mean you can’t pay a visit to local Northern Virginia restaurants serving a variety of microbrews or take part in some ACBW events. Below is a list of craft beer events this week and in the next month to keep you happy.
Rock Bottom Brewery is featuring a unique beer each day of the week. Thursday’s brew is the Naughty Scot Oak Aged Scotch Ale, Friday’s is the house Red, Saturday’s is the Belgian Golden Ale, and Sunday’s brew is the Braggot (the house brown aged in a bourbon barrel with honey and pomegranate).
Legend Brewery of Richmond will be at the Alamo Drafthouse lobby in Winchester from 5-8p.m tonight. Taste a variety of Legend’s beers and Alamo snacks for free. For $5 you can stick around for the film Legend, which stars Tom Cruise.
Old Dominion Brewery will have beer tastings at Total Wine Fairfax on Friday, the 21st from 5-8p.m. and at Martin’s Market in Pickett Shopping Center on Saturday, May 22nd from 1-5p.m.
This Saturday, May 22 is the 2010 River City Beer Fest at The Diamond in Richmond. The event will be from 12-6 and include a children’s fun area, local bands, and over 50 microbreweries from across the nation. Representatives from the breweries will be around to educate consumers. A $2 donation is appreciated, as the event benefits the Cullather Brain Tumor Quality of Life Center at Bon Secours.
As Rustico’s General Manager Jason Asher puts it, “Every day is American Craft Beer Week at Rustico.” While they may not have any events lined up for this ACBW, read on for their meet & greet events with brewmasters before and after Savor DC (which is sold out). All events include glassware.
On June 4th meet Terrapin brewmaster and cofounder Spike Buckowski from 6-9pm for a tasting of four beers, including Hopsecutioner with Centennial dry hops, Jope Karma with Vanilla and Cinnamon, Gamma Ray, and Boomshakalager.
On June 5th meet Stone owner Greg Koch from 11:30a.m.-2p.m. Taste the Double Dry Hopped Stone IPA Keg, the Stone 10th Anniversary Blend Imperial Russian Stout Keg, and the Ruination IPA Cask.
On June 6th meet Coronado founder Rick Chapman from 2-5p.m for a tasting of the Nutter Brown Cask and the Coronado Irish Stout Cask.
Make a trip to Richmond for the World Beer Festival on June 12th. The event, produced by All About Beer Magazine, benefits FETCH a Cure and consists of two sessions (12-4pm; 6-10pm) priced at $40 per session in advance; $50 at the door; and $75 for VIP. Over 200 breweries will take part, including Old Dominion Brewery and Legend Brewery
Check out the Northern Virginia BrewFest in Leesburg from June 26-27. Over 50 of America’s best breweries will participate. Included in the price of admission is a 6.75oz sampling glass and 4 beer sampling tickets. Additional tickets can be purchased for $1 a piece. Wine will also be available for tasting. There will also be live entertainment, a BrewFest Marketplace featuring local and regional vendors/crafters/artisans, and a family fun area for the kids. Tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door for adults, $15/20 for designated drivers and can be used for one day only but can be used for either day of the festival.
If that’s not enough to keep you satisfied visit CraftBeer.com for a list of Virginia breweries that are worth checking out. Just this past April, Virginia won the highest percentage of medals (8 medals out of its 54 entries) at the Craft Brewers Conference.
If you’re trying to transition from wine to beer, try these ales as recommended by DC Beer Week co-founder Teddy Folkman and Againn beverage director Elli Benchimol.
Support your local brewery by keeping up with national and state issues. And having a drink, of course.
Cheers!
-Aisha Salazar
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, April 15th, 2010
It’s that dreaded day of the year: Tax Day. At least there are several free and low price food and beverage deals available to get you through the day.
Image; Whole Foods
Cinnabon Tax Day Bites: Thursday from 6-8p.m. participating mall locations will provide two free bite-sized cupcakes. Choose from Chocolate Passion, 24-Carrot Cake, Vanilla Bliss, and Cinnacake Classic.
MaggieMoos: Thursday, 3-7p.m. Get a free slice of ice cream pizza. No, it’s not frozen pizza in the shape of an ice cream scoop; it’s ice cream with red frosting and white chocolate made to look like pizza sauce and cheese.
Starbucks: All day Thursday. Bring your own coffee mug and get some free coffee. Help the environment and Starbucks will help a taxpayer.
Taco Del Mar: Thursday. Taxes Suck, Tacos Don’t! Sign up for a Free Taco 1099 Coupon via email to get a free taco. Choice of beef, chicken, fish, or pork. Locations in NOVA include Annandale and Quantico.
Boston Market: Thursday-Sunday, April 18. One free meal for each one you buy with the use of this coupon.
IHOP: 4-10p.m. all month. Free dinner for one child 12 and under with each adult meal purchased during that time throughout April.
McCormick & Schmick’s: Thursday. $10.40 dinner and drink specials, but only in the bar. Bar guests also receive a $10.40 gift certificate that can be used for another meal. On Friday professional tax preparers receive a free dessert plus a $10.40 gift certificate when they show a business card.
P.F. Chang’s: Thursday. 15% off food purchases for dine-in or take-out, not including alcohol or happy hour purchases.
2941: Thursday. Celebrate conquering your 1040 with special cocktails and martinis for $10.40. 2914 Fairfview Park Drive, Falls Church; 703-270-1500.
Rustico: Thursday, 5-7p.m. Pies for $10.40. Toppings are extra.
No Tax at Whole Foods: Stores will not charge sales tax on Thursday. Until April 17th there will be special deals throughout stores, but be sure to double check with your local stores. For example, the Old Town Alexandria store has IRS Patty Cakes at 25% and 2lbs of Snow Crab Legs for $10.99.
Capitol City Brewing Company: Thursday. $2 pints all day on any Core Four Brews at all locations.
Helix Lounge: Thursday, 5p.m.-midnight. The bar will offer a 1040-themed menu that ioffers a house-specialty cocktail and any appetizer for $10.40. Appetizers includes in the dea are fried oysters, mini crab cakes, and beer-battered Vidalia onion rings.
BLT Lounge: Thursday. 50% off all beer, wine, and cocktails. 1625 I Street NW. For reservations and information, call 202.689.8999.
Zola: Thursday. Patrons at Zola can enjoy a prix-fixe meal at the bar and get last minute tax filing assistance. While you’re there, try the IRS Raspberry specialty cocktail. Taxes are on Zola today. The prix-fixe lunch at $20.15 and dinner at $35.15 includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Zola will provide IRS tax forms, calculators, envelopes, #2 pencils and even mail customer’s tax forms and pay for the postage if they complete their forms at the bar by 11p.m.
Subway may have free cookies and McDonald’s may also have freebies.
Be sure to check with your local restaurants to see if they are offering these deals before demanding your freebie.
–Aisha Salazar
Culinary Passport to the Winter Olympics
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Hockey. The flying tomato. Vodka. Ice. It’s the 2010 Winter Olympics!
Image: Vancouver Winter Olympics, © VANOC/COVAN
If you can’t make it to Vancouver, you can still get your Passport to the Winter Olympics with Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG).
From Friday, February 12 until Sunday, February 28, each NRG restaurant will represent a country competing in the Olympics. All six restaurants will offer food and beverage specials inspired by a different country.
Canada: ChurchKey will serve putine, a Canadian dinner staple, and a rotating selection of Canadian beers.
Germany: Rustico will offer housemade pretzels and spaetzle with wild mushrooms and have several Bavarian drafts on tap.
Italy: Vermillion Chef Tony Chittum will serve four-cheese ravioli with blood orange negroni and wines from the Italian Peidmont region.
Poland: At Tallula and EatBar, Chef Barry Koslow will serve his version of traditional Polish dumplings paired with Polish-brewed Zywiec porter.
Russia: Enjoy Shortrib stroganoff with housemade egg noodles at Columbia Firehouse. Don’t forget the house-infused peppered Stoli vodka!
USA: Cheer on Team USA at Evening Star Café by eating all-American burgers like a Waffle burger and a Five “B” Stinger burger.
Each time you visit a restaurant, you receive a passport stamp. If you receive a stamp from all six countries/restaurants you will win a $50 gift certificate redeemable at any NRG restaurant.
Celebrate the closing of the Olympics with NRG’s 2nd Annual Oyster Roast at the Evening Star Café parking lot on Sunday, February 28. The roast begins at noon and features an outdoor screening of the gold-medal men’s hockey game.
Sadly, Jamaica isn’t represented. Neither is their bobsled team.
–Aisha Salazar
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Diners with gluten allergies are slowly but surely being acknowledged by area restaurants with increased dining options, and it couldn’t happen any faster for those that suffer from gastrointestinal intolerances to wheat, barley or rye.
Most recently, La Strada in Del Ray announced yesterday that gluten-free pasta dishes are available upon request to guests (no small wonder considering the culinary mine field gluties are forced to navigate on Italian menus bulging with wheat- and flour-based items).
Other restaurants in the area, including some of the establishments that comprise Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG), have been trumpeting gluten-free dining options for a while now (perhaps this forward thinking gluten philosophy has to do with co-owner Michael Babin’s S.O. having a gluten allergy?)
At NRG’s Rustico, gluties can indulge in usually-off-limits pizza pie without fear. Any pie on the menu can be made with a gluten-free chick pea dough (and in fact the menu states except for Eggplant Parmesan and Potato Gnocchi, all items can be made gluten-free). Further, if you thought your Celiac diagnosis was the death knell for enjoying flour-based sweets, guess again. Buzz Bakery Pastry Chef Josh Short makes a mean gluten-free brownie, and gluten-free cakes can be special ordered from the store as well.
Heading around the beltway to Tysons Corner, gluties can enjoy selections from a gluten-free menu at Wildfire culled together by Chef Steve Lukis. The menu houses a wide array of gluten-free pizzas, sandwiches, and most interestingly a wheat-free beer!
Are you a glutie? Check out dcgluties.com to seek out new restaurants and boldy go where no gluties have gone before.
–Amy Loeffler
Hast du etwas Steins fur mich?
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
Photo: Courtesy Rustico
When the air in metropolitan D.C. changes from an asphyxiating solid back to a breathable vapor, it’s time to dust off your dirndl, launder that lederhosen and fête the fall.
Yes, Gut Checkers, I am talking about the time of year devoted to German delights like beer, bratwurst and strudel: Oktoberfest.
No time to head to Munich? Thankfully getting your wienerschnitzel on in Northern Virginia is as easy as eins, zwei, drei. As you can see from the list below we’ve got three recommendations to get you started satisfying your inner Heidi or Hansel for this season’s Wiesn.
Euro Bistro – Sept. 10-13
Kick off the Oktoberfesten happening throughout the region at Euro Bistro in Herndon (this way your Alpine dance moves will be in full effect by the time October actually rolls around). Area favorites the Heidi and Heimat Echo band will perform oompah classics in all their embroidered suede finery, as well as polka veterans, The Continentals. If the Continentals’ motto “polka ‘til you puke” is any indication of the serious stein-swinging they’re likely to induce, the festivities will be one for the record books. A tri-fecta of traditional German beers such as Weihenstephaner, Hofbräu München and Paulaner will be on hand, and let’s not forget the requisite German festival fare: apple strudel, wienerschnitzel, the classic combo of bratwurst and sauerkraut, roast pork, German potato salad and pretzels.
Capital Ale House – Oct. 3
The festivities start in September at Capital Ale House locations in Richmond and Innsbrook, but the non-stop polka party that is Oktoberfest culminates October 3rd in downtown Fredericksburg.
As the host of this giant blocktoberfest, Capital Ale House is providing each guest (appropriate drinking age please) with a complimentary 1-litre, regulation- size Oktoberfest Capital Ale House stein! (Paulaner or Hacker Pschorr beers will be on draft.)
Too young for a stein? The Kinder can enjoy family friendly activities like the balloon twister and performances by The Hirschjager German dancers as well as music by Die Dorf Musikanten & a redux of the Continentals .
Fill your gullet with more German favorites including giant pretzels with sweet mustard, bratwurst, knockwurst, sauerbraten and dumplings with ginger snap gravy, roast chicken, German potato salad, red cabbage and sauerkraut as well as regular menu offerings from the Capital Ale House restaurant. The frolicking starts at noon and ends at 10:00pm.
Rustico – Oct. 10
Beer is the name of the game at this haven for hopheads, so if you’re still feeling the need to belt out a few German drinking songs, round out the Oktoberfest gestalt at Rustico. Honor all things Alpine and autumnal with 20 Oktoberfest-specific beers, not to mention tasty morsels you won’t find scrawled on the dry-erase board at the neighborhood “schnellimbiss,” like last year’s pumpkin ravioli for example. The event is free and food and beer can be purchased separately. Food prices range from 4-8 tickets (each ticket is $1); beer prices range from 5-8 tickets. It’s not just Deutscher debauchery at this event either. Kinder of all ages are welcome to come and enjoy the atmosphere, live music (no less than six bands) and a raffle drawing for a Harley. True to Rustico’s mission to serve as stewards of the community, all of the proceeds from this year’s raffle will go directly to the nonprofit, D.C. Central Kitchen.
–Amy Loeffler
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, August 20th, 2009
If you’re looking to round out your weekend dining plans, Gut Check recommends a stop at Rustico in Alexandria. Word on the street is Chef Steve Mannino is debuting two new menu items: a decadent duck prosciutto with summer melon, and a swordfish club with bacon, chili mayo and lemon parsley chips. Sounds like summer in a sandwich to me.
And speaking of summer, for those of us left to endure the fluvial humidity of the season, let’s not forget the frosty suds list at Rustico tips the scales at 330 plus, and their wood-fired pies run the gamut from traditional pepperoni to duck confit and cracklins.
Pizza and beer night will never be the same.
–Amy Loeffler
Terrapin Beers Bubbling Up Across VA
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
(Image: Terrapin Brewing)
Our very own Rustico is rolling out the red carpet for Athens, Ga.-based Terrapin Beer Co. by hosting a tasting/pint glass giveaway at 6 p.m. this Wednesday night.
As the only Virginia venue taking part in the ongoing D.C. Beer Week festivities, Rustico will help Terrapin introduce itself to the Commonwealth’s hop heads by showcasing their award-winning craft beers, including: Rye Pale Ale, India Brown Ale, Sunray Wheat and Golden Ale, as well as a few specialty brews (Maggie’s Farmhouse Ale, Big Hoppy Monster Vintage 2008).
The restaurant will be giving away Terrapin glassware with each purchase (they’ve got about 450 souvenir glasses to distribute). Meanwhile, chef Steve Mannino is expected to debut his new Reuben pizza to complement the Rye Pale Ale.
If waiting a day to join the Terrapin bandwagon sounds like crazy talk, you can get a jump on your fellow beer aficionados by heading over to Winchester’s Union Jack Pub tonight for their Terrapin preview (6-11 p.m.).
–Warren
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
(Image: National Honey Board)
“You have to be very careful with this thing called Facebook,” ex-Rustico chef Frank Morales chuckled when I called to discuss the latest internet chatter about a suspected aligning with fellow toque Morou Ouattara.
His abrupt exit from the Neighborhood Restaurant Group last week has led to waves of speculation about what the award-winning, brew-embracing Morales might do next.
And while he considers Ouattara a dear friend–”We do get together and have a chat every now and then,” he said of their long-standing relationship–Morales waved off online blather of hitching his wagon to the poised-for-launch Kora.
“There is no future for me at Kora,” he stated. “Except, maybe for dining there.”
Morales suspects the unfounded Kora connection was likely sparked by a low-key invite Ouattara naively broadcast on Morales’ Facebook wall.
“He wrote something like, ‘Hey, let’s get together and talk tomorrow,’” Morales said of the grossly over-analyzed exchange.
And while he is confident Ouattara will continue doing great things at Kora, Morales remains focused on putting together his own restaurant project.
“I like building something,” the well-seasoned chef suggested.
Morales said he’s shopping around for like-minded investors, stressing that he’s more interested in attracting a simpatico support staff than rushing to pounce on some glamorous address.
Which is not to say that he wouldn’t consider righting an established restaurant “with unfocused views” or perhaps signing onto a fledgling restaurant group “with a bigger role for me.”
But any potential hospitality suitors should know that his former employers have set the bar pretty high.
“I use Neighborhood Restaurant Group as a model … they are truly, truly a wonderful group,” he said, citing the career-redefining knowledge he acquired during his time with the Alexandria outfit as an invaluable benefit.
“Now I do beer cuisine. And I absolutely adore it,” he shared.
–Warren