Girl Meets Food

DC Summer Restaurant Week is from Monday, August 16, to Sunday, August 22, offering a three-course lunch for $20.10, and a three-course dinner at $35.10 per person.

But you don’t have to wait.  Here are some restaurants offering prix fixe menus before, during or after DC Summer Restaurant Week.  Check back for updates and additions!

The Fourth Estate Restaurant serves stylish American food in the historic National Press Club, using locally grown produce and meats for a menu that elevates taste above trendiness. They will be extending the special Restaurant Week menu an extra week, from August 23-29, 2010.  They also have a three-course prix pixe menu for $30 per person Thursday through Saturday. The Fourth Estate Restaurant, 529 14th St NW, 13th Floor.  202.662.7638

Nage Bistro will offer its special Restaurant Week menu throughout the entire month of August.  Start with a wild mushroom Baklava with pecans, blueberry compote, thyme, and goat cheese foam.  A choice of entrées includes grilled swordfish with seasoned bread crumbs, watermelon, and fennel; and Cajun meatloaf with rapini, potatoes, sundried tomatoes, and rosemary jus.  Nage Bistro, 1600 Rhode Island Avenue, NW.  202.448.8005.

In addition to offering a three-course Restaurant Week menu of innovative Japanese charcoal-grilled meats, fish and vegetables, Kushi Izakaya & Sushi will offer an expertly crafted sake pairing featuring three varieties of sake for $20.  The sake pairing is available during lunch and dinner throughout Restaurant Week.  Kushi Izakaya & Sushi, 465 K Street, NW.  202.682.3123

Restaurant 3 will extend their Restaurant Week menu for an extra week, from August 23-29, 2010, with a menu of comfort food full of soulful Southern flavor.  Restaurant 3, 2950 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA.  703-524-4440.

Café Saint-Ex will offer an indulgent three-course Restaurant Week menu during lunch only which will extend for an extra week, from August 23-29, 2010.  Cafe Saint-Ex serves up American Bistro style cuisine that comfort, while prepared with the finest quality ingredients.  Café Saint-Ex, 1847 14th Street NW. 202.265.7839

Rasika has a three-course prix fixe menu that start with tikka kaliya, seekh kebabs, clam caldine or sev puri; entrées such as chicken makhani, lamb roganjosh and tandoori salmon; and gulab jamun for dessert.  $30 per person Monday to Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Saturday from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. 633 D Street, NW, with validated valet parking for $7.  202.637.1222

The Oval Room’s three-course prix fixe menu that showcases appetizers such as roasted baby beets with walnuts and goat cheese; and crudo of rockfish with sweet chili, mango and cilantro. Featured entrées include shellfish broth and herb oil; and roasted beef striploin with Swiss chard. Dessert options include almond brown butter cake; or chocolate-red beet cake with and pistachio ice cream. $35 per person from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. nightly. The Oval Room, 800 Connecticut Avenue, NW.  202.463.8700.

Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca’s three-course pre-fixe menu starts with tonno with salad confit yellow fin tuna; or zuppa with chilled fennel soup. Entrée options are paccheri with large rigatoni with raisins, pine nuts and pecorino; and sheep’s milk ricotta ravioli with lemon and spinach. For the sweet, try panna cotta with a liquid black cherry bottom; tiramisu; and crema pasticcera with fried Nutella pastry cream. $30 per person from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca, 1100 New York Ave. NW.  (202) 216-9550.

701 Restaurant’s three-course pre-theater menu features grilled pineapple salad with jalapeño, hearts of palm and lime. Entrées such as roasted cod with lentils, haricot verts, and ver jus emulsion; petite prime New York steak; and goat cheese cavatelli with artichokes and oyster mushrooms. For dessert, try fresh berries with orange compari sorbet; or strawberry gelée with frozen yogurt.  $30 per person from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. 701 Restaurant, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.  202.393.0701.

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Nothing says summer like dining out-of-doors, relaxing in the sun, a gentle breeze cooling your alcohol-induced rosy cheeks.

Don’t know where to go for alfresco dining with tasty vittles and frosty bevs? Girl Meets Food’s got your back like cool shade on a hot afternoon.

The view from Hotel Madera

ADC (Above DC), the exclusive rooftop pool bar at Donovan House, will serve some Zentan favorites while taking in stunning views of the city. Sip a Chan Manhattan made with Bulleit Bourbon and Canton Ginger Liquor; or nosh on Zentan’s sashimi and sushi.  1155 14th Street, NW, 202.379.4366

Summers are sizzling at Masa 14 with a second-story rooftop deck planned for late July. Try the Lemon Lager, made with lemon-basil syrup, and spicy tuna rolls with wasabi, jicama and scallions. 1825 14th Street, NW, 202.328.1414.

Newcomer Agora will serve Turkish and Greek small plates on their sidewalk café. Sip Ouzo, an anise-flavored spirit, and pretend like you’re in the Greek Isles. 1527 17th Street, NW, 202.332.6767.

Highly-anticipated Buddha Bar offers its French-influenced Pan-Asian cuisine on its outdoor patio as well as cocktails such as the Burn, made with Stoli Vanilla and Serrano peppers. 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 202.337.5555.

The bustling patio at Zaytinya not only welcomes you with cocktails like the Greek Sidecar, but your little dog, too. 701 9th Street, NW, 202.630.0800.

Need a respite from the heat? Café Atlántico has a shaded patio along a quiet street. Order a Magic Mojito along with your table-side guacamole. 405 8th Street, NW, 202.393.0812.

Seafood lovers should head over to Hank’s Oyster Bar for freshly shucked oysters, clams and lobster rolls on the cozy outdoor patio. 1624 Q St., NW, 202.462.4265.

Score a table outside at 701 with spectacular views of the Navy Memorial fountain, while enjoying King crab salad and a Limoncello margarita. 701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, 202.393.0701.

Bibiana offers great people-watching on its new patio. Pair creamy Burrata d’ Andria and the Rosanna, with hibiscus liqueur, Frangelico, honey lemon syrup and cranberry. 1100 New York Ave. NW, 202.216.9550.

Snag a seat where the sidewalk ends, at The Bombay Club, serving excellent Indian cuisine near Lafayette Park. 815 Connecticut Ave., NW, 202.659.3727‎. Across the street, The Oval Room oozes elegance on its expansive terrace. 800 Connecticut Ave., NW, 202.463.8700. Or head up Connecticut Avenue to Ardeo-Bardeo (3311 Connecticut Ave., NW, 202.244.6750) where you can have Sunday brunch on the rooftop.

In Bethesda, Redwood offers seasonal, organic and local ingredients on one of the area’s largest patios. Try some Hope In A Glass, with Barbancourt Rhum, cherry liqueur and O.J. 7121 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, MD, 301.656.5515.

The newly-renovated outdoor patio at Black’s Bar & Kitchen is roomy, sleek and even has a tranquil little pond. 7750 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda, MD, 301.652.5525.

The RAMMY Awards are like the Oscars of D.C. area restaurants, and Tuesday’s nominations party saw restaurateurs, celebrity chefs, industry professionals and yours truly, rubbing elbows at The Ritz-Carlton.

Birch & Barley's hostess cupcakes

Nycci and David Nellis of Dishing it Out hosted an evening of excitement, creative cocktails and delicious nibbles.

Complex with layers, Bourbon Steak’s oxtail shooters were warm and creamy with aromatic truffles.

Birch & Barley’s super-fresh Spanish mackerel sat atop thick, spiced yogurt.  I helped myself to five.

What?  They were there.

Eventide’s seafood salad is a balanced treasure trove of tigerfish, calamari, shrimp, and octopus, tossed in lime and orange.

Birch & Barley’s dessert table beckoned seductively with lemony cream puffs—creamy, light and balanced between tart and sweet.  Freshly-made oatmeal creme pies and faux hostess cupcakes drew crowds back for seconds.

PS7's Bittersweet Ilsa

Chantel Tseng of Tabard Inn whipped up beautiful Casablanca Crustas with Cointreau, chamomile honey, lemon and bitters.

PS7’s Gina Chersevani’s pretty-pansy Bittersweet Ilsa was a garden of Absolut, Campari, cinnamon and marigold tea.

Restaurant Eve’s Grog was a sunny burst of rum, lemon verbena, lemon bitters, and lemon juice.  Perfect for spring!

And the Nominees for the 2010 RAMMYS are:

Fine Dining
2941
Michel Richard Citronelle
Minibar by José Andrés
The Oval Room
The Source by Wolfgang Puck

Upscale Casual
Central Michel Richard
The Liberty Tavern
Proof
Vermilion
Zaytinya

New Restaurant
Bibiana
Birch & Barley
Bourbon Steak
Eventide
Inox

Chef
Bertrand Chemel – 2941
Scott Drewno – The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Daniel Giusti – 1789
Vikram Sunderam – Rasika
Haidar Karoum – Proof

Rising Culinary Star
Michael Isabella – Zaytinya
Liam LaCivita – The Liberty Tavern
Shannon Overmiller – Majestic Café
Nicholas Stefanelli – Bibiana
Jon Mathieson – Inox

Pastry Chef
Anthony Chavez – 2941
Amanda Cook – CityZen
Josh Short – Neighborhood Restaurant Group
Fabrice Bendano – Adour
Travis Olson – 1789

Wine Program
2941
Michel Richard Citronelle
Dino
701/Ardeo/Bardeo/Bibiana/Bombay Club/The Oval Room/Rasika
Proof

Beverage/Mixology Program
Brasserie Beck
EatGoodFoodGroup
Founding Farmers
PS7’s
Tabard Inn

Neighborhood Gathering Place
Bar Pilar
Belga Café
Cork
EatBar
Kemble Park Tavern

Restaurant Power Spot
Art & Soul
BLT Steak
Bombay Club
The Source
Teatro Goldoni

Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene
Birch & Barley and ChurchKey
Bourbon Steak
Masa 14
Posto
POV

Manager
Souheil Moussadik – CoCo. Sala
Ryan McCarthy – Passion Food Hospitality
Ashley Williams – Mie N Yu
Mark Politzer – Bourbon Steak
Fernando Contreras – KAZ Sushi Bistro

Employee
Corina August – Mie N Yu
Joe Bolam – Urbana
Adolfo Cajchon – Seasons
Marco Guzman – Café Atlantico
Jose Orantes – Dino

The 2010 RAMMY Award winners will be announced at the RAMMY gala on June 6, 2010 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Tickets to the RAMMYS may be purchased by email or by phone (202) 331-5990.