Nibbles and Sips Around Town ~ December 2018

December 2018
Jordan Wright 

Del Mar at The Wharf DC ~ Kith + Kin ~ Baba Presents New Fall/Winter Menu ~ Hay-Adams’ Deluxe Dining with New Chefs ~ Elegant Holiday Teas at the Mandarin Oriental and the Hay-Adams ~ Santa Visits The Fairmont Hotel ~ Taco Bamba Taqueria ~ Lupo Verde 

Del Mar 

Menu cover art

For Fabio and Maria Trabocchi Del Mar is the culmination of their dreams and continuing proof of their domination in the pantheon of DC restauranteurs.  Located on The Wharf DC, this one is without doubt, the largest and the most glamorous to date of all their restaurants.

The downstairs bar

Soaring ceilings and massive windows overlooking the harbor give one the sense of being on a luxury liner ready to pull anchor and set sail.  Unfortunately, it is also the noisiest in their collection, as nothing seems to have been done to buffer the clattering sounds of servers and the chattering sounds of cheerful patrons.  Tile floors don’t help ameliorate the sound either.

An upstairs dining room

We climbed a sweeping staircase to dine in one of the many rooms where glittering chandeliers, made from suspended glass goblets and ancient murals depicting sea voyages in clipper ships, compete for attention with comfy, contemporary navy and red velvet chairs and brass sconces.  The room is framed by black-and-white tiled floors and velvet drapes.  It is a stunning space – more formal and brightly lit than the other dining rooms.  So bright and nautical, that as the evening progressed, I felt as if I’d be forced to confess to the crimes of my wayward ancestor – the notorious Blackbeard.  But I digress.  We came for the food informed predominantly by Maria’s Spanish heritage.

I have long been a fan of the gazpacho at the now-shuttered Casa Luca, their 9th Street bistro.  This version is different.  It is served with small bits of Spanish blue cheese – a concept borrowed from one of the servers whose Spanish grandmother serves it that way.  The velvety-smooth cold soup is done as a pour over and served with a sweet tomato sorbet.  It is heavenly.

Seafood paella

Paella is one of those iconic dishes that defines Spain’s cuisine all over the world.  Here it is served for two in a large paella pan with a sumptuous mélange of perfectly charred seafood.  It is a masterpiece to behold, and the servers know it.  They deliver its bounty to the table as though it were the Holy Grail.  Unfortunately for us the seafood was overcooked – thus dry – which is not reflected in the photo I took of it in all its glory.

Sobresada

The dish we went gaga over is an intriguing one with a back story.  It’s a recipe borrowed from Maria’s Spanish grandmother.  Sobresada is a spreadable sausage aged for one year in a pig’s stomach and hung in a cave.  Made for the restaurant in Chicago by a butcher who has the perfect conditions to properly cure it, this spreadable sausage is brought tableside encased in its birth home.  There the waiter carves out individual portions plated for each guest.  The basketball-sized pig container reveals the most delectable spread to smear on toasted bread.  It is divine.  You can even have it at the bar if you like.  Flown in weekly by the dozens of pounds, it is destination-worthy.  You will thank me.  All other dishes we dined on faded from memory.

Del Mar is located at The Wharf, DC, 91 Wharf Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024.

Kith + Kin 

Ever since I met Kwame Onwuachi this summer, I have been eager to experience his food and I’m not the only one.  Unfortunately, the first restaurant he opened, Shaw Bijou, had a set menu with a soaring price tag, and only the one-percenters could afford to dine on his much-lauded food even after his soaring success on Top Chef.

Chef Kwame of Kith + Kin

Alas, the restaurant shut its doors within three months after a great deal of controversy that he had bitten off more than he could chew, so to speak.  To his credit, the Brooklyn-born Nigerian dusted himself off, got a deluxe restaurant to helm and we 99 percent are all the better for it.

The dining room at Kith + Kin

Kith + Kin is beautifully ensconced in the Intercontinental Hotel at The Wharf DC.  The restaurant itself is an extended rectangle – a beautiful space, light and airy and decorated in soft, cream and grey tones.  Separated from the picturesque harbor by a narrow cobblestone street, it boasts high ceilings and large windows that open in fair weather.  Everything we ate was first rate including the service and the cocktails, but most especially Onwuachi’s style of cooking that ranges from Nigerian and Jamaican to West African, the Caribbean and the American South where his travels have taken him over his 25 years.

Mom Dukes Shrimp

We swooned over Mom Dukes Shrimp, Mushroom Forest and Rouget Escovitch, a Jamaican red snapper dish served with red beans and plantains, and a deeply indulgent Chocolate Rum Cake with Carrot Ice Cream, Milk Foam Tuiles and Sorrel.

Jamaican Red Snapper with Red Beans and Rice

The cake was ultra-chocolatey and the carrot ice cream… who knew?… scrumptious.  Flavors were familiar and not.  There was always that elusive ingredient which added to the mystery and that we played a guessing game trying to pin down.

Chocolate Rum Cake with Carrot Ice Cream and Milk Foam Tuiles

Kith + Kin is located in the Intercontinental Hotel at The Wharf DC. 801 Wharf Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024.

Lupo Marino 

Lupo Marino’s new chef is Juan Prieto.  Formerly of Miami Beach where he worked at the ultra-modern Juvia, Stephen Starr’s brasserie Le Zoo in Bal Harbour, and two Art Deco properties – The Vintro and the Japanese-inspired Katsuya at The Raleigh where he specialized in seafood.

I have written about this cozy restaurant which has had its hits-and-misses, but is now settled in nicely and in a busy spot in The Wharf neighborhood.  Apart from its small plates, wood-fired pizzas, and aperitivos, the restaurant will feature a special dish on weekends through December.

Lobster Cacciucco

I am absolutely crazy about this dish (I had a preview last month) and the careful way Prieto prepares it.  It’s called cacciucco – a rich, tomato-based, Tuscan fish stew with lobster, mussels and head-on shrimp.  Don’t miss it!  Pro tip:  Pick up some of their Italian products to take home.  I brought back a pound of the paccheri – ziti on steroids – perfect as a base for slow-cooked meat sauces.

Lupo Marino is located at The Wharf DC at 40 Pearl Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024.

In Which I Finally Get to Taco Bamba Taqueria 

What took me so long?  A rare trip to Vienna (Virginia!) found me in a small strip mall where I spied a Taco Bamba outpost.  Fortune favors the adventurer.  Victor Albisu, a RAMW “Chef of the Year”,  is showing the burbs how amazing tacos and carnitas made with a vivid imagination and unique ingredients can be.

Two tacos – Pulpo al Pastor and Bulgogi Bullfight

Charred octopus, slow-cooked goat, tripe and tongue are among the more unusual, with poutine taco offered at the Falls Church location only.  A Mick Nugget taco surprises with crispy fried chicken.  Look for the Japanese ingredients that can be found throughout the extensive menu.

Quick report: I returned a few more times to sample some of the other offerings.  With tacos, nachos, seviche and house made salsas you could eat there a dozen times and never have the same thing twice.  Try the pozole – pork stew with hominy – tis the season for this tummy-warmer – and finish with a slice of trés léches cake.  It’s the bamba!  For all locations visit Taco Bamba.

Game Changer at the Hay-Adams with a New Chef de Cuisine and Pastry Chef 

From the left Hay-Adams Executive Chef Nicolas Legret, Pastry Chef Elenor Apollonio-Frantz and Chef de Cuisine Jacopo Beni

A recent dinner in The Lafayette at the Hay-Adams Hotel showcased the talents of new Chef de Cuisine Jacopo Beni and Elenor Apolonio-Frantz as Pastry Chef. The duo, who have  Michelin experience under their toques, will work under the direction of Executive Chef Nicolas Legret producing contemporary American cuisine in The Lafayette fine dining restaurant, as well as my favorite hangout near the White House, the legendary Off The Record bar where the burgers and politico sightings are off the chain.

At the four-course dinner we were served on some of restaurant’s lovely new Wedgewood china that sports a pattern used only in one other hotel in the world.

The Hay-Adams new Wedgewood china

We began with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails before taking our seats for a parade of sumptuously prepared dishes.  Consider, if you will Beef Wellington. Though it was prepared without the foie gras interior, it was heavenly and a divine treat when you’re aiming to impress or out celebrating a special occasion.

Beef Wellington carved at table

I dined there early this year and note the menu is braver with the inclusion of more seasonal vegetables accompanied by classic sauces.  Think French, not the heavy cream sauces of yore and with locally-grown ingredients. I have always thought Legret was a master in the kitchen, and now he has Beni to teach and, as well, be influenced by Beni’s experience cooking in some of the leading restaurants of the world.

Beef Wellington receives its red wine sauce pour over

For the holiday season Legret and Beni are creating a traditional celebratory menu featuring flavorful delights for teatime.  Guests enjoy a selection of tea sandwiches including English Cucumber with tomato and mint; Farmhouse Egg Salad with Bibb lettuce; Smoked Salmon and Lemon Chive Cream Cheese; and Tarragon Celery Tuna Salad.  Children will relish their own special menu featuring Hot Chocolate and Fruit Teas, Assorted Tea Sandwiches, including Ham & Cheese, Peanut Butter & Marmalade, and fresh fruit salad.

The Hay-Adams dressed up for the holidays

For the sweet side of tea service, Pastry Chef Elenor Apolonio-Frantz plans a selection of Viennese and French confectioneries. Highlights include Warm Orange and Cherry Scones with Devonshire cream and organic strawberry preserve; Raspberry Pistachio Opera Cake; Chocolate Choux Puffs; French Fruit Tartlets, Passion Fruit, Coconut, Mango and Pineapple Vacherin and Salted Caramel Macarons. Teas are from the Mighty Leaf Tea Company. Now doesn’t that sound divine?

The Hay-Adams is located at 800 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC20006. For reservations call 202 638-6600. .

 

Baba Restaurant & Cocktail Bar Continues Its Evolution 

Little Baba, one of the coziest, most intimate speakeasies around, has launched its new winter menu, and it’s filled with plenty of Serbian soul food.  Unlike the brightly lit, white-tile and fern décor of its upstairs sister restaurant, Ambar, this small spot urges you to plant yourself into a comfy banquette and veg out while devouring small bites and a menu of specialty cocktails.  Perfect for date night or a small group of friends, owner Ivan Iricanin and partner Uros Smiljanic keep their culinary compass constantly set on re-fresh mode.  It seems Baba is their personal test lab for new dishes culled and updated from classic Serbian recipes.

On a recent visit we taste tested a dozen dishes and came away wowed.  From one of the best steak tartares to an interesting twist on the typical bacon-wrapped dates.

Tuna and beet tartare

Here tender prunes sub for dates – a far superior combination.  Wrapped in a smoky bacon, they are stuffed with creamy goat cheese and drizzled with balsamic glaze.

Sautéed forest mushrooms with polenta and truffles

Other delicious small plates are salmon tartare with beets, quinoa and pine nuts, sautéed forest mushrooms with crispy polenta and truffles, sumptuous five-hour lamb, barley risotto with vegetables and mascarpone, and eggplant with apricots, feta, toasted almonds and Kalamata jam.

Eggplant with apricots, feta, toasted almonds and Kalamata jam

Appetite whetted?  Find your favorites.  Chacun à son goût!

Steak tartare

On the cocktail front,  award-winning mixologist Esteban Ordonez has created some new winter-warmers.  As is his style, Ordonez uses fresh herbs and fruits, house made syrups, and Serbian liqueurs to concoct these un-ordinary cocktails.  The bar boasts 36 varieties of rakia, the Serbian liqueur that’s employed in several of the cocktails.  Fun Fact:  It take 40 pounds of raspberries to make one bottle of rakia!

For music lovers: After 8pm till closing, it’s Acoustic Night on Wednesdays and Latin Night with a DJ on Thursdays.

Coming soon: The owners’ Street Guys Hospitality Group is busy totally transforming the former La Tasca into the Mexican-themed, Buena Vista.  It’s directly across the street.  How convenient!

Baba is located at 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201.  www.Baba.bar

Christmas at the Mandarin Oriental 

In the spirit of the holiday season the Mandarin Oriental DC is celebrating with festive décor, culinary treats, relaxing spa treatments, and special visits from the North Pole. The halls are decked with holiday cheer featuring an edible replica of the neighboring Jefferson Memorial created by Executive Pastry Chef Christophe Frigara.

Make a date for the Holiday Tea set amid a backdrop of seasonal décor and boasting of multiple tiers of cakes, cookies, and savory treats for children and adults alike. Friday through Sunday through December 23rd at 2:30 – 4:30pm.  The Holiday Tea will host Santa Claus on December 15th, 16th, 22nd, and the 23rd.

Gather the family and enjoy an elegant Christmas Day brunch buffet at Muze by Executive Chef Stefan Kauth with traditional holiday favorites and specialty selections including an omelet station, cheeses and charcuterie, salads, carving station, sushi, dim sum, and little fans buffet. December 25th, 2018, 12-4pm.  The Mandarin Oriental Hotel is located at 1330 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20024.

Holiday Tea at The Fairmont Hotel 

Sleigh bells are ringing at Fairmont Hotel in Georgetown where Santa has checked into his DC residence bringing comfort and joy to all who believe in the magic of the holiday season. And we do!  Check out Pastry Chef Charles Froke’s Georgetown University’s Healy Hall crafted in gingerbread.  On display in the hotel’s Santa Suite and free for guests to visit on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am – 3pm.

Georgetown’s Pastry Chef Charles Froke, has created Georgetown University’s Healy Hall in Gingerbread.

All children, naughty or nice, are invited to stop by Santa’s suite with their parents on Saturdays and Sundays between 11am and 3pm through December 23rd.   Each child will enjoy yummy treats and a holiday keepsake to commemorate the visit. Those writing a letter to Santa, while in his suite, will receive one back.  Due to his busy schedule he will depend on the postal service, rather than his sleigh, to deliver his response.

Georgie, Fairmont’s new Canine Ambassador is a 12-week old yellow Labrador.  She was adopted by the hotel from Guiding Eyes for the Blind and she loves to meet families. You can find her in the Santa Suite on Saturdays.

Georgie, Fairmont’s new Canine Ambassador, visits the Santa in his Suite on Weekends-

In preparation for Santa’s check-in, Fairmont has partnered with elves who have been busy transforming his suite into a whimsical winter wonderland.  Exquisitely decorated trees twinkle with a host of enchanting details – from an elegant, mirrored dining table set with places for Santa and his special guests to a letter-writing station for leaving holiday wish lists.

Santa’s Suite is available for family visits at no charge, however guests are encouraged to make a donation to Horton’s Kids during visits. For complimentary admission acquire tickets on Eventbrite. Fairmont Hotel is located at 2401 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037.

Holiday Happenings

Jordan Wright
December 3, 2018
Special to The Alexandria Times

Christmas at the Old Bull & Bush – Originally staged in the Old Vat Room at Arena Stage, this delightful show harkens back to the famed Hampstead, England public house circa 1918.  The 6-person variety show promises to jolly up your holidays with Vaudeville-era tunes, Christmas carols, silly jokes, a sing-along and a moving tribute, Christmas in the Trenches, honoring the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. With Christmas crackers, British beers and sausage rolls for purchase, the classic British music hall entertainment starring Sherri L. Edelen and Brian O’Connor runs through December 30th at MetroStage – 1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria, 22314.  For tickets visit www.metrostage.org.

Jimmy Mavrikes, Katherine Riddle, and Sherri L. Edelen ~ Photo credit C. Stanley Photography

My Father’s Dragon – Dragons are real and imaginations soar in this exciting production directed and choreographed by Tori Tolentino. Join Elmer Elevator on Wild Island to rescue a captive baby dragon accompanied by a cat companion.  With flying puppets and a ride-on dragon, this wordless fantasy-filled adventure is sure to please all ages. Through January 6th at 1800 South Bell Street, Arlington in Crystal City.  For tickets and information visit www.SyneticTheater.org.

Photo credit Johnny Shyrock

A Christmas Carol at The Little Theatre of Alexandria – Enjoy a return of the Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic wherein Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserable Victorian humbug, travels with ghostly guides through Christmas past, present, and future to find the true meaning of the holidays. Directed by local actor, Shelagh Roberts, the show is complete with special effects, Victorian carols and, of course, the adorable Tiny Tim. Through December 16th at 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For tickets call 703 683-0496 or visit www.thelittletheatre.com.

(l-r) Larry Grey and Brittany Huffman in “A Christmas Carol” in Holiday Happenings ~ Photographer: Rich Farella

Christmas at Mount Vernon – Tour George and Martha Washington’s mansion by candlelight and make merry with 18th century dancing, fireside refreshments and caroling on December 7th, 8th and 16th. Meet Aladdin the Camel, watch holiday fireworks on December 15th and 16th, hear period music, experience a military encampment and more. Evening fireworks on December 14th and 15th. Activities for children include making ornaments, hearing Christmas stories told by the Washingtons’ friends and family, and chocolate making demonstrations. Some events are ticketed. For tickets and all other information visit www.MountVernon.org.

Christmas illuminations at Mount Vernon ~ Courtesy of Mount Vernon

 

Billy Elliot the Musical Matthew Gardiner directs and choreographs this spectacular Tony, Grammy and Oscar Award® winner with a thrilling score by Elton John. Based on the acclaimed film of an 11-year-old whose dream is to dance, in a blue-collar coal mining town in Ireland, it’s boxing his dad sees for the boy’s future. This heartwarming story, with a hilarious scene of Margaret Thatcher stealing back the kiddies Christmas gifts, swept the Tony, Drama Desk and Olivier Awards for “Best Musical”.  Through January 6th at Signature Theatre – 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA 22206.  For tickets and information visit www.SigTheatre.org.

Owen Tabaka (Billy Elliot) and the cast of Billy Elliot at Signature Theatre. ~ Photo by Christopher Mueller

Beautiful ~ The Carole King Musical ~ National Theatre

Jordan Wright
November 29, 2018 

Carnegie Hall. Sarah Bockel (Carole King) ~ Photo credit: Joan Marcus

Where were you when you first heard The Righteous Brothers sing “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” or “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles?  Maybe you were dancing to “Locomotion” by Little Eva or “Up on the Roof” by The Drifters, all songs written by Brooklyn-born Carole King (Sarah Bockel) and her husband Gerry Goffin (Dylan S. Wallach).  Working for music producer Don Kirshner (James Clow), known as “The Man with the Golden Ear”, their partnership produced hit after hit keeping them on the pop charts throughout the 60’s.

1650 Broadway. (l to r) James Clow (Don Kirshner), Dylan S. Wallach (Gerry Goffin), Sarah Bockel (Carole King), Jacob Heimer (Barry Mann) and Alison Whitehurst (Cynthia Weil). Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

During their early career lyricist Gerry and the precociously talented composer Carole churned out hits at Aldon Music, a music publishing house and hit factory in New York’s Brill Building, where they worked side-by-side with fellow hit makers, Cynthia Weil (Alison Whitehurst) and Barry Mann (Jacob Heimer) in friendly competition.

Beautiful tells the story of their romance, marriage and tumultuous breakup.  The simple story chronicles their struggles and successes and ultimately King’s solo career, which broke the pop mold with the release of her first album – the four-time Grammy Award-winning, “Tapestry”.

“The Locomotion.” The Touring Cast of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

The latest national tour has rearranged the order of the music.  It now opens with Carole on piano at Carnegie Hall.  She is singing “So Far Away”, accompanying herself and showing confidence with her trademark masses of wavy hair gowned in a blue-flowered maxi-dress.  It was not always so for the shy, yet ambitious teen who wrote songs for the top African American artists of that era.  The plot then takes us back to the beginning of Carole’s career, when as a whip-smart sixteen-year old, Carole bucked her Jewish mother Genie (Suzanne Grodner with plenty of comic relief), to peddle her tunes in the Big Apple where she has an auspicious meeting with Kirshner.

The Drifters. (l to r) Dimitri Joseph Moïse, Deon Releford-Lee, Nathan Andrew Riley and Michael Stiggers, Jr. Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

A medley of hits from the 50’s includes some of the greatest hits from that era – “Poison Ivy”, “Love Potion #9”, “Yakety Yak” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” to name a few.  Dressed in flashy sharkskin suits and skinny ties, The Drifters and The Shirelles in their trademark beaded dresses perform the couple’s greatest hits, along with Little Eva (Alexis Tidwell), discovered when she was their babysitter and the entirely fictitious Janelle Woods (McKynleigh Alden Abraham), a glamorous pop singer who becomes Gerry’s extramarital lover.

Queens College. Sarah Bockel (Carole King) and Dylan S. Wallach (Gerry Goffin) ~ Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

The musical is light on script, but heavy on songs, twenty-seven numbers backed by a twelve-piece orchestra.  But that’s just fine as you’ll probably be silently singing along, tapping your toes and recalling your first dance, first kiss or first breakup.  Goosebumps kick in with “Some Kind of Wonderful”, Gerry and Carole’s first duet, and The Righteous Brothers big number, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”.

Scenic Designer Derek McLane captures the mood by creating a wall of instruments and tricking out the musical performances with hundreds of moving, neon-colored lights.  Mid-century modern furnishings reflect Carole’s home and office.

“Natural Woman.” Sarah Bockel (Carole King) ~ Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

 

Bockel does a superb job as Carole, especially at the end of Act Two when she lets loose her powerful voice on the biggest hits from the album “Tapestry” – “Natural Woman”, later covered by Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige, and “Beautiful”.  The musical reflects Carole’s coming of age as an independent composer and soloist who has emerged from pain and loss to find joy and recognition as an artist in her own right.

See it if you love the music of this era, or even for the music with its sweet harmonies and catchy lyrics that draws us back to an age of innocence.

Book by Douglas McGrath; Words and Music by Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil; Scenic Design by Derek McLane; Costume Design by Alejo Vietti; Lighting Design by Peter Kaczorowski; Sound Design by Brian Ronan; Wig and Hair Design by Charles G. LaPointe.

Through December 30th at the National Theatre, Washington DC – 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004.  For tickets and information visit www.TheNationalDC.org or call 202 628-6161.

The 12th Annual Alexandria Film Festival Comes to Old Town This Weekend

Jordan Wright
November 7, 2018

The 12th Annual Alexandria Film Festival will bring over 70 films to area film enthusiasts from November 8-11.  For followers of this festival, it just gets better every year.  Expect to see shorts, documentaries and indie films that may never hit mainstream theaters, but may have debuted at film festivals around the country.  Talk with hot new filmmakers who are enjoying media buzz.

The celebration begins Thursday, Nov. 8 with a free program of six short films, screening outdoors at Waterfront Park in Old Town.  The Free Flowing Musical Experience will kick things off at 6:30pm, with shorts beginning at 7pm with free popcorn for the first 100 guests.

AMC Hoffman 22 Theater on Eisenhower Avenue and Beatley Central Library on Duke Street will serve as the principal venues.  More than 60 filmmakers will be in attendance presenting their films over the festival weekend.  See full program details at www.AlexFilmFest.com

Ticketed shows can be found at www.AlexFilmFest.Eventbrite.com for $12. or $15. at the door.  An All-Fest Pass is also available for $50. at www.AlexFilmFest.Eventbrite.com or for $70. at the door.

With more than 50 premieres of short and feature-length films, the festival features films from around the world including Canada, France, India, Lebanon, Spain, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, the U.K., and the U.S.  Local filmmakers will screen new work and several directors, producers, actors and crew members will take questions from the audience after each screening. We love talkbacks!

Free screenings at Beatley Central Library are on Friday, November, 10th from 10:30am – 5:30pm at 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria.

Ticketed screenings at AMC Hoffman Theater 22 are on Saturday and Sunday, November 10th and 11th at 206 Swamp Fox Road, Alexandria.  Tickets are available at www.AlexFilmFest.Eventbrite.com.

Highlights include:

  • Burke and Herbert Bank Family Showcase – Features five premieres for, by, or about younger viewers and their families, presented by nine filmmakers including the grand prizewinner in the national video contest “Lights, Camera, Save.”
  • Salute to Service Members Showcase – Features four films, including three premieres on Veterans Day Weekend. Veterans and active service members will be honored with free admittance plus one guest to this showcase.  First come, first served. Guaranteed seating must be made through advance purchase online.
  • Two “Film Noir” Showcases – Extend the season’s Halloween chills with these thrillers.
  • Meant to be Broken” is a clever “dramedy” about a mild-mannered guy who has never broken a rule, while he tries to cope with some very bad news by breaking them all. Q&A following with D.C. filmmaker Jonathan Zuck.
  • The Makeover” is about a conservative policy wonk who learns to embrace his feminine, alter ego, Giselle. Q&A with Alexandria Filmmaker Jane Pittman and Giselle Donnelly.  World premiere.
  • Hunting Lands” is a story about a veteran-turned-recluse who witnesses the aftermath of a heinous crime and takes justice into his own hands. A Virginia premiere that will keep you guessing!
  • Trickster” – A man’s life is forever changed when he meets a beautiful young woman who needs help. A ‘Twilight Zone’ meets ‘Inception’ thriller.  East coast premiere.  Q&A with filmmaker Jamie Paolinetti.
  • American Exploitation: The Slaves Among Us” – Investigates sex trafficking in suburban America.  Q&A with filmmakers Benjamin Brothers and John Carter.  World premiere.
  • American Relapse” – An inside look at the heroin epidemic in Southern Florida and the corrupt underground “rehabilitation” industry that sprung up, not to combat but to profit. Q&A with filmmaker Pat McGee.
  • Iron Orchard” – Virginia Premiere of an epic rise and fall of a Texas oilman torn between love and ambition. Q&A with filmmaker Camille Chambers.

The festival concludes with an awards ceremony and closing reception on Sunday, November 18th.

Born Yesterday ~ Ford’s Theatre

Jordan Wright
September 27, 2018

“The whole damn history of the world is the struggle between the selfish and the unselfish,” pronounces Ed Devery, Harry Brock’s outlier attorney.  It was this line from Born Yesterday that put playwright Garson Kanin square in the sights of Senator Joe McCarthy during the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings.  Described by the Roman Catholic Press as “Marxist satire’,  Kanin wrote it as a frothy comedy with a powerful message.  One as relevant today as it was 68 years ago.

Cody Nickell (as Paul Verrall), Kimberly Gilbert (as Billie Dawn) and Edward Gero (as Harry Brock). Photo by Carol Rosegg

Under the astute direction of Aaron Posner, Kanin’s witty comedy enjoyed a sensational and timely revival last night.  How could it miss with Edward Gero in the leading role as Harry Brock, the crooked, vote-buying, junkyard magnate?  When I wondered how Gero could segué so seamlessly from his recent award-winning role as Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in The Originalistto a low-life conman from the other side of the law, he reminded me, “They are both from New Jersey.”  Ah well, so are the best tomatoes.  Both plays are set in Washington, DC with plenty of references to bribery and corruption, making it delightfully engaging for Beltway insiders.

Well-drawn characters are what give this comedy its undeniable spark.  There’s Brock’s cousin, Eddie (Evan Casey) who is Ed Norton to Brock’s Jackie Gleason (if you remember that slapstick duo); Billie Dawn (Kimberly Gilbert), Brock’s gal, the intellectually-challenged ex-chorus girl who wises up with the help of Paul Verrall (Cody Nickell) the Reporter, Billie’s mentor and savior; and Ed Devery (Eric Hissom), Brock’s alcoholic lawyer and enforcer.  Senator Norval Hedges (Todd Scofield) is Brock’s patsy.

Todd Scofield (as Senator Norval Hedges), Naomi Jacobson (as Mrs. Hedges) and Edward Gero (as Harry Brock) . Photo by Carol Rosegg

Gero does a formidable job of being the tough guy, strong arming and buying his way to the top, but it’s Gilbert’s lightness and seamless twist from dumb blonde to smart cookie that command the most attention. The minions pinballing in and out of Brock’s orbit provide additional humor to this lively farce.

Casting Director, Patrick Pearson, has done a bang-up job of pairing of Gero with Gilbert who are hilarious in a gin game scene that has Billie squealing with delight as she picks up all Harry’s discards, beating him handily and showing she’s pretty good at keeping score, a fast learner, and even better at pegging Harry for setting her up. 

Edward Gero (as Harry Brock) and Cody Nickell (as Paul Verrall) . Photo by Carol Rosegg

Recommended for Beltway newshounds looking for an evening of political comic redemption.

With Matt Dewberry as A Bellhop/A Barber; Naomi Jacobsen as Mrs. Hedges/Helen/A Manicurist; and Jamie Smithson as The Assistant Manager/A Bootblack/ A Waiter.

Spectacular Set Design of a two-story, swank hotel suite by Daniel Lee Conway; Costume Design by Kelsey Hunt, Lighting Design by Nancy Schertler; Sound Design and Original Music by John Gromada.

The cast of the Ford’s Theatre production of Garson Kanin’s “Born Yesterday,”
Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Through October 21st at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004.  For tickets call 888 616.0270 or visit www.Fords.org.

Nibbles and Sips Around Town ~ September 23rd 2018

Jordan Wright
September 23, 2018
Photo credit: Jordan Wright

Paella Nights at the Fairmont ~ Muze Restaurant Earns High Marks ~ Eagerly Awaited Eaton Hotel Opens ~ Atlantic Magazine’s Upcoming Three-day Festival ~ Mount Vernon Launches Aged Whiskey and Hemp Demonstrations

Paella Nights at the Fairmont Hotel

Paella by Chef Jordi Gallardo in the gardens

Blink and You’ll Miss It:  The Fairmont Hotel has been serving up delicioso paella nights in its stunning gardens on Wednesdays throughout the month of September.  The last one is tonight, Wednesday September 26th

Serrano ham on Paella night ~ Tortillas de Patatas ~ Anchovies

Spanish-born Executive Chef Jordi Gallardo oversees a fantastic menu of gazpacho, pan con tomate, manchego cheese, serrano ham freshly cut from the bone, tortillas de patatas, a selection of Spanish olives, fresh anchovies and caramel flan.  Cozy fire pits and comfy outdoor sofas present a luxe venue for Chef Gallardo’s live paella station. 

Using a family recipe from his hometown of Barcelona, he prepares authentic paella featuring shrimp, chicken and mussels.  At $10.00 per person you’d be a fool to miss it. The hotel is also offering specially priced glasses and bottles of Spanish Cava and red and white Spanish wines along with Mahou Cinco Estrellas Beer at $5.00 each and Er Boqueron Gastro Ale at $7.00 each.

Flamenco guitarist Ricardo Marlow

Accompanying the festival is renowned Flamenco Guitarist Ricardo Marlow who has played with musicians of other genres, namely Charlie Byrd, Frank Vignola, Canut and Andre Reyes of the Gipsy Kings, The Washington Ballet, Kivanç Oner, Duende Camaron and many others. 

No reservations necessary. Just go!  The Fairmont Hotel is located at 2401 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037.  www.Fairmont.com

Muze’s East West Kitchen at the Mandarin Oriental

The Mandarin Oriental’s grand entrance

Off the top of my head I can name a scant few restaurants in DC where service meets food meets elegant ambiance.  Throw in a waterfront view and I’m all yours.  For a milestone birthday, I chose Muze in the Mandarin Oriental in hopes of a hushed dining spot with tables well-spaced apart, gracious service and fine dining with a view.  We were not disappointed.  Just entering the grandiose massive-columned lobby, dripping in marble with bespoke gardens beyond, foretells a luxury dining experience.  I hadn’t dined there since Executive Chef Eric Ziebold left the restaurant in 2014 when it was CityZen.  It stayed shuttered for a time after his departure and now a redesign and new chef have reinvigorated its stellar reputation.

Muze Dining Room ~ View of the Wharf Harbor 

We kicked off the celebration with a bottle of Moët toasting merrily while reveling in a glorious sunset over the Potomac River.  If you like a view, this second story, bird’s-eye panorama is breathtaking.

Angus Beef Tataki 

Executive Chef, Stefan Kauth was on holiday and our Labor Day meal was prepared by Sous Chef Justin Houghtaling who sent out a refreshing amuse bouche shooter of lemongrass, honeydew, coconut and mint to tease and awaken the palate.  With so many appealing starters and salads to choose from we could hardly decide and opted for four for the three of us – Tatsoi & Arugula Salad with pea shoots and pickled lotus root, Angus Beef Tataki with two sauces, Ahi Poke with bits of pineapple and house made shrimp chips, and Crab, Corn & Coconut Soup.  Once we’d ordered three waiters sprang into action orchestrating our courses, answering questions and promptly refilling our wineglasses throughout the evening.  It doesn’t get any more attentive than this.

Tatsoi Salad with lotus root ~ Amuse bouche ~ Crab & Corn Chowder

Each dish was beautifully refined reflecting a unique Asian-inspired personality coupled with French technique.  However, we all agreed that the soup stole our hearts.  Enhanced by red pepper crème fraiche, grilled corn niblets, pickled fresno pepper and Thai basil, it achieved a sublimely restrained balance that wowed us.  Woe betide to my poor husband who had to tolerate a duet of spoons reaching across the table for yet another taste.

Ahi poke with shrimp chips~ Lobster Pappardelle ~ Corn crusted Black Grouper

Because our entrée choices ranged from Wagyu beef to corn crusted black grouper to lobster pappardelle, a 2015 Willamette Valley pinot noir from Lemelson Vineyards was selected. During our meal Chef Houghtaling came to the table to gauge our response and garner oohs and aahs.  As for dessert, nothing could prepare us for the exquisite and delicious sweet finales whose brief menu descriptions inadequately revealed the sum of their parts.

Berry Cheesecake with strawberry sponge, raspberry and strawberry marmalade, strawberry emulsion and lemon-scented mascarpone

All this and perfect service too.  After some prodding, we discovered our extraordinarily knowledgeable waiter, Nicanor, ‘Nic’, had been in the employ of chefs as legendary as Yannick Cam and Jean Louis Palladin, and in more recent years, Fabio Trabocchi at Fiola.  He had also spent 25 years at the Ritz-Carlton seeing to the needs of sophisticated diners.  Ask for Nic when you make your reservation and tell him I sent you.

Muze is located at 1330 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20024. For reservations visit www.MandarinOriental.com or call 202.787.6148

Eagerly Awaited Eaton Workshop Hotel Opens

Eaton Workshop Hotel

Eaton Workshop Hotel wants innovators, artists, and social and creative incubators to work, stay and lounge at their hip new hotel, Kintsugi café, rooftop bar and lounge, and upcoming restaurant.  Did I mention the secret bar?  More on that later. 

Kintsugi Cafe at Eaton

Executive Chef Tim Ma led a tour of the exciting new space that will cater to hip travelers and trendy residents.  Designed by Parts & Labor as a platform for creatives and progressive millennials, the hotel will feature Ma’s restaurant American Son due to open September 28th.  Though Italian food was the original concept the giant wood-fired pizza oven will now be used for roasting vegetables for his Korean-inspired cuisine.  Nights on the rooftop will feature a DJ after dark and guests are expected to linger in the hotel’s many workspaces and library.

Executive Chef Tim Ma takes a break on the rooftop patio at Eaton

As the driving force behind the hotel’s food and beverage program, Ma’s influence can be felt in all aspects including the recently open wellness-influenced Kintsugi café featuring craft coffee from Red Rooster Coffee of Floyd, Virginia, mushroom coffee, wellness teas from strong>Neakita, juices from Misfit Juicery and pastries, including gluten-free and vegan options from Pastry Chef David Collier.

The Alice in Wonderland mural in Allegory’s secret bar

If you’re in the know, you’ll find the secret Allegory cocktail bar hidden beyond a series of ordinary-looking doors on the main level towards the back of the hotel.  This stunning, romantically-lit bar features a large mural of Alice in Wonderland as seen by Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to integrate an all-white school in New Orleans in post-Jim Crow America.

The rooftop bar and lounge at Eaton

Eaton Hotel is located at 1201 K Street, NW, Washington, DC. For information and reservations visit www.EatonWorkshop.com.

The Atlantic Festival Partners with The Aspen Institute

October’s three-day festival will present some of today’s most influential thinkers and leaders in technology, politics, business and the arts.  Why do we care?  Well, for one thing, José Andrés is one of the speakers. And don’t we want to hear what former Secretary of State John Kerry, Audie Cornish Host of NPR’s “All things Considered”, Actor and Playwright, Harvey Fierstein, and dozens more from varying fields of expertise have to say about our future and the current state of the nation?  We do!  It promises to be the most comprehensive gathering of CEOs, politicians from both sides of the aisle, techies, award-winning reporters and intellectuals – all in one spot.  Actually it’s a few spots including Sidney Harman Hall, the National Portrait Gallery, Hotel Monaco, Gallup Institute and others, but all close together in Penn Quarter. October 2-4, 2018.  For tickets and information go to www.TheAtlanticFestival.com.  See you there!

Mount Vernon Releases Limited Edition Aged Rye Whiskey

Mount Vernon Releases Four-Year Aged Whiskey

George Washington was America’s foremost whiskey distillers.  Along with his wife, Martha, the founding father was no stranger to imbibing and entertaining his guests with an array of wine and spirits.  As gracious hosts the dynamic duo made sure that guests at Mount Vernon were well fed – and well oiled. To celebrate Virginia Spirits Month, Mount Vernon is releasing a mere 200 bottles of George Washington’s Straight Rye Premium Whiskey, distilled at Mount Vernon from Washington’s original recipe. Unlike earlier offerings from the reconstructed distillery, this spirit was aged for four years in charred oak barrels. George Washington’s Straight Rye Premium Whiskey is now available in 375ml bottles for purchase at the Shops at Mount Vernon and at George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill site. These will sell out quickly – most likely to collectors.

Preparation of Rye Whiskey at Mount Vernon’s Distillery & Gristmill

It’s intriguing to peek at Washington’s distillery ledgers from 1798 and 1799, to note that this whiskey consisted of 60% rye, 35% corn and 5% malted barley.  Considered its finest whiskey release to date, it shows a fruity aroma with hints of oak from the barrels and a palate-pleasant taste of apples, apricots and baking spices.  As with other releases, traditional 18th-century methods were in the production.  Additionally, all the grain in the reconstructed water-powered gristmill was fermented in wooden mash tubs and distilled in copper pot stills heated by wood fires. If you visit, and I urge you to, you will see the historic process in real time.

If you miss out on this special whiskey, several other spirits produced at Mount Vernon’s distillery are available this month, including George Washington’s Rye Whiskey – now designated the ‘State Spirit of Virginia’ – Peach Eau de Vie, and Apple Brandy.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the planting of the first crop of hemp on the property in centuries.

Industrial hemp seed ~ Planting at Pioneer Farm Site

And, no, it’s not for smoking.  This is industrial hemp.   Planted on their four-acre Pioneer Farm Site under the 2015 Industrial Hemp Law enacted by the Virginia General Assembly.  Hemp was used at Mount Vernon for rope, thread for sewing sacks, canvas, and for repairing the seine nets used at the fisheries. An interesting historical factoid: Washington’s diaries and farm reports indicate that hemp was cultivated at all of his five farms. In February 1794, Washington wrote to his farm manager, William Pearce, “…I am very glad to hear that the Gardener has saved so much of the St. Foin seed, and that of the India Hemp…Let the ground be well prepared and the Seed (St. Foin) be sown in April. The Hemp may be sown anywhere.” Mount Vernon plans to use the plant for interpretive fiber-making demonstrations.

George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill

George Washington’s Mount Vernon is located at 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121.  The Distillery & Gristmill is located at 5514 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309.  For information call 703.780.2000 or visit www.MountVernon.org.