Central Celebrates Summer Tomatoes
For one week only, Central, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is offering a five-course tasting menu highlighting the flavors of ripe summer tomatoes.
The tomato tasting menu is price and $65 per person and includes yellow tomato gazpacho and burrata, tomato eggplant terrine, tomato tartare and scallop carpaccio, stuffed tomatoes over pearl pasta and lemon cheesecake with tomato–strawberry sorbet.
“Everyone loves the flavors, colors and versatility of tomatoes,” said executive chef and partner David Deshaies in a press release. “Each variety has particular characteristics, like sweetness and viscosity that make it ideal for different elements in the dishes.”
Lemon Boy Yellow tomatoes are chosen for their mild, sweet and tangy flavor in the gazpacho; the meaty textures of Roma tomatoes make them ideal to confit into tomato tartare; and Big Boy reds are perfectly shaped spheres for stuffing. Brandywine Beefsteaks are chosen for their intense flavor and bright acidity to pair with mild eggplant in the terrine; and Campari tomatoes have a sweet ripe flavor and gorgeous red color to churn with strawberries into sorbet.
The tomato tasting menu is made without cream or butter, except for the burrata and cheesecake. Dairy-free and vegetarian menu adjustments may be requested.
An optional $25 three-course wine pairing is offered to accompany the five-course tomato tasting menu. The pairing features two wines from France and one from Portugal, with bold flavors for the hot days of summer when tomatoes are at their peak.
The wine pairing includes Domaine Aureillan, Rose, Cotes De Provence, France 2014- (Grenache Blend) paired with the tomato eggplant terrine; Nicolas Chemarin, Regnié Haute Ronze, Regnie, Beaujolais, 2012 (Gamay) paired with the stuffed tomatoes; and Quinta Dona Matilde, Colheita Porto, Douro, Portugal , 1990 paired with the cheesecake.
The tomato tasting menu is available July 27-Aug. 1 from 5-10:30 p.m.
Fainting Goat offers family-style meals
The Fainting Goat, 1330 U St. NW, is launching “Picnics at the Goat” on Monday evenings, a series of monthly-rotating, casual family-style suppers focused around different summer foods. The series kicked off July 20 with a fried chicken meal with hot biscuits, smoked Gouda mac ‘n cheese and other summer sides.
July features fried chicken picnics with family-style sides of creamy-style coleslaw, freshly baked biscuits, smoked Gouda mac ‘n cheese and homemade strawberry shortcake. Mondays in August bring Maryland blue crab feasts with corn on the cob, coleslaw, peel n’ eat shrimp and house-made summer berry cobbler. September will bring lobster boils with corn on the cob, Andouille sausage and red potatoes with a freshly baked seasonal fruit pie for dessert.
The picnics range from $25-$40 per person and are served every Monday from 5-9 p.m. with a minimum of two people. Menus are subject to change based on availability. Reservations are required and should be made in advance by calling the restaurant at 202-735-0344.
Macon Bistro & Larder debuts artisan dinner series
Macon Bistro & Larder, 5520 Connecticut Ave. NW, will kick off its artisan dinner series on Wednesday, July 29 at 6:30 p.m. featuring local artisans creating handcrafted goods which will be incorporated into seasonal farm-fresh dishes created by Macon’s chefs.
The dinner will showcase Daniel Liberson and Lindera Farms Vinegars. Liberson creates artisan vinegars with sustainable ingredients sourced from Virginia. They are versatile and can be used as a finishing vinegar, for seasoning, in vinaigrettes, gastriques, cocktails, shrubs or as a drinking vinegar.
Guest will dine on a five-course meal using some of Linder Farm’s unique small batch vinegars. Dinner is priced at $65 per person with an option $35 per person beverage pairing menu. Beverages will also be available a la carte. Pairings including 2012 Etienne Dupont “Cidre Bouche”; 2014 Domaine Labbe “Abymes” Jacquere; 2013 Domaine Vincent Sauvestre Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru; 2012 Mas des Dames “La Dame” Grenache Blend, and the 2003 Domaine Jo Pithon Quarts de Chaume.
The menu includes elderflower vinegar with a Rappahannock oyster; Ceylon vinegar with single malt scotch, oyster-stout reduction and dry vermouth; honey vinegar with a grilled peach, foie chantilly, rye sponge cake and rue; Ceylon vinegar with field pea and onion salad, and air dried beef; Matsutake vinegar with summer vegetable and quail terrine, quail egg and pickled mushroom; elderflower vinegar with stuffed trotter, tomato, sweet pepper and crispy bits; Spicebush vinegar in a peach cream tart with puff pastry and vinaigrette
Seating is limited to 16 people and reservations can be made by emailing general manager A.J. Johnson.
Del Campo adds arepas, celebrates Peruvian independence
Del Campo, 777 I St. NW, has launched a new arepa menu that will be available at the bar and patio. The arepas will be offered at lunch and dinner and during the restaurant’s late-night happy hour, which is offered from 10 p.m.-midnight Thursday through Saturday.
The arepas range from $5-$9 and feature fillings like lobster salad, wagyu sirloin, crispy pigs feet and grilled octopus. The full menu is available online.
Also, Del Campo will celebrate Peru’s independence from Spain with the Pisco Chicha Tonic. Available all week, the summer spritzer mixes pisco infused with purple corn, mint simple syrup, tonic and lime.
Centrolina offers lasagna bar for National Lasagna Day
July 29 is National Lasagna Day and in celebration, Centrolina, 974 Palmer Alley NW in CityCenterDC, will offer four varieties of the pasta casserole with tastes of the accompanying wines.
From 4-7 p.m., Centrolina’s market will offer lasagna Bolognese for $12.95; beet, spinach and goat cheese lasagna for $8.95; swiss chard, spring onion and wild mushroom lasagna for $9.95; and a dessert lasagna with stone fruit compote and ricotta cheese for $7.95.
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.