Area Restaurants Offer Deals to Honor Dad
Father’s Day is this coming Sunday, June 15, and several area restaurants are offering specials to make dad feel like king, if even for only a day. (The specials below are all good on Father’s Day unless otherwise listed.)
The American Institute of Wine & Food is holding its 9th annual crab cake competition from noon-3 p.m. at The Source by Wolfgang Puck, 575 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in the Newseum. This annual tradition raises funds for culinary internships, scholarships and educational programs. Chefs Mike Abt of Le Diplomate, Matt Adler or Osteria Morini, Sarah Biglan of Ris, Tony Chittum of Iron Gate, Chris Clime of Passion Fish, Haidar Karoum of Doi Moi, Andrew Markert of Beauchert’s Saloon and Johnny Spero of Minibar will take on each other in a crab cake show down using verified Maryland blue crab. The winner gets funds to support a culinary intern in their kitchen. Also, six culinary students will compete for a $500 scholarship. Tickets are $75 here and include tastes of all the crab cakes, local oyster bars, beer and wine stations.
For dads who prefer to man their own grill, BLT Steak, 1625 I St. NW, is selling “King of the Grill” to-go dinners with raw steaks, sides and dessert, plus steak seasoning, grilling tips and a BLT Steak insulated cooler to hold it all. Available for pick-up on Friday or Saturday, choose either American Wagyu skirt or 28-day dry-aged NY strip steaks, green beans or grilled spiced corn and chocolate peanut butter mousse or strawberry shortcake for $55 per person (minimum four people). Orders must be placed by 5 p.m. Thursday.
Copperwood Tavern, 4021 Campbell Ave., Shirlington, is serving an a la carte dinner served from 5-10 p.m. The menu includes a 14-ounce bone-in bison rib-eye ($31); 12-ounce double-cut maple brined Ossabaw Island pork chop with coco-chili rub and rhubarb currant chutney ($21); 12-ounce grass-fed and house-seasoned N.Y. strip steak ($28) and 10-ounce coffee-coco rubbed venison chop with blackberry compote ($31). Shared sides include fingerling potatoes ($8); beer-butter mushrooms ($8); truffle macaroni and cheese ($10) and grilled asparagus ($8). Suggested pairings are the Belle Meade, a 90.4 proof, small batch bourbon whiskey from Tennessee served over a hand-carved ice cube and the Hardywood Bourbon Cru made with Belgium-style abbey quadruple, aged in Virginia bourbon barrels. Fathers will also receive a complimentary take-home goodie bag, which includes house-made bison jerky and barbeque spices.
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, 801 9th St. NW, is pouring a special treat for Dad. Fathers who dine at the restaurant during dinner service beginning at 4 p.m. will receive a complimentary snifter of Mount Gay black barrel rum with the purchase of the Plato Gaucho mixed grill, an adobo-rubbed black angus sirloin steak, chimichurri skirt steak, jumbo shrimp, herb marinated chicken breasts and chorizo sausage served with red hot onion rings and a trio of sauces ($34); Guava BBQ ribs with 10 slow-cooked St. Louis pork ribs glazed with guava BBQ sauce ($29.99) or the black angus sirloin steak, a 12-ounce adobo-rubbed black angus grilled sirloin steak served with caramelized shallots and steamed kale, yucca fries, tamarind ketchup and steak sauce ($33). Fathers will also receive a complimentary Montecristo cigar to take home.
Jack Rose Dining Saloon, 2007 18th St. NW, will serve flights of either scotch or bourbon for $40 paired with a three-course dinner and a cigar to end the meal. The menu includes classic Caesar salad with white anchovy, beef brisket with spicy vinegar slaw, house-made cornbread with bacon marmalade and pecan pie. Separately, the dinner is $25 and the whiskey flight and cigar pairing is $25.
Pinstripes, 1064 Wisconsin Ave. NW, is having a Father’s Day backyard barbeque brunch featuring char-grilled skirt steaks, burgers, grilled chicken, Italian sausage, baby back ribs, grilled corn on the cob, watermelon and more overlooking the C&O Canal on its outdoor patio from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Pinstripes’ endless brunch buffet will also be available until 3 p.m. with carved prime rib, create-your-own omelets, waffles, flatbreads and more. From 3-10 p.m., the barbeque buffet will be available inside in addition to the regular menu. The barbeque and brunch buffet are $30 for adults and $15 for children from 6-12 years old and free for kids 5 and younger until 3 p.m. After 3 p.m., the barbeque buffet inside is $22 for adults, $14 for children 6-12 and free for kids 5 and under.
Ris, 2275 L St. NW, is celebrating with wasabi Bloody Marys, a special menu and bourbon flights beginning at noon. The menu includes chilled white grape gazpacho ($8), grilled cowboy steak with crushed garlic new potatoes, scallion butter and grilled Portobello mushroom ($35) and dulce de leche molten cake with bourbon butter pecan ice cream ($10). The bourbon flight will include dad’s choice of three 1 ounce pours served neat ($25). Dad can choose from Eagle Rare 10 year Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, Reservoir Bourbon, Old Medley, Blanton’s and Redemption Rye.
Trummer’s on Main, 7134 Main St., Clifton, Va., is holding a bourbon tasting on its patio with top-shelf whiskeys, bone marrow luge shot and a bring-your-own cigar policy on Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. The tasting features four bourbons including the rare Jefferson’s Ocean, which was aged in barrels that traveled thousands of miles across the sea, soaking up the salty sea breeze. The restaurant will also serve shots in hollowed-out bone marrow bones. The tasting is $50 for four bourbons.
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.