Since the early 19th century of the Edo period, it has been a Japanese custom to eat eel to regain energy and stamina during the hot summer months. With its high protein content and excellent digestive properties, eel can stimulate the appetite even during the blazing heat of summer.

Sushiko will be serving ina-jyu, a dish made of broiled eel and rice, all month long. (Photo: Paula Olinto)

To honor this Japanese tradition, Sushiko, 5455 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, is serving ina-jyu, a dish made of broiled eel and rice, as a featured special on its a la carte menu. Brothers and co-executive chefs Piter and Handry Tjan are preparing their version with tamaki rice and kinome, a Japanese herb from a Szechuan peppercorn tree. It is priced at $28 and will be available throughout August during both lunch and dinner.

Jaleo brings La Tomatina festival to DMV

Spain has many well-known festivals, from the running of the bulls in Pamplona to its festive carnival. But chef José Andrés’ favorite festival is La Tomatina of Buñol. In celebration of LA Tomatina, his D.C.-area Jaleo restaurants will shine the spotlight on tomatoes. Through Aug. 16, the menu will feature tomato-centric dishes.

Jaleo’s ajo blanco de piñones con sorbete de tomate y tomatillos caramelizados (Photo: Jaleo)

The special menu includes ajo blanco de piñones con sorbete de tomate y tomatillos caramelizados, white gazpacho of pine nuts with tomato sorbet for $9; ensalada de tomates de temporada con queso Valdeón, heirloom tomato salad with Valdeón blue cheese for $7; pulpo a la plancha con pure de cebolleta y tomates confitados, seared Spanish octopus with caramelized tomatoes and green onion purée for $16; bonito con salsa de tomate, Spanish ‘bonito’ with an heirloom tomato salad for $15; tarta de tomates con paleta ibérica de bellota, a tomato tart with cured ham from acorn fed black footed pigs of Spain for $11; and sorbete de tomates y fresas con espuma de yogurt, tomato and strawberry sorbet with a yogurt ‘espuma’ for $8.

Jaleo is located at 480 Seventh St. NW, 7271 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda and 2250-A Crystal Drive, Arlington.

City Tap House hosts D.C. Beer Week events

City Tap House, 901 Ninth St. NW, is hosting a week of special events in honor of D.C. Beer Week.

City Tap House has week of specials to observe D.C. Beer Week. (Photo: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

The events include:

• On Aug. 9, City Tap House will feature a Stoudt’s tap takeover from 11 a.m.-close starting with a brunch with Carol Stoudt, founder of Stoudt’s Brewing Co. from Adamstown, Pa., and will load its beer lines with the best year-round, seasonal, and brewer’s reserve style beers. Featured drafts — all of which follow the Bavarian purity laws allowing nothing but barley, hops, water and yeast to be used — include Pils, Gold Lager, Scarlet Lady ESB, American Pale Ale, Fourplay IPA, Karnival Kolsch, Hefe, and Multiple Personality Disorder. Prices range from $6-$10 per draft.
• If King George Won will be held Aug. 11 from 11:30 a.m.-close. City Tap House will examine what the U.S. craft beer scene would be like if the British had won the Revolutionary War, and pour flavorful English craft beers including Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale 2011, The Wild Beer Co. Evolver IPA and the Beavertown Gamma Ray. Other planned featured breweries include Buxton, Siren and Fyne Ales. Prices range from $8-$12 per draft.
• How to Start a Brewery will be held Aug. 12 from 6-7 p.m. DCBeer.com’s co-editor Chris Van Orden will host a panel discussion about how to start a brewery with local brewers including Jeff Hancock from DC Brau Brewing Co., Mike McGarvey from 3 Stars Brewing Co., Justin Cox from Atlas Brew Works and Josh Chapman from Bluejacket Brewery. RSVP to [email protected] to reserve a seat.
• Cider & Mead will take over the taps on Aug. 13 from 11:30 a.m.-close. A selection of ciders and meads will be on tap in addition to 10 cask beers. Ciders include Millstone Cellars, Jack’s Cider, Bold Rock Hard Cider, Potter’s Craft Cider and Mckenzie’s Hard Cider. Featured meaderies include Charm City Meadworks and B. Nektar Meadery, as well as casks from breweries such as Flying Dog Brewery, Oliver Brewing Co., 3 Stars and Mad Fox Brewing Co. Prices range from $6-$14 per draft.
• Monkey Three Way will be held Aug. 14 from 4 p.m.-close. The restaurant will dedicate at least five of its tap lines to beers from Victory Brewing Co. from Downingtown, Pa. Available beers include Sour Monkey, Golden Monkey, Cask-Conditioned Golden Monkey and more. Prices range from $6-$12 per draft. There will be a variety of banana food specials available in addition to the regular menu during dinner such as banana fritters with lime crèma and cilantro chimichurri; crispy plantain mofongo with lump crab, rock shrimp, Benton’s ham and charred tomato broth; and banana and toasted coconut cream pie. Food specials are priced from $8-$22.

Macon Bistro & Larder hosts Heritage Brewing takeover

Macon Bistro & Larder will host a Heritage Brewing tap takeover for D.C. Beer Week. (Photo: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

Macon Bistro & Larder, 5520 Connecticut Ave. NW, is participating in D.C. Beer Week a Heritage Brewing tap takeover from Aug. 9-16. Guests can enjoy $6 drafts and $10 flights from 4-6 p.m. and $7 and $12 drafts from 6 p.m.-close.

The Royal launches seven-day-a-week happy hour

The Royal, 501 Florida Ave. NW in LeDroit Park, will launch a seven-day-a-week happy hour and weekday late-night happy hour starting Aug. 10. Available from 3-6 p.m. daily and 10 p.m.-1 a.m. on weekdays, The Royal will offer specials on classic cocktails, housemade vermouth on draft, wine by the glass and tallboy cans.

The Royal’s happy hour specials include housemade vermouth from a vintage copper fire extinguisher. (Photo: The Royal)

The happy hour specials include $5 house vermouth made by beverage director Horus Alvarez and aged in 53-gallon barrels for months at a time and served on draft from a vintage copper fire extinguisher. Also, $5 Narragansett tallboys and $7 wine by the glass including one red and one white that rotate daily. There are also eight $7 classic cocktails ranging from a daiquiri with El Dorado white rum, lime juice and sugar; a Paloma with Cimarron tequila, lime, grapefruit and soda; a Caipirinha with cachaca, fresh limes and sugar; and a rye Old Fashioned with Pikesville Rye, bitters, sugar and water.

For night owls, the same specials will be offered Sundays through Thursdays.

Le Diplomate introduces summer menu

Summer has arrived at Le Diplomate, 1601 14th St. NW, in the form of new cocktails and seasonal dishes. The seasonal cocktail menu ranges from boozy to sweet, while executive chef Michael Abt is serving his interpretations of the season in several new dishes.

Le Diplomate has a new summer drink and food menu. (Photo: Brian Oh)

The new cocktail menu features five seasonal libations. The drinks include the tropical, sweet-bitter caraībes made with rhum agricole, Punt e Mes, cherry liqueur, Fernet Branca, lime and pineapple; the Américain à Paris, a French cognac-based take on the classic Italian Americano with Byrrh Grand Quinquina, Dolin Rouge vermouth and bitters; the Coup de Soleil, a rye-based version of a grown-up lime-ade with Aperol and bitters; Le Papillon with lime, cardamom bitters and basil finished with a squeeze of orange juice; and the Quatre Feuilles, a fresh version of the classic egg white-topped Clover Club cocktail using whole raspberries and curaçao.

New additions the menu of interpreted French classics include appetizers such as frog legs provençale, pan-seared frog legs served in a savory heirloom tomato vin blanc with garlic, shallots and parsley and sliced fresh baguette; pea soup poured over jumbo lump crab meat, English peas and a dollop of crème fraiche; tri-colored roasted beet salad with fresh purple plums tossed in an ice wine vinaigrette and served with Cloumage cheese, roasted hazelnuts and beet leaves; pan-seared scallops nicoise cooked in butter, garlic and thyme and served over a summer vegetable-orzo salad, almond-parsley pistou, frisee and chives; and roasted duck brease with polenta made with mascarpone, sautéed swiss chard and an aromatic cherry jus.

Mike Isabella’s second regional Greek restaurant, Kapnos Taverna will open for lunch in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington beginning Tuesday.

Kapnos Taverna, with a heavy seafood menu, opens Tuesday for lunch. There’s no sign yet, but it is across the street from Buzz coffee shop. (Photo: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

The 165-seat, 5,700 square foot space at 4000 Wilson Blvd. is a sister restaurant to Kapnos, Isabella’s Northern Greek restaurant that opened in 2013 on the 14th Street corridor.

Kapnos’ executive chef George Pagonis will oversee the new kitchen along with chef de cuisine Greg Basalla. At Kapnos Taverna, the menu will focus on the coastal regions and islands of Greece, including dishes from the Cyclades, Peloponnese, Thessaloniki and Ionian Islands. Pagonis, the son of Greek immigrants, drew on his experiences dining throughout the Aegean Islands near his family’s vacation home on Paros to create the restaurant’s heavy seafood menu.

“I’m proud of the ways in which we’ve made Kapnos Taverna stand apart from the original restaurant,” said Isabella. “At Kapnos we showed how much more there is to Greek cooking than lamb shank, spanakopita and moussaka, and I think people are going to see even more of the depth of the cuisine when they see and taste the menu at Kapnos Taverna.”

Isabella’s third Greek concept, Kapnos Kouzina, is slated to open this summer at 4900 Hampden Lane in the former Vapiano space in Bethesda Row. Meaning kitchen in Greek, it will focus on homestyle dishes and shareable platters of fried chicken, stewed lamb and more. It will be outfitted like a market with pantry items and wine on display, and bowls of fruits and vegetables throughout.

Dishes at Kapnos Taverna include swordfish kebabs, crispy calamari dressed with za’atar and whole branzino served with braised kale. The restaurant’s raw bar featuring East and West Coast oysters is a centerpiece of the seafood-heavy menu, along with massive shellfish towers that feature half a Maine lobster, king and snow crab legs, marinated razor clams, octopus, braised mussels, salmon tartar, poached shrimp cocktail, and East and West Coast oysters served with harissa hot sauce, ouzo cocktail sauce, lemon yogurt, mignonette, fresh horseradish for $125.

Dishes at Kapnos Taverna includes the $125 Seafood Tower (left) and spanakorizo, rotisserie chicken served on barley with spinach, barley, dill and charred lemon. (Photo: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

“I grew up vacationing at a family house on Paros and eating my way around the Aegean,” said Pagonis, who was kicked off Top Chef Season 12’s opening show in October because of his oyster shucking skills. He was won his way back, but was told to pack his knives again earlier this month when the judges disliked his plate that combined grilled octopus legs, a crispy croquette made out of the ground head, green apple harissa, lentils, pickled mustard seeds and a bacon chip. “To be able to bring those flavors to a wide audience in Northern Virginia where I grew up is something I’ve been dreaming about since I went to culinary school.”

An extensive list of Greek mezze includes the chefs’ takes on traditional dishes like falafel and cheese saganaki, as well as cold and garden mezze sections with spiced beets and dolmades. While about two-thirds of the menu will be different than the original Kapnos, some of its most popular dishes will such as its spreads and flatbread, and meat roasted on a wood-fired rotisserie spit, will find their way to NoVa.

The wine selection includes more than 90 bottles with at least three quarters of the list originating in Greece. Greek wines even find their way onto the taps, where a crisp, floral Moschofilero takes up one of the bar’s four draft lines. The other three are anchored by local beers, a rotating selection that includes brews from the likes of D.C.’s 3 Stars, Charlottesville-based Champion and Alexandria’s Port City. Also, the cocktail program is complete new from the D.C. location including The Papa Bear, which blends rye and amaro with cinnamon raisin-infused sweet vermouth, pimento bitters and Aleppo pepper.

The cocktail program includes the Papa Bear(left) with rye, amaro, cinnamon raisins infused sweet vermouth, pimento bitters and alleppo; the Gracias Amigo (center) with tequila, aperol, grapefruit, agave and thyme; and the MIC Martini (right) with vodka or gin, dolin blanc and orange bitter. (Photo: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

The restaurant’s interior designed by Bethesda-based Streetsense is rustic with earth tones accented with light blue booths and marble counters. The décor uses terra cotta and other earth tones offset by a variety of eclectic lighting styles, classic Greek tile motifs, live herbs and plants, and millwork panels. The overall effect evokes an urban Mediterranean garden atmosphere.

The ebony-stained, distressed wood bar front has a charred wood back bar and white marble top. The dining area is highlighted by a steel framed vertical herb garden punctuated with lava rock. A dining mezzanine overlooks the open kitchen. In the spring, a 60-seat patio and fire pit will be added.

The interior is dark woods, terra cotta and blue with marble countertops. (Photo: Greg Powers/Kapnos Taverna)

Located around the same building around the corner, Isabella’s Pepita Mexican cantina is scheduled to open in February or March. Come summer, chef Jonah Kim will open Yona, a noodle bar and Japanese small plates restaurant that Isabella is a partner in.

Beginning Tuesday, Kapnos Taverna will be open from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. for lunch only. Beginning Feb. 2, it will add dinner service, serving lunch from 11:30 a.m-5 p.m. and dinner from 5-10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, 5-11 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. Eventually, it will add brunch from 11:30-3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Summer is about over with most kids in the DMV heading back to school on Monday, although some in Maryland and Virginia hit the books this past week. That means it is time for the Maryland Renaissance Festival with jousting and giant turkey legs in Crownsville. It also means Bao Bao, our baby panda, is turning 1 year old and Maryland’s newest casino, Horseshoe Casino, opens in downtown Baltimore not far from Inner Harbor next week. D.C. Beer Week is wrapping up so you only have a few more days to imbibe, then you’ll have to wait another year for the week-long celebration of hops.

On Metrorail, Silver, Blue, Yellow and Green line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Red and Orange line trains will operate every 20 minutes with Red Line trains running every 10 minutes between Grosvenor and NoMa-Gallaudet between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Jousters at the 2012 Maryland Renaissance Festival. (Photo: Chuck Dufur)

Maryland Renaissance Festival

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is back for its annual end-of-summer appearance. Enter the gates of Revel Grove of the 16th Century ruled by King Henry VIII and leave the hectic pace of the 21st Century behind. Stroll the wooded paths. Quaff an ale and relax in one of the pubs. Shop for unique, handcrafted gifts made by real artisans. And there’s food galore including fish ‘n chips, giant turkey legs, hot apple dumplings and more modern fare such as fried cheese, crab cake sandwiches, soft pretzels and croissant sundaes. Performers entertain on the many stages while the streets and woods are filled with characters to amuse and delight. Watch authentic jousting in full armor, listen to music and choral groups, thrill at jugglers, magicians, and comely wenches.

Aug. 23-Oct. 19 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day at 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis. Tickets, available online or at the gate beginning at 9:30 a.m. are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors 62 or older and $8 for children 7-15 between Aug. 23 and Sept. 14. From Sept. 15 and Oct. 19, adults are $22, seniors are $19 and children are $10.

Sarah Jessica Parker (Photo: Profimedia)

Sarah Jessica Parker

Meet and greet Sex and the City’s Sarah Jessica Parker after she shows off her Nordstrom exclusive Fall 2014 SJP Collection at Tysons Corner Center. Items from the line – including shoes and handbags – will be available for purchase.

Aug. 22 from 5-6 p.m. at Nordstroms Tysons Corner Center store, 1961 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Admission is FREE!

Smithsonian Sleepover

Kids sleepover in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. (Photo: Smithsonian Natural History Museum)

A smash hit of summer on the kids’ agenda, Smithsonian Sleepovers, is coming to an end. Youngsters can cap off summer with the ultimate sleepover at the National Museum of Natural History. Activities include the IMAX film, Island Of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D, exploring exhibits as part of a game, exhibit-based craft projects and other games and challenges. The budding archaeologist’s sleepover is open to kids ages 8-12 (and their chaperones, one for every three children).

Aug. 22 from 7 p.m.-9 a.m. at the National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue Nw. Cost is $135 per person or $120 for members.Tickets are available from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. by calling 202-633-3030 or visiting the ticket window at in the Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW.
 

Bao Bao turns 1 on Saturday. (Photo: Abby Wood/Smithsonian National Zoo)

Bao Bao’s birthday

Celebrate Bao Bao, the nation’s favorite baby panda, by attending her first birthday bash. While the 42-pound panda cub and mom, Mei Xiang, eat a birthday fruitsicle at 11:30 a.m., visitors will be offered a limited supply of Szechuan-style noodles called dandan, sample Bearitos snacks and there will be free, limited-edition Coca-Cola mini-cans personalized with guests’ names. Visitors can also stop by the FedEx tent and make a card for Bao Bao which will be delivered to panda keepers. Kids be able to take home a commemorative giant panda coloring sheet. The event includes talks with panda keepers at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 23 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW at the Clint Fields Plaza and around the panda yards. Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) may enter between 9-11 a.m. and will receive a piece of birthday cake. Admission is FREE!

Trillectro

A band performs at Trillectro last year. (Photo: DJ Wonder)

Now in its third year, Trillectro brings together numerous musical genres and forms of art for a rousing end-of-the-summer blast. Its success the past two years ensures this year’s edition will be the wildest yet. Catch DJs blaring crowd favorites, food trucks serving up their finest eats, area vendors showing off their latest fashions and lots of good vibes. Headlining acts include Big Sean and Baauer, with dozens of others set to drop their beats.

Aug. 23 starting at 1 p.m. at RFK Statium’s festival grounds in Lot 8, 2400 E. Capitol St. SE. Tickets cost $39-$140. Use promo code “DCCOOL” and save 20 percent on general admission or VIP tickets.

Tysons Table Tennis Camp

Kids 10 and over can attend table tennis camp on Sunday at The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center. (Photo: Shake Shack)

Children ages 10 years and older can join Kwame Mubarak by the table tennis tables outside Shake Shack for Tysons Table Tennis Camp as he conducts a lively table tennis lesson for those interested in joining Tysons Corner Center’s table tennis team. Starting off with active stretches, registered players will be scheduled in groups.

Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. at The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center outside Shack Shack, 1961 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Admission is free by you must preregister by emailing [email protected].

Brewers on the Block at Suburbia

Brewers on the Block wraps up D.C. Beer Week. (Photo: D.C. Beer Week)

Don’t fret that D.C. Beer Week is ending. Give it a grand send-off at Brewers on the Block, where several local breweries will be supplying the suds that make your taste buds tingle. The lineup reads like an all-star team of D.C. beer purveyors: D.C. Brau, 3 Stars, Chocolate City, Lost Rhino and the list goes on. To create quite a Capital combo, Suburbia will provide slushees and Red Apron Butcher will cook up some hot dogs.

Aug. 24 from 2-8 p.m. at Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE. Tickets are $35 and include all you can drink beer and slushees.
 
 

Horseshoe Casino opens

Ceasar’s Horseshoe Casino opens in downtown Baltimore on Tuesday. (Photo: Horseshoe Casino)

The new Horseshoe Casino from Caesar’s opens in downtown Baltimore on Tuesday. Maryland’s fifth and newest casino features 2,500 slot machines, including more than 150 video poker machines. There also 122 game tables offering blackjack craps, baccarat, roulette, fortune pai gow poker, four-card poker, let-it ride bonus poker, Mississippi stud poker, three card poker and ultimate Texas hold ‘em. There’s also plenty of places to eat including Johnny Sanchez, a casual Mexican/southwestern restaurant from Aaron Sanchez and Johnny Besh, Guy Fieri’s Baltimore Kitchen & Bar with casual American food, Jack Binion’s Steak upscale steakhouse, Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi and Baltimore Marketplace, a food court with five local eateries from Heavy Seas Burgers, Tark’s at the ‘Shoe, Lenny’s Deli, The Mallow Bar and Pie-Zetta from Mamma Ilardo’s. There’s also the 14Forty bar open 24 hours a day, seven days a week (1,440 minutes), a three-floor bar in the middle of the casino.

Aug. 26 at 9 p.m at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, 1525 Russell St., Baltimore. Admission and parking are FREE. 21 and over.