ClotureClub.com: November 2013

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Today is Small Business Saturday, did you know 34,074 small business (like Frager's Hardware) employ 518,596 in the district? #ShopSmall

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Friday, November 29, 2013

First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia were presented with the 2013 White House Christmas tree today. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/2013-white-house-christmas-tree-arrives/

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2013 White House Christmas Tree Arrives

A day after Thanksgiving, the White House received the annual Christmas Tree. First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia were presented with the 2013 White House Christmas tree today.

The tree, which is 18 and a half feet tall, will be on display in the Blue Room, was presented by Christopher Botek and Kyra Yurko of the Christmas Spring Tree Farm in Leighton, PA.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

First lady Michelle Obama, her daughters Sasha Obama, 12, and Malia Obama, 15, and the family dogs Bo and Sunny, receive the official White House Christmas Tree.

Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

A Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

This time last year we found 10 really random Holiday Gifts ideas available online. Can I interested in a can of unicorn meat? Maybe a Hilary Clinton nut cracker? http://www.clotureclub.com/2012/12/10-random-but-awesome-christmas-gifts-available-on-the-internet-now/

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"...As for Caramel, he’s sticking around, and he’s already busy raising money for his next campaign." Obama jokes as he pardon's Popcorn, the turkey.

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Mike Lewan talks college football week 14. Remember leftovers are best eaten cold, straight from the bag while lying on a couch and watching a boring ACC game. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/ncaa-football-week-14-thanksgiving-edition/

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Alex recently interviewed Top Chef Bart Vandaele of Belga Café. Find out what he has to say about the DC food scene. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/interview-top-chef-bart-vandaele/

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Our Interview with Top Chef Bart Vandaele

For the last nine years, Belgium native Chef Bart Vandaele has been delighting the pallets of DC diners with classic Belgian cuisine at his highly popular Belga Café and then redefining those dishes at his newer restaurant BToo. From heavenly stuffed waffles, to aromatic mussel pots filled with all sorts of imaginative ingredients, Vandaele’s creative mind has helped put Belgian food on the map in DC.

The former Top Chef contestant has quite the culinary resume, literally growing up in his family’s restaurants and eventually working as a sous-chef at two-star Michelin restaurant Scholteshof in Belgium. He has received countless accolades and honors, including being knighted in the order of Leopold II, and serves as the brand ambassador for Belgian beer Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Leffe Blond and Leffe Brown.

With such a busy schedule, the jovial chef was kind enough to take time to chat with Cloture Club about Belgian fare, the DC restaurant scene and his delightful pet chickens (read on).

Cloture Club: Belgian cuisine in the DC area has really taken off and many say you’re responsible that. How has Belgian cuisine evolved in the DC area?

Belgian cuisine and beer became popular at the same time in the area. American beer became more popular because of microbreweries and then we added good food to it. Kind of like, first came the beer, then the food. I grew up in it so it’s natural and normal but for others we are just showing off what is Belgian cuisine. A lot of it is comfort, family, enjoying the beauty of life, part of what makes Belgian cuisine so popular.

I think if you want to be a trendsetter you have to be an educator at the same time. Belgian cuisine wasn’t always here. I’ve worked at some of the best restaurants in Belgium and I take those experiences in to my restaurants. We give a wide range of Belgium cuisine, so people can understand it is not just about mussels and fries.

Waffles have become something super popular for us that I never thought in my career that would happen.

You started with Belga Café, modeled after Brussel’s casual cafes and now your newer restaurant BToo is a reinterpretation of classic dishes. What took you from one concept to the other?

Reinvention. Otherwise I’d be bored out of my mind. I need to create, it keeps me on the edge, keeps me making different things. For me, with Belga, held back a little bit and now can show more of what we are capable of at BToo. We kind of redid 90% and copied 10%. But at Belga we are always developing new ideas too. I want to be different and it keeps me on my toes and its fun.

What are some of your favorite dishes from each restaurant?

Oh, that’s hard. Green eggs at Belga Café for brunch, definitely one of my top dishes that has been there forever. Also I love the green mussels or the spicy cigars of chicken and crabmeat. At BToo definitely the Boudon noir waffle appetizer and the chocolate Eden, also anything Josper cooked on the menu (traditional oven and charbroiled cooking).

Top Chef Bart Vanadale

What do you think of the DC restaurant scene compared to other cities? What is it you like about owning a restaurant here?

For me, I think it was the only think I could afford when started. That’s one thing for sure. But the scenery overall is exploding with room for more. I’ve been in this city for 17 years and I really like it. Very happy with the development, happy we have different styles and different cuisines. It’s competition for sure, but that only makes it better.

You started Belgium Restaurant Week in DC. Tell us a bit about how it started and what it has turned into.

Ah, my baby. Just friends getting together who want to promote their restaurants. We all figure, hey it’s July and nothing going on in the city. We have the goods, we got the beer and beer is what you need on a warm day. I hope this year we can do it bigger and better. Last year with the opening of BToo it was a little side tracked and kicked off a little late. Still, we want to do it bigger each year so that more and more restaurants take part and we hope it becomes a staple of DC.

Other than your own, what are some of your favorite restaurants in the DC area?

I like Fiola. I like to visit friends on 14th street. Graffiato is fun. Week ago I went all the way to Peking Ducks in Seven Corners that was amazing.

Honestly, if I go out to restaurants I’m working. I’m observing, I’m looking, taking notes mentally. Looking at how things are, how constructed. I look at everything. Because chefs go out to restaurants everyone thinks we are super critical. Some are, but for me I want to learn. I want to enjoy, but I want to observe. If I see something wrong I won’t say it’s wrong, it’s an honest mistake. But I’ll see if we can avoid it back at my restaurants.

Several DC chefs have seen much success from being put in the public eye with Top Chef. What did you take away from your experience on season 10?

Definitely helped me in the business. More visibility and fun to have guests actually coming for you and to take care of them as much as possible. Personally, has it changed my life? Nope, still do the same thing. I think it was because I worked so long in eh business that it didn’t change how I do thing, because I’m stable.

Top Chef is fun to do, crazy to do, exhausted when you do it and you get burned out.

Did it change my life? Directly not, just probably happened.

Do you miss Belgium?

Sometimes, I miss small things. But, if I’m there for too long than I want to come home to DC. I like the way it’s made in the US. I think I’m the lucky one to have the best of both worlds. Anything I don’t like from one place or another I ignore it, then things from both worlds the best I enjoy, be selective.

Any similarities between Belgium and DC dining?

Food wise, I don’t think there is a difference. I think DC is on a very high level when it comes to food. But then, when you look at the whole atmosphere of entertaining and guest experience and just food overall, in Belgium that’s completely different. Belgium, you go to a restaurant and stay the whole night, enjoying your time with friends. We also entertain at home a lot and family wise eat a lot together and sit around the table.

So, I hear you have some pet chickens?

Yes, I have four chickens and a big coop they run around in. If I’m home they will run around the backyard and jump after food like a dog. If you want to pet them they sit down.

They follow you everywhere around in the backyard. Around evening time when night starts to fall, they come to the back door and look and ask for food. Eggs go to everyone, my manager and my family.

Anything else you want to add?

Thanks for all the people that have supported me for so many years at Belga and thanks for all the new ones that come to BToo!

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‘Frozen’ might be the best animated movie of the year

The new animated comedy Frozen proves that Disney still has the filmmaking magic that previously inspired classics like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. The new film combines witty comedy, catchy musical numbers and a unique story that will keep families entertained. It’s one of the best animated films of the year and easily one of Disney's best animated films in years.

The story focuses on the relationship between two royal sisters who live with their parents in a massive castle. As children, future Queen Elsa (Eva Bella) spends most of the time with her mischievous sister Anna (Livvy Stubenrauch). The two are nearly inseparable but during a day of playful fun, Elsa— who has the ability to freeze anything at a moment’s notice— accidentally hurts her sister, knocking the innocent Anna unconscious.

Photo Credit: Hollywood.com

Worried about Elsa’s mysterious power, the sibling’s parents ask Elsa to stay away from Anna so Elsa— unselfishly looking out for her sister— locks herself away, hiding her powers from Anna (who can’t remember the incident) and keeping her safe.

For several heartbreaking years, Elsa avoids her sister (who simply wants to build a snowman with her) and the castle is locked down to prevent people from knowing about Elsa’s strange powers but eventually, the gates are opened up for Elsa’s coronation to the throne. An argument breaks out during the party and Elsa accidentally freezes the kingdom and runs away from the uncaring townspeople who believe she’s a freak. It’s then left to Anna (now voiced by Kristen Bell) to find her sister (Idina Menzel) to end the long winter.

Photo Credit: Movies.yahoo.com

The plot revolves around Elsa’s search to find her sister. Despite becoming engaged to the charming Prince Hans (Santino Fontana) at the coronation, Elsa quickly befriends a jovial goofball named Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), who sells ice for a living (poor occupation to have during a long winter). The two bicker and laugh as they travel through the woods encountering strange creatures-- including Kristoff’s own family--along the way. A wonderfully naïve snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad) joins the entourage, stealing nearly every scene he’s in.

The comedy here is wonderful, wrapping audiences in a warm blanket of cute jokes and hilarious bits (a segment featuring Olaf dreaming about a life during the summer is particularly memorable). The songs are likewise enchanting and could easily remind audiences of some of Disney’s best musical moments. Some of the original music here arrived courtesy of Tony winner Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who both do incredible jobs creating musical numbers that are easy to enjoy and engaging enough to get audiences tapping their feet to them.

"FROZEN" (Pictured) ELSA. ©2013 Disney. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: Collider.com

In a wide variety of ways, Frozen stands out in the animated category. Its focus on siblings—rather than one woman pursuing a prince— gives the plot an unlikely newness while its impressive songs fill it with an exuberance that captures the spirit of the story. Musical films are often restricted by the numbers that seem to be forced in. Here, they are part of the story’s essential plot. For that and more, Frozen is a wonderful family film and should be celebrated as such. It’s one of the year’s best films and a great family one to check out this holiday season.

My review: A

Frozen Trailer

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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

It's been 9 years since we last heard from Ron Burgundy*. Why not have eternal bragging rights and see Anchorman 2 before your friends do? http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/anchorman-2-dc-screening-tickets-giveaway/

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It's Caption Tuesday!! We aren't sure if First Lady Michelle Obama is passionately fighting on behalf of Big Bird, but she appears angry. Give this photo your best caption. The person with the best caption will receive two tickets for tonight's screening of "Secret Life of Mitty"

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And you thought you were having a bad day. Wienermobile down! source: https://twitter.com/chrisdemonbreun/status/405197297736093697

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Monday, November 25, 2013

We challenged our new contributor Jacqueline to come up with 5 warm drinks for this DC winter. Let us know what you think! http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/5-warm-drinks-for-this-dc-winter/

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Sunday, November 24, 2013

Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention. I need all of you, to stop what you're doing and listen. We have 50 tickets to giveaway to the Anchorman 2 screening next week! http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/anchorman-2-dc-screening-tickets-giveaway/

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Saturday, November 23, 2013

Here are a few ugly sweaters you need to buy so you'll be festive in time for the holiday season. Which one is your favorite? http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/15-ugly-christmas-sweater-you-need-to-buy-right-now/

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Thursday, November 21, 2013

We have 2 tickets to the 7:30pm screening of Saving Mr. Banks in Georgetown. Staring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, a true story about how Walt Disney convinced the author of Mary Poppins to make a movie adaptation. Wanna go? Like this post and we'll randomly draw a winner by 3pm.

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Lauren was thrilled with Hunger Games Catching Fire Movie. The roller coaster action movie has a lot of people claiming it's better than the first book adaptation. Here are 25 GIF scenes that had our Fangirl yelling "Katniss!" (Does contain spoilers) http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/25-best-scenes-catching-fire-caused-fangirl-freakouts-spoilers/

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Happy Birthday Vice President Joe Biden! No, you're the man!

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67 years after Clarence got his wings, a sequel has been announced for It's a Wonderful Life. Do you think there should be a sequel or should the timeless original film be left alone? http://www.wtop.com/205/3509243/Sequel-of-Wonderful-Life-planned

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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Last week Lauren Bradshaw sat down with The Hunger Games co-star Willow Shields. Find out who she wants on her team if we had a real life hunger game scenario! http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/interview-hunger-games-star-willow-shields/

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We got 2 tickets to give away for tonight's 7pm screening of Delivery Man at Regal Gallery Place (Chinatown). Wanna go? Like this post and we'll draw someone's name at 4pm.

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It's Caption Tuesday!! Why do you think President Barack Obama is putting his fingers in his ears? Hopefully ear pains are not a side effect of Paxil that was highlighted on SNL.

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Monday, November 18, 2013

How-to turn off a phone on the Senate floor like a boss

Have to give credit to Senator Senator Dick Durbin from Illinois. He must be a fan of Duck Dynasty on A&E as his cell phone ring is a duck call that went off on the Senate floor today. And he handled it like a boss.

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So Macklemore and Ryan Lewis was on the house side today... h/t M Shuck

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Photo: Fall Descends on Rock Creek Park

Fall Descends on Rock Creek Park

Photo by Matthew Lehner

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We're teaming up with The Hamilton and raffling off 2 tickets to next week's show (Nov 27), BRUCE IN THE USA. A tribute band to the boss himself! Enter our raffle --> http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/giveaway-bruce-in-the-usa-at-hamilton-live/

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GIVEAWAY: Bruce in the USA at Hamilton Live

We're teaming up with Hamilton Live to send you to The Worlds #1 Tribute to Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Bruce in the USA.

The Bruce In The USA Band consists of seasoned world class professional musicians, from such acts/bands as Queen/Paul Rogers, Meatloaf, Blue Oyster Cult, Hall and Oats, Joe Cocker, The Ojays, Aretha Franklin, David Cassidy, The Temptations, Slash… and so many more. This high end, powerhouse, band has taken this genre of performance art to a whole new level, making it the World’s #1 Tribute to the E Street Band’s musical legacy. To millions of diehard fans around the world, it’s Springsteen’s marathon, party-like performances that have elevated him to hero status. Bruce’s legendary concerts (in the largest arenas) sell-out within hours of their announced sale. For those even lucky enough to get a ticket, there was nothing that could fill the aching void in between Bruce’s long-awaited tours…until now….

The Bruce In The USA show was born on the Las Vegas Strip in the winter of 2004, with its debut at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino’s majestic “V Theatre”. The show assaulted the senses in a fun-filled and exciting party atmosphere on the Vegas Strip, while suspending disbelief for even the toughest skeptics. They’ve been met with critical acclaim, from the Stone Pony, Asbury Park, to large theatres, and Performance Art Centers across the country, where sell out crowds are on their feet from the first song to the last.

Enter raffle

But wait.... Bonus points will be given to those who also tweet out!

Bruce In The USA 2013 - Penn's Peak, "Live and Raw"

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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Just in case you have an extra $169, here's a stars and stripes onsie. http://onepiece.com/en-us/mens/jumpsuits/prints/usa-onesie-stars-and-stripes

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Saturday, November 16, 2013

Wedding Crasher's Vince Vaughn returns in his new movie Delivery Man. And we're raffling 40 tickets to the screening this Tuesday at Regal in Chinatown. Wanna go? Enter below! http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/giveaway-delivery-man-screening/

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Arcuri in Glover Park is the type of neighborhood spot that we don’t see enough in DC. With its straight forward and excellently priced menu, Arcuri manages to be different from the restaurant world. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/11/our-review-of-arcuri-in-glover-park/

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Giveaway – Delivery Man Screening

We have 40 tickets to the Delivery Man Screening on November 19 at Regal Gallery Place in Chinatown.

DreamWorks Pictures’ “Delivery Man” stars Vince Vaughn as affable underachiever David Wozniak, whose anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years earlier resulted in 533 children. David must now embark on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but also the father that he could become.

Enter here

Bonus points will be given to those who also tweet out!

Delivery Man Trailer

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Our Review of Arcuri in Glover Park

DC, like most large metro areas, is a land that see’s many restaurants come and go- more go than anything honestly. Very few stand the test of time and remain open longer than 24 months- just think of your favorite spot; if you can name the previous four restaurants that occupied that space, you get my point. So the eternal question for restauranteurs is – what can I do differently to make it? Well, for starters, don’t reinvent the wheel. Hone in on a food concept and stay true to it, make good food, have a well thought out and inviting (not intimidating) wine and beverage program and make your prices approachable for all. That is exactly what the team at Arcuri, a new Italian themed space in Glover Park have done. And they’re doing it quite well.

Salumi

Italian, I know, I know yawn right? Wrong. This isn’t Olive Garden nor is it over priced Italian small plates that have become the norm in “modern” Italian restaurants around town. The team at Arcuri inherited an Italian pizza oven from previous tenants Facia Luna and Kavanaughs, and they seamlessly integrated inventive pizzas onto their Americanized Italian menu. There are plenty of dishes you’d expect dotting the menu, like the house made salumi with pickled vegetables and mustard. Its sopresata and prosciutto were savory enough to make you crave one of bar manager Bryce Gerlach’s house made lemoncellos to wash it down with, and was complimented nicely by a sweet and tangy mustard and house pickled vegetables. Also present were staples like house made pasta (the tagliatelle) with Bolognese ragu that was delicate yet deliciously meaty with a hidden clovish or perhaps fennel spice to it. And no Italian restaurant worth its salt would be without meatballs, and Arcuri’s don’t disappoint and in fact might have been the all-star dish of the evening (with the perfectly cooked scallops a very very close second).

Scallops

meatballs

With the oven dominating the kitchen’s outward appearance, it would have been foolish not to try a pizza. The smokey, true to its name, came with smoked mozzarella and smoked peperoni and was thin, delicious and is great for cold evening comfort food. Something you might not expect, but would be well advised to try, would be the roasted beets with ricotta and pistachio – and despite being a light healthy dish tasted almost like a desert with the sweetness of the pistachio and creamy ricotta making you forget the beets almost all together. The portions were spot on; not small plates but not a dish from Outback Steakhouse either and satisfy palates and wallets equally.

Beet salad

The smokey Pizza

What really blew my mind was the wine list and its prices. With 6 DOCG wines on the glass list, all ringing in at under $10 a glass (with most hovering in the $7.50 range), Arcuri’s wine list could stand up to many of the better restaurant wine lists in town. With a nice mix of quality, affordable Italian bottlings and appropriate representation from the southern hemisphere, the old world and California, Arcuri has successfully created a small, neatly organized and unique list that truly has something for everyone. You don’t see many Gavis on lists around town, and theirs is not to be missed. One of my favorite summer whites, the Araldica Gavi is chocked full apple, citrus and cream with well balanced acidity and a nice, easy light bodied finish. Contrast that to the Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Rocca with its deep purple color and meaty, red fruit and earth notes. Its super dry with nice tannins and I picked up a little cotton candy on the palate that lingered into its longish finish. But the super star wine was paired with the super star dish on this evening, and the Purato, Nero D’Avola would be that wine. Its balance was exceptional with a full mouth feel complimenting medium tannins and acidity. It displayed dried red fruit, oak, vanilla and a bit of clove and was an absolutely awesome and pleasurable wine to drink. Sparkling? Check, in the form of what else- Prosecco. Brunello fan? They’ve got you covered with Brunello’s little brother from Langhe. Rather have an aromatic German Riesling with your scallops? You can make that happen too.

Something that truly sets Arcuri apart is the house made lemoncello. In its simplest form, lemoncello is grain alcohol, sugar and lemon peel. In its two-step process to create cellos, the sugar is introduced to the fermenting batch to offset the burn of the grain alcohol. But beyond the standard lemon flavor, Arcuri will be offring different flavors on a regular basis; continually experimenting but not to the point of alienating traditionalists. On this night, the batch included mulled raspberries and tasted more like raspberry lemonade (with a noticeable kick!) than the rot gut lemoncello found more readily at other restaurants. This is not your momma’s lemoncello!

My colleague, Shawn Keely, said it best when we left, “if I was in an upscale Italian restaurant and the same food was served, to me it would seem right at home.” Keep in mind you’d pay double or triple for it thought! Stated by four partners who boot strapped the majority of the funding for the startup themselves as opposed to seeking a loan, Arcuri is the type of neighborhood spot that we don’t see enough of and the kind you root for. Italian restaurants are more plentiful in DC than Starbucks, and Arcuri, with its straight forward, well prepared and excellently priced menu, manages to be different from the masses. Different and good, good enough that it’s a spot that likely won’t be changing names four times in the next decade. No, Arcuri seems like its got the right stuff from ownership, to food to wine to make it for the long haul, and here’s hoping it does.

Do yourself a favor and stop in, try one of the old time favorites or new experiments with an excellent, well priced glass of wine and wrap your experience up with the week’s cello. Then repeat this process.

Arcuri in Glover Park

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Friday, November 15, 2013

Representative Todd Rokita's eldest son, Teddy, was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome in early 2010. Angelman significantly impairs his capacity for motor and intellectual development and it is likely he will never speak. Rokita's staff all coordinated wearing blue today in recognition of International 15q Day and we're honored to share their photo here. Learn more about Angelman Syndrome at: www.angelman.org

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Ping Pong Dim Sum Media Dinner Review

Ping Pong is not just dim sum anymore. With the only two restaurants in the US right here in DC, the London based corporation is Americanizing it’s menu. Don’t worry, no burgers or chicken wings. But you can expect the juice based beverages to be replaced with trending craft cocktails. And though the dim sum remains the focus, they’ve just rolled out their “big, small plates” to broaden the selection and, it seems, appeal to a male demographic.

Ping Pong Dim Sum’s happy hour is chocked full of the lady folk, but men? Not so much. You’d think the guys would figure this and go where the ladies are. But, Ping Pong is must obviously be run by a woman. She realized men aren’t smart enough to follow the women on their own and decided to coax them with whiskey and entrees larger than the 8 bite dim sum the girls are in love with!

New plates include Seared Jumbo Shrimp with Tomato and Ginger, Crispy Duck and Citrus Salad, and Braised Pork Belly in Five Spices. If you can handle the fire, I suggest topping the pork with one of the three new chili sauces for even more of a kick. Traditional Asian Crispy Beef to share will be the perfect addition to your favorite dumplings too. It’s a generous plate of beef, onions and peppers in a citrus soy sauce and is just the right amount of tangy sweet and spice.

Crispy beef

While the new plates will wow, the craft cocktails will definitely blow your mind. New head bartender and self-proclaimed, “not a mixologist,” Chris Bassett just joined the Ping Pong team and is shaking things up. Literally.

Advice from a professional (ie me): order the Chocolate and Tobacco Old Fashioned. Then order another. This glass of deliciousness is filled with whiskey, tobacco liqueur, house-made chocolate bitters, and smoked water and is rimmed with chocolate shavings. Come on. I see ordering multiple as simply helping Southern tobacco farmers keep their jobs in a world that’s smoking less cigarettes. It’s philanthropy. And helping the economy. Yes, I can justify drinking at any given time.

Chocolate and Tobacco Old Fashioned

After your two Old Fashions, next comes the Jalapeno Margarita. There’s a trend here. Why not continue the heat from your food into your drink? This one is exactly what it sounds like: a margarita with jalapeno juice shaken and served up, in a martini glass. Of course, a sake flight is never a bad idea either. After a night out with me at Ping Pong, skipping a drive home and taking the metro is also not a bad idea it seems…