Sip What Now? Poca Madre's grasshopper-infused sour

When an insect finds itself in a drink, it's usually by accident. That's not so at Poca Madre, where adventurous imbibers can sip on the Charlie and the Chapuline Factory, a cocktail infused with grasshoppers sourced straight from the Oaxaca region of Mexi

Beat the "Sunday scaries" at these 7 D.C. bars

We all know the feeling - it's 5 p.m. on Sunday evening and suddenly you realize the weekend is over, your fun has been had, and the upcoming work week hangs like a gray cloud over you as you try to get yourself together for Monday morning. That's right, i

Restaurant Rumblings: Tuscany in Shaw and beach-themed cocktail flights

The D.C. food scene is constantly evolving, and it can be hard for even the biggest food fan to keep up. Restaurant Rumblings, a bimonthly feature, is here to get you up to speed on the latest bar and restaurant news, from hot openings to exciting new menu

Get ready to take rosé to the next level with pink gin

By now, you’ve likely been indoctrinated into the rosé all day lifestyle. And why not? There’s no better way to battle the heat than with a glass of chilled, pink-hued wine. But what if you also want to rosé all night, and you’re a bit burned out on summer

6 lunches you need to try this summer

With the arrival of summer comes longer lunches, and lazier afternoons, especially if you are one of the lucky ones who gets summer Fridays. Or, maybe you just want to take a day off on those days that it’s actually gorgeous outside and want to treat yours

Learn how to make and use shrubs in private cocktail class at Whiskey Charlie

Do Sunday Funday the right way and join DC Refined for a private cocktail class at one of the Wharf's stunning new rooftop bars, Whiskey Charlie. The Whiskey Charlie team will walk you through a step-by-step guide to creating and using shrubs in your summe

Amazon Prime is giving you 10% off on tons of goodies from Whole Foods

Starting June 27, Whole Foods shoppers in the DMV will start seeing discounts just for Amazon Prime members. Certain items throughout Whole Foods Market and Whole Foods 365 will be marked with a 10% off sign, which you can only get as an Amazon Prime memb

Restaurant Rumblings: Soba noodles and tiki drinks are summer musts

The D.C. food scene is constantly evolving, and it can be hard for even the biggest food fan to keep up. Restaurant Rumblings is here to get you up to speed on the latest bar and restaurant news, from hot openings to exciting new menus.Openings:Poca Madre(

Knead great bread? Learn to make it yourself at this local class

In the five years since Melinda Friend opened her home kitchen for intimate, hands-on bread baking instruction, more than 2000 bread enthusiasts have discovered the joy of making their own freshly baked baguettes, focaccias, seeded country breads, bagels a

Learn how to make Tim Ma's coconut risotto scallops at home

When executive chef Tim Ma was creating a scallop dish at his former restaurant -- Maple Avenue in Vienna, Virginia -- he had one goal in mind. “We just wanted coconut and Thai basil to hit each other,” he says. “We didn’t care about anything else.”At that

Curious Foods: Firefly's vegan chickpea omelet

Weekend brunch is an integral part of Washington's social fabric, but it can be a lonely meal for vegans. Fried eggs, strips of bacon and cheesy potatoes so often dominate menus, leaving few options for those who avoid animal products. It's with that stru

You can get $1 iced coffees from 15 restaurants through June 24

It is approximately nine kajillion degrees out, and right about now we couldn't be more thankful for our favorite way to beat the summer heat -- iced coffee! And just in time for this heatwave, Ritual, an order-ahead food app, is offering $1 iced coffees a

Bethesda's best healthy restaurants

Looking for a delicious meal that you’ll feel good about eating? If you’re in Bethesda, you’re in luck. Bethesda’s wellness scene is a growing one thanks to tons of fitness options (like Equinox, solidcore and PureRyde, just to name a few), and an even lon

5 sweet spots to savor sour beers

D.C. Beer Week doesn’t start till August 19, but that means you’ve only got about 10 weeks to complete your drinking prep. While lagers, porters and IPAs can be easily found, if you’re searching for sours (that trendy, deliberately tangy beer of Belgian or

Where to treat your dad this Father's Day

Dads do a lot for us, whether it's answering a midnight phone call asking why the car is making that weird noise or picking up the tab when they take you out for a beer. This Sunday, here's where you can show your dad a little love. For brunch: Where: Penn

7 places to watch, cheer and drink during the World Cup

The wait is over! After four long years, the 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 14 in host nation Russia. The month-long tournament spreads soccer fever around the globe, encouraging everyone to get in on the action and celebrate the biggest party in the w

Bresca is bringing the French entrée pressed duck to D.C.

From the moment he opened Bresca, chef Ryan Ratino has not shied away from adventurous cooking. Whether he was serving up plates of linguine topped with rich, briny sea urchin tongues or foie gras cake pops, his cooking has known no borders. Partly because

The 2018 RAMMYs honors D.C.'s best kitchen talent

Restaurant Rumblings: Indian Cuisine on 14th Street and more

The D.C. food scene is constantly evolving, and it can be hard for even the biggest food fan to keep up. Restaurant Rumblings, a new bimonthly feature, is here to get you up to speed on the latest bar and restaurant news, from hot openings to exciting new

Local businesses offer free burgers, coffee, sandwiches to celebrate Caps Stanley Cup win

The D.C. area is still celebrating the Capitals winning their first Stanley Cup, and businesses are getting in on the fun by offering free food to customers.Z-Burger in Tenleytown will give away free burgers between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday. If a custome

Quadrant Bar is "sound aging" whiskey. Here's what you need to know

Over the weekend, Quadrant Bar and Lounge at The Ritz Carlton West End launched a new line of “sound-aged” spirits. If you are wondering what that means, you are not alone! The sound aging method claims to mimic time and age any liquor by many years in a f

DC Dunkin' Donuts are giving away FREE iced coffees after the Capitals win

The Washington Capitals are just one win away from taking home the Stanley Cup for the first time ever...AND we get free coffee!Yes, that is what D.C. sports fans get to wake up to Tuesday after the Caps stomped the Las Vegas Golden Knights in a 6-2 win in

New Kitchens On The Block gave us a taste of D.C.'s food future

Delicious freebies on National Doughnut Day!

Friday is National Doughnut Day, and here's where to score some freebies!Dunkin' Donuts is offering a free doughnut with the purchase of any beverage.Krispy Kreme is giving their customers a free doughnut with no purchase necessary. Which free doughnut

6 must-visit spots for a successful first trip to Eden Center

I’m a bit ashamed to admit that after living in D.C. for 10 years, I have never been to the much venerated Eden Center, the local mecca of Vietnamese food. But, I decided to change that this year! Eden Center is in the Seven Corners area of Falls Church an

5 new restaurants to try right now

If you’ve understandably been holed up this spring waiting for the sun to come out, it’s time to get over it. Some things are worth getting soaked for, such as checking out some of the hottest restaurants that have opened this month.Butterfly Tacos Y Torta

Restaurant Rumblings: Where to get Nashville Hot Soft Shell and more

Join DC Refined at a cocktail class at Wharf rooftop bar Whiskey Charlie

Start your Saturday on a high note and join DC Refined for a private cocktail class at one of the Wharf's stunning new rooftop bars, Whiskey Charlie, on Saturday June 2 from 2-3 p.m. Learn how to make two of Whiskey Charlie's signature cocktails: The Old S

Sip crushed ice cocktails all summer on Morris Bar's new patio

This patio season, barman David Strauss is reaching back into cocktail history for inspiration. Earlier this May, he opened the new outdoor terrace as his Morris American Bar as the Fix Bar. As the name suggests, the space offering a menu of fixes –old-tim

Veggies in your booze? These 9 drinks prove why it's so in right now

Avocados and corn in cocktails? Think beyond fruit-forward cocktails and sweet flavors this spring with these vegetable-forward cocktails found around the area. Beets, corn, carrots – the options are plenty, and these drinks not only pack a punch, but also

No Invitation? No Worries! 5 places to celebrate the Royal Wedding in D.C.

If your invitation to Saturday's Royal Wedding extravaganza got lost in the mail, don't fret -- D.C. is celebrating the exciting event in a big way. Here are five places in the District to watch the wedding while experiencing the royal treatment, with many

If you suffer from dry eyes, eat this mouthwatering dinner tonight

Omega-3 fatty acids have a fantastic reputation for heart health. But they don't always receive full credit when it's due. Studies show that these Omega-3s, like the ones found in tuna, can drastically improve dry eye symptoms--especially dry eye caused by

Restaurant Rumblings: José Andrés launches Butterfly, The Smith comes to U Street

10 brunch spots where you can make last minute Mother's Day reservations

If you've waited until the last minute you better jump on a brunch res now!

Learn how to make khachapuri, the Georgian cheesy bread of your dreams

Khachapuri is life changing. And that’s not hyperbole. Once you’ve discovered the irresistible combination of crusty dough, ooey gooey cheese, melted butter and a velvety egg yolk that ties it all together, there’s no going back.The dish is a Georgian stap

Jeremiah Langhorne wins James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic

From 22 semifinalists to four finalists to and then there was one we've been chronicling the 2018 James Beard Award season for you here on DC Refined. And the time has come to give a big CONGRATS to chef Jeremiah Langhorne of The Dabney on his Best Chef:Mi

The Royal Wedding Pop-Up Bar is finally here

City Winery opens in D.C. with performance from Suzanne Vega

It’s opening night at the City Winery concert space, and there’s a half-hour delay. A few gracious employees apologize to the growing crowd. A sommelier leads an impromptu tour of the first floor. And finally, the guests at this sprawling Ivy City building

The Source serves up one heck of a tasty bargain

For $100, each person gets one glass of wine or beer; a scallion roll; a scoop of shaoxing ice cream with strawberries and mint; plus family-style portions of lamb shank, eggplant and lamb sausage fried rice.

The 10 best Cinco de Mayo offerings in D.C.

Cinco de Mayo is an annual indulgence in tequila and tacos and all things Mexican. That the May 5th holiday falls on a Saturday this year is a promising arrangement for sipping frozen margaritas and snacking on nachos without the workweek looming. It won't

Hot Take: D.C. gets its first Taco Bamba

With the retirement of high-end Mexican grill Del Campo, it’s time to say hola to the lucha libre of Mexican food: Taco Bamba (777 I (EYE) Street NW). The first D.C. outpost of the NoVa group of taquerias run by Chef Victor Albisu opened in April after pro

Curious Foods: Stinging nettle gnocchi at Lupo Verde Osteria

During his childhood days in Mandello del Lario on the shores of Italy’s Lake Cuomo, chef Matteo Venini and his friends would chase each other around with bunches of nettles, doing their best to avoid the herb's stinging touch. Years later, he’s using the

Restaurant Rumblings: Brookland gets a food hall and a new brunch launches at The Line

This wistful Barmini cocktail flight will make you feel like a kid again

You can experience your childhood all over again at Barmini. Except this time, there are cocktails involved. Taking inspiration from owner José Andrés, head bartender Al Thompson and his team crafted a seven-course Nostalgia cocktail flight ($95; available

10 spots open late night so you can get your dessert on

The sun is long gone, but you're craving something sweet. Don’t worry, there are still plenty of spots where you can get your late night dessert fix. Here are our 10 current faves.Brothers and SistersAward-winning pastry chef Pichet Ong serves up stunning

Frosé is so last summer! 2018 is all about 'Schnapsicles'

You remember schnapps, right? Cheap bottles of peppermint and peach flavored hooch mixed in terrible cocktails at fraternity parties -- ringing any bells yet? But it's different in Switzerland, where artfully distilled fruit brandies are the regional tippl

This rosé season you can support a local business when drinking pink

Conor McCormack is a patient man who has grown accustomed to waiting. Whether it's the four-six day journey before his West Coast grapes arrive in D.C., or the 23 months that his Cabernet Sauvignon grapes must ferment in barrels before bottling, he knows t

D.C.'s latest themed pop-up bar caters to those with 'royal wedding fever'

If you've been giddily tracking every update surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's impending nuptials, the next pop-up bar to come from the Drink Company team is going to be right up your alley. Yes, you guessed it, a Royal Wedding PUB is next on th

Restaurant Rumblings: All-Purpose on the Anacostia, Thali Thursdays and more

Restaurant Rumblings is here to get you up to speed on the latest bar and restaurant news, from hot openings to exciting new menus.

Oodles of non-traditional noodles

Italian pasta is usually made with nothing more than flour, eggs, olive oil and salt. But in the anti-gluten age, chefs are rethinking this classic equation by subbing in a slew of creative alternatives, from mushroom stems to squid tentacles, for the norm

Oh Bey! 4 ways to indulge in your adoration of Beyoncé

We still have to wait three months before Beyoncé takes over FedEx Field with Mr. Knowles in tow. That’s a long time for fans who are always craving more Queen B in their lives. Luckily, there are four flawless ways to get some Bey right now. We promise yo

9 patios and rooftops where you can enjoy the warmer weather

With temperatures projected to hit 80 later this week, we want to spend all of our time soaking up some much-needed Vitamin D! Here are 9 of the best bar and restaurant outdoor spaces where you can catch us sipping and noshing for the foreseeable future. T

Eat more of this superfood to protect your vision

Carrots usually steal the show when it comes to vision-boosting foods. But who would have guessed that spinach is another huge supporter of eye health? This dark, leafy green is rich in lutein, zeaxanthiun and zinc--all key components in age-related macula

Winery Manners 101: How not to be a jerk in the tasting room

Warm spring weekends (which we swear are just around the corner) have a way of beckoning wine lovers to embark on road trips to the sunny patios and welcoming tasting rooms of local wineries. But unfortunately, winery visits can also bring out bad behavior

Headed to WhiskyFest DC? Here’s what to expect

Dram fans, get excited! WhiskyFest -- the leading whisk(e)y festival in North America -- returns to Washington, D.C. on April 17! Now in its third year in the District (and celebrating its 21st anniversary overall), WhiskyFest gives fans the chance to samp

The best happy hour deals in D.C. for every day of the week

There is no denying that everyone likes a good drink and food deal. But sometimes you just don't where the best deals are when the urge strikes. And that's where we come in!To make sure you always know where the best happy hour specials are each day of the

6 D.C. restaurants and bars fully embracing sustainability

Once a trend, “farm-to-table” is now virtually expected at most restaurants. But as our awareness of sourcing and sustainability grows, just being farm-to-table is not enough. Many D.C. restaurants have risen to meet the challenge, and are taking the con

Meet the new D.C. cake maker who slays on Instagram

Have a sweet tooth and love eye candy? You need to be following Broken Tart on Instagram!The cooler-than-cool cakery creates towering treats coronated with dollops of meringue and real flowers. Often there are sweet sauces – like wine caramel (which we did

13 reasons why you should visit Wilderness Run Vineyards in Fredericksburg, Va.

Restaurant Rumblings: Israeli Cooking in Cleveland Park, new brunch at Dacha and more

These photos from #dcfoodporn have us drooling

4 weekend brunch destinations worth going the distance

When you think of brunch, maybe the first thing that comes to mind is bottomless mimosas or all-you-can-eat buffets. While this may be one of the perks of the meal, usually what you end up with is a watered down OJ cocktail and a picked-over smorgasbord of

16 places to eat Easter brunch in the DMV

Ladurée Georgetown (3060 M St. NW) Ladurée will be offering a special prix-fixe Easter brunch menu to mark the holiday, available Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1. Menu highlights include:First Course - Choice of granola or fruit saladSecond Course -

Meet Candy Schibly, the woman serving her coffee with a side of activism

Coffee hasn’t been a simple cup of joe for a hot minute -- we see you, direct-trade latte-art pour-over no-almond-milk-because-it’s-water-intensive hipster shops -- but Candy Schibly brings actual meaning to her brew. For her, coffee is about community and

All Nice, No Spice: Kith & Kin's habanero pepper dessert

The dessert menu at Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s Kith & Kin offers some approachable options for a sweet finish, such as a tropical fruit parfait and a hot chocolate rum cake with caramel ice cream. Less expected is a dish named for the habanero pepper, a vegetab

Where to eat & drink during the March For Our Lives

Big crowds are expected in Washington on Saturday, March 24 for the March for Our Lives, an anti-gun-violence rally organized by students that could bring as many as 500,000 protesters to downtown D.C. The good news is that there are plenty of restaurants

Take brunch to the next level at these luxurious D.C. spots

D.C.’s brunch scene is definitely no joke – from bottomless feasts, chef driven destinations, endless drinks, and everything in between, you can find just about anything you want. However, not all brunches are created equal and there comes a day when it’s

Haute Hummus: 7 twists on a classic that go above and beyond

Chefs are putting their signature stamp on this spread and we are all about it!

Take a day trip to this winery, cooking school and restaurant outside Charlottesville

Seeking a more immersive culinary experience at a winery than what a cheese board or charcuterie plate can provide? Then look no further than Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards. Located about 15 minutes outside Charlottesville, the property is part winery, farm,

4 local finalists for the James Beard Foundation Awards

This has been a big week for the food industry! Monday we learned who would be vying for RAMMY Awards later this summer, and today we found out which of the 22 locals from the James Beard Foundation Awards shortlist would be venturing on to the next round.

12 places to drink on St. Patrick's Day

The Dubliner (4 F Street, NW)The Dubliner is celebrating its 44th anniversary this year by offering up $0.44 pints of Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day for the first hour of opening. Doors will open at 9 a.m; and yes, folks will start celebrating that early! T

And the 2018 RAMMY finalists are...

Last night, Washingtonians packed into the Hamilton Live and sampled food and drink from a few of this year's RAMMY contenders while they waited to hear who the finalists would be across 20 categories. The Source, Ivy City Smokehouse, Maketto, Le Diplomate

Fried chicken sandwiches are having a moment so life is good

What the cluck! Diners peckish for fried chicken sandwiches have a clutch of blue ribbon options. These six will help you get your fowl fix.Little Pearl“I’m the weirdo who wants to eat spicy fried chicken in the morning,” says head chef BJ Lieberman. This

Restaurant Rumblings: Momofuku ditches ramen, Mexican food comes to The Wharf

14 of the best cocktail names on D.C. menus right now

13 of the DMV's best beer happy hour deals

There’s no better time than the present to step out into a good happy hour. We’ve given you our favorite spots for wine and cocktails, but sometimes all you want is an ice cold beer. These are the bars to hit up for craft brews at Bud Light prices:DC Reyno

9 can't miss festivals for whisky, wine & beer lovers

Being surrounded by wine country, Washingtonians love their wine. But that’s not all. Breweries are popping up all over the DMV. Yes, we love our beer too. And not to be left out, whiskey is on our radar as well. Besides visiting wineries, breweries, a

Crumbs & Corks: The perfect wines to sip with 8 Girl Scout Cookie flavors

We asked Kabir Amir and Swati Bose, co-owners of Flight Wine Bar in Chinatown, to try out all eight Girl Scout Cookie flavors that can be purchased locally, and pair the cookie with a wine offered at Flight.

This year's Cherry Blossom PUB has 90,000 flowers

It's back and bigger than ever

Wear a Caps jersey and score free Chipotle on March 2

If you are always in the market to score free food, or you're still riding the wave of the U.S. Women's Olympic Hockey Team winning a gold medal over Canada, then tomorrow is your day to shine -- Chipotle is giving away free food to hockey fans on Friday,

Instant Pot: Is it really worth all the hype?

The Instant Pot. It's rapid-fire cooking at its finest. I first heard of the apparently magical contraption, like many of us, on Facebook. Recipe groups and food pics started filling up my feed. I've said it before and I'll say it again...I don't like t

Milk Bar's spring menu includes cereal milk lattes and choco-pretzel dulce milkshakes

Milk Bar's newly launched spring menu includes three new latte flavors, a new milkshake flavor and smaller size options.

Enjoy craft cocktails on the cheap at these 15 happy hour spots

Cocktail prices in the city have been steadily creeping up over the last several years, and at this point, it's darn near impossible to grab a classy drink with friends without blowing your budget for the whole month. Thankfully, bars and restaurants are t

The Salt Line will reopen its outdoor bar on March 1

It's time to start drinking outside again as The Salt Line will fully open its outdoor bar for the season March 1.

Restaurant Rumblings: A kimchi hoagie, Hazel's new happy hour and more

5 seafood restaurants perfect for Lenten Fridays

If you’re observing Lent this year, you might be facing the challenge of what to eat on Fridays when you’re supposed to abstain from eating meat. While a typical hometown fish fry may be a little harder to come across here in D.C., there is certainly no sh

10 spots for a fantastic wine happy hour in the DMV

Are you a wine geek but don’t want to burn a hole in your pocket while exploring some new wines? Or maybe you just want to drink a lot of wine without shelling out a lot of money. Either way, you are in luck! Click through our list of favorite wine happy

José Andrés is the James Beard Foundation's 2018 Humanitarian of the Year

Considering the James Beard Foundation's 2018 theme is honoring chefs and industry leaders who rise to the occasion, we can't imagine a chef who embodies that message better than José Andrés. To date, the chef has served more than 3.3 million meals to the

Chef Jonathan Dearden wins first round of The Chew's Best Chef on the Block

Yesterday we let you know that one of our very own would be competing on ABC's hit show The Chew all this week as part of the Best Chef on the Block competition pitting six regional chefs against one another. And today we have more good news as Chef Jonath

Going for Gold: Savor Loudoun County's best wines

It turns out, you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to bring home the gold. Earlier this month, the Virginia Wineries Association announced its 2018 Governor’s Cup winners honoring a number of Northern Virginia wineries and vineyards.And the competition

Local chef Jonathan Dearden will represent D.C. on The Chew this week

The Chew is one of the most popular shows on daytime television. Every day at noon, millions of people watch Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and Michael Symon turn out tasty dishes. So we were STOKED when they launched the Best Chef on the Block contest, looking

We have Union Kitchen to thank for plant-based waffles and 600 other yummy products

“I was infatuated with the idea of working for the Secret Service or CIA while I was in high school,” said Rebecca Peress, the founder and CEO of SWAP Foods. “I wanted to be undercover. It was literally all I wanted.”Peress’ career path changed during coll

From the Farmer's new local meal kit delivery service

For one meal kit delivery service, the distance from the farm to your doorstep is shorter than you’d expect.From the Farmer, a well-established grocery delivery company that we’ve written about on DC Refined before, has just launched a new meal kit program

Sip what now? Dram & Grain's 'Papaya Salad From A Bangkok Night Market'

Savory ingredients have always been fair game in cocktails, but they require a bold and knowledgeable bartender to make them worknot to mention some adventurous patrons.At the subterranean lounge Dram & Grain (2007 18th St. NW), bartender Morgan Kirchner h

22 local semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation Awards

We know the actual Oscars aren't for a few more weeks, but for the foodies in town, today's announcement of the James Beard Awards semifinalists was definitely popcorn worthy. This year, D.C. was represented in nearly every category, with the exceptions be

A 'Black Panther' pop-up bar is coming to DC

WASHINGTON (WJLA) - The excitement for Marvel's Black Panther continues to build and now fans in D.C. can get even more immersed in the Wakandan experience. A Black Panther pop-up bar is set to open from Thursday to Saturday, according to the event product

Wawa is now available for delivery through Uber Eats