dearshakti

Neighborhood Restaurant Group is a wonderful collective of restaurant pros operating a dozen unique places in DC/NoVA. They sent out an email today about a nifty

Olympic promotion they’re running but I can’t find anything about it on ANY of their many web sites, so here is the content from the email. Basically, grab a “passport” at one of their restos and get it stamped when you go to the other participating ones. When it’s full you get a $50 dining card. So fun and the prize is great! Read on for deets from NRG:

Now that the games have begun, we’re suddenly seized by a serious case of Olympic fever. To celebrate the spirit and since we can’t be in Canada, we’ve created a fun crawl around town.

Here’s how it works: From now through the closing ceremonies, each of our restaurants will adopt a country during the games and offer both food and drink inspired by that country.

You need only visit any one of our restaurants, ask for a passport, then dine around at the others gathering a stamp at each along the way. Collect all six, and you’ll receive a $50 gift certificate.

From there, three medalists will be selected at random from all completed passports. The Gold Medalist will be awarded a $150 gift certificate, the Silver Medalist a $100 gift certificate, and the Bronze Medalist a $75 gift certificate.

All three medalists will be announced during our own version of the closing ceremonies right here in Del Ray. That’s right, we’re hosting another outdoor party on Sunday, February 28 at the Evening Star Cafe and invite you to join us beneath the heated tents from 1-6 for an Olympic oyster roast and block party celebration.

Expect a day’s worth of good food, fine wine, craft beers, good friends and neighbors and plenty of fun. There’s no fee to attend – Oysters, Red Apron Hot Dogs, Beer, Wine, Coffee and much more will all be priced individually anywhere from $3 to $12 and we’ll even screen the gold medal hockey game. So mark your calendars now for a rollicking day of Olympic fun right here in the neighborhood.

The Evening Star Cafe
Team United States
2000 Mt. Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA 22301
www.eveningstarcafe.net

Featuring: Will’s All-American Waffle Burger | The Five B Stinger (Black Angus Beef Burger with Blue, Bacon and Buffalo Sauce on Jalapeno & Cheddar Biscuit) | Barnard Griffin Merlot from Washington State | Pale Ale from Philadelphia’s Yard’s Brewing Company.

Columbia Firehouse
Team Russia
109 South St. Asaph, Alexandria, VA 22314
www.columbiafirehouse.com

Featuring: Shortrib Beef Stroganoff with Housemade Egg Noodles | Moscow Mule Cocktail (Vodka, Ginger Beer & Lime) | House Infused Pepper Vodka.

Vermilion
Team Italy
1120 King Street, Alexandria VA 22314
www.vermilionrestaurant.com

Featuring: Four Cheese Ravioli with Path Valley Farms’ Red & Orange Beets and Walnut Froth | Blood Orange Negroni (Gin Campari & Sweet Vermouth) | Fernando Canavase Rosso “La Torazza” from Piedmont, Italy.

ChurchKey
Team Canada
1337 14th Street NW, Washington DC 20005
www.birchandbarley.com

Featuring: Poutine (ChurchKey’s Handcut Fries topped with Cheddar Curds and Sausage Gravy | A selection of Canadian draft beers from a trio of great Quebecois brewers including Trou de Diable’s Imperatrice Stout. ChurchKey is the only establishment in the USA offering this rare beer!

Rustico
Team Germany
827 Slaters Lane, Alexandria VA 22314
www.rusticorestaurant.com

Featuring: Pork Schnitzel with Wild Mushroom Spaetzle | Selection of German beers including Ettaler Curator Doppelbock, Augustine Brau Lager & more.

Tallula / EatBar
Team Poland
2761 Washington Blvd. Arlington VA 22201
www.tallularestaurant.com

Featuring: Housemade Potato Pierogi stuffed with Potatoes, Kielbasa & Cheese | Polish Beers by Zywiec | The Polish Hat Trick (A Pierogi, Zywiec Lager & shot of Belvedere vodka.

Neighborhood Restaurant Group
2000 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia 22301
www.neighborhoodrestaurantgroup.com

My friend Nancy F. told me about this NYTimes article last summer describing my brother buying the sandals right off a man’s feet in Paris at the behest of his label’s designer. It’s strange for me to picture my brother who is so dignified and correct,  to be sent on any such errand. I mean: shoes off a dude’s feet in AUGUST especially in France must be gross. Did he have to touch them? Did I mention that my brother is a Brahmin priest? Clearly his colleagues don’t know. I’m not surprised that brother never mentioned this article to me.