amanda mcclements

If you're planning to tune in tomorrow to watch George Mason take on Florida, turn your waning attention on this beautiful Friday afternoon to this round-up of places to watch the game, courtesy of the Going Out Gurus. Since GMU beat my beloved Tar Heels, I'll be rooting for them to go all the way. Have a great weekend.

On many occasions now, I've enjoyed the sake oyster shooter at Hank's Oyster Bar . The tall shot, a festive meal starter that combines sake with bloody mary mix, often conceals a surprising number of oysters (it's like they just keep sliding down...). The shooter has been so popular that chef Jamie Leeds created three more choices, all of which sound mighty tasty. The Tanqueray gin shooter is infused with fresh mint and cucumber, and the vodka shooter, made with Tanqueray Sterling, is infused with shiso and pickled ginger and topped with cracked black pepper. The tequila shooter combines Jose Cuervo Gold and fresh lemon juice (ok, maybe that one sounds a little hardcore). Maryland Blue Point oysters are used in each of the new shooters. The shooters cost $4, or you can order a flight of all four for $15. You can add a little more alcohol to your meal (order the fried clams to soak some of it up) with two new cocktails the bar is pouring. A spin on the Dark and Stormy brings...

It's not every day you'll find the area's best restaurants all under one roof offering samples of food. But when Share Our Strength hosts its 19th annual Taste of the Nation on April 11, more than 50 top restaurants and wineries will gather to fight childhood hunger at the Marriott Wardman Park. Participants range from the upscale ( Restaurant Eve , 1789 and Equinox ) to the informal ( Cafe Saint-Ex , Hank's Oyster Bar and Andale ), and include newcomers like Zengo , Acadiana and OYA . In addition to the food and wine tastings, the evening promises live and silent auctions offering vacation and spa packages, shopping sprees, entertainment packages, rare wines and more, and a chef cook-off competition. A VIP section will feature dedicated seating, a full bar and food from some of D.C.’s top chefs, including Robert Wiedmaier of Marcel’s . VIP guests will also receive gift bags. VIP guests can preview the event from 6 to 7 p.m., while general admission is from 7 to 10 ...

Indique Heights , the new (and much larger) offshoot of Cleveland Park's popular Indique , is slated to open in Chevy Chase sometime next week, most likely by April 5. The contemporary Indian menu will offer numerous small plates inspired by the different regions and cooking styles of India. Signature dishes include tanjore moyal (rabbit) khorma, Syrian lamb fry, duck varatha curry and masala grilled fish. Favorites from Indique, such as mussels a la Indique, saffron malai chicken and crab tikki, will also be on the new menu. And just in time for spring to settle in, the new spot also offers a 40-seat covered patio, which should be a prime spot for sipping cocktails from the new restaurant's creative list. Bartenders will be mixing up a drink dubbed Hot Passion made with tequila, passion fruit juice and hot pepper, and a Jag martini made with Malibu coconut rum, jaggery and cardamom. Also on the list are some of Indique's most popular drinks, like the tamarind margarita, ma...

Thanks go to DCist "staff emeritus" Kanishka for bringing up the delightful possibility of a soul food showdown in the U Street corridor. It appears that the reigning champ of all foods soulful, Oohhs and Aahhs , is getting some competition in the neighborhood. The opening of Brown Sugar (pictured above) at 928 U St. NW. slipped past me, I'm not even sure how long ago. The take-out joint has a small dine-in area and trumpets its "old school" jumbo fish sandwiches with a prominent neon sign in the front window. It appeared to be doing a brisk breakfast business last time I passed by. And next weekend, A Taste of Carolina will open its doors at 1930 Ninth St. NW in the space once occupied by Sodere . The restaurant is planning a two-day open house of sorts, offering samples of food, drink specials and giveaways on Friday and Saturday. But unlike the soul food competition a few blocks north, the 70-seat restaurant is expected to be more upscale. "This is so...

What people are talking about locally... ... The nominees for the RAMMYS, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington's annual awards, were announced Wednesday. New restaurant of the year nods went to Black Salt , Acadiana , Hank's Oyster Bar , IndeBleu and Willow . Here's the full (pdf) list of nominees. ... ... Rustico opens in Alexandria, and an early report from Going Out Guru Erin Hartigan, who liked Rustico's grilled squid with white beans, indicates that the restaurant is already packed. ... ... News that the Chesapeake's blue crab population is slowly rebounding comes just before the April 1 crabbing season opens. ... ... The new Vienna restaurant Bazin's gets previewed by Tom Sietsema. ... ... Shimba Hills , a new coffee shop in the Verizon Center, was expected to open . Anyone been by yet? ...

Though today's weather may seem like it's out to get our beloved little cherry blossoms, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will kick off no less on Saturday with plenty of events to keep you busy. You could watch Pat Sajak and former American Idoler Anthony Federov at the parade. Or you could run 10 miles at 8 a.m. If you're anything like me, however, you might rather eat and drink your way around town, and luckily the festival has plenty to offer the gluttons among us. Numerous area restaurants have created Japanese- and cherry-inspired dishes and cocktails in honor of the festival. At a media preview of the "Cherry Picks" on Tuesday, I sampled a few of the creations, including the chicken potstickers with spicy sweet cherry sauce from Bangkok Joe's ; Cafe MoZu 's cherry blossom roll with pink-tinged sushi rice; sake-marinated duck breast with sour cherry barbecue sauce rolled in Mandarin pancakes from Mie N Yu ; Hawaiian opah with cherry apple chutn...

The regally outfitted Taberna del Alabardero has long been the territory of diplomats and politicos. The youngest face you might see on any given night is that of the restaurant's talented 28-year-old executive chef, Santi Zabaleta. But with the introduction of a new tapas and sangria happy hour, the restaurant is becoming more accessible to a larger—and potentially younger—crowd. From 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, Zabaleta's 20 tapas are half price, and sangria is available for $3 by the glass and $12 for a pitcher. That means you can score a dish of marinated mussels with a creamy sherry vinegar and olive oil emulsion or a plate of grilled housemade chorizo for just under $4. "In Spain, people typically eat tapas as a snack after work, because our dinner hour falls late in the evening, sometimes after 10 p.m.," Zabaleta said in a release. In other Taberna news, the restaurant will celebrate its 17th anniversary with three nights of special flamenco dinner shows on March...

Life just keeps getting better for local beer connoisseurs. Just weeks after Birreria Paradiso opened , Rustico , the newest restaurant from the owners of Tallula , Vermilion and Evening Star Cafe , is expected to open for dinner on Saturday, bringing with it an impressive beer list of more than 250 selections, including 30 on tap and casks of ale. You can check out the draft list here . Rustico's menu features pizzas, rotisserie meats and breads from a wood-burning oven, as well as the de rigueur cheese and meat boards. An appetizer of Rogue Chipotle Ale barbecue pork sandwiches (I'm presuming they are minis?) and an entree of mac and cheese carbonara with bacon, pancetta, peas and mushrooms have me intrigued. Lunch service and a take-out operation will follow in the weeks to come. Rustico 703.224.5051 827 Slaters Lane, Alexandria

Today's Post Food section has some information on an interesting new coffeeshop set to open next week on the Seventh Street side of the MCI, er, Verizon Center. Shimba Hills Coffee , which according to the story has been named the "official" coffee of the Verizon Center (there's even a "smooth yet tangy and bold" Wizards blend for sale on the Web site), is a homegrown operation from a trio of young entrepreneurs. The shop "will feature fine coffees and teas from East Africa and elsewhere, pastries and other nonalcoholic beverages, plus wine and beer," the Post reports. I have to give the owners props for jumping into such a competitive market and for landing a prime spot in Penn Quarter. They are clearly trying to stand out from the Starbucks sea with a thoughtful charity program and ads that say things like, "This will be our only location on this block. (We promise.)" Metrocurean wishes them the best of luck, but the burning quest...

The restaurants of Passion Food ( Acadiana , Ceiba , TenPenh and DC Coast ) have always disseminated the sommelier duties to each server, the owners believing that every server should taste every wine so as to better help diners. That means a lot of time is dedicated to "Wine 101", taught by the group's wine and beverage director, Scott Clime. You can join in on the lesson when DC Coast hosts its Spring Wine Component Class March 25 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The class is designed to give students tips on finding wines for foods, like asparagus, that may be hard to pair. Class starts with champagne (wouldn't school have been more fun that way?), followed by a lecture by Clime. Students will then taste more wines (eight in all) with different spices and flavors, like sweet, sour and spicy, to see how they affect the wines. The cost of the class is $75 per person. For reservations or more details, call Amy Allworth at 202-222-0987.

With the opening of Indigo Landing less than a month away, more details about chef Bryan Moscatello's low-country menu, which includes a mighty fine sounding shrimp and grits, are emerging. After eating his away around the South Carolina low country with Dan Mesches, president of Star Restaurant Group ( Zola , Red Sage ), and Ralph Rosenberg, the company's director of operations, Moscatello has crafted a seafood-heavy menu of Southern favorites with contemporary twists. A few of the enticing dishes include shrimp and grits with bacon, leeks, oyster mushrooms and sage jus; a Cobb salad topped with buttermilk fried oysters and smoked ham hock with a cucumber vinaigrette; and a dish called duck bog that brings together duck breast, leg confit and duck liver served with "bog rice" (wet, oven-baked Carolina Gold rice with duck sausage, bacon and tomatoes). Moscatello holds the honor of having been named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs in 2003 and previously h...

Today's balmy temperature and the sight of all the little bulbs peeking their heads out of the ground have me coming down with a distracting case of spring fever. But to stay on task, I'll segue to the rebirth of several local establishments. First up is the transformation of 14th Street's Source Theatre into Standard Bar and Grill , from the owner of Buffalo Billiards . The theater was apparently having some financial problems and decided to give up the space, a former car showroom. (If you buy this book , available at Pulp, you can see some great pictures of the neighborhood, including the old Standard Auto, where Standard Bar and Grill will be.) According to the Business Journal , the 8,000-square-foot space will become "a two-story neighborhood bar and grill with pool tables, chess, backgammon and tiddlywinks ." Look out for a September opening. In addition to the Source going dark, there's also been some buzz about the Blue Room bidding adieu to make ...

The new casual offshoot of Bobby Van's Steakhouse , Bobby Van's Grill , opened today at 1201 New York Ave. NW. Like at its pricier sibling, the chain's signature steaks are available, but the menu also offers lighter fare, such as sandwiches, pastas and salads.

Any fans of Ray's the Steaks who have been hyperventilating over the restaurant's unanswered phone or message saying it's closing March 26, owner Michael Landrum tells Tom Sietsema in today's TomChat (love that term, DCist ): "I'm closing because I have to find a way to bring the restaurant back to the neighborhood, where it belongs. ... Even if it involves reformatting my operations." Hmm, not sure that clears things up, but it's a response nonetheless.

Don't forget that Thursday is Dining Out for Life night, and if you want to get into your favorite participating restaurant, you need to act fast to secure a reservation. Carlyle Grand Cafe and Ristorante Tosca are donating an impressive 100 percent of sales from the evening. Restaurants donating 50 percent include 15ria , Agrodolce , Annie's Paramount Steakhouse , Cafe La Ruche , Cafe Luna , Georgia Brown's , Little Fountain Cafe , Luigino , Skewers , Sushi-Ko and The Dupont Grille . For a full list of participating restaurants, all of which are donating at least 25 percent of sales, check out this list . And not that you're in it for selfish reasons, but you can also enter to win two round-trip airline tickets courtesy of American Airlines or a $1,000 gift certificate to Crate and Barrel by filling out a donation envelope. The money benefits Food & Friends , which was founded to provide home-delivered meals and friendship to people living with devastating illn...

What people are talking about locally ... ... I was comforted to find out I'm not alone in my fruitless search for laid-back spots to grab a drink on the weekends. Consensus seemed to be that if you don't want crowds, go to a bar that's not near any others. Temperance Hall , run by Joe Englert, Robb Lakritz and Josh Adler, was a reader favorite, with other mentions going to Wonderland , Trusty's , Continental and Quarry House . Any others you care to share with the group? ... ... Time to say goodbye to Foggy Bottom beer. ... ... If the Food section folds , will you care? ...

Some of you may have heard rumblings that the Washington Post is planning to do away with the Food section for one, as well as Health and Home, and combine them into one section that would run multiple times a week. In today's City Paper , Erik Wemple is on the story , though the Post isn't really talking. My sentiments echo this statement by Wemple: "Unless top editors come up with something special, the losers will be the foodies who will have to sift through a combined section three times a week to get a fraction of what they now get on Wednesday."

In Italy on March 8, it’s customary for men to give all the special women in their lives sprigs of yellow mimosa flowers to mark Festa della Donna, Italy's version of International Women's Day . This, unfortunately, hasn't caught on 'round these parts, so if you want a yellow flower, head to Ristorante Tosca next week where they'll be celebrating the holiday. The restaurant will offer a three-course menu designed for female diners March 6-11 during lunch for $22 and dinner for $35. On the menu: tortelli filled with green peas, fresh ricotta and a white truffle "pearl" with a creamy Tuscan pecorino cheese sauce; roasted lamb loin with an artichoke and olive stew, lentil puree and rosemary sauce; and almond and sugar biscotti with a vin santo ice cream. In keeping with tradition, the meal will be accompanied by a yellow flower. For groups of two or more women, Tosca will also provide free tickets to see "Divine and Human: Women in Ancient Peru and Mexi...

Over on the GOG Blog, Fritz Hahn has reported that Olde Heurich Brewing Company will no longer brew Foggy Bottom beer "after 20 unprofitable years." This news comes as the brewery's owner, Gary Heurich, attempts to save the historic Brewmaster's Castle , his grandfather's Victorian mansion, from an open-market sale. R.I.P. Foggy Bottom beer, and here's hoping the Brewmaster's Castle has a brighter future.

With Mardi Gras just behind us, you may already be making plans for the next holiday that excuses excessive drinking and tawdriness. But if you'd like to go a little more upscale than green beer, Equinox is hosting a celebration March 17 that will highlight the best of the region's food, including Chesapeake rockfish, oysters, crab and Virginia ham and peanuts. You'll be treated to a "dine-around" meal prepared by guest chefs at five tasting stations. Joining Equinox chef/owner Todd Gray and pastry chef Lisa Scruggs will be Marc Silverstein, co-host of "The Best Of" on the Food Network and co-author of The Best of the Best Cookbook; Jeff Buben, chef/owner of Vidalia and Bistro Bis ; and Jeffrey Potter, executive chef of Market Salamander in Middleburg, Va. Wine pairings will also be offered at each station. The event will run from 7 to 10 p.m. and costs $167 per person (includes passed canapés, five-course dine-around meal with paired wines and a si...