PROJECTED OPENING DATE: June 21, 2013

The St. Regis will soon be unveiling a new signature restaurant, Decanter.  Under the direction of acclaimed Executive Chef Sebastien Rondier, who led the culinary team of the hotel’s former Adour restaurant, the restaurant’s concept will focus upon Rondier’s childhood spent in France along the Mediterranean.  Expect the menu to feature dishes inspired by the south of France, Spain, Turkey, and Italy and offer an expansive wine selection. The 74-seat space will be elegantly designed by the Rockwell Group and will include a main dining room, separate dining alcoves, and a semi-private dining room. The St. Regis’ Adour will close on May 31^st and breakfast, lunch, and dinner service will be offered at the hotel’s new bar space until Decanter opens on June 21^st.

Three years after husband-and-wife team Niall Cooper and Lindsey Morse began planning to open their dream bakery and coffee shop, Bakehouse has officially opened its doors.  The menu boasts classics like cookies, pies, and cupcakes along with more sophisticated takes on old favorites.  The eatery also serves up breakfast sandwiches and a variety of lunchtime sandwiches. Breakfast and lunch is complimented by coffee from Zeke’s roasters of Baltimore and house-made syrups.

The Rosslyn pizzeria Piola has finally made its long-awaited journey into the district.  The three-story eatery on 14th street has brought its l’apertivo Italiano happy hours, Neapolitan style pizzas, and cold glasses of Peroni with it.  Translating into “gathering place,” Piola is designed to evoke warm, comforting feelings. It will feature exposed brick, natural wood, dramatic light fixtures, large floral wall paintings, and a wooden pizza oven as its focal point. The eatery offers a slightly smaller menu than its Arlington location but offers more draft beer selection. Piola now serves dinner during the week and weekend with plans to offer lunch service during the weekend in the future.

PROJECTED OPENING DATE: No new information at this time

More gaming and drinking will be coming to the H Street corridor with the opening of Vendetta Bocce bar & Italian restaurant.  At Vendetta, guests will be transported to Italy while enjoying it favorite pastime alongiside some of its favorite dishes and drinks.  Executive Chef James A. Figueroa-Perez will be serving up a variety of Italian-inspired small plates, salads, pasta dishes, and desserts.  Play on one of the eatery’s two 25-foot indoor courts is limited to adults 21 years of age who have purchased one of Vendetta’s delicious cocktails.  Weekly bocce leagues will also take place at th resturant in the future.

New York-based chef Michael White and his restaurant group, Altamarea plan to expand its popular Neapolitan Pizzeria in Manhattan to the Lumber Shed pavilion at Yards Park this fall.  The pizzeria’s second location will boast a menu that is very similar to the one offered at its East Village location and include many hearty pizza varieties including gluten-free options.  Unlike the New York Nicoletta, however, this location will serve its customers at a counter-order kiosk instead of traditional sit-down dining.

The team behind 2 Amy’s and Standard have joined forces and opened Etto on 14^th street.  The 42-seat restaurant was conceptualized  for the past eight years simply as a place where Standard owner Tad Curtz would “want to eat.”  Chef Cagla Onal-Urel offers a variety of delicious pizzas, salamis, seafood plates, and even homemade ice cream.  The beverage program features homemade vermouth, Negronis, many wine options, and wine on-tap from Pastan’s Pedrasassi Winery.  The reatraursnt features exposed brick, eclectice light fixtures, copper accenting, and a mill used for making the restaurants breads ad pizzas.

Prague Café & Bar is now open in the heart of Georgetown.  Serving European-inspired fare, expect Capitol Prague Café offers homemade pastries, sweet delicacies, and aromatic Illy coffee from 8am to 8pm daily.  The menu centers upon contemporary Czech and Slovak cuisine and includes smoked meats and authentic Czech beer.

Hailing from The M Crowd restaurant group, with restaurants in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Tulsa, and Atlanta, the Tex Mex restaurant Mi Cocina has opened in Chevy Chase.  Maryland and DC residents can now indulge in “south of the border” flavors close to home as Mi Cocina serves up Tex-Mex fare including fajitas, tacos, and enchiladas among other house specials.   The eatery seats 155 in its dining room, which is adorned with beautiful chandeliers and a mural painted by Luis Sottil, a talented Mexican artist. The space also includes a glass-enclosed patio, al fresco dining in the front of the restaurant, and a separate shaded patio.

It’s Baaa-ck

Restaurants in Bloom – Tickets are now on sale for the DC area’s hottest foodie fete, the 31^st Annual RAMMY Awards, celebrating the city’s vibrant restaurant industry. Attended by the region’s finest culinary talent and buzzworthy power players, this year’s event offers an expanded awards ceremony format, honoring the area’s top dining destinations and professionals at a Restaurants in Bloom-themed gala. The RAMMYS begin with a cocktail reception at 6:00pm, hosted by Boxwood Estate Winery and partners in the Virginia wine and beverage industry. The awards ceremony will follow at 7:00pm followed by a buffet-style dinner. The finalists for Beverage/Mixology program of the year will serve their RAMMY cocktails at specialty bars throughout the ballroom and a live band will set the scene for dancing and festivities until midnight.  The 2013 RAMMY Awards will be taking place at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC on Sunday, June 23^rd. Tickets are available for $225 for RAMW members, $300 for non-members, and may be purchased online at www.therammys.org, by phone, or by email at therammys@ramw.org. (2660 Woodley Road NW; 202.331.5990)

Blue Duck Tavern – Park Hyatt Washington’s Blue Duck Tavern and the Blue Duck Tavern Lounge have debuted seven spring-y cocktails.  The cocktails include such twists on some of your favorites such as the aviation (Plymouth Gin, Maraschino, lemon juice and Crème de Violette foam), and the cilantro margarita (Mezcal, pear juice, lemon juice, agave and cilantro muddled with lemon).  If none of these new springtime beverages appeal to you, try any of the six classics (with the Blue Duck Tavern special touch), that are on the menu like the Park Hyatt soda, BDT Champagne cocktail, and the julep from the cellar. (1201 24th St NW; 202.419.6755)

Del Campo — More for those who love have happy hour. The brand-new Del Campo is now offering happy hour specials at the bar. Enjoy margaritas, mojitos, draft beer, wine, and other fun libations all week, every week. In honor of the restaurants “777″ address, $7 drink specials will be offered 7 days a week from 5:00 to 7:00pm. (777 I Street NW; 202.289.7377)

France vs. the World – Throughout the summer and early fall months, The Grille at Morrison House will host a series of “First Friday Wine Tastings” in the Morrison House Hotel’s picturesque patio. The patio will serve as the inspiration for the international wine tastings, which will be themed each month around pitting French wines against those of another wine-producing nation. The outdoor area will be set up with two bars, one pouring French wines – two reds and two whites – on one side of the patio, and the other pouring red and white wines from a different country, including Italy, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and the US. Sip around the world and decide which country, or countries, produce the best wines. General Manager Adam Manson will be available to discuss the wines offered, and guests will vote for their favorite at the end of the evening. Chef Brian McPherson will pair appropriately themed bistro-style bites for each month’s dueling countries. The first face-off on June 7^th. Each tasting will be held the first Friday of the month, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. In the event of rain or inclement weather, the tasting will be hosted on the following Friday. The schedule is as follows:

June 7^th: France vs. USA

July 12^th: France vs. Italy

August 2^nd: France vs. Spain

September 6^th: France vs. Argentine and Chile

October 4^th: France vs. Australia and New Zealand

Reservations are required. The cost of admission is $25, and includes tastes of all the wines and paired hors d’oeuvres. You can also book through CityEats. (116 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA; 703.838.8000)

Mixologists, ATTENTION: The 2013 United States Bartenders’ Guild and DiSaronno are looking for the next big bartender.  The winner of the Mixing Star Competition will win a trip to the world of Cinema at the 70th Annual Venice International Film Festival, serving up the champion cocktail for the stars.  The challenge is whipping up a movie-inspired cocktail that showcases the drinkability of Disaronno.  There are three stages for the competition- Take one- Submissions… after creating the concoction, would-be stars submit the recipe at www.TheMixingStarUS.com. Those chosen from there will head to the 2013 Regional Finals taking place in six cities—Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Seattle, Austin and San Diego. Fifteen Mixologists will compete at each location, and the top two from each will head to New Orleans for the finals on July 18th at Tales of the Cocktail.  Tales of the Cocktail is the mixologists most prestigious event, and the finalist will be judged by a panel.  Get your thinking caps on and submit your recipe… you could be the next big thing! (www.TheMixingStarUS.com)

Rye It Is — George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, is unleashing the rye whiskey. The un-aged George Washington Rye Whiskey is now available after Mount Vernon staff used records from Washington to duplicate the recipe and process used back then, and Master Distiller Dave Pickerell and his team recreated the process from 200 years ago. George Washington’s Distillery & Gistmill site is now open for the season.  With just over 1100 bottles of Washington’s whiskey available, head to Mount Vernon and take a walk, and a drink, through history.  The whiskey can only be bought in person, so don’t miss out on this historical rye. (5514 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria, VA; 703. 780.2000)

Downright Good – Bill Butcher, founder of Port City Brewing Company, is re-releasing his summer seasonal beer, Downright Pilsner, this month. Crafted by Head Brewer Jonathan Reeves, this hand-crafted lager will be an authentic Czech style Pilsner, brewed with 100% Pilsner malt and noble Saaz hops.  The limited production Downright Pilsner is the summer seasonal beer produced by Port City Brewing Company.  Downright Pilsner will be sold at select retail, restaurants and bars in Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina starting May 13^th. Port City Brewing Company is only producing two 90-barrel batches of this special beer.  The Downright Pilsner is a modern version of a traditional Pilsner and has 4.8% alcohol by volume. A unique twist on this beer is the dry hop addition of Saaz hops during fermentation.  This extra infusion of hops gives the beer a refreshing bite on the finish. (3950 Wheeler Avenue, Alexandria, VA; 703.797.2739)

Trademark — Every day is worthy of a Happy Hour… Trademark is taking care of that for you with the “Meet Me at the Punch Bowl” Happy Hour.  Featuring seasonal sips such as Trademark fish house punch (myers Rum, Brandy, Peach Lambic, Lemon Verbena Tea, confectioners’ sugar and lemons), White sangria (Albarino white win, Berentzen Apfel Korn, fruits and Procesecco) or the Oh rio (Cacacha, pomegranate and lime juices, pineapple-hibiscus syrup and all-spice drum) all mixed up by mixologist Chris Bassett, and bites to soak up the booze whipped up by Chef Matthew Miller like spinach and artichoke dip, sweet potato fries, wings, and flatbreads. Available Monday through Friday from 5:00 to 7:00pm~grab your people and meet at this punch bowl. Along with the signature cocktails, beer and rail liquor drinks are also included with special pricing. (2080 Jamieson Avenue, Alexandria, VA; 703.253.8640)

Va Va Vino – Vinoteca has just opened its sidewalk patio and backyard plaza bar just in time to enjoy the lovely spring weather. Al fresco diners can enjoy a new menu of housemade hot dogs and burgers paired with Mixologist Horus Alvarez’s new spring cocktail menu, including his take on a Moscow Mule, the U Street Mule combines Boyd & Blair Vodka, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, fresh grapefruit juice and Bleinheim Ginger Ale. Alvarez’ Rum-Runners’ Punch combines Atlantico Reserve Rum, crème de cassis, fresh pineapple, lime & orange juices and banana syrup for a taste of the tropics. And of course, Vinoteca has a Sangria on the menu made with Tempranillo, Licor 43, Brandy, Taylor Port, and fresh orange, lemon and grape juices. The majority of Vinoteca’s 100+ wines are also available by the glass, and Sommelier Tim Galvin has introduced several warm-weather varietals. One of the only bars in the city to boast its own bocce court, Vinoteca’s oyster-shell court setting welcomes bocce pros and novices alike, the court is open Wednesday through Friday from 5:00pm to close, and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00am to close (on Monday and Tuesday evenings the court is reserved for DC Bocce League play). (1940 11th Street NW; 202.332.9463)