uploaded to flickr.com by ralph and jenny
All you frites freaks, mussels mavens, and waffle wishers take heed: Belgian Restaurant Week DC kicks off July 15 and offers seven days of European delicacies without even leaving the comfort of our Hill neighborhood. Belga Cafe, Granville Moore’s, and Le Pain Quotidien are among the eleven restaurants and embassies that will host a number of special menus, tastings, and other fun gatherings. The events wrap up on July 21, which happens to be Belgian National Day.
Not to be missed is the “Mussels Throwdown” on Saturday, July 16 from noon to 3:00 p.m. at the Eastern Market North Hall. Chefs from participating local Belgian restaurants will compete to see who has the biggest mussel muscle. A $5 entry fee gets you access to the Hall, a bowl of mussels, and a beer. Can you really resist attending the coronation of the “Mussel King of DC?”
Belga Cafe will be offering a prix fixe lunch ($25) and dinner ($40) menu all week. Over at Granville Moore’s you can enjoy any mussels, small frites, and cheesecake for $20 all week. On July 20 chef Teddy Folkman will host a beer dinner highlighting a number of ales from his recent travels around Belgium. We shouldn’t forget Le Pain Quotidien, whose Belgian roots bring the bakery-cafe into the celebration with a prix fixe menu at $15.95 that includes your choice of tartines and a waffle with chocolate sauce.
Both Belga Cafe and Granville Moore’s will be hosting Belgian chocolate tastings paired with champagne on July 18. On July 20, both eateries will host launch parties for Duvel beers where you can meet the brewmasters and enjoy a taste of special labels being brought back to the States.
For more information and a complete list of events, check out the Belgian Restaurant Week website.