For the Hungry Lobbyist team, October has been Eatober, jam-packed with fall menus, tastings and festivals. Although the month is nearly over, it never hurts for a foodie to start planning a scrumptious schedule for 2016. The two October events that must be on a DMV food calendar? Taste of DC and MetroCooking DC. I was lucky enough to eat my way through both this year.
Taste of DC – October 10 and 11
Held on Pennsylvania Avenue with the Capitol dome on the horizon, Taste of DC brings some of the district’s most delicious eats and drinks to one location. More than 60 Washington favorites offered $1, $2 and $3 taster items, with nothing priced higher than $8. The chance to get great eats for so cheap is certainly worth the $20 admission. While taking a break between dishes, you could browse through local art booths, watch a food demonstration at the Culinary Stage, play games, watch a concert, pose with a president and enjoy a beer garden. You want it, Taste of DC’s got it.
MetroCooking DC – October 24 and 25
Only a few weeks after tasting DC, Washington foodies got the chance to test their cooking skills, watch demonstrations, try samples and shop ingredients at MetroCooking DC. Stacked with all-star headliners like Giada De Laurentiis, Michael Symon and Christina Tosi (yay, Milkbar DC!), as well as local James Beard chefs like Maketto’s Erik Bruner-Yang (among so many others). MCDC boasts over 200 booths, a beer garden, a competition for the best BBQ in DC (Bayou Bakery’s pork tenderloin is picture below) and much, much more. The website doesn’t lie – it truly is the ultimate food lovers weekend.
Don’t miss out on Eatober 2016, Washingtonians! Grab tickets to Taste of DC and Metro Cooking DC as soon as they’re on sale next year. Your stomach will surely thank you. Your waistline? Eh, not so much.
Keep an eye out for my first interview on Feasting Famously, where I sat down with my lifelong culinary hero, the gorgeous Giada De Laurentiis, to talk Washington, brunch and food fights!