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Events in the city of Washington D.C. Number of Events: 9 << Previous Event^ Return to Event Summary Index ^ Next Event >> TASTEDC.COM Event ( http://www.tastedc.com ) Washington D.C. Day of Chocolate: Chocolate Making 101 at Chocolaterie Wanders Facility, Manassas, Virginia Chocolaterie Wanders Warehouse 11486 Robertson Dr. Manassas, VA 20109 September 12th, 2010 (Sunday) 09:00AM to 4:00PM Fee: $115 [ Make Reservations ] [ Upcoming Events by Date ] Event at a Glance: Spend a Day Learning, Tasting and Making Chocolate! Click Here for More Information on Chocolate from Chocolaterie Wanders! Join TasteDC as we meet you out in Virginia for the day to learn, taste and make chocolate from world-class artisan chocolatiers Wilhelm and Melanie Wanders of Wanders Chocolates! "Chocolate Making 101" is for any chocolate lover who craves to experience chocolate the ultimate way - by dipping right in! We'll spend our day at Wander's Warehouse in Manassas, Virginia (yes, you will be in their Chocolate Production Facility!) sampling chocolates, creating chocolate confections and learning chocolate making techniques (you will get some hands-on chocolate time as well!). Included in this class will also be recipes on how to take your newly learned chocolate skills and apply them to making quick chocolate recipes at home! This class is about experiencing making Chocolate from hands-on experience, no prior chocolate background is required. This day of chocolate is taught by Chocolatier and Master Pastry Chefs Wilhelm and Melanie Wanders! Wilhelm and Melanie became expert chocolatiers by learning from such notable dessert institutions as Conditorei Café Endle, Café Wiacker in Herne, Germany, under Markus Faerbinger, L.A. Burdick Chocolates and Alice Water's famed Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. The Wanders are continuing the century-long family tradition of producing fine artisan products with Virginia's own Wanders Artisan Chocolaterie—a way to savor the Old World through deliciously exquisite handmade confections! As part of participating in this event, you will also receive a gift box of Wanders Chocolates to take home with you - if it makes it that far! Please See Below the Day's Schedule. We'll also have for you a gourmet lunch of a variety of Virginia-made products including hams, cheeses, fresh salads and chocolates: Chocolate Making 101 Outline (with Lunch and Plenty of Chocolate Tasting!): -Introduction to Chocolaterie Wanders -History of Chocolate -How chocolate is made -Chocolate tasting (single origin dark and milk chocolates plus cacao nibs) -Hand-made Truffles -Espresso Pralines -Marzipan Rose and Bunny Demonstration -Marzipan Comme un Bijou -Tempering Lecture and Demonstration -Groups Temper by Hand and with Machine -Groups Enrobe by Hand and with Machine -Quick Easy Recipes for Chocolate at Home -Packaging of Products to Take Home/Q&A THIS CLASS IS RAIN OR SHINE! Please Note: We will provide a full catered lunch of Virginia-made products such as cheeses, hams, salads, and other tasty foods! Please come in "very" casual clothing jeans, t-shirts, and comfortable shoes work great. << Previous Event ^ Return to Event Summary Index ^ Next Event >> TASTEDC.COM Event ( http://www.tastedc.com ) Washington D.C. Introduction to the Wines of France Embassy Row Hilton 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20036 September 16th, 2010 (Thursday) 7:00PM to 9:00PM Fee: $65 [ Make Reservations ] [ Upcoming Events by Date ] Event at a Glance: LEARN FRENCH WINE BASICS! with Charlie Adler, President of TasteDC, Author of: "I Drink on the Job: A Refreshing Perspective on Wine" Click Here to Purchase the Book on Amazon.com French wines can be perplexing - confusing labels, unlisted wine varietals and mysterious Chateaux. Join TasteDC's President and wine book author Charlie Adler, (Please see his Bio below), as we taste and learn the simple rules to understanding French wine. We will cover in this class many famous wine regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley and the Rhone and cover the following basics: -The major wine regions of France, -The exclusive wine varietals of each Appellation, -Decoding the French Wine Label, -Wine and food pairing, -The best producers and where to find their wines in our area, -Secrets to ordering French wines from a restaurant wine list. You will taste 8 wines in this class Please note: no prior wine knowledge is required for this event. Bread, crackers and cheese will be served with the wines as palate cleansers only. Charlie Adler is Founder and President of TasteDC - Washington, D.C.'s largest wine tasting organization with over 20,000 subscribers in the Mid-Atlantic region. Charlie has taught and organized over 1,000 wine tastings in the D.C. area, varied Embassy tastings, as well as over 200 cooking classes and related culinary events. (More information on Charlie Adler at his new book website: I Drink on the Job) His mission is to make wine a part of everyday meals in America - and his motto really is "I drink on the job!" His teaching style is entertaining, accessible and often humorous. His method is to get participants to taste first and ask questions later which goes with his overall philosophy: "wine is part of life, experience it!" You will taste 8 wines at this event. << Previous Event ^ Return to Event Summary Index ^ Next Event >> TASTEDC.COM Event ( http://www.tastedc.com ) Washington D.C. Introduction to Artisanal Fine Chocolate Biagio Fine Chocolate 1904 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009 September 22nd, 2010 (Wednesday) 7:00PM to 9:00PM Fee: $65 [ Make Reservations ] [ Upcoming Events by Date ] Event at a Glance: LEARN THE ART OF FINE CHOCOLATE “Fine chocolate, painstakingly produced from natural ingredients, is every bit as sophisticated as a great wine or single malt whiskey. Each variety has its own distinct character, aroma, and flavor. Just as in coffee, varying the origin, type and blend of cocoa bean opens an endless range of subtlety to the palate.” Chloe Doutre-Roussel, Author Chocolate Connoisseur Join TasteDC and Chocolate Expert, Biagio Abbatiello as we discover the mystery and pleasure of fine chocolate! This class is an introduction and tasting of a wide selection of chocolates to help you discover the subleties and nuances of what makes chocolate a special ingredient and one of life's true gastronomic pleasures. We'll cover in this seated tasting the basics of chocolate as well as fine distinctions that will help you in your future tasting adventures. Not surprisingly, tasting chocolate is very similar to tasting wine and we will learn how chocolate experts evaluate a chocolate. Wine will also be served and paired with additional chocolates at the end of the class. Terms and concepts in the tasting include: -The History of Chocolate: from primitive jungle origins to the aristocracy of Europe, -The Cacao Tree and its Life Cycle, -The Beans: Forastero, Trinitario and Criollo and how they differ, -Harvest, Fermentation Drying Roasting, Shelling, the nibs, Cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, and cocoa presscake -The Effects of Conching, Tempering, Emulsifiers, and Molding in the final product, -The art of tasting chocolate using your five senses -Terms such as Ganache, Pralines, Couverture, Single estate/Single origin, Plantation bar, and Ballotin -the five ingredients that make chocolate a fine chocolate - and the fillers you don't want We will taste a total of nine chocolates sourced from all over the world including South and Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa and discuss the "terroir" of these particular areas. The Venue for this event is Biagio Chocolate Studio and Store Biagio Fine Chocolate’s mission is to provide the Washington, DC metropolitan area with not only the finest collection of chocolate and chocolate-related products from around the world, but also from around the corner. Biagio Fine Chocolate will be a destination for fine chocolate in the National Capital Region and aspires to become an important business contributor to the local economy and community. What makes Biagio Fine Chocolate unique is our balance of fine chocolate from around the world and from our world class local chocolatiers. We invite you to savor our offerings, which begin with fair trade-certified white chocolate brought to you by Divine Chocolate and extend to the 100% dark chocolate bar created by Pralus of France. Our passion for finding and sharing fine chocolate, as well as the stories behind it, is never-ending. As we grow we will continue to search for the latest and greatest artisanal chocolates to bring to our customers. << Previous Event ^ Return to Event Summary Index ^ Next Event >> TASTEDC.COM Event ( http://www.tastedc.com ) Washington D.C. Virginia Wine Country Luxury Bus Tour - Loudoun Winery Tour Clarendon Metro Station 3100 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 22201 September 26th, 2010 (Sunday) 09:15AM to 5:00PM Fee: $78 [ Make Reservations ] [ Upcoming Events by Date ] Event at a Glance: Virginia is America's Fifth Largest Wine Growing Region! Travel Virginia Wine Country in Luxury on Our Three Vineyard Tour! Join TasteDC on our luxury bus wine tour of Virginia Wine Country! Our Select Wine Tour includes a customized wine tour to three of the best award-winning Virginia Vineyards See the list of wineries below. Relax and travel in style as Charlie Adler, Virginia wine judge and author of "I Drink on the Job: A Refreshing Perspective on Wine" acts as our knowledgeable Virginia Wine Guide. We' ll cruise through Virginia's rolling hills and deliver you to the best winery tastings available in our region! Lunch is included in the price of the wine tour and provided by Whole Foods Market - Arlington See the Menu Below. Escape your worries and let our tour guide handle your wine needs for the day and come back to civilization more wine educated, nuanced and satiated! Please Note: please bring with you on the tour bus $30 extra cash to pay the vineyards directly for your tastings - Virginia law does not allow us to include wine tasting fees. Wineries We'll Visit for Tastings on Luxury Wine Tour: 1)Bluemont Vineyard - An AMAZING View! Bluemont Vineyard is Loudoun County’s 15th winery, tasting room, events forum, and home décor shop. Bluemont Vineyard is nestled on an eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes from Leesburg, Middleburg and surrounding towns. While enjoying our exceptional wines, you can take in the spectacular panoramic views from our wine tasting room high above the Virginia countryside. At an elevation of 951 feet above sea level Bluemont Vineyard has clear views of Tysons Corner, Reston, and Dulles. The goal at Bluemont Vineyard is to offer a unique experience on the Virginia wine trail. Northern Virginia, and Loudoun County in particular, are home to so many fine wineries and Bluemont Vineyard aspires to continue in that heritage. We are excited to be a part of the Virginia winemaking tradition, and we look forward to becoming a destination spot for wine trail enthusiasts throughout the region. Elevation is the key word around here, because at Bluemont Vineyard, we aspire to raise your sprits while you, your friends, and or family enjoy our wine and hospitality. A truly unique experience awaits you in Loudoun County where elevation not only defines our location, but also our goal. 1)Breaux Vineyard - AWARD Winning Wines! In 1994 the Breauxs found themselves captivated with a picturesque piece of Virginia landscape that would rapidly evolve into one of the fastest growing wineries in Virginia. Along with scenic views, there were 3 acres of grapes on the 404 acre property that were planted in 1985. Those original grapes captured the heart of Paul Breaux, President and CEO of Breaux Vineyards, and sparked his entrepreneurial spirit. Assisted by Dave Collins, who would later become Breaux Vineyard's winemaker, the Breauxs soon began making hobbyist wines. Discovering that their home-produced wines were more popular among friends and guests than many commercial offerings, the Breauxs collaborated with Dave to begin producing commercial wines at an even higher level of quality by investing in all new state-of-the-art wine making equipment and using proven vineyard practices, such as planting, harvesting and sorting by hand. In April of 1997, Breaux Vineyards opened its doors to the public. The Breaux wines soon began winning countless national and international awards including "Best of Class" at the L.A. County Fair Wine Competition for our 2001 Merlot. The team works in concert to produce some of the finest new wines available. We now have over 85 acres of vineyard on the 404 acre estate. The winery and vineyard are managed and operated by Jennifer Breaux Blosser, daughter of owner, and Chris Blosser, son-in-law of owner. Here at Breaux Vineyards we are constantly adding to our line of award winning wines. Come visit us at our picturesque vineyards and witness history in the making! 1)Tarara Winery - BUCOLIC Surroundings! We strive to cultivate wines that pour a classic taste of our surroundings into the glasses of seasoned connoisseurs and eager beginners alike. Our Tasting Room is a dynamic and inviting place to appreciate life, learning and culture communicated through the grapevine. Our knowledgeable staff is passionate about assisting you and providing a sensory experience sans pretention. We invite you to experience our wines and discover Virginia's viticulture in context. Whitie Hubert spent 40 successful years in the construction business, but when he retired, the vineyard beckoned. Born and raised on a farm in Ohio, Whitie had spent his youth growing grapes for Welch's Grape Juice Company with his father and brother. So in 1975, the promise of a return to viticulture led Whitie and his wife Margaret to purchase 475 acres of prime Virginia farmland nestled along the Potomac river. In 1985, they built Tarara where, today, they produce award-winning wines. For Whitie and Margaret, sharing wine is a celebration of life, and sharing their vineyard in this set-apart place is an affirmation of all the things they love best: nature, music, art, and architecture. Whether you choose to share their celebration at a concert by the lake on a warm summer's eve, picking fruit with your kids in the orchards, hiking 6 miles of trails, or just tasting wines in the Winemaker's cave, Whitie and Margaret welcome you. Lunch Menu for Wine Tour Whole Food's "Arizona Grill Ciabatta": Arizona Grille: Ciabatta bread, grilled chicken roasted with red pepper, grilled onions, chipotle mayo, spring green lettuce, side pasta salad, bag of chips, and cookie. Vegetarian option available upon request. Important: The bus is departing at EXACTLY 9:30 AM. Please arrive at 9:15 am to check in and board the bus. Please Note: Event price includes wine tour and full lunch, please bring an additional $30 cash to pay for the individual tastings at each of the three wineries << Previous Event ^ Return to Event Summary Index ^ Next Event >> TASTEDC.COM Event ( http://www.tastedc.com ) Washington D.C. Wine Basics 101 - DC's Most Popular Wine Class Embassy Row Hilton 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20036 September 30th, 2010 (Thursday) 7:00PM to 9:15PM Fee: $65 [ Make Reservations ] [ Upcoming Events by Date ] Event at a Glance: OVER 17,000 PEOPLE HAVE ATTENDED D.C.'S #1 WINE CLASS! Charlie Adler, President of TasteDC, Author of: "I Drink on the Job: A Refreshing Perspective on Wine" Click Here to See Charlie's Various TV and Media Appearances Learn Everything You Need to Know About Wine - In Just Under 2 Hours! Join Charlie Adler, President of TasteDC, wine professional and author of "I Drink on the Job: a Refreshing Perspective on Wine" (see Bio below) with over 13 years and 1,000 wine tastings to his credit as he covers Wine Basics 101 - Washington, D.C.'s most popular wine tasting: over 17,000 people have attended this event in our 13 year history! Learn the basics like how to: -Order wine in a restaurant or retail outlet, -Determine basic wine styles and varietals, -Pair wine and food, -Improve your taste sensitivity and awareness, -Drink better wine and save money! Charlie Adler is Founder and President of TasteDC - Washington, D.C.'s largest wine tasting organization with over 20,000 subscribers in the Mid-Atlantic region. Charlie has taught and organized over 1,000 wine tastings in the D.C. area, varied Embassy tastings, as well as over 200 cooking classes and related culinary events. His mission is to make wine a part of everyday meals in America - and his motto really is "I drink on the job!" His teaching style is entertaining, accessible and often humorous. His method is to get participants to taste first and ask questions later which goes with his overall philosophy: "wine is part of life, experience it!" You will taste 9 wines at this event. << Previous Event ^ Return to Event Summary Index ^ Next Event >> TASTEDC.COM Event ( http://www.tastedc.com ) Washington D.C. Introduction to Authentic Italian Cooking: Sicily Luigi's Upstairs 1132 19th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 October 3rd, 2010 (Sunday) 11:00AM to 1:30PM Fee: $65 [ Make Reservations ] [ Upcoming Events by Date ] Event at a Glance: Sicily - Italy's Most Untouched Region! Italian food is very misunderstood in the U.S. and Chef Carmine Marzano wants to bring back its authentic preparations! Join us for a celebration of the cuisine of Sicily as a native would enjoy! The cuisine of Sicily is unique among Italian regions because of the strong influence by it's many conquerors including the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, French and Spanish. This cooking class will showcase the famous dishes of this area including caponata as well as the delicious tuna which swim wildly in the blue waters of the Mediterranean. In this demonstration class taught by Chef Carmine Marzano (see MENU and Bio Below), you will learn how to prepare dishes from Sicily(and receive detailed recipes) followed by a full lunch. Lunch will be served during the cooking class and representative Sicilian wines paired with the dishes can be purchased at the event for an additional cost.. Taste of Sicily Cooking Class and Lunch Menu: Arancini di Riso alla Siciliana (Traditional Sicilian fried rice balls stuffed with meat and spices), Involtini di Tonno con la Caponata di Vegetali (a Roulade of Tuna in Authentic Caponata), Pachettini di Vitello (veal stuffed and braised in fresh tomato sauce), Cannoli Siciliani(Sicilian cannoli filled with ricotta cheese and candied fruit ) Carmine Marzano Bio Born in Calabria, Italy, and raised in Turin, Carmine Marzano acquired a passion for cooking at an early age and inherited a culinary flair from his father. He trained professionally at Istituto Alberghiero Statale di Pienerolo. After 3 years as executive chef at the exclusive Ristorante Giudice in Turin, Carmine came to the U.S. to assist Roberto Donna with the opening of Galileo. While serving as sous chef for Galileo for 4 years, Marzano met and married Deborah Bruzzo, daughter of the Corrado Bruzzo -- owner of Washington's famed Luigi's restaurant. In 1993, Carmine opened Ristorante Luigino which he ran for 15 years before returning to family-owned Luigi's. << Previous Event ^ Return to Event Summary Index ^ Next Event >> TASTEDC.COM Event ( http://www.tastedc.com ) Washington D.C. Introduction to Artisanal Cheeses and Wine Embassy Row Hilton 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20036 October 7th, 2010 (Thursday) 7:00PM to 9:00PM Fee: $68 [ Make Reservations ] [ Upcoming Events by Date ] Event at a Glance: TASTE THE WORLD OF ARTISANAL CHEESES (AND WINES!)! FROM THE ORGANIZER OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHEESE AND WINE FESTIVAL with Charlie Adler, President of TasteDC, Full-Time "Foodie" and Author of: "I Drink on the Job: A Refreshing Perspective on Wine" Click Here to for More Info. on "I Drink on the Job" Cheese, like wine, can be very confusing at first: foreign names, odd shapes, and so many to choose from! Join Charlie Adler, President of TasteDC, "Master of Cheese" (completed through Artisanal's Cheese School based in New York City) full-time "foodie" and author of DC's own wine book "I Drink on the Job" (see Bio below) as we explore the many nuances of artisanal cheeses. If you're new to cheese or you're simply confused by all the choices in the local cheese case, then this class is for you! This class will also pair wines that perfectly accompany the cheese styles you'll be tasting This Class Will Cover: -Differences between farmstead, artisanal and commercial cheeses, -Cow vs. sheep vs. goat milk cheeses, -Basic cheese making processes: the milk, the rennet and the curd, -Different “styles” of cheese: soft-ripened, washed-rind, blue and fresh vs. aged cheeses, -Cheese selection, storing and creating an awesome cheese plate, -Pairing wine and cheese We will taste a total of 8 cheeses and 5 wines in this class Charlie Adler Bio: Charlie Adler is Founder and President of TasteDC - Washington, D.C.'s largest wine and food organization with over 20,000 subscribers in the Mid-Atlantic region. Charlie has taught and organized over 1,000 wine tastings in the D.C. area, varied Embassy tastings, as well as over 200 cooking classes and related culinary events (More information on Charlie Adler at his new book website: I Drink on the Job). In thirteen years, Charlie has created and organized a wide array of food and wine events such as the "Artisanal Cheese and Wine Festival", "DC Rum Festival", "Unique and Unusual Food and Wine Festival" and dozens of other creative food and wine events. Charlie forged his motto "I drink on the job" (and title of his latest book) during one of his wine presentations on a private culinary jet tour throughout Europe and Africa. Whether it's teaching wine classes or talking food, Charlie has a vast array of experiences and always an opinion! Please note: no prior cheese or wine knowledge is required for this event. << Previous Event ^ Return to Event Summary Index ^ Next Event >> TASTEDC.COM Event ( http://www.tastedc.com ) Washington D.C. Mastering Spirits: Single Malt 101 Embassy Row Hilton 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20036 October 21st, 2010 (Thursday) 7:00PM to 9:00PM Fee: $70 [ Make Reservations ] [ Upcoming Events by Date ] Event at a Glance: Master the Spirits of the World: Single Malt Whisky! 8 Rare and Unique Single Malts to Taste in this Whisky Class! TasteDC is designing a series of classes to help you master the Spirits of the world. Each class will have a professional outstanding in his/her field of Spirits expertise so that you taste and learn and order for purchase (at your option) some of the rarest and finest examples of the art of distillation! Our distinguished speaker and spirits specialist for this event is Joshua London. Joshua has written and lectured widely on wines and spirits with a particular passion for Single Malt Scotch whisky. He has tasted nearly a thousand different expressions of Scotland's amber nectar as well as dozens of visits to Scotch whisky distilleries, learning tricks of the trade from distillery managers, workers and barrel makers. Mr. London has written articles about spirits for various publications including the Malt Advocate and the Washington Examiner as well as contributing to "Mixologist: The Journal of the American Cocktail". We will taste and cover in this class: Single Malt Whisky Master Class: -Short History of Scotch and the major distillers -The major regional styles of Single Malt Scotch -how grain, water and barrel come together in the distillation process -how time affects taste and quality - the "Angel's Share!" -choosing a style to fit your personal tastes and any special occasion! You will taste 8 Single Malts seated at this event Please note: no prior Scotch knowledge is required for this event. Bread, crackers and cheese will be served with the Scotch as palate cleansers only. << Previous Event ^ Return to Event Summary Index ^ Next Event >> TASTEDC.COM Event ( http://www.tastedc.com ) Washington D.C. Mastering Spirits: Bourbon 101 Embassy Row Hilton 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20036 November 4th, 2010 (Thursday) 7:00PM to 9:00PM Fee: $65 [ Make Reservations ] [ Upcoming Events by Date ] Event at a Glance: Master the Spirits of the World: Bourbon! TasteDC is designing a series of classes to help you master the Spirits of the world. Each class will have a professional outstanding in his/her field of Spirits expertise so that you taste and learn and order for purchase (at your option) some of the rarest and finest examples of the art of distillation! Our distinguished speaker and spirits specialist for this event is Joshua London. Joshua has written and lectured widely on wines and spirits with a particular passion for Whiskey. Mr. London has written articles about spirits for various publications including the Malt Advocate and the Washington Examiner as well as contributing to "Mixologist: The Journal of the American Cocktail". We will taste and cover in this class: Bourbon Whiskey Master Class: -Short History of Bourbon and the major distillers -What makes Bourbon uniquely American -how grain, water and barrel come together in the distillation process -how time affects taste and quality - the "Angel's Share!" -choosing a style to fit your personal tastes and any special occasion! You will taste at least 8 Bourbons seated Please note: no prior Bourbon knowledge is required for this event. Bread, crackers and cheese will be served with the Bourbon as palate cleansers only.