Wednesday's Delicious Deal: Bourbon Steak

Bourbon Steak's burger line-up.

The restaurant: Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons

The deal: A new $21 lunch menu, available at the bar, includes a choice of burger, one side (duck fat fries, greens or onion rings), a non-alcoholic drink and a brownie.

The deets: Michael Mina’s Georgetown restaurant is offering the special lunch menu exclusively at the bar, Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The five burger choices from executive chef David Varley’s menu include an oak-fired prime dry-aged steak burger with housemade pickles, Cabot clothbound cheddar and a secret sauce; a glazed salmon burger, made bahn mi style with garden cilantro, jalapenos and shredded carrots; and a vegetarian falafel burger with tahini, tomatoes and parsley.

Metrocurean Twee-dux

Ping Pong Dim Sum opens this weekend in Penn Quarter, serving an extensive menu of dumplings, spring rolls and other dim sum dishes.
Photo: Ping Pong's Facebook fan page

Michael Landrum has big expansion plans, and Ping Pong Dim Sum opens Dec. 12. Here's all the juicy stuff you may have missed recently from the Twitterverse ... follow Metrocurean on Twitter here.

RT @WashPostPR: Big news for DC foodies: Ray's the Steaks' Landrum has plenty more deliciousness in store for us: http://bit.ly/8sjthE
about 17 hours ago from TweetDeck

Stumbled on new Masa 14 brunch: excellent creamy Anson Mill grits w Oaxaca cheese, flatbread topped w egg, bacon fried rice w fried egg.
3:01 PM Dec 6th from Tweed

Homemade Pizza Co. will open at 1522 14th St (same bldg as Cork&Fork) in late January. @HomeMadePizzaCo www.homemadepizza.com
2:30 PM Dec 5th from web

UrbanDaddy has the dish + photos of Ping Pong Dim Sum: http://tinyurl.com/yea7skz
5:51 PM Dec 4th from web

How excited am I that Cork Market will have eggs, butter and milk from @TSCreamery.
8:17 PM Dec 3rd from Tweed

Macaron Rising

Macarons from Adour, now available for purchase.

Whoopie pies have been stealing the spotlight from cupcakes, but me thinks macarons* may be having a sweet moment in the sun, as well.

It seems the little French confections are partout.

Starbucks will carry them this month. Jason Wu (he of Michelle Obama's inauguration gown) learns to bake them with famed pastry chef Francois Payard in the December issue of Food & Wine. Gossip Girl loves them. And just Googling "macarons Gossip Girl" after writing the previous sentence turned up this very thorough examination of macarons vs. whoopie pies in the trend war to become the next cupcake. (And here I thought I was onto something original...)

Restaurant Eve's birthday cake flavored macarons.

At Restaurant Eve, pastry chef Ed Jiloca features them on the mignardise plate in a host of creative flavors including PB&J (a brioche macaron with black currant preserves and peanut butter buttercream), chocolate with foie gras buttercream, s'mores, pecan pie, key lime pie and birthday cake.

And you can now purchase Adour pastry chef Fabrice Bendano's macarons, packaged in a gold box. A dozen cost $20. For every 50 purchased (holiday party, anyone?), you'll receive 10 free. Bendano's seasonal flavors include chestnut, coffee/walnut and gianduja (chocolate hazelnut).

To order, call Adour at 202.509.8000 — 24 hours in advance for small orders, 48 hours for orders of 50 or more.

ACKC carries macarons from Michel Patisserie — owner and pastry chef Michel Giaon previously worked at macaron legend Ladurée.

So, any votes for macarons to take cupcake's trendy crown?

* I'm going with the French spelling for fear I may be accused of confusing them with coconut macaroons, though many US menus do use "macaroon".

Good Causes: BGR's One For One

BGR The Burger Joint and DC Central Kitchen last week launched “One for One,” a promotion that will help to feed the hungry and homeless in the DC area.

The plan is simple: Buy a burger at any of BGR's locations (Bethesda, Old Town and Dupont Circle), and a burger is donated to the food distribution networks of DC Central Kitchen. (BGR also employs several graduates of DCCK's training programs.)

The promotion ends on New Year’s Eve with a countdown to midnight and a tally of the total number of burgers donated.

Chef Five Bites: Claudio Pirollo and Mickael Cornu

Claudio Pirollo and Mickael Cornu opened the Belgian-flavored Et Voila in the Palisades neighborhood in May 2008. Before launching the restaurant, Pirollo, who was born and raised in Brussels, was named “Best Young Chef in Belgium” in 1994 and served as personal chef to the Irish ambassador. Cornu, the restaurant's co-owner and pastry chef, hails from France. You can take home his Christmas bûche for $4.50 a slice (details here).

The pair added a new brunch menu of crêpes this fall. These are their five favorite brunch bites in the city — the first three are from Pirollo, the last two from Cornu.

1. Gruyère cheese and baby spinach omelette at Brasserie Beck

2. Poached eggs with smoked salmon and asparagus and Hollandaise sauce at Belga Café

3. House-smoked salmon at the Tabard Inn

4. Cassoulet du Bistrot Lepic at Bistrot Lepic

5. Duck leg confit with frisée and sautéed potatoes at Bistrot du Coin

Previous Chef Five Bites: Cathal Armstrong, Dani Arana, David Guas, Josh Short, Michel Richard, Haidar Karoum, Ryan Morgan, Shannon Overmiller, Anthony Chittum, Jonathan Krinn & Jon Mathieson, Victor Albisu, Vatche Benguian, John Snedden, Nicholas Stefanelli, Travis Olson, Brian Robinson, Cliff Wharton, Alex Bollinger, Massimo Fabbri, Daniel Bortnick, Rob Weland, Olivier Perret, Dennis Marron, Dean Gold, Mike Isabella, Bryan Voltaggio, Geoff Tracy, Bart Vandaele, Rodney Scruggs, Clayton Miller, Alex McCoy, Steve Mannino, Will Artley, Kyle Bailey & Tiffany MacIsaac, Santosh Tiptur, Barton Seaver, Glenn Babcock, Antonio Burrell

Five Bites On Friday

Rebecca Cooper, who writes about food for DCist, offers up today's helping of bites.

1. Avocado on grilled bread at Cork

2. Texas wings from Hard Times (My guilty pleasure!)

3. Monkfish with mussels, tomato, chorizo and coconut milk from The Oceanaire

4. Cauliflower soup with grilled tofu and Marcona almonds, part of the vegetarian tasting menu at Vermilion

5. Spice rubbed buffalo steaks from Cibola Farms, courtesy of the Courthouse Farmers' Market

Five Bites is a place for Metrocurean readers — and DC's top chefs — to share all the delicious things they've been eating and drinking. E-mail five of your favorites and whether you'd like your name and a picture included to metrocurean AT gmail.com.

Metrocurean Twee-dux

Chef Laurent Tourondel will add Casa Nonna (1250 Connecticut Ave.) and BLT Burger (1317 Connecticut Ave.) to BLT Restaurants' DC portfolio, which already includes BLT Steak, reports Tom Sietsema.

A local food pub and my favorite vegetarian restaurant close down, but there are more openings to report. Here's all the juicy stuff you may have missed recently from the Twitterverse ... follow Metrocurean on Twitter here.

Ansonia Wines just opened a new wine shop at 1828 18th St., specializing in French wine. @ansoniawines http://bit.ly/RyjSL
5:46 PM Nov 30th from web

RT @SweetflowMobile Breaking news: Await blog post for details, but starting tmrw we will be selling salads from our truck! YES! Spread... http://bit.ly/5FhGiQ
2:14 PM Nov 30th from Facebook

That was fast. Mark Furstenberg is out at G St Food, reports WaPo: http://bit.ly/67SnH6
11:08 AM Nov 30th from web

Vegetate is closing this week (via donrockwell.com): http://bit.ly/5gF5Da I'll be rooting for @vegetatedc to find new digs soon!
11:38 PM Nov 25th from web

Yum. RT @WashPostPR Dupont's getting a new pizza place in the old CPK location, courtesy of BLT Restaurants http://bit.ly/4qSZjf
3:50 PM Nov 25th from web

RT @jane_black Edible Chesapeake closes its doors. Word on the street replacement will be Ed DC, Balt and Richmond.
10:23 AM Nov 24th from web

RT @tomsietsema Guess who's behind the future DC Diner in Cleveland Park? (Can't wait for April launch — and Asian-style sandwiches) http://bit.ly/1InvZ2
12:20 PM Nov 19th from bit.ly

RT @timcarman Yaku, swank Peruvian restaurant owned by Latin Concepts, will close in Jan. Next? Sushi & rock 'n' roll! http://bit.ly/35801t
1:18 PM Nov 16th from web

Local Food Gift Guide

My favorite type of gift? The edible kind. This holiday season, give friends and family a taste of DC with these locally made treats.

Copper Pot jams and sauces

Chef Stefano Frigerio's artisanal jams and sauces are made with fresh produce from area farms. My favorites: the pear ginger and strawberry vanilla bean jams and the smoky bacon and parmesan tomato sauce. Order online.

Cured meats from Red Apron
For the carnivore in your life, pick up some of Nathan Anda's fantastic beef jerky, salami and other cured goodies, made using meat from local farms that embrace sustainable and humane farming practices. Find Red Apron goods at the Penn Quarter FreshFarm Market through Dec. 17 or at Planet Wine.

Artisan Chocolate
Lucky for cocoa lovers, DC has some wonderfully talented chocolatiers. A few of my favorites: ACKC (1529 14th St. NW), Artisan Confections (1025 N. Fillmore St., Arlington), The Cacao Tree, Christopher's Confections, Chocolaterie Wanders, Fleurir, and J Chocolatier (1039 33rd St. NW).

Pitango gelato gift card
I don't recommend actually gift wrapping gelato, but snag a $20 or more gift card for a friend at a Pitango Gelato shop and get a free beverage.

Toigo Orchards Bloody Mary Mix
This fiery hot mix is often available at the Dupont FreshFarm Market. Perfect for a holiday brunch. Also look for Toigo's apple and pear butter (available at some Whole Foods), fantastic bourbon peaches, honey and pasta sauce.

Locally roasted coffee

Local coffee roasters are a good place to turn for caffeine fiend gifts. Metro riders may get a kick out of Quartermaine's Red Line Blend. Also check out ME Swing Co. and Annapolis' Caffe Pronto.

Uncle Brutha's hot sauce
The locally made hot sauces from Uncle Brutha's are some of my favorites. The Fire Sauce No. 10 has an intense smoky flavor. Locations here.

Metrocurean Picks for Local Shopping:
• Cork Market (opening Dec. 4)
• Cowgirl Creamery
• Hill's Kitchen
• Home Rule
• Go Mama Go
• Greater Good
• The Hour

Did I miss your favorite local treat? Tell us about it in the comments.

Ris Opens Monday

Nearly four years after departing 1789, chef Ris Lacoste will finally open her eponymous restaurant Monday, Dec. 7 at 2275 L St. NW.

Ris will offer an American menu, featuring dishes like rabbit stew, lamb shank, Nantucket Bay scallops, grilled octopus, sardines, grilled Portuguese skirt steak and fall vegetable Wellington.

Regular daily specials include meatloaf on Mondays and Little Italy on Wednesdays (read: spaghetti and meatballs and pistachio chocolate cannolis). On Thursdays, Lacoste will serve her signature rack of lamb — you may recall its deliciousness from 1789.

“I’m excited to be back coaching my staff, welcoming my guests with delicious food, and presenting an ambiance to make them happy,” Lacoste says in a release.

The space holds 240 seats, spread over a bar, café and various seating areas. Come spring, a patio will add an additional 60 seats.

The restaurant will serve lunch weekdays and will stay open in the afternoon until dinner service starts. Dinner will run Monday through Saturday 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. In the coming weeks, the hours should expand to include weekday breakfast, weekend brunch and Sunday supper.

And The Winner Is ...

Nearly 150 of you threw your hats into the ring for a pair of free tickets to the second annual Repeal Day Ball. Thank to the powers of random.org, the lucky winner is ...

Congrats, KMR! Send your contact info to metrocurean AT gmail.com to claim your tickets. And dust off that vest!

Thanks for all of your comments (especially InfamousOreob, Dave Stroup, DAN and Lindsayc, who all made me laugh out loud).

And don't forget to buy tickets before they sell out.