Chefs go all out to ring in the Year of the Pig
Restaurants around the Washington, D.C. region are ringing in the Chinese New Year in style. The Source by Wolfgang Puck will usher in the lunar new year with a feast on Tuesday, February 5. The upstairs at The Source will be transformed and feature a bar pouring Rhône wines, live chef action stations with different presentations of duck, and a whole pig roast from Joe Neuman, Sloppy Mama’s BBQ pitmaster. At Chiko, three different events will pay tribute to the Chinse New Year’s passage. Week-long festivities at Chiko include guest-chef-inspired meals by Chef Tim Ma of Kyirisan, Chef Javier Fernandez of Kuya Ja, and Chef Kevin Tien and Carlie Steiner from Himitsu. And at the Line DC Hotel’s Spoken English restaurant, there will be a five-course Chinese New Year tasting menu.
The Source by Wolfgang Puck is going all out with a grand celebration in the upstairs and stations featuring a variety of dumplings. For Year of the Pig, The Source is collaborating with local chef-restaurateurs, as well, to make its Chinese New Year meals a true inspiration. Expect to see handcrafted delights from chefs around D.C.: Himitsu Chef Kevin Tien, who will open a new restaurant, Emilie’s, Poca Madre’s Chef Faiz Ally, Doi Moi Chef Johanna Hellrigl, Momofuku Chef Tae Strain, Chef Rob Rubba, who will open the forthcoming Oyster Oyster, Chef Michael Rafidi, Sweet Home Café’s Chef Jerome Grant, and Dirty Habit’s Chef Kyoo Eom. The $85 tickets go a long way and provide access to all food and drink.
It’s hard to pass up an evening that features top chefs, Pit Master Joe Neuman, his smoker, and a whole roast pig in honor of the Year of the Pig.
Chiko will be featuring a Chinese New Year menu from February 4 to February 8. There are two options for dinner reservations: one at 6:30 p.m. and another at 8:30 p.m.. The price for dinner is $65 with curated selections from its Royal Menu. On Friday, February 8, inspired dishes from Himitsu will be available and Himitsu drinks will also be flowing as part of the Chiko After Dark Series. CHIKO is preparing special dishes for this late-night celebration. Walk-ins are welcome, and guests will be served on a first come, first serve basis. Average dish and drink prices are $8 each.
Spoken English will ring in the Chinese New Year Tuesday, February 5- Friday, February 8. The Year of the Pig will be celebrated with red envelopes and a five-course tasting menu alongside traditional, as well as unique, offerings from chef Erik Bruner-Yang and his kitchen team. Prepaid tickets are available for $80, excluding service fees, taxes and gratuity. Sister restaurant, Brothers and Sisters, led by Todd Thrasher and Pichet Ongwill, will present a Lion dance and dragon blessing Saturday, February 9 in the Line D.C. Hotel’s lobby.
Finish up the weekend with daytime festivities at Chiko, where brunch with Chefs Ma and Fernandez are sure to light up the restaurant during February 9-10. Saturday, February 9 will feature Ma and on Sunday, Fernandez will be on hand. Guests will enjoy special dishes from these chefs and also traditional Chiko Chinese New Year dishes. For Year of the Pig, Chiko will use ingredients that symbolize health, longevity, and prosperity for the coming year, as per Chinese New Year tradition. These special brunches are priced at $40 per person.
Related video: Chiko Restaurant of the Year RAMMYS 2018 interview:
Photo credit: The Source by Wolfgang Puck (featured), Chiko (inline)