Washington, DC’s Restaurants Celebrate The National Cherry Blossom Festival

Many of Washington, DC’s top chefs and favorite eateries will join in the National Cherry Blossom Festival tradition by serving cherry-infused dishes as the nation’s capital celebrates the festival, March 28-April 12, 2009. From sumptuous entrees to decadent desserts, Cherry Picks show off the creativity of Washington, DC’s culinary community.

Sample the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Cherry Picks at the following restaurants. For more information about these restaurants, see this guide to cherry blossom cuisine.

•Aria Trattoria - Cherry Clafouti with lemon verbena ice cream.

•Art and Soul - Country Sushi made with Maryland crab roll with horseradish soy.

•Asia Nine Bar & Lounge - Sun-dried Cherry Puff appetizer and Blossom Fried Rice.

•B. Smith’s - Spring Garden Salad with sundried cherries and candied walnuts; Grilled Pork Tenderloin with a sweet cherry glaze; and Chocolate Cherry Tuxedo Cake.

•Bangkok Joe’s Dumpling Bar and Café - three-course meals, including Smoke Shrimp-Cherry Blossom Dumpling with cherry-lime cream sauce; Broil Salmon Filet with spicy cherry-basil sauce; and Warm Cherry Custard with sake marinated dried cherry and ginger dust tuile.

•Beacon Bar & Grill - Cherry and Short Rib Wontons with ginger sauce.

•Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC - Poached Hudson Valley Foie Gras with cherry blossoms, green almonds, and Balinese Long Pepper.

•Café Mozu at the Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC - Mini Chocolate-Coated Cones with warm cherry kirsch compote, cherry sorbet and Minus 8 vinegar.

•Domaso Trattoria Moderna at Hotel Palomar - Chocolate Cherry Napoleon with sweet and sour cherries, cherry mousse and chocolate.

•Fahrenheit Restaurant - cherry-inspired dinner selections: appetizer options to include Miso soup, Tofu, or Ahi tuna with seaweed and ponzu; choice of entrée to include Seabass with lemongrass ginger broth or Teriyaki Beef; choice of desserts to include Warm Cherries Chocolate Cake or Cherries Clafoutis and Cherries.

•Fyve Restaurant Lounge - Cherry Parfait with layers of foie gras mousse, amarena cherry marmalade, meyer lemon crema and toasted almond.

•Georgia Brown’s - Homemade Bourbon and Chocolate Cherry Cobbler. •The Grille at the Morrison House - Cherry Wood and Tea Smoked Duck Breast with frisee and cherry blossom salad with cherry vinaigrette.

•J. Paul’s - Baked Brie with cherry marmalade and frisee salad.

•Jackson 20 - three-course tasting menu of House-Made Sausage or Pan Seared Scallops appetizer options; Slow Roasted Cornish Hen or Braised Beef Cheeks entrée options; and Cherry Cheese Cake or Pot de Crème dessert options.

•Juniper - Duck Proscuitto with a salad of dried cherries and pistachio nuts.

•M Bar at Renaissance M St. Hotel - Chocolate Cherry Jubilee Shortcakes stuffed with vanilla ice cream.

•M Street Bar & Grill - Cherries and Brie Purse with a cherries-pecan sauce.

•The Melting Pot - Dark Chocolate Cherries Jubilee.

•Old Glory - Grilled St. Louis Ribs basted in a cherry-cola bar-b-que sauce.

•Palette - Bing Cherry Cured Wild Alaskan Salmon Sashimi.

•Paolo’s Ristorante - Spinach Salad with honey soaked red cippoline onions, gorgonzola dolce and oven-dried cherries, tossed in cherry vinaigrette.

•PS 7’s - Cherry-Chocolate Linzer Tarte with tangerine granite, orange blossom liquid and chocolate crumbles.

•Roof Terrace Restaurant - Duck Breast Montmorency with Muscovy duck breast, Swiss chard, herb roasted red fingerling potatoes and a black cherry reduction.

•Rosa Mexicano - Tuna sashimi roll with cherries and avocado, served with cucumber yogurt sauce and cherry pico de gallo

•Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar - Chocolate Brioche and English Toffee Bread Pudding with Bing cherries and cherry gelato.

•Vinifera Wine Bar and Bistro - specialty Cherry Blossom Dessert.

See Cherry Infused Cocktails on Page 2