The Houndstooth Gourmet

I wanted to put this event on your radars, to help a cause and the merchants who support it. By buying or eating in Alexandria on October 21st, you can help support Alexandria’s Breast Cancer fund at INOVA Alexandria Hospital Foundation. From the City of Alexandria website:

We hope you will mark your calendar to come out and participate in the 4th Annual Dine Out and Shop for the Walk to Fight Breast Cancer to be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2008. Restaurants, retail stores, spas, and many other businesses throughout Alexandria will be contributing a portion of their proceeds throughout the day to the Walk to Fight Breast Cancer. All funds raised from this event will go to support Alexandria’s Breast Cancer Fund at Inova Alexandria Hospital Foundation.

Restaurants participating include La Strada and Taqueria Poblano in Del Ray, Southside 815 and Stardust in Old Town and Tempo in the West End. Visit Let’s Meat on the Avenue and buy Steve’s delicious lamb, and 20% of the proceeds will go to help fight breast cancer.

You can also literally go one step farther and join in the 15th anniversary of the Annual Walk to Fight Breast Cancer on October 25th, at 8 a.m., along Eisenhower Avenue. Join in for a 1.5K, 3.5K or 5K walk or run.

Tags: Alexandria, events, restaurant by Ramona
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 I know many Houndstooth Gourmet readers enjoy local ingredients and seasonal cooking as much as I do, which is why I’m excited about a dining event series which I discovered when reading The List Are You On It (registration required).  The series joins the Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG), local farmers  and you-to dine together. This is an excellent opportunity to support our local farmers and restaurants who support sustainable growing, humane farming and quality food.

Vermillion, Rustico, Evening Star Cafe and Tallulah will all be offering “Farm to Fork” dinners- kicking off with Rustico on Slater’s Lane in Alexandria. The four course dinner with one seating at 7pm on Feb. 6th, offers a delicious sounding menu crafted by Executive Chef Frank Morales. Featured farmers, who will talk about their products ,will include Babes in the Wood, Tree and Leaf and Firefly Farms.

Executive Chef Frank Morales will speak about how local farm products and relationships with farmers influence his cooking and menu choices.

First Course

Cauliflower Bisque with Preserved Fruit and Hearth Roasted Ciabatta

Second Course

Roasted Butternut Squash, Firefly Goat Cheese with Apple Butter Bernaise Relish

Third Course

Roasted Pork Loin Canneloni, Winter Cabbage and Glazed Carrrots and Rosemary Honey

Fourth Course

Pumpkin Creme Donut with Heavy Seas- Peg Leg Imperial Stout Hot Chocolate

$49pp + $15pp optional beer pairing. Tax and gratuity not included.

Babes in the Wood raises their pigs on 75 acres of pasture and woods in Dillwyn,VA. The pigs are given freedom to forage and roam in a low stress environment, and are not raised with antibiotics or hormones. According to Babes in the Wood, this gives their pork a distinctive flavor which superceeds intensively produced pork.

Firefly Farms from Maryland’s Allegheny Plateau is a familiar site at the Dupont Farmers Market. They make artisinal cheeses such as chevre, bouche noir, blue and most recently, New French-a St. Andre style cheese.

Tree and Leaf Farm, also a staple at the Fresh Farm Market, sustainably farms vegetables, herbs and flowers in Virginia’s Loudoun County. In addition to bringing their vegetables and herbs to our farmers markets, Tree and Leaf has a 21 week CSA which serves Loudoun County and the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Washington D.C.

Tags: events, farmers markets, Restaurants, Virginia by Ramona
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