Heralding the arrival of spring, DC’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival (March 28–April 12) offers more than 200 cultural and arts events, with the Sakura Matsuri street extravaganza a highlight on April 4. Local restaurants and bars are also getting in on the act by serving cherry-flavored, blossom-inspired fare.
One enterprising chef, Dennis Marron at The Grille at Morrison House, is incorporating both the cherry blossoms and their branches in his featured dish – cherry wood- and tea-smoked duck breast with cherry blossom salad in a cherry vinaigrette. Others are serving prix fixe menus, including Bangkok Joe’s, where cherry will be used in all three courses (lunch $25.09, with cocktail $33.09; dinner $35.09, with cocktail $43.09), and TenPenh, where the special four-course tasting dinner runs $35 ($55 with pairings).
Cherry desserts will also be dished up all over town, with some of the most elaborate ones crafted at Café Mozu – think chocolate cones with warm cherry kirsch compote, cherry sorbet and vinegar ($8) – and PS 7's, which will serve a cherry chocolate linzer tart with tangerine granité, orange blossom liquid and chocolate crumbles.
Finally, happy-hour hot spots Asia Nine, Poste and Urbana are all planning to make good use of the flower's flavonoids in special cocktails.