Washington’s Best Food and Cocktail Pairings at Spirit of the Festival

Herb-crusted rotisserie chicken paired with the Dolores Dulces cocktail, a soon-to-be menu feature

Founding Farmers is one of just five restaurants to be showcased at the inaugural prelude event to the International Wine & Food Festival in February. On November 30, Chief Mixologist Jon Arroyo and Executive Chef Al Nappo will team up at Spirit of the Festival and use Patron XO Café to create a unique cocktail and food pairing. This week, the duo gave DC food journalists and bloggers a first taste of the pairing.

The Dolores Dulces cocktail features Patron XO Café, cognac, cherry brandy, egg white and a garnish of fresh grated nutmeg. The rich and delicious concoction pairs nicely with Chef’s herb-crusted rotisserie chicken with Maryland kale, cabbage and pears sautéed in Patron XO Café. Founding Farmers will feature the Dolores Dulces for a limited time after the competition.

A Food Fight for DC Central Kitchen

This Thursday at 6:00 pm, Founding Farmers will join dozens of Washington’s most popular restaurants at the Capital Food Fight, a unique and exclusive fundraiser for DC Central Kitchen.  Chef Al Nappo will dish out seasonal butternut squash and mascarpone cheese ravioli with sage butter sauce.

The evening is sure to pack an exciting punch as celebrity chefs, Anthony Bourdain, Tom Colicchio, Michael Mina, Eric Ripert and José Andrés host and judge this epic food fight.

Chef Nappo Joins Signature Chefs at March of Dimes Auction

On October 26, Chef Nappo will join 20 of Washington’s top chefs at the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction. He will serve Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli to auction guests at the Ritz-Carlton.

Chef Al Nappo works hard preparing one of the most popular dishes of the night. Photo Credit: DC on Heels

Chef Nappo's Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli was a huge hit at Tuesday's event. Photo Credit: DC on Heels

Founding Farmers is also donating an auction item – “Dessert the Farmers Way,” including a dining certificate, a freshly-baked cake and two bottles of Wasmund’s Rye Whiskey, handcrafted exclusively for Founding Farmers.  This dessert package, among other dining certificates and getaways, will be auctioned throughout the evening.

Founding Farmers Serves Key to the Cure Fundraiser

On Thursday, Founding Farmers and sister restaurant Farmers & Fishers will support Suburban Hospital’s Key to the Cure fundraiser at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase. Executive Chef Al Nappo will serve Founding Farmers housemade potato chips with shmears, and chocolate-covered bacon lollis from Farmers & Fishers. Eighteen other participating restaurants will also serve tasty treats to philanthropic shoppers from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

Founding Farmers to Participate in Arts on Foot

On Saturday, September 11 Founding Farmers and Farmers & Fishers will sample menu items at the Arts on Foot annual festival in Penn Quarter 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Executive Chef Al Nappo will serve scrumptious treats from both restaurants.

Enjoy Founding Farmers’ homemade potato chips with a duo of romesco and green goddess shmears or Farmers & Fishers’ chocolate-dipped bacon lollipops as you watch stage performances by local musicians and entertainers, or peruse the aisles of art vendors.

Fresh from the Farmer’s Market

If you enjoyed the trout at Founding Farmers last Friday, you also helped support a local farmer’s market.

Chef Nappo participated in Chef’s Day at Capital Harvest on the Plaza, the farmer’s market outside the Ronald Reagan Building. In addition to the wasabi peas and spiced nuts used to make a crust for the trout special, Chef Nappo also purchased dried sausage and currant tomatoes. It was a delicious way to bring seasonal ingredients from farm to market to table.

Chef Nappo Dishes Out Treats at Best of Washington Party

More than 1,000 Washingtonians piled into the National Building Museum on July 21 to sample and sip some of DC’s best food and drink at Washingtonian Magazine’s annual Best of Washington party. The evening benefited the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and featured signature dishes and libations from more than 60 Washingtonian Best of Winners for 2010. Chef Al Nappo served bacon lollis and chili-lime popcorn to eager attendees who enthusiastically returned for seconds and thirds. This year’s event theme, “The Greatest Show on Earth” certainly had some of the best food in town.

Farmers & Fishers Welcomes Microsoft with Cocktail Special

Visit our sister restaurant, Farmers & Fishers, in the Georgetown Waterfront for refreshing libations and a view of the Potomac. Through July 15, purchase any cocktail and flash your Microsoft badge to receive a second complimentary cocktail.

Cocktail must be of equal or lesser value. Limit one per guest.