Photo credit: Janet Donovan
It was a hard days night on Tuesday in the nation’s Capital. It was all things French at The White House State Dinner for President Francois Holland where the French were doing what the French do best – being French. Across town, those whose invite got lost in the mail collected at the Uline Arena to celebrate the half century of Beatles anniversary of the Beatles’ landmark first concert in North America; and in between, The James Beard Foundation was being recognized by the Destination & Travel Foundation with the 2014 Spirit of Hospitality Award.
While White House guests dined on American caviar, a winter garden salad, dry-aged rib-eye beef served with blue cheese and an assortment of sweets from chocolate malted cake to Vermont fudge, Beatlemania goers downed food curbside from some of DC’s most popular food trucks including Peruvian Brothers, the DC Sliders truck, Lemongrass Vietnamese Cuisine and The Salsa Room Truck. In between, party goers at The James Beard Foundation dinner happily consumed St. Elmo shrimp cocktails, Rappahannock River Oyster & Tuna Tartare, Lime-Ginger Curerd Sunburst Trout and Creole Mustard & Sugarcane Braised Beef Short Ribs topped off with the wines of Monterey, California.
Rappahannock River Oysters
Steak Tartare
While guests at The White House mingled with Bradley Cooper and Mary J. Blige and a swarm of ‘honorables’ – guests at Beatlemania mingled with themselves and a bunch of look-a-like Beatles and guests at The James Beard Foundation dinner chatted it up with celebrity Chef Art Smith.
“Tonight, The Destination and Travel Foundation is so excited to honor The James Beard Foundation, ” said Victoria Isley, DTF Executive Director, “with the spirit of hospitality award. Tonight is all about the universal power of food, travel and destinations. And, it’s all about community – chefs telling stories that help inspire people to travel places. That’s really what tonight is all about – travel and food are really fun industries but they are also very serious industries that generate jobs, support communities and really bring people together.”
Hollywood on the Potomac sat down with the ever playful Art Smith and got a behind the scenes reaction to his partner’s outfit at Michele Obama’s 50th birthday party and a closer look at James Beard the man:
James Beard Foundation Presidenr Susan Ungaro talks about James Beard, his accomplishments and his relationship with Julia Child:
Behind the scenes – In the kitchen with the chefs:
