The magic of the Cherry Blossom Festival extends its reach to the world of food in DC as some of the best local restaurants serve-up tasty cuisine with a cherry inspired theme. Several restaurants doing just that include the following. Their cherry picks will be available throughout the two-week festival, from March 27 through April 11.
B. Smith’s (50 Massachusetts Ave, NE, Washington, DC 20002; 202-289-6188). B. Smith’s will offer a three-course Cherry Blossom menu (lunch $25.00; dinner $35.00). What to expect:
- Blossom Salad – A fresh mesclun blend tossed with toasted almonds, red onions, dried cherries, and goat cheese finished in a light blood orange vinaigrette
- Seared Salmon – Laced with a cherry port glaze, the salmon is
served atop a bed of sautéed julienned radicchio, leeks, carrots, and sugar snap peas
- Seared Filet Mignon – This lean cut is accented by a cherry port
glaze, with a crispy potato cake and sautéed shitake mushrooms, spinach and leeks
- Cherry Apricot Cobbler – Spiced with cinnamon and vanilla, this
warm cherry and apricot cobbler is garnished with sweet vanilla ice cream and a candied cherry
- Cherry Mojito ($14.00)- A twist on the classic cocktail, this mojito is cherry –infused
M Bar at Renaissance. 1143 New Hampshire Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20037;202-775-0800)
- Cherries Jubilee ($7.00) – Two “hot” chocolate shortcakes filled with vanilla bean ice cream and soaked in a pool of cherries jubilee
- Pink Passion Fire ($10.00) – A fresh blend of pomegranate and citrus juices, this cocktail also contains a surprising hint of chili
Morton’s The Steakhouse. 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036; 202-955-5997)
- Cherry Blossom Martini ($13.00) – Originally a prohibition era cocktail named the Mary Pickford, this cocktail is highlighted by Luxardo Marachino Liqueur, a rare liquor made from fermented Marasca sour cherries