Cherry Blossom Menus: Where To Eat And Drink During The National Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherries aren't just for pies and Shirley Temple garnishes anymore.

As Washington waits for its most beautiful time of the year -- cherry blossom season -- nearly 100 area restaurants are getting into the spirit with Cherry Picks, a city-wide collaboration bringing cherry blossom-inspired food and drinks to tourists and locals alike. The promotion runs concurrently with the National Cherry Blossom Festival festival, March 20 to April 14.

You'll find cherries in every food and drink combination you can imagine, from a Cherry Blossom Bento Box at KAZ Sushi Bistro to foie gras with preserved cherries, cocoa brioche and whipped Moscato at Charlie Palmer Steak. There's also an extensive selection of creative cocktail combinations like Jaleo's Sakura DC (gin, cherry blossom syrup and triple sec), Washington's Cherry Temple Cocktail (vodka, tart cherry juice, maraschino liqueur and vanilla simple syrup) at The Hamilton and the Sparkling Geisha (sake, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur and sparkling wine) at Tonic Foggy Bottom.

Here are 10 places to try cherry blossom-inspired menus during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

• Sea Catch Restaurant

  Cherry blossom-inspired oyster shooters and Kumamoto oysters with crushed cherry ponzu

• Ted's Bulletin

  Cherry-lemonade Pop-Tarts

• Del Frisco's Grille

  Cherry mojito with muddled cherries and fresh mint

• The Hamilton

  Sour Cherry Pavlova (pistachio meringue topped with amaretto sour cherries and almond cream)

• Georgia Brown's

  Extensive cherry menu including cherry empanadas, lamb chops with cherry wheat beer brine, cherry chocolate pecan pie and red snapper with cherry grits.

• Ben's Next Door

  Chicken and waffles with cherry compote

• M Street Bar and Grill

  14 cherry-themed cocktails like Chocolate Covered Cherries (Godiva and black cherry vodka), M Street Cherry (sparkling with w/ a shot of cranberry juice and grenadine) and Life Is Like A Bowl Of Cherries (black cherry vodka, amaretto, sweet vermouth, grenadine and soda).

• Policy Restaurant and Lounge

  Roasted Duck Bao Buns (candied jalapenos, steamed bao buns, pickled onions w/ cherry hoisin sauce)

• YO! Sushi

  Sea Bass Crudo, Spicy Tuna Roll, Cherry Cr?me Br?l?e

• Cafe Deluxe

  Sherry cherry crispy goat cheese salad (sherry-soaked cherries, corn nuts and greens topped with sherry vinaigrette and crispy goat cheese)

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/13/cherry-blossom-menus_n_2866345.html

flight tracker Marina Krim Justin Bieber cancer lil wayne Mockingbird Lane peyton manning sf giants