Lundi Gras at Bayou Bakery; Zengo Opens a Latin Lounge

COURTHOUSE—Naturally, you might suspect that Bayou Bakery is up to something for Mardi Gras. And indeed they are! On Monday evening — aka Lundi Gras — the coffee bar and bakery is hosting the Laissez Foure jazz quartet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. accompanied by a four-course meal of parade-route fare for $55 per person. Also included is a souvenir cup and punch. Make reservations by calling 202-973-2168. [EaterWire]

CHINATOWN—Tonight marks the official opening of the Latin Lounge at Zengo, which is what they're calling a "sexy space" in the lower level of the restaurant. It'll have a menu of Latin-Asian small plates, but a whole lot more booze — including a wall of spirits, a signature cocktail list, wine and beer. They plan to launch a lunch menu featuring sandwiches and noodle dishes in the future. [EaterWire]

EVERYWHERE—Dining Bisnow takes a look at some of the restaurants that draw in Washington's power players and discovers a reason why: secret doors. Fiola, Carmine's, Ris, Seasons and the Jefferson Hotel all have secret entrances through which their high-profile guests can enter unseen. Mostly they're back entrances, but The Jefferson's opens into the private dining room by way of a secret passageway covered by a painting. Baller. [DBN]

Bayou Bakery [Photo: R. Lopez]