D.C. Points Tourists to Rose's Luxury, Daikaya

The big press conference for DC's biggest tourism event, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, was today (tree trackers, take note: peak bloom is expected to be April 8-12). Organizers singled out several of D.C.'s hot restaurants for tourists to consider in the press release announcing the festival. Here's the blurb:

Dining remains a pleasure in Washington, DC. Families can relax with a casual dine-around at Union Market, the District's artisanal food market uniting almost 40 regional vendors under one roof in Northeast. Foodies will want to wait in line for the imaginative meals and cocktails at Rose's Luxury on Capitol Hill. Adventurous eaters can tuck into brunch at Daikaya, a modern Japanese izakaya in the Penn Quarter or dinner at Del Campo, chef Victor Albisu's estancia-inspired dining room where everything from avocados to Nigeria prawns get lapped with smoke. Power players will want to follow in Michelle Obama's footsteps and try Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab near the White House. Beer-lovers can sip through the menu at City Tap House or Bluejacket, an imaginative craft brewery near Nationals Stadium, and anyone with a sweet tooth shouldn't skip Jason Gerhing's desserts at Menu MBK.

Translation: locals should probably prepare for bigger crowds than usual at those restaurant locations. DC restaurants will also be taking part in the annual "Cherry Picks" promotion, where each place comes up with a different cherry or blossom-themed dish or drink. More than 100 restaurants will participate in the program this year. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled for March 20-April 13.
· Washington DC [Official Site]

Rose's Luxury [Photo: R. Lopez]