Taqueria del Barrio Pops Up in Petworth, Coton & Rye Parties, Plus More Intel

Pop Up Patrol

DC Empanadas co-founder Anna Bran-Leis today takes another step toward doubling her hospitality empire by offering a sneak peek of Taqueria del Barrio. The modern Mexican joint, which is slated to open next month in Petworth, is taking over neighboring Hank’s Cocktail Bar (Hank’s founder Jamie Leeds is friends with Bran-Leis) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a one-day only preview.

The menu includes snacks (chipotle meals, pozole), mains (taco fillings range from seared beef tongue to beer-battered corvina) and desserts (rainbow sprinkles-studded tres leches cake), plus potent potables (think: tequila, rum and rye). Though all the #ADayWithoutImmigrants excitement is now in the rearview, Bran-Leis plans to donate 20 percent of the profits to Casa Ruby and CARECEN.

Beer Here

Owen’s Ordinary Thursday welcomes Cambridge, Md.-based RaR Brewery for a four-course beer dinner. Featured brews include RaR Jackson County (saison), Marylan (dry-hopped blonde ale), Horn Point (oyster stout), Lectar Nectar (blood orange-spiked IPA) and Strawberry 10 Layers (stout with cocoa nibs and fruit). Tickets are $50 per person; reservations (301-245-1226) are recommended.

Get LoCo

A pair of Loudoun County businesses are keeping things hyperlocal. Catoctin Creek Distilling Company and Coton & Rye collaborated on a signature whiskey poised to debut next month. Three Monkeys Farm in Leesburg, Va., provided the rye used to craft the Catoctin Creek “Coton & Rye” Private Barrel Whisky, making it, per the producers, the first of its kind since Prohibition. The limited-edition spirit will make its way into a number of specialty cocktails, including the classic Boulevardier and seasonal Cherry Blossom Julep, March 23 during a launch party at Coton & Rye (44050 Woodridge Parkway, Leesburg, Va. Tickets to the roll out are $35

A Taste of Victory

Silver Diner co-founder Ype Von Hengst vanquished the competition during his recent appearance on Chopped, and he wants to savor the win with everyone. He’s placed the top-placing dish — fig beignets with ginger and fig ice cream — on the menu at Silver in Bethesda, Md., through March 12. A spokeswoman said Von Hengst donated the show’s $10,000 prize to Doctors Without Borders and also personally matched the gift.