Cool Down with Free Vegan Ice Cream at the Hamilton Hotel

Dessert wire

This Monday, August 27 through August 31, downtown’s Hamilton Hotel Washington DC is winding down summer by giving out complimentary tastes of FoMu Ice Cream, a Massachusetts-based vegan company that uses coconut milk for its treats. The samples are free to guests and the public, and will be available Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. This being D.C., there’s a political spin to the giveaway: choose between two flavors, blueberry for Dems or raspberry for conservatives.

Scandals

A federal indictment for allegedly using campaign funds to pay personal bills revealed that California congressman Duncan Hunter spent quite a bit of money at D.C. restaurants — to the tune of $462.46 at El Tamarindo for 30 shots of tequila and one steak. Washingtonian breaks down Hunter’s big charges at affordable restaurants, speculating on how far $202.70 would go at H Street Country Club or $127.56 at grilled cheese-haven Stoney’s. Meanwhile, Washington City Paper grades his choice of D.C. restaurants on a pass-fail scale.

Plywood report

Another check-in from Robert Dyer on that Anthropologie Terrain Cafe under construction in Bethesda.

Rumormongering

PoPville’s sources float the rumor that Other Half Brewing Co. is looking at opening a D.C. location.

James Beard Foundation

The Hank’s team is headed to NYC. Chef Jamie Leeds, executive chef Chris Edwards, and Hank’s Cocktail Bar head bartender Jessica Weinstein will cook at the Beard House on Friday, Sept. 7. Get $180 tickets here for the meal, which includes apps liked mini-lobster rolls and corn gazpacho with tomato jam and main dishes like smoked Virginia sea scallops with tomatoes and corn capped off with Key lime pie. Speaking of the Beard House, here’s Northern Virginia magazine’s recap of this week’s “Best of DC” dinner.

Correction: This post has been updated to reflect a changed event date.