Taste of Twelve at Verizon Center -- did anyone else go?

[Bob W]

Thanks to a tip from Mrs. W., I walked over to the Verizon Center for this event to support the Capital Area Food Bank.

For $12 you got six samplings -- some quite generous -- from any of 40 food purveyors, which literally ranged from the sublime -- The Source -- to the ridiculous -- Dippin' Dots. Turned out to be a very nice event. Not overly crowded but with a nice critical mass of people, some pretty sophisticated food, and it was possible to really stuff your face if you were just going for quantity.

Two highlights for me: tuna tartare and avocado from District Chop House -- a lot of tuna for two bucks -- and desserts from, of all people, Aramark, the Verizon Center catering folks: strawberry pavlova in a dark chocolate cup, blackberry panna cotta, and pomegranate iced tea with a scoop of sorbet. For $2! That took me back to my college days, when I went to my first on-campus scholarship dinner and was shocked to find that the delicious food had been prepared by the same company that dished out the slop in the cafeteria. (It wasn't Aramark, but I think they later got bought out by Aramark.)

What did other hounds think?

[comestibles]

I thought it was really nice ; I'm glad it wasn't shoulder to shoulder people like the picture I saw of last year's event. My two favorites were the tuna tartare/avocado/taro chips taste from District Chophouse and the large, meaty braised short rib and dip tastings from Cava.

I also loved what Henry's Soul Cafe put out - 3 spicy barbecued wing/drumette and a sweet potato tart. Other tastings - a slider and chopped salad from Matchbox; 3 Sichuan chicken dumplings w/crushed peanuts from the Source; and a chocolate bar from Central.

I wish it would have been possible to buy single tickets as I would have loved to try a few more items, namely the oyster stew and the deviled egg w/crabmeat.

I am already looking forward to the Taste of 13 next year.

-----
Henry's Soul Cafe
317 K St., NW, Washington, DC 20001

[Bob W]

I had the Matchbox slider and chopped salad and the Source dumplings too. GMTA lol

I was going to get the Henry's combo for the sweet potato tart but I was down to one ticket and the Aramark desserts looked too good to pass up.

I can also report that the deviled egg with crabmeat -- and Louisiana caviar -- from Acadiana was very good!

My final tasting was a crab and tomato bruschetta and seafood salad combo from Mamma Lucia. It was ok, but I would have rather had that short rib from Cava. Next year!

-----
Acadiana
901 New York Ave NW Ste 200A, Washington, DC 20001