Dish of the Week: Puntarelle
Where: Dino

Winter can be a difficult time to find and enjoy your daily requirement of vegetables. If looking for something seasonal, we're typically saddled with root vegetables. They have their place, but sometimes you just have a hankering for something else. Fortunately, puntarelle, a vegetable in the chicory family, is available at this time of year. A combination of knobby asparagus-like stems and serrated dandelion-like leaves, it has a slightly bitter taste with sweet leaves.

The traditional Roman method of consuming puntarelle is in a salad with a light dressing of anchovy, garlic, parsley and lemon. The light dressing highlights the bitterness of the vegetable, while adding saltiness and an extra kick of pungency. For a limited period of time, Dino has imported puntarelle from Treviso, Italy. It has a stronger, more bitter kick than the puntarelle that is usually brought in from Pennsylvania. The Italian stuff is around for a limited time, so check ahead to make sure they have it. If not, the more local puntarelle is still delicious.

Dish of the Week
You can't keep people with no shame down
The Food Network is holding an open casting call for 24 Hour Restaurant Battle. The audition will take place February 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Zentan. The show will pit teams against each other to run a restaurant, with the prize being ... money to open their own restaurant. Producers are looking for teams of 2-5 with pre-existing relationships that contain both front-of-house and kitchen components, and to quote them, "lots of energy and charisma! We're seeking personalities that pop." Oh boy.

Sushi for beginners
Speaking of Zentan... On March 3 at 6:30 p.m., they will be hosting a sushi and sake exploration with The Story of Sushi author Trevor Corson. For $59 (not including tip), you will receive a five-course sushi dinner paired with sake. During the dinner, Corson will discuss sushi history and etiquette. Call for a reservation at (202) 379-4366.

Good things come in threes
BLT Steak will be celebrating the chain's six-year anniversary on March 3. On that day filets, rib eyes and New York strip steaks, Dover Sole and signature blackboard main courses will be $33.04. (Many are typically $40 or more.) Sides, cocktails, and desserts will cost only $3.03.

Filed in Food and Drink and tagged puntarelle, reality shows, television, the weekly feed

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