Mediterranean Cooking

Our NEIGHBORHOOD GEMS series features emblematic meals from around the world. This series shines a light on local restaurants and is designed to bring together inquisitive foodies and dishes that are unique and oh so worth a trip on roads less traveled! Join us for authentic Hunan & Szechuan dishes at ***Chef Tan***! **From Washington Post** Chef Tan invites diners to experience the tongue-tingling pleasures of one of China’s great cuisines in an understated Vienna strip mall. When Chef Tan opened in Vienna last July, the restaurant had no website and initially offered neither takeout nor delivery. Albert Yang, the restaurant’s regional manager, believed that diners should experience Hunan cooking at its freshest and most vibrant. “If you pack it to deliver, the color, the oil, the meat will change,” he says. This was a sacrifice he wasn’t willing to make, even if it meant losing business. Because of the low-key opening, I didn’t get wind of Chef Tan until February. Others had clearly beaten me to the punch. On my first visit, all but the large banquet tables in the handsome, wood-paneled dining room were occupied by chattering friends. Soon, my own table filled. Thinly sliced pork belly buried under waxy, modestly spicy green peppers. Morsels of chicken sweetly perfumed with ginger and surrounded by chopped red chiles packing merciless, browbeating heat. Tender slivers of lamb, ornamented with grassy cilantro and mild, neatly diced red peppers. As I inhaled steam abundant with chopped chiles, pungent fermented peppers and dark, sharp vinegar, I understood Yang’s stubbornness. This was not food destined for a takeout container. I floated back to the parking lot, in awe of the mastery quietly playing out between a paint supply store and a beer and wine shop in this Northern Virginia strip mall. When your server arrives with a mortar and pestle, it initiates a little table theater at Chef Tan. They slowly agitate the contents of the bowl, breaking through a layer of finely chopped green chiles and fermented bean curd to reveal strands of eggplants and wobbling, jet-black “century” eggs. If you’re unfamiliar, they’ll explain each ingredient, talking you through the curing process that gives these eggs their striking color and butter-rich texture. “Instead of just providing the best taste, we also want to show some culture and immersive experience,” says Albert Yang. In a region where these chile-prickling, ferment-tingling dishes are nearly impossible to find, Chef Tan serves each one with a sense of great duty. If this is your first taste of Hunan cooking, you should love it. And Chef Tan is easy to love. Owner Kevin Tan hails from the riverside city of Hengyang, as do many of the restaurant’s cooks, and dishes from their hometown shine. In lufen, springy rice noodles come in a concentrated stock warmed with anise and cinnamon, laid with thin strips of beef shank and a handful of crunchy peanuts. In another dish, the noodles float in a light seafood stock lit with green chile heat and packing seasonal vegetables and fillets of dense, flaky fish. Yang says his homesick friends once drove as far as New York for a taste of home. Chef Tan brought relief. Though the menu includes a small section of Chinese American standbys, the best way to orient if you feel a little lost is to take stock of what neighboring tables are eating and follow their lead. This is how I first came to know the pleasure of little river snails stir-fried with pickled long beans and the grassy nuances of tender lamb cooked with cilantro. Best of all, after four visits to my new favorite Chinese restaurant, I’ve barely scratched the surface. **Check out the menu** **[here](https://pos.chowbus.com/online-ordering/store/Chef-Tan/22196)** Separate checks will be arranged in advance. All diners will settle their own tabs. We ask that ALL folks honor their RSVP. If you are unable to attend after sending in a YES, please update your status so that others may join and help us support local businesses. In the event our group incurs a fee for no-shows / late cancellations, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding. To enhance the opportunity for great conversation, we will continue to limit the group size. Please feel free to sign-up to meet us along with up to 2 friends. **\*\*** **WAITLIST:** Meetup does not allow waitlists for paid events. *If this event fills and you would like to be added to the waitlist, please send a note to the host through the Meetup app. **\*\**** In the future, we will vary the days of the week and the types of restaurants to keep events interesting. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO GO WHEN YOU RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. Feel free to make suggestions for future meet locations. \*\* The small non-refundable registration fee helps us share the cost associated with the Meet-Up platform ($360/yr) and reduces the likelihood of no-shows, allowing us to better plan our events and accommodate all participants. Meetup charges $0.51 and Paypal charges $0.53 on the $2 registration fee. Thanks in advance for your understanding!\*\* If you are unable to join us in June, we hope you'll stay interested and join us for a meal in the future. Looking forward to catching up with you for an wonderful dinner at Chef Tan!

Tuesdays\, Wednesdays \| 12:15pm\-12:35pm Take an afternoon break and intentionally cultivate inner peace, mindfulness and concentration, No previous experience is necessary. No special clothing is required. Just show up! Each 20 minute session will include: * A short introduction to the meditation for the day * A guided meditation to relax and refresh body and mind * Advice for the day ahead No experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome! **REGISTRATION** Standard: $5 \| Financial Hardship Available \| Free for [Members](https://meditation-dc.org/membership/) [Pre-Register Here](https://meditation-dc.org/quick-class-registration/#top) Each class is available by drop in. Everyone is welcome to attend, no previous experience is required. **LOCATION** Kadampa Meditation Center DC 1200 Canal St\. SW \| Washington\, DC 20024 **Metro Stop:** Waterfront or Navy Yard

Yummy Bowl serves Mongolian BBQ, sushi, and ramen. Mongolian BBQ is a stir-fry style of cuisine where you place a selection of raw noodles/rice, vegetables, fruit, and protein in to a bowl along with your choice of sauces and the dish is cooked for you on a large, round grill while you wait. Every bowl is delicious and you are the chef so the selection gets better every time! Expect entrees in the range of $17 plus tax and beverage. This is a great opportunity to meet others who are new as well as those who have been around a while! Look for GRASP table flyers and Eli's GRASP shirt to easily find the group. We can't wait to see you there!

Come join us for bingo at Atlas Brew Works in Alexandria. It's free to play. Win prizes on every round, and the winner of the final round gets a $50 Atlas Brew Works gift card for your next visit! More information: https://atlasbrewworks.com/pages/events#calendar-c3cfc1a3-4344-434e-a1b2-fb876f819883 Parking: Wegmans has a parking garage (via the Stovall St entrance) and is next to Atlas Metro: Eisenhower Ave (yellow line)

Capoeira (capo-way-ra) is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that is unlike any other martial art. Capoeira incorporates flowing movements with kicks, dodges, and some acrobatics. It is often mistaken for a dance for those reasons. Since it’s origins in the 17th century, it has evolved from a secret fighting practice into an art emphasizing self-expression and community celebration. It is great for the body and mind! In addition to gaining strength and flexibility in class, students learn about Brazilian culture, history, and language (Portuguese). On November 26, 2014 capoeira was granted a special protected status as "intangible cultural heritage” by UNESCO. The session is offered InStudio only. **Sign up at www.piesfitnessyoga.com required at least two hours before class begins.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314. Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 36,37,38,39.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.

👉 Enroll at **[www.worklifespanish.com/conversational-spanish-clubs.html](http://www.worklifespanish.com/conversational-spanish-clubs.html)** Our ***Beginner Banter Club*** meets in person and is available to all Spanish learners at the A1-B1 levels who want to start speaking and build confidence. Each week, we’ll explore vocabulary and cultural themes like holidays, food, and daily life in the Spanish-speaking world. **​**Location: Falls Church Day: Wednesdays, 4.30pm - 5.30pm ET ​Price: $27.50 / session or FREE with monthly credits 🎁 **FREE Trial Event Available!** Use code **FREECLUB** when you sign up. 👉 Enroll at **[https://www.worklifespanish.com/conversational-spanish-clubs.html](https://www.worklifespanish.com/conversational-spanish-clubs.html)**

**NEW MEMBERS or 1st TIME EVENT GO-ERS** Before attending your first event, please take a moment to understand how our dinners work and what we ask of members. → **[Learn how DC Metro Dining works](https://tinyurl.com/Landing-Page-DC-Metro-Dining)** → **[Ensure Group Notifications are Setup (Announcements + In on Waitlist/Attending List)](https://app.tango.us/app/workflow/Enable-Meetup-Email-Notifications-3a85109614fc4907940503d096331392)** **RSVP CUTOFF (i.e. Final Change Your Mind if Registered YES)** → **RSVP Cancellation Cutoff for this Event is Sunday 10a, 6/6**. (*Late Cancel applies after this, repeat occurrences can impact membership*) Let’s head to upper Northwest DC for an Indian dinner at Masala Art in Tenleytown, a long-running neighborhood favorite known for refined North Indian cuisine and regional specialties. The restaurant was founded by chef Surinder Singh, formerly of Heritage India, and continues to maintain a strong reputation for consistent execution and depth of flavor. **FOOD**: Masala Art focuses on North Indian cuisine with a mix of classic curries, tandoori dishes, and harder-to-find regional specialties, vegetarian & GF friendly. Recent diners frequently highlight the Railway Lamb Curry, lamb korma dishes, garlic naan, and vegetarian items such as baingan bharta and okra preparations. Tandoori items and biryanis are also consistently well reviewed, with many diners noting balanced spice levels and strong flavor without excessive heaviness. The menu supports a wide range of preferences, including vegetarian-friendly selections and several richer meat-based dishes. Expect traditional Indian desserts and a full bar with wine, cocktails, and beer available. Most members should expect total spend to land roughly in the 40 to 70 dollar range, depending on ordering style & beverage participation. → **Explore Masala Art's menu (please note the 3% service charge, their way of defraying increasing costs):** **[https://masalaartdc.com/washington-dc-tenleytown-american-university-park-masala-art-food-menu](https://masalaartdc.com/washington-dc-tenleytown-american-university-park-masala-art-food-menu)** **SPACE**: Comfortable and intimate dining room with warm décor and a quieter neighborhood feel compared to downtown DC dining corridors. Expect moderate noise levels and a more relaxed pace on a Saturday evening. → **Visit the restaurant site**: **[https://masalaartdc.com](https://masalaartdc.com)** * Tax/Tip combo is our required 30% tax/tip policy (see the FAQs for more details). * Limited to 8 slots. See you there! JoeN **CLOSEST METRO**: * **Tenleytown–AU station (Red)** is the closest stop. Quick walk (exit on Tenleytown EAST (same side as Whole Foods) walk south along Wisconsin Ave & cross over Albermarle St NW). The walk is a quick 3–5 minutes based on routed walking directions and traffic signals. * For directions using the Metro, try using the Plan a Trip feature at the WMATA website ([click on your preferred Metro station](https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/stations/index.cfm) then at the Station page level click "Plan a Trip". **PARKING**: Street parking and several public parking garages are available throughout Tenleytown. Weekend evening parking is generally easier here than in central DC neighborhoods, though nearby retail activity can still affect availability. Members may also want to check parking apps such as SpotHero and Parking Panda for discounted garage reservations and advance booking options nearby. Plan accordingly. ***Attendance Notes:*** * **If you RSVP “YES,” please commit to showing up***. With 5,400+ members and limited seating, we can’t afford no-shows. It’s not fair to other members or to our relationship with the restaurant.* * **New Members / 1st Timers: Trying to get a slot?** Join the Waitlist and check back frequently: spots (*often open up before Noon on the day of the event. You may also receive midweek confirmation emails to reconfirm your RSVP, so please check your Meetup DMs inbox).*\*\* * **Billing Reminder - Add 30% for tax and tip to your food and drink total.** This is part of our group’s expectations and helps smooth out service with the restaurant. Looking forward to dining with you! JoeN

Join us for a relaxed morning walk with waterfront views, fresh air, and great company as we stroll from Rosslyn into Georgetown and back. Meeting Point Rosslyn station Meet outside the metro station entrance at 10:30 AM The Walk Cross the Key Bridge We’ll walk from Rosslyn into Georgetown across the iconic Key Bridge with beautiful daytime views of the Potomac River and DC skyline. Destination: Georgetown Waterfront Park We’ll hang out by the water and optionally grab: * Coffee * Ice cream * Snacks Optional nearby spots: * Farmers Fishers Bakers * Baked & Wired * Fiola Mare After enjoying the waterfront, we’ll walk back across Key Bridge to Rosslyn. Total distance: * Approximately 4–5 miles roundtrip * Mostly flat and beginner friendly

SSB family, we’re heading out for a high-energy night of live music, dancing, and nonstop throwback vibes. On stage: Quantum Leap - a professional 80s tribute band bringing the best of pop, rock, dance, and R&B hits from the decade that knew how to party.

Come out to Alfio's La Trattoria on Saturday, June 6th for a night of great jazz and great Italian food. SK Jazz is a quartet with Trumpet/Flugelhorn, Piano, Bass and Drums. The band will play music of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Blue Mitchell, Art Blakey, Charlie Parker etc. as well as tunes by Gershwin, Berlin, Cole Porter and others. Two Blocks from Friendship Heights Metro Station Reservations recommended for best seating 301-657-9133 (please call the venue in addition to signing up here) Looking forward to seeing you there! Feel free to contact me with any questions Steven Kaufman swkauf@aol.com SKJAZZ.net https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560760883607

Come hungry for culture, community, and feijoada. The kick off to Afro-Bahia Fest starts here. Not only will enjoy typical culinary trats from Bahia, there will be live music plus dancing. this w I ll be a night you won't forget. Get your tickets now!

[Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3351321) Location: The Goat River South 219 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215 Street parking is free on Sundays [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: On a hot day in Bethlehem, a twelve-year-old Palestinian-American girl is yelled at by a group of men outside the Church of the Nativity. She has exposed her legs in a biblical city, an act they deem forbidden, and their judgement will echo on through her adolescence. When our narrator finally admits to her mother that she is queer, her mother's response only intensifies a sense of shame: 'You exist too much,' she tells her daughter. Told in vignettes that flash between the U.S. and the Middle East--from New York to Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine--Zaina Arafat's debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to sought-after DJ and aspiring writer.

June is Fantasy month! • The book we will be discussing is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. (determined by votes from May Book Club. Message me your e-mail if you'd like a free digital copy of the book) • This event will be at the Dublin library (Room 3). Feel free to come whether or not you've started or finished the book. • Small snacks will be provided. You're welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! Let me know if you’d like to volunteer to bring snacks or drinks for the group. Please try to update your attendance if anything changes so we have an accurate head count for print outs and snacks :)

Who’s up for a pizza night at the highly requested Pizza House? 🍕🍻 Join us at for great pizza, good laughs, and even better company! Come hungry and ready for a cheesy good time.

Edible Blooms Saturday, June 6 12 - 2 pm $12/Members | $16/Non-members  Flowers bring beauty and butterflies to your garden, but did you know they can bring pizazz to your plate? Join us as we explore the enticing world of edible flowers. Learn the proper way to use flowers from your landscape in your food. This is not a cooking class and will simply be instruction on how you can try this yourself with some examples for an optional taste test. Pay and Register here

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."

Big Ohio Book Con "A convention for book lovers all over Ohio (and beyond)! Author panels, signings, bookish vendors, meet & greets, and more!" Featuring more than 100 authors, more than 50 bookish vendors, and plenty of exciting activities throughout the event! Travel with fellow book lovers or meet us at the event. Park for free at the Medina Convention Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, Ohio 44256, then hop aboard one of the free shuttles whenever you’re ready for your next bookish adventure! The convention spans three neighboring locations, giving you even more to explore and enjoy.