Wine and Food Pairing

**You must purchase a ticket for this event. Purchase event [here](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-her-plate-dinner-event-tickets-1982380440261?aff=ebdssbdestsearch). Cost is $128.63** Figleaf is celebrating International Women’s Day with a multi-course dining experience with wine pairings featuring Female Winemakers! Join us on Friday, March 6th for a special International Women’s Day celebration, showcasing the incredible talent of local female chefs and winemakers! This one-of-a-kind event will highlight the artistry, passion, and culinary excellence of women in the food & beverage industry. Enjoy an evening filled with delicious tastings, and inspiring stories from some of the most talented chefs in our community. Whether you’re a food enthusiast, a supporter of women in the culinary arts, or just looking for an unforgettable dining experience, this event is for you! Come hungry and leave inspired as we honor the achievements of these incredible women and their impact on the local food & beverage scene. Purchase tickets [here](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-her-plate-dinner-event-tickets-1982380440261?aff=ebdssbdestsearch).

Let us speak Italian and grab a drink or two. GRAB A DRINK AND YOU ARE ALL SET TO FLEX YOUR LANGUAGE CAPACITY. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD :) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well. We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented languages and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. Rules to abide : 1\. Event is 21\+ \(bring ID\)\. 2\. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to exchange with others as well\. 3\. We all are native speakers of one or two languages and be willing to help others and try to accommodate as much as possible\. 4\. If you don't speak the other person's required language\, LEAVE THEM ALONE\. 5\. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion\. 6\. This is a face\-to\-face language exchange event\. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting\, by using the comment box or direct message\. 7\. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box\. Since it sends notification to all attendees\. If you have any questions\, send a message to the organizers\. Don't write in the comment box\. 8\. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation\. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event\. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via \(info@merevents\.com\)\. 9\. When you get there\, we will greet you and take you to your respective group\. 10\. Don't be shy of your local languages\. We have diplomates assigned to different countries\, who would love to practice your languages\. 11\. Be patient for the first 30 minutes\, up until we form your respective language group\.
 12\. We will have a registration station and check you in\. 13\. This is mainly a social for Intermediate/Advanced/Native Speakers\. It is not as such to learn a language\. Beginners\, if you want to learn a language\, reach out to us \([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)). We have a school and will arrange you a class. AFTER THE EXCHANGE, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!

\*\*\* The restaurant needs a credit card for reservation. So I made reservation just for me. Please reserve a spot directly with the restaurant for yourself \*\*\*\*\* We are meeting up for dinner at Daru Restaurant. This is a highly-rated fancy restaurant, they tend to fill out quick. The food is supposed to be really good! While reserving, I reserved the "6 pm Dining Room" for myself. So I will see you there. If you find a seat elsewhere, no biggie, I will come say hi to you. Even if you find spots for 6:15, 5:45 etc, please take it. We will use the meet-up app to coordinate. Dress to impress. Cos u know, we are fancy-shmancy. and please, spread the love!! Here is the restaurant link: https://www.darudc.com/ This is what they say: * A cancellation fee will not be charged if you cancel before Thu, Mar. 5 at 6:00pm. If you cancel after that, you agree to be charged a fee of $25.00 + tax per guest on the reservation. Any waiver of the fee is at the sole discretion of the restaurant. ## About Daru is a restaurant concept influenced and inspired by the cuisine, culture, and history of India. We specialize in classic and Indian-ish food and cocktails. Enjoy our year round heated and enclosed patio dining. Awards & Accolades: Food & Wine Magazine - #8 Best Restaurant in the US, 2024 Michelin Guide - Bib Gourmand 2022, 2023 Bon Appetit Magazine - Top 50 Best New Restaurants in America, 2022 New York Times - America's Best Restaurants, 2022 Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington - Best New Restaurant, 2022 Washingtonian Magazine - #11, Very Best Restaurants in Washington, 2023 Washington Post 2024 Fall Dining Guide Top 40 Restaurant

Get ready for one of the most fun and legendary nights - **BINGO NIGHT is HERE**! We’re talking: Big energy. Big laughs . Big wins. And an even bigger Social Sips & Bites crew bringing the hype! Whether you’re the quiet strategist or the one who screams “BINGO!!!” before the last number even lands, this night is for YOU. We’ll play multiple rounds, cheer each other on, enjoy drinks, snacks, and nonstop fun. This is the perfect chance to meet new people, hang with friends, and make some epic memories. Bring your energy. Bring your luck. Bring your hype.

Venez apprécier l'ambiance chaleureuse d'une conversation en français autour d'un verre de vin et d'apéritifs. C'est ouvert à tous quelque soit votre niveau, que vous soyez intermédiaire/avancé ou bien que le Français soit votre langue maternelle. ***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU WILL BE ALL SET TO FLEX YOUR LANGUAGE CAPACITY. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD :) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.*** We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. It is irresistible, to enjoy French convo with a glass of wine, appetizers and drinks. The Event is open to all levels of French language, from intermediate to native fluency. This is mainly a social for Intermediate/Advanced/Native Speakers. It is not as such to learn a language. Beginners, if you want to learn a language, reach out to us ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)). We have a school and will arrange you a class. ***AFTER THE HAPPY HOUR, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!***

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 a Puerto Rican Party at **Qui Qui DC** ! Look in their FAQ's and you'll see: "Do you have mofongo y mayoketchup\*? " Response is.......YESSS! \*A quintessential Puerto Rican "pink sauce" combining ketchup and mayonnaise, frequently seasoned with extra garlic, lime juice, or spices like adobo. It is used on fried foods, rice, and, famously, as a pairing for mofongo. **Washington Post** Did I mention the food is fantastic? Mendez, 50, serves Caribbean comfort food with a flair befitting his fine-dining chops; the New Jersey native, with a Mexican mother and Puerto Rican father, studied at L'Academie de Cuisine before cooking at coastal Italian hot spot Masseria, working at the locavore kitchen A Rake’s Progress inside the Line hotel and helping open South American-themed Mercy Me in the West End. The sazón[ ](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/sazon-and-struggle-in-puerto-rico-and-cuba-food-is-a-marker-of-resilience-and-creativity/2018/06/29/b8d63b56-7af7-11e8-93cc-6d3beccdd7a3_story.html)is strong with this one: Mendez’s kitchen exhibits a powerful (but never overbearing) hand with salt, fat and acid. Progressing from passion fruit margaritas to fried bites of blood sausage to a flan draped in burnt caramel guava sauce, every section of the frequently changing menu deserves a taste. You’ll want to make room for it all. Exhibit A: the chuleta kan kan, a two-pound pork chop-chicharrón hybrid claimed to have been invented in the late 1950s by La Guardarraya, a criollo restaurant in southwest Puerto Rico. This beautiful beast includes three sections of pig: A skin-on, bone-in loin chop remains attached to the rib and pork belly. Much of the white pork fat that often gets trimmed away is scored into square blocks, giving the specialty its distinctive “mohawk.” Mendez’s team marinates the hunks of meat for three days, then deep-fries them to order and serves them on a curvy white platter with smashed, fried plantains and a small metal caldera of white rice and pink beans. If you’re sitting at a narrow high-top for two, you’ll need a bigger table. Sourced from a small farm in Virginia, the generous portion of pork is a study in contrasts. The skin on the edge of the chop’s haircut resists your molars with an audible crunch, but there’s plenty of give in the loin, and cubes of belly practically melt in your mouth. Counteracting all that fat is an aji criollo, a thick green sauce of garlic, peppers and herbs that thrums with lime juice and vinegar. Coupled with pickled red onions and scattered cilantro leaves, the aji lifts your palate up. In search of another puckering presence to stand up to fried pork? Go for the Parchita cocktail, a blend of tequila, lime juice and passion fruit liqueur with a tangy Tajin rim. The Mexican-Borinquen theme repeats in a passion fruit tres leches cake that turns cuatro with the addition of coconut milk. While the restaurant’s name is an onomatopoeic reference to pigs — Qui Qui was also a shared nickname between Mendez and a late cousin — the chef knows his cosmopolitan audience hungers for meat-free dishes. I’m shocked to learn his soulful stewed beans are vegan. You can thank the foundation of most dishes here **—** a sofrito built on garlic, cilantro, culantro and aji dulce peppers grown by Moon Valley Farm in Woodsboro, Md. There’s no Goya sofrito here; the kitchen prepares around 32 quarts of the fresh stuff a week. If you feel like tapping your watch while waiting for the next course to come out, keep that type of effort in mind. More good news for vegetarians: Qui Qui offers the expected roast pork pernil, but also a jackfruit version. The mofongo, a molded mash of pounded plantains, also starts out plant-based, so you can order it plain if you prefer. Pescatarians should opt for the shrimp version. Shellfish propped up on the plantain mash are surrounded by herbs and a heady broth dotted with green oil. The essence of shrimp is further concentrated in an asopao, traditionally a soup but here more of a brothy rice. **Check out the menu** [here ](https://www.quiquidc.com/menu) 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 March, we hope you'll stay interested and join us for a meal in the future. Looking forward to catching up with you for a delightful dinner at Qui Qui DC!

Cozy Wine Therapy events are back. This is my kind of therapy session. In the comfort of my living room (or a volunteer), we will unwind and share our personal highlights and lowlights since we last met, and with the help of friends (and wine) we will "release" any negativity we may be holding onto as well. We will be here to listen and share advice if that is what's needed. Sometimes just having someone to listen is all we need to feel better. Be prepared to share! No couch surfers allowed. :-) My living room is a safe non-judgmental space. What is shared will not be discussed beyond my living room unless you decide to share. Feel free to bring a bottle of wine to supplement the stock, or a light snack, if you wish. NOTE: My apartment is NOT good for those with cat allergies. I am conveniently located a mile from Huntington Metro Station off of Huntington Ave. with plenty free parking. To be invited into my home, I will have had to meet you at an event prior. Makes sense, right? I will message the group my address a few days before. Make sure your notifications are ON.

Come hang with us at The Board Room Game Bar & Brewery! Get ready for a day full of fun, food, and great drinks. Play your way through a huge library of board games, sip on award-winning craft brews, enjoy tasty bites, or unwind with cocktails and wine. Whether you’re up for trivia, a little friendly competition, or just relaxing with friends, The Board Room has something for everyone.

**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)** **RSVP CUTOFF (i.e. Final Change Your Mind if Registered YES)** → **RSVP Cancellation Cutoff for this Event is Saturday 10a, 3/7**. (Late Cancel applies after this, repeat occurrences can impact membership) *** Let's revisit one of my favorite places for Spanish Tapas / small plates. We’re headed to **Boqueria Penn Quarter** in **DC** (Penn Quarter / Chinatown) **FOOD**: Boqueria serves Spanish tapas style food meant for sharing. Menu favorites in late 2025 and early 2026 include pan con tomate, patatas bravas, jamon serrano and cheese boards, Albondigas meatballs, blistered Pimientos de Padrón, and croquetas including jamón and mushroom varieties. The seafood paella and grilled octopus are dishes that many guests highlight. Dessert churros are a popular way to finish the meal. Guests also praise the red sangria and cocktails. Most members spend between 40 and 70 dollars for dinner and drinks. → **Explore Boqueria Penn Quarter's menu: [https://boqueriarestaurant.com/location/dc/penn-quarter/?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=gmb#tabs_desc_14193_2](https://boqueriarestaurant.com/location/dc/penn-quarter/?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=gmb#tabs_desc_14193_2)**. **SPACE**: Modern, energetic dining room with bar seating and closely set tables. Expect a lively Saturday crowd and moderate noise. → Visit the restaurant site: [https://boqueriarestaurant.com/location/dc/penn-quarter](https://boqueriarestaurant.com/location/dc/penn-quarter/?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=gmb) +++++++++ ==> 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**: * **Gallery Place  / Chinatown** (Red Line, Green, Yellow) is the closest major stop. Exit onto 7th St NW, walk west toward 9th St NW, turn right on 9th St. The walk is about **6–8 minutes**. **Metro Center** (Red, Silver, Orange, Blue) is similarly close. Exit onto 12th St NW, walk south to F St NW, turn left to 9th St NW. Same **6–8 minutes**. * 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**: **Colonial Parking** is the closest and has a discount: [https://www.ecolonial.com/locations/boqueria-parking/](https://www.ecolonial.com/locations/boqueria-parking/) (ensure to use discount code BoqPark). There's not a lack of garages within a few blocks however. Street parking can be limited, especially on weekend evening. *** ***Attendance Notes:*** * **If you RSVP “YES,” please commit to showing up**. With 5,800+ members and limited seating, we can’t afford no-shows. It’s not fair to other members or to our relationship with the restaurant. * **No-Show / Late Cancel rules apply** (see links below). * **Can’t 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 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. * **New Members / 1st Timers**: [Visit our FAQs](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C0GeZMWGwc1akHj63aViQ_5n1YpBqPt_/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=107783167750249492259&rtpof=true&sd=true) and [No-Show Policy](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BU0ZjQNdMwTjIkZVGlOlw8rTIia5xWhE/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=107783167750249492259&rtpof=true&sd=true) if you're unfamiliar with how we run things. Looking forward to dining with you! – JoeN

New (old) location - La Madeleine at 500 King St! Hope to see you there

For the month of March, we will visit a new winery to me...Three Creeks Winery. Weather permitting, we will be sitting outside, but we will play that by ear. Please bring your own fold-up chair in case there is not a space large enough for our group. We will make one! Their website mentions shade trees, but I do not know if they will be available. Outside food IS allowed, but they also sell charcuterie boxes, cheeses, meats, bread sticks, crackers, chips, popcorn, and chocolate. I hope to see you there! [WEBSITE](https://www.3creekswinery.com/)

They have a 4.7 rating and food trucks (until 5:30 pm), and they make Pizza there every Saturday. The music is Folk Pop, and we can watch the sun set as we drink wonderful wine. * Wine is currently available **by the bottle, glass, 3-wine flight, and guided 5-wine tasting. A guided 5-wine tasting costs $22 per person, and it is a seated experience in our tasting room. We do not take reservations.** * **[Rotating food vendors](https://www.rocklandsfarmmd.com/events/calendar)** on-site year-round every Saturday 12-5:30pm, and Sunday 12-5:30pm. Local snacks and charcuterie also available in our tasting room. It's not too far to drive home on the back roads so take it slow going home or get a designated driver (carpool) or take Uber. Drink responsibly (whatever that means! LOL). Buy your own ticket. # House Show (TBD) - Eli Lev Saturday, April 18, 2026·6:00 – 9:00pm [Rocklands Farm Winery, 14531 Montevideo Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837, USA](https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Rocklands%20Farm%20Winery%2C%2014531%20Montevideo%20Rd%2C%20Poolesville%2C%20MD%2020837%2C%20USA&source=calendar) *notes* Coming Soon! - Join us Saturday (time TBD) in the Stone House. Our "House Show Series" is a ticketed show for guests to have a beautiful, unique experience, up close and personal with Eli. Come early to get a good seat, delicous wine, and great food from the food truck. With one foot in the traditions of conscious folk music and another foot in modern pop production, Eli stands firmly on his own ground. His earnest, enlightened, and invigorating folk-pop has garnered favorable comparisons to Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran, Noah Kahan, Jack Johnson, and John Denver. Website: [https://eli-lev.com/](https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Feli-lev.com%2F&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1765900440000000&usg=AOvVaw07hEzzy4b4VbVoj77ReKIm) Listen: [https://eli-lev.com/music/](https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Feli-lev.com%2Fmusic%2F&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1765900440000000&usg=AOvVaw367d2zzFQt-DPXQkTVmEXP) Youtube: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=7Fdjk7bre68&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Feli-lev.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Feli-lev.com&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=7Fdjk7bre68&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Feli-lev.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Feli-lev.com&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY) All aboard mates!

Let's celebrate this beautiful spring day at the lovely Stone Tower Winery. Assuming the weather is nice, we will be sitting outside. Since this is such a large winery, no reservations were made. Please do not be late if you want to sit with the group. NO outside food or drinks allowed. Here is their [MENU](https://www.stonetowerwinery.com/menu). Hope to see you there!

We invite you to an engaging evening of wine, cheese and lively conversation around Cory Doctorow's ***Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What To Do About It,*** a book which explains the process of the “enshittification” of digital platforms over time and what to do about it. **From Goodreads:** Cory Doctorow's *Enshittification* takes a witty yet incisive look at the tech landscape, where platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Google start off great—before they inevitably turn terrible. In this contemporary moment of digital decline, Doctorow explores how tech giants lure users in with convenience and then degrade their services over time, squeezing profit at the cost of user experience. With a mix of sharp humor and deep insight, he unveils the slow creep of "enshittification," turning the online world into a worse place, one algorithm at a time. As always, please feel free to join even if you have not finished the book - no stress :-) All attendees are asked to please bring one of the following: 1. A bottle of wine 2. Cheese and Crackers 3. An alternate beverage or nosh of your choice Host will provide glasses, wine opener, plates & napkins. To enhance the opportunity for great conversation, we would like to keep the group small. Please feel free to sign-up to meet us along with up to 2 friends. 📚 Exciting Updates for 2026 Book Club! 📚 Starting in January 2026, we’ll be implementing a new system for book recommendations that will make our reading selections even more collaborative and engaging! **Book Recommendations:** From January through October, members can submit book recommendations at each meeting, via email, text or Meetup DM. All suggestions will be added to a shared Google Sheet, which will include links to Goodreads and other pertinent information for each book. [LINK to 2027 BOOK LIST](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18AC_FH9bGGxyH6v7Rw36EvPtKtVl5e_N/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102804280893316002961&rtpof=true&sd=true) **Voting for 2027 Reads:** Our voting for next year’s book selections will take place during the November 2026 meeting. Members in attendance will have the opportunity to cast 12 votes for their favorite picks. If you’re unable to attend the November meeting, you can still participate! Simply submit 6 votes via email, text, or DM through Meetup before the start of the November meeting. **Announcement of Selections:** The chosen books for 2027 will be revealed at the end of the November meeting. We’re excited about this new process and can’t wait to see the amazing book recommendations you all have! 📖✨ PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO ATTEND WHEN YOU RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. 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 us. In the event you do not communicate and are a no-show, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding. If you are unable to join us in April, we hope you'll remain interested and join us for an evening in the future. Looking forward to wine & cheese with you soon - happy reading!

Join your DTs friends for a relaxed spring afternoon of board games, wine, and great company at one of Loudoun’s favorite wineries. We’ll gather indoors and outdoors, depending on the weather. We’ll have a fire pit set up, along with s’mores and light snacks, so come ready to play, sip, and enjoy some cozy vineyard vibes. Bring your favorite board game to share — or just come ready to join in! ### Wine & Tastings Guests may purchase wine by the glass or bottle throughout the afternoon. For those interested, optional wine tastings are available for $20 per person (six wines, seated and guided). ### Food Fabbioli offers gourmet small plates, cheese and charcuterie, fresh-baked baguettes, chocolates, and other light fare available for purchase. Outside food is welcome on the grounds, so feel free to bring snacks or a picnic to share. (No large coolers or aromatic foods, please.) This is a casual, drop-in style gathering — come when you can, stay as long as you like, and enjoy a laid-back afternoon around the fire with your tribe. Winery website: [https://www.fabbioliwines.com/](https://www.fabbioliwines.com/)

Whether you’re new to modern games, or a seasoned gamer, our new Boards & Barrels game night is the place to play. We’re pairing the best wines with new and classic games for an evening of analog fun and community. Choose from our growing game library or bring a favorite. *Unplug. Uncork. Unbox.* **Every Wednesday 6 pm - 9 pm**