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Eat Local First DC Kicks Off With Style

The third annual Eat Local First Week 2013 is under way, having officially kicked off at the Wooly Mammoth Theatre on Monday with a tasting party of local ingredients highlighted in both scrumptious sips and small bites.

“Food is a language we all speak,” said Stacey Price, executive director of Think Local First DC, the non-profit that works with independent businesses, consumers and policymakers in an effort to grow a sustainable local economy.

The conversation kept going all night, thanks to several restaurants that source locally and supplied the tasty morsels for the event.

The presentation and taste of Cedar’s Garner’s Produce farm heirloom tomatoes three ways was inspired. Chef Aaron McCloud featured the curd tart with a marinated smoked gel that gave a faux grilled flavor, topped with Cedar-made feta and rooftop herb salad. Yes, they’re growing greens on their roof.

The District’s own DC Brau Brewery was on hand with samples of its Penn Quarter Porter and a cask of its Citizen Pale Ale. The Citizen was a small batch special creation just for Eat Local First, containing lavender grown on Euclid Street Northwest.

Meat lovers had plenty to occupy them. The Pig’s pork trotter salsa with roasted corn in a lime aioli topped with a crispy chicharrone and scallions showcased the establishment’s use of and respect for the whole animal.

Green Hat Gin was also on hand with fruit inspired cocktails. The Ibisco, an artisanal hibiscus liqueur by Don Ciccio & Figli, gave off a nice flowery flavor when mixed with Green Hat’s gin & cranberry.

Aguas frescas with watermelon from Warsaw, Va., blended with raspberries courtesy of Oyamel, was akin to sticking a straw in a watermelon without the mess.

And it was only the beginning; with Eat Local First week stretching into the weekend, you won’t be hungry or thirsty any time soon.

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