Capital Cooking's Lauren, with her Pumpkin Pie Shooter (photo: Emily Clack)

The exclusive meet-and-greet provided Capitol Dish guests a chance to sample the winning cocktails from this year’s contest, including Lauren’s Pumpkin Pie Shooter. Inspired by Lauren’s Pumpkin Pie Martini, this festive creation makes for a fabulous start to any holiday celebration or friendly gathering. Cheers!

Spirit of the Festival's pre-event mixer, sponsored by the Capitol Dish (photo: Emily Clack)

Try it at home with Lauren’s recipe:

2 parts 360 Vodka (vanilla or original)
1 part pumpkin pie simple syrup (recipe below)
1/2 part cream
Garnish:  graham cracker crumbs, whipped cream and dash of cinnamon

Pour the first 3 ingredients into a shaker full of ice.  Strain into shot glasses.  Top with garnishes.  One, two, three, shoot.  Yum!

Pumpkin Pie Simple Syrup

2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 cinnamon stick
Dash nutmeg
1 teaspoon whole cloves

Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to  a simmer over medium heat.  Stir until sugar dissolves and then remove from  heat.  Add other ingredients and cool.  Store in a clear glass bottle or jar with a tight  fitting lid in the refrigerator.  Stir and strain before serving.

All photos :: Emily Clack Photography

Above, images from our pre-festival tour.

Photos: Emily Clack Photography

We recently stopped by each of our festival restaurants to see what the chef and mixologist teams were cooking up. The results? Pure deliciousness!

A sneak peek at the slide show yields a tempting preview of the creative cocktails, spirit-infused dishes and culinary delights you’ll experience at this year’s Spirit of the Festival. Tickets >

Do you have a signature cocktail? Do your mixing skills dazzle to the delight of your guests?

Submit your most clever cocktail recipe for the chance to see it featured during the Spirit Of The Festival mixer, a special one-hour, pre-event tasting! Contest rules >

Do you make a magnificent margarita?

Are your tonics to-die-for?

Specialty cocktails, especially during the holiday season, contribute to the success of any festive party so we’re in search of a fresh twist on classic cocktails to feature at this year’s Spirit of the Festival. Show us your signature flair!

DIRECTIONS: Email us {wineandfoodeventsdc@gmail.com} your recipe along with a picture of your cocktail by November 21st for consideration. Please copy and paste the following into the body of your email and attach a jpeg image of your cocktail. Entries that do not follow this format will not be considered.

Spirit of the Festival cocktail contest entry:

Cocktail Name:

Contestant Name:

Contestant Phone Number:

Contestant Email:

Cocktail Ingredients:

Cocktail Preparation Method & Instructions:

Special Notes:

Number of Servings:

*By submitting this recipe, please note you are agreeing to all contest rules.

———————————————————————————————————–

Contest rules:

1. ENTRY This cocktail recipe contest promotion is intended for viewing in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia only by residents 21 years of age or older. No purchase of festival tickets necessary to enter or win. Contest begins November 8, 2010 and ends November 29, 2010 (“Contest Period”). Entries must be received via email by 11:59 p.m., EST., on November 29, 20010.

Any type of cocktail recipe may be submitted, but the recipe must be original, unpublished and may not have previously won any award or prize. Multiple recipes may be entered so long as each one is entirely unique and complies with all other terms hereof. By entering the Contest, entrants agree to assign their intellectual property rights to Spirit Of The Festival organizers and permit us to use the entries in any media, including the Internet, for commercial, promotional or any other purpose whatsoever. Entrants who do not agree to this use should not enter this Contest. All winning recipe will be posted on http://spiritfestival.wordpress.com for viewing.

2. ELIGIBILITY: Legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, (excluding Puerto Rico), 21 years of age or older at time of entry are eligible to enter, except employees of Sponsor, and any other organizations affiliated with the sponsorship, fulfillment, administration, prize support, advertisement or promotion and/or their respective agents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and members of their immediate families or persons residing at the same address.

3. WINNER SELECTION: On or about November 22, 2010, all eligible entries will be read in a first round of judging by a professional mixologist and judged equally on each recipe’s creativity.

Three first prize winners will be determined. Festival organizers reserve the right to select fewer than three winners if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified entries. Decisions of judges are final and binding in all respects. Potential winners will be notified by e-mail and invited to the festival’s pre-event mixer.

All questions regarding this contest can be directed to dcwineandfoodevents@gmail.com.

Thank you and good luck!

On November 30th, we invite you to explore the versatility of five distinctive spirits interpreted by five chef-mixologist teams. Each union of spirit-infused food and cocktail pairings will be available to taste during the festival.

More >

Highlights include:

Cocktail Recipe Contest: Three finalists’ drink recipes will be chosen by our panel of judges to be featured during a pre-event mixer. Contest rules, deadlines and submission guidelines >

Pre-event Mixer: A limited number of tickets will be available for a pre-event mixer for guests to enjoy the cocktail contest finalists’ winning libations plus the chance to learn how to mix the perfect cocktail. This hands-on learning experience will arm guests with a set of mixing skills just in time for the holiday entertaining season.

Festival Pairings: Take a taste and a unique inside look at five chef-mixologist teams and the brilliant dishes and libations they craft together. The five spirit-infused dishes and cocktail pairings are surrounded by an electronic photography documentary of the pairing experience.

Details:

When : November 30th :: pre-event mixer starts at 6 pm; festival kicks off at 7 pm and concludes at 9pm

Where : Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center

The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is located on historic Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of Washington, DC, within walking distance of the White House, the Capitol, Smithsonian Museums, many of Washington, DC’s finest hotels and other prominent businesses, historical sites and cultural organizations.

The International Trade Center is easily accessible from three major international airports – Reagan Washington National, Dulles and BWI. The Federal Triangle metro stop (orange/blue lines) is located on site, and the Metro Center metro stop (red line) is just two blocks away. For drivers, an underground garage provides parking for 2,000 cars. More info >

Tickets :

{$55 General Admission to main event}

{Pre-event mixer + main event exclusive to Capital Dish subscribers. Details soon.}

Spirit of the Festival is proudly presented by the International Wine & Food Festival

works of art : inspired cocktail garnishes

As part of the International Wine & Food Festival’s event calendar, “Spirit of the Festival” arrives this Fall with a series of intimate portraits of exuberant pairings. More >

As part of the International Wine & Food Festival’s event calendar, “Spirit of the Festival” arrives this Fall with a series of intimate portraits of exuberant pairings.

Specifically, the spirited union of chefs and mixologists whose passion for what they do has transformed the culture of the Washington DC fine dining scene.

We cordially invite you to be a part of this unique inside look at five chef-mixologist teams and the brilliant dishes and libations they craft together culminating in the premier “Spirit of the Festival” event on Tuesday November 30^th from 7:00 – 9:00pm in the Atrium Ballroom of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Five top chef and mixology teams will participate, including Peter Smith and Gina Cherservani of PS 7’s, Olivier Perret and Vincent Gernigon of Ici Urban Bistro at the Sofitel Hotel, Al Nappo and Jon Arroyo of Founding Farmers, Thomas Wellings and Simo Ahmadi of Equinox Restaurant and Xavier DeShayes and Dennis Burns of Aria at the International Trade Center.

Each team will provide a food and cocktail pairing for guests to sample. A select panel of judges will be on hand to assess the five submissions and award a prize to the winning team. Featured fine liquors that the chefs and mixologists will be utilizing in their dishes and cocktails include: Remy V.O. Cognac, Herradura Blanco Tequila, Woodford Reserve, Patron XO Cafe and Hendrick’s Gin.

Ellen Gray, co-owner of Equinox Restaurant, is helping to organize Spirit of the Festival in conjunction with the Washington D.C. International Wine & Food Festival, taking place at the Ronald Reagan Building February 10-13, 2011. Gray notes, “Our mission is to continue to enhance the way the DC dining public sees bartenders and chefs through an unforgettable food and spirit tasting experience.”

About the Washington D.C. International Wine & Food Festival
The Washington D. C. International Wine & Food Festival is the most popular event of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic. More than just a tasting, the Festival is a celebration of wine, cuisine and culture that shines a light on D.C. as a prominent and world-class dining and travel destination.

About The Charmer Sunbelt Group
The Charmer Sunbelt Group (CSG) is one of the nation’s leading distributors of fine wines, spirits, beer and other beverages.  A group of privately held companies, CSG operates local distributor and/or brokerage houses in 15 markets – Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York (Metro and Upstate), Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and The District of Columbia.  Together, these companies employ more than 7,000 associates who bring to market some of the most important and well-known consumer brands in the world.  CSG is a family-owned business that proudly serves as the critical link between wine and spirit suppliers, and the retail outlets where alcoholic beverage brands are legally and responsibly sold and enjoyed.

The International Wine and Food Festival, The Charmer Sunbelt Group and Washington Wholesale are commitment to the legal and responsible sale and consumption of beverage alcohol. Alcohol Awareness and education in our neighborhoods and communities is a daily commitment. Our message is clear; Parents, talk to your children about staying safe, talk about alcohol and the consequences of making risky choices. Urge your underage children not to drink alcohol or ride with anyone who has. Their tomorrow depends on the choices they make today. The Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration of the District of Columbia, our Neighbors, Suppliers, Customers and Community Leaders urge you to support ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for over service, drunk driving and underage drinking.