FOOD & WINE

THE WILMINGTON

BY JODY KURASH

To many in the USA, Delaware is a small parcel tucked in somewhere on the Eastern seaboard. The nation’s second-smallest state by area is often overshadowed by nearby states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia — or lumped in with its peninsular neighbor Maryland. Its largest city, Wilmington, the capital of U.S. credit card banking, was mostly known for being the address where we mailed our MasterCard and Visa bills in the days before online bill pay.

Unknown to many, the Small Wonder state is a truly hidden gem. However, with the ascension of longtime senator and former Vice President Joe Biden to U.S. president, Delaware is piquing the curiosity of people from around the nation.

Nicknamed the First State — because it was the first of the 13 original states to ratify the Constitution — Delaware is set for a new dawn. And Wilmington, a short hop from D.C., is being promoted as HOTUS (Hometown of the United States).

So what’s to know about the Diamond State? According to Delaware’s official government website, its motto is,” Liberty and Independence,” its official colors are colonial blue and buff, the state bug is the ladybug and the state beverage is milk. Milk? What about a state cocktail?

While there isn’t an official state cocktail, Biden’s resident city of Wilmington got its own signature cocktail in January, thanks to a competition sponsored by Aviation American Gin and promotional campaign “It’s Time, Wilmington!”

Simply called “The Wilmington,” this concoction is forged from Aviation gin, a tasteful spirit with elements of cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper and two kinds of orange peel. The gin is enhanced with the addition of peach-infused simple syrup, lemon juice and cinnamon. It was created by Kate Gantner and Fazal Vandal, both University of Delaware alumni.

The winning tipple gives a nod to Delaware’s history as home to the nation’s first commercial peach farm, as well as to the peach blossom, the official state flower. It beat out more than 25 submissions, many of which also showcased ingredients with a Delaware connection, for example: strawberries (the official state fruit), Delaware-produced Halo spiced honey liqueur, Wilmington-harvested honey and Wawa lemonade.

The results were announced during a virtual event from Le Cavalier at the venerable Hotel du Pont. The dedication was made by Delaware State Sen. Sarah McBride, the highest-ranking transgender official in United States.

“The flavor profile of The Wilmington is sweet, subtle and a testament to our city and state,” according to Lauren Van Hise of #WilmToday. “The ingredients of peach simple syrup, lemon juice, Aviation gin and cinnamon blend together and collaborate like our city does — each unique and distinct on their own, but more powerful and bigger together. It showcases our city’s creativity and resilience, all in that first sip. It goes down easy and, trust me, you’ll want another.”

Since President Biden is a teetotaler, he won’t be imbibing his hometown cocktail in the White House. However, if you’d like a taste, it’s available at several Wilmington spots, including Le Cavalier, Bardea, Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen and Chelsea Tavern. With many folks in the District still celebrating 46’s victory, hopefully this delectable beverage will fly south soon. In the meantime, with only four ingredients, it’s easily made at home.

THE WILMINGTON

1.5 oz. Aviation gin 0.75 oz. peach-infused simple syrup (you can order this premade) 1 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice Ground cinnamon garnish Combine gin, syrup and lemon juice in a shaker tin. Shake. Strain into a martini glass and serve up, no ice. Garnish with ground cinnamon.

LATEST DISH

BY LINDA ROTH

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware — considered the “Summer White House” since Joe Biden’s election — now has another direct line to D.C.: Federal Fritter. Owners Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff are better known for the couple’s Equinox restaurant, a block from the (Pennsylvania Avenue) White House. This new fastcasual concept will open later in the first quarter at 62A Rehoboth Avenue, on the first block off the boardwalk, where Nuevo Taco used to be.

Washingtonians still love to play and eat. New York-based Five Iron Golf is slated to open a D.C. location — its eighth nationwide — early in the second quarter at Terrell Place, 575 7th St. NW, in Penn Quarter. Although the Full Swing simulator (yes, you can play Pebble Beach) reigns supreme at this 12,000-squarefoot facility, it will also offer Ping-Pong, pool and shuffleboard, as well as a fullservice food and bar program complete

with event space. Leagues will open for signup shortly.

More play and eat: New York-based Bowlero plans to open its fifth location in the D.C. metro area in Virginia’s Tysons Galleria, where Macy’s used to be, occupying nearly 40,000 square feet. With more than 300 locations in North America, Bowlero features bowling lanes, arcade games and a sports bar.

In the second quarter, Matt Baker of Gravitas plans to open a second location of Baker’s Daughter in Penn Quarter, offering to-go pastries, sandwiches, soups and salads — and coffee, of course. Expect more sweet, single-serving baked goods from pastry chef Aisha Momaney.

Fast-casual concept Fava Pot will open in Dupont Circle at 1817 M St. NW, where Oki Bowl used to be, early in the second quarter, serving kofta sandwiches, kebab bowls, falafel and its signature koshary. Owner Dina Daniel’s Egyptian restaurant group, which launched as a food truck, now includes a full-service restaurant in Falls Church, Virginia, and a Union Market stall.

Just Opened: Chefs Tom Cunanan and Paolo Dungca, formerly of Bad Saint, reunited to open Pogiboy, serving Filipino American fast food in the Block DC food hall at 1101 Vermont Ave. NW. Pogi translates to “handsome” in Tagalog.

Rick Allison and Jorge Esguerra will open a King Street Oyster Bar this month at Park Potomac in Maryland, where Addie’s used to be. This is the fourth location; others are in Northeast D.C. and in Leesburg and Middleburg, Virginia. The 300-seat restaurant (including abundant outdoor seating) will serve fresh oysters from both coasts.

Chef Sammy Davis and his partners in soul-food brunch chain Milk & Honey will open three more businesses around suburban Maryland. Milk & Cheese will open at 18050 Georgia Ave. NW, where Thai Cuisine used to be, early in the second quarter. Catch 22, a seafood market and restaurant, is also slated to open early in the second quarter at 7623 S. Osborne Road in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where Pizza Hut used to be. It will showcase Gullah Geechee food, a South Carolina cuisine rooted in West African cooking.

Milk & Honey Market & Pancake

Factory, part of a new Restaurant Row near the Branch Avenue Metro station, is set to open in the third quarter in Camp Springs.

Fava Pot serves authentic Egyptian cuisine. Pogiboy Sandwiches.

Linda Roth (@lindarothpr) is the founder and CEO of Linda Roth Associates, a D.C.based public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the food service and hospitality industries. Visit her on the web at lindarothpr.com.