Elite Event: Jaleo Jalloween Party

This was a great event! I’m not really big on dressing up, but I tried (don’t think anyone knew I was dressed up though)!I loved the pumpkin cocktail, the paella, and of course, Mike’s costume. In the beginning of the event a lot of people seemed to be wondering where all the food was. I saw a few dishes floating around, but was only able to try two of them. However, if I knew there was paella coming out, I wouldn’t have really put much effort in to tracking down the other samples. I had previously been to a paella cooking class at Jaleo Bethesda, but I always prefer to eat without having to cook, so yay for being able to enjoy paella I wasn’t required to cook myself :)
Also, this event couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m already on the Jaleo e-​mail list, and got an e-​mail a few weeks ago about an Instagram contest they were having, where you had to post a photo of the new Jaleo Bethesda on Instagram with the hashtag #holaJaleo to get invited to their Grand (Re)Opening Party. I took a photo for this promotion while at the event, so now I get to return to Jaleo Bethesda next week. YES!

This was my first official Unilocal elite event since moving to the DC area. Costumes galore, planning an event around Halloween is always fun and a great way to meet new people. The main dish, the paella, was an impressive feat and I was glad there was enough for seconds. It was different from normal paella and rather tasted Asian-​inspired with mushroom flavoring and chicken rather than seafood. Still, no complaints as I thought the dish was delicious. The flan for dessert was also yummy and that’s coming from a person who normally doesn’t like flan.
Unfortunately, Jaleo seemed a bit unprepared for the number of attendees, leaving us all cramped for space and scrambling to sample the small appetizers that came out 6 – 10 at a time. I literally felt like I had to fight to get ahold of some food and the appetizers, while unique, were a little strange. I guess I’m not used to goat cheese spewing from a mini cone or to liquid olives that tasted like a shot of olive oil.
Those factors aside, I had a great time meeting everyone and Mike did a great job keeping the event fun and social. Next year, I’m definitely going to have to invest more in a Halloween costume to participate in the contest and win some awesome power ranger socks as prizes. In the meantime, thanks for the great event and I can’t wait to see what’s next on the calendar!

What a fun way to start my East Coast Elite-​ing! Since I’m new to the area, I was excited to get to explore a great spot to dine/​drink. And Jaleo did not disappoint! I’m so glad there was a monstrous size paella for all of us to enjoy, because although the appetizers I was able to try we’re tasty, it was hard to actually get your hands on one! Hats off to the bar staff– both the apple and white rum drink as well as the pumpkin bourbon were a great fall choice to help keep warm and toasty. Looking forward to revisiting the restaurant as an actual patron!

While I had fun at this event, there were some issues that draw me away from returning Jaleo. Namely, a way too small space, lack of bar and service staff, and limited samples. The drinks I had were weak and not tasty. The limited food was good (paella, flan, and a goat cheese cone), and while I wasn’t looking for dinner, a few more samples would have been appreciated. Costumes were great, especially Mike’s. Again, fun event, but probably not returning to Jaleo.

Thank you for inviting us to this great event! It was a great way to spend a Monday night! I have passed by this restaurant many times and never gone in, but that will change! Everyone was super friendly. The food tastings were very generous and the flan was AMAZING! Thank you :)

Classy event starring the awesome Mike B. who looked amazing in his Cher costume. I really enjoyed the trivia games at the event and the pumpkin drink was amazing. Really delicious apps going around – my favorite was the Flamenquines. To top it all off, the staff at Jaleo brought out this huge platter of paella that could be big enough to be my bed. Toward the end, they closed with a delicious flan. Very light and not too sugary. I liked it and thought it was a great closer, but I love my eggy flans more.

Yay costumes! Yay Jaleo! I love Halloween events. As usual, Mike B. put together a great event.
But a boo to it seeming like Jaleo wasn’t prepared for the Unilocal crowd? It wasn’t exactly the greatest experience in terms of the very small space, the food samples being snatched up way fast, and the really long drink line. I only got to try two items. So yeah, it seemed like an overwhelming crowd for what was actually planned.
Now, all that said, I still had a good time and still got to sample two tasty dishes and two delicious cocktails. And that’s pretty cool.
And big props for the celebrity chef and zombie games. I love it when Unilocal events incorporate fun things like that.

Jaleo Jalloween Party seemed more like a social than a party; a little Halloween music is always fun.
But there were lots of people, cool costumes, fun games, and new acquaintances!
The cocktails were delish– the apple martini was tasty and I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed the pumpkin selection.
I will have to remember to come back to Jaleo to enjoy the paella on another occasion. And the flan, was so creamy and not too eggy like most I’ve had. Jaleo nailed it with the drink selections and the main course and dessert.
Although I did not win any contests, the manager was kind enough to go around and give out vouchers for a free appetizer, which I thought was a very nice giveaway!
Mike B. Thank you for planning this. I had a great time!

Halloween came a wee bit early in the MD ‘Burbs last night. Yay for Jaleo welcoming us into their parlor (said the spider to the fly). The space was a wee bit cramped, but excellent company made it worth vying for elbow room, especially initially in the drink line. Those pumpkin drinks (also a wee bit small) were delish. The barkeep painstakingly made each tiny one with love. I didn’t try any other libation.
I had a few samples and all were tasty. Thanks once again, Jaleo! Sorry I didn’t get to try your paella, but I got one bite of flan (Thanks, Lisa)! And I will be back for happy hour next month (Thanks for the free tapa card).
Loved the company. Everyone was in such great [Halloween] spirits for a Monday night! It was nice to finally see Deborah N. at an Elite event! Plus the usually Unilocaly Unilocalers in their Halloween spirit.
Mike B., you got it Babe!

Thanks to Unilocal for giving us the opportunity to try one of Jose Andreas restaurant. Food was plentiful and we tried a variety of samples including the Spanish Omelette, Flan, olives, and the gigantic Paella that was big enough to feed 80+ people. Imagine that.
Highlight of the night goes to Mike B who served as Unilocal’s resident jukebox singing to the tunes of Cher (not quite the pitch and voice but A+ for the creativity and effort for singing at least 10+ Cher songs haha). Just look at the pic and use your imagination.. You’ll get what I mean.
Overall, it was a great event, a great turnout, and a lot of creative costumes. Great job to Jaleo, their staff, and Mike B!

I really enjoyed this event. It was my first time attending a MD Burbs Elite event and it met my expectations.
I came as the Greek Goddess Athena. She was the Goddess of War & Wisdom, a strategist, and diplomat. There were lots of interesting costumes. Some of my favs were Abe Lincoln with the caution tape, a Ghostbuster with authentic head gear, and Toya J.‘s horned headpiece!
I didn’t get a chance to try all of the menu offerings but I did try the bourbon infused pumpkin cocktail (gave me a nice buzz) and the croquetas de pollo were amazing… crispy on outside and creamy goodness inside. The traditional paella was visually appealing and delicious. Jaleo staff members said they have a special burner to cook the mammoth serving and last but not least, the flan… The memory makes my mouth water. It was velvety, but light and wickedly delicious.
Mike B. was sooo funny and the Jaleo team was really nice and welcoming! Great event!
PS. Superman (aka Keon D.), did you get some good shots?

Well, I liked Mike B’s version of Cher better… although I have a sad story about Cher.
My high school dorm neighbor whose room was connected to mine through the bathroom used to love listening to the same song over and over, and one day she left Cher’s «Believe» on repeat and went away for the weekend. I want to believe that it was an honest mistake… sigh… because she really did listen to music like that ALL the time (she also liked Celine Dion’s «my heart will go on». and listened to it over and over for like 2 months) So honestly I have not listened to Cher ever since, but Mike B’s Cher really made me happy and maybe I will listen to her songs again. :D
Anyway, Jaleo event was really fun!!!
First, it was so much fun to see Unilocalers in all these costumes. I really wish I had something to wear!!! grrrrrr I really regretted not getting something!!!. Hannah was the cutest ghost buster with her gumby hubby, Nikkia was a cute sailor, Ruth was a sexy viking… oh yea and Gretchen was an adorable bumble bee with her purple hair!!! heh I took pictures with them, so I will upload them later.
Second, the food was very interesting! I am not really a fan of molecular gastronomy, but I would always try it. (we ate at Volt for its 21 dish tasting, and I still thought it as meh… I guess the only gastronomy related dishes that I liked were some of Volt’s dessert dishes (seriously amazing) and also Minibar’s «foeiffle» –another José Andrés creation. I am just a meat and bread type of real food gal. :) But I really liked the Flamenquines and the Flan dessert. Especially, I was just so excited to find out that it came out with pumpkin whipped cream! Of course, that incredibly ginormous paella was also a treat.
I had soooooooooooo much fun and such a great time with everyone yesterday.
Thanks for the amazing event, and thanks for having us! ^o^~~!!!

WHOO HOO!!! I was super duper excited for this event! Everyone looked fabulous in their awesome costumes and some of tapas that were going around were Endibias Con Queso De Cabra Y Naranjas (endives, goat cheese, oranges and almonds); Flamenquines (traditional pork meat filled with ibérico ham and cheese, breaded and deep fried) — my FAVORITE of the night; the goat cheese that filled the sweet crispy cones; the onion and potato omelet; and, the interesting gelatinous-​like olive in a spoon dish. The huge platter of the paella was ridiculous (and, I’m glad they served it, as it was more efficient and sanitary), and they even had signature cocktails for people to enjoy with the drink tickets. The flan with a side of whipped cream and tangerine slices was pretty tasty, as it was not that sweet and it was quite delicate. I was soooooooooooooooooooooo jealous of the Daryl toy that the first winner won :(I did get a free Tapas coupon, though, from the manager, so that was cool! THANKS FOR A GREAT NIGHT, MIKE!!!
+Falmenquines :D
+huge presentation of the paella
+flan with tangerine slices

This was my first Elite Event… and it certainly did not disappoint. I have been waiting for so long to try Jaleo, and what better way than with some fellow Unilocalers?
The costumes tonight were so creative and, some, hilarious. Highlight of the night was definitely the table-​sized chicken & wild mushroom paella that was big enough to serve all of us (and even offer seconds!) Definitely the biggest pan I have ever laid eyes on. It was served with a little dollop of aioli, which complemented the flavors of the paella perfectly. The special cocktails of the night were delicious — loved the hints of pumpkin and apple. Dessert was amazing — I don’t even consider myself a fan of custards, but that flan was mind-​blowingly yummy. Also got to sample a «liquid olive» which was really interesting and definitely a fun experience… my other favorite was the chicken and cheese fritters.
I even walked away with some awesome giveaways like a «Blood Unilocal & Tears» wristband and a stylish pair of Unilocal sunglasses.
All around, a really fun night and we even got coupons for a free tapa in the future! Can’t wait to come back for round 2 and a full meal. Thanks Unilocal!:)

So awesome! Worth it just for the giant, table-​sized paella. I’ll never look at paella the same way again. The staff worked so hard to serve everybody that giant paella– each plate game with a yummy bit of aioli and we even got seconds.
There were lots of other yummy things to try, including a bourbon pumpkin cocktail my sister loved, croquetas, spanish tortillas, pan con tomate and flan. We even got a coupon for a free tapa the next time we go!

I love Jose Andres — what other celebrity chef proclaims on national television, «I wish I was a cheese»? And I love all of his amazing local restaurants, especially Jaleo! The Bethesda Jaleo looks spectacular after its remodeling, and I’m so happy that they invited us to celebrate Jalloween with delicious tapas and cocktails and paella.
There was great fooooood — Spanish omelettes, cones full of goat cheese, breads with cheese and meat, fritters, stuffed endives, and a magical «liquid olive.» They brought out a monumental tray of paella that took up nearly an entire table. (I passed a table with a normal-​sized tray as we left and scoffed at their puny paella.) We ended the meal with wiggly, jiggly flan. They had signature cocktails, rum with apple and bourbon with pumpkin. The second was my favorite, I had to resist using my +1’s additional two drink tickets to get totally soused on bourbony goodness.
Nearly everyone was in costume, and there were some really great costumes. It’s hard to get dressed up quickly after work on a weekday, so I appreciate the effort that people made! The games were all great — matching celebrity chefs (by photo alone) with restaurant names was tricky (I got ⁶⁄₁₀), and identifying zombie movies from stills was even harder (I got ⁷⁄₁₀). I was sad that the foosball tournament never happened, because the figures inside were awesome and I wanted to use the tiny Gene Simmons to block a goal.
I was so totally surprised to win the costume contest with my zombie Star Trek redshirt costume (send me a message if you got pics!) — and even more excited to get the prize that Mike B. had said was so awesome he didn’t want to award it. A WALKING DEAD DARYL VINYL TOY@!#!@!! This is going straight onto my desk so I can show it off and stare at it. His tiny crossbow will ward off the zombie horde. I was also shocked that the Yoda quote that I wrote with my +1, Nick C., was one of the chosen ones. POWER RANGER SOCKS FOR THE WIN. So much booty, along with all of the awesome Unilocal goodies scattered around the event. The fingerless Unilocal LIFE gloves are the best Unilocal item yet.
Thank you to Jaleo for this epic Jalloween bash, and especially thanks to Mike B. and his epic hair for making it happen. Unilocal MD Burbs is the best!

Great food and lots of it. Nice strong drinks. Well-​attended but not too crowded.
Finally got to meet Mike. In a Cher wig.
Great time!

I’ll get right to it! While I had the opportunity to sampled an app here and there but what made it a good night for me was:
1) The array of costumes were fabulous. From bubble bees to undertakers to wolves I saw it all in true Unilocal fashion.
2) I saw the biggest paella I’ve ever seen! Like gargantuan, full table sized, enough to serve 40ppl and give seconds big! Check the pic and really… Where they do that at??? MdBurbs of course!
3) Devilishly Delicious Drinks— Apple, pumpkin, Apple, pumpkin… which was better? I can’t say. What I can say is this lush loves rum and bourbon. They both packed flavor but went down smooth so I’m a happy lush.
4) Flan– I hate flan, the flavor, the texture you name it BUT this flan… took me away to the happy place. Light, flavorful, not too pudding like– it was the best flan I’ve ever had.
5) Celebrity Chef Game-​what a challenge. I secretly think I’m a know it all but if Jason C hadn’t come by to help no no no rescue me, I would’ve only been half way right. That’s for that save J!
To top it off… I got a free tapas coupon from the manager and a serenade from Mike B! Good times — thanks Mike for another good night.

Great event put on by the most fabulous mike! Lots if fun samples of signature tapas and sampling of specially concocted drinks with pumpkins and apples infused jn different ways. This event got me out of my comfort zone and into a whole mother side of town I didn’t. Know existed. The surrounding is high class and hip, I could see myself easily browsing about on another day.
Gotta give props to mike and the crew for all the creative games they had for cute entertainment and then the prizes were even better! My only area of improvement was that for such a large group we needed more space and for the tapas to be distributed more evenly, there were a bunch of choke points. I only got to try 3 of the 6 dishes sadly, but I know they had to all be amazing.
Glad I came and can’t wait to do more in this area now too!