Taste Of Success

This event had an awesome spread of vendors, and an additional bounty of raffle options. Pretty venue, and the staff members were very flexible about checking people in early to keep the lobby clear. The organizer was a little aggressive getting their ticket sales in, but otherwise a super fun setting to revisit familiar sponsors and experience new ones like Slate. My holy trinity for the evening was Tito’s handmade vodka, all three Hellbender brews, and a taste of early Thanksgiving from Hill Country. Nothing was a dud in my book, except maybe the too-​sweet blueberry martini. DJ kept my feet moving, and the photographers were very friendly. A great time had with a stroke of luck via Unilocal raffle!

It was super duper crowded when I got there but fun and lively. The tastings were ok — definitely small tastings and nothing extra ordinary food wise. Beautiful location though and overall nice event.

Carnigie Institution! This place is just lovely! Did I say lovely?! Ahem… Awesome! This place is awesome! Just east of 16^th street in an old and unassuming historical building. Skip past this to the food. I have been to a few bars … On occasion… Maybe… Ok. TONS of bars! Just for drinking and my first surprise was a corned beef slider from Capital Lounge! Braised and shredded /​pulled with a horseradish aioli and cheese… this probably the best corned beef that I have had in awhile!
I am pretty much done with the Taco explosion in the area… Truck and restaurant alike! BUT … I will say that the pork belly taco (see if they will add shiitake mushrooms for you) was AWESOME! Great job from the H Street Country Club!
Next stop Thanksgiving!!! Thanksgiving? Hill Country Bbq hit this one out of the park! Smoked turkey breast, mashed sweet potatoes and fresh cranberry relish. (I take back all the bad things that I said about you my dear Hill Country Bbq… Can I have another plate?)
Luke’s lobster? WTH is this… Sad to say that nobody has ever seen this place… But it’s in Penn Quarter and it rocks! Luke didn’t bring the lobster but he brought the shrimp! Lightly dressed and served on a warm butter roll! Awesome! They do a sampler of lobster, crab and shrimp roll with chips and a soda for $ 20! Do It!!!
El Tamarindo is El Tamarindo… I have never had a sober encounter there… And it seems like that moment was shared by quite a few others here for the Taste of Success! The line for this table was nonexistent until the booze started to flow! Just crazy! I think they were the first ones to run out of food!
Call me crazy but my favorite (next to the hot lady at the Star Hill Beer table) was Renee Shields Farr. Who the hell is that? The lady who gave me strawberries dipped in a chocolate balsamic vinegar… The same lady who gave me the salted truffle olive oil with popcorn! I actually love olive oil as much as PORK! Well not as much as pork.
Pulpo is awesome but they didn’t bring any!!! Cucumber ceviche? Blah… They did have an awesome passion fruit cocktail with a jalapeño simple syrup! Oh! Cupcakes! Savory Treats did it big with minis!!! ??? !!! ??? They knocked it out of the park with a trio of chocolate, carrot cake and hazelnut cupcakes! If I ever get married (to the beer lady from the Star Hill table) you are all invited back here for the wedding! Food and booze venders too!

I’ve never been one for cliffhangers, so without hesitation I will answer the question that is undoubtedly on your mind…
Success smells like the alluring aroma of a well-​dressed Washingtonians; it feels like a victory lap w/​your closest colleagues and co-​workers watching on with adoration; it sounds like DJ Statt bumping your favorite song as the beat vibrates straight through you, beckoning you to the dance floor and the taste… It tastes like that first unforgettable, addictive, mind-​numbing morsel of ‘la dolce vita’, with subtle notes of the decadent rewards that are all around you and ripe for the picking.
The skillful men and women at StreetWise used some tasty treats from the Districts neighborhood businesses to achieve this enticing atmosphere and motivate an ambitious group of professionals to mix and mingle and enjoy just a taste of the fruits of success (fancy foods, swanky venue, and tons of people who you don’t know smiling and nodding incessantly while trying to strategically maximize their free alcohol intake without appearing unrefined).
Although everyone was there for a good cause, there were a few vendors who showed up and definitely showed off. Slate Wine Bar and Bistro buttered me up with a delicious and creamy Butternut and Walnut Soup. Hill County’s Mini Thanksgiving meal was definitely something to give thanks for, but Smith & Wollensky prepared a smoked duck & fresh fig on an edible spoon that was without question my favorite bite of the night. With countless stations of adult beverages to choose from, Tito’s Handmade Vodka was the star of the spirits category. This gluten free vodka (distilled from corn) had very unique qualities and finished quite nicely. It blended well with the mixers, but was even more enjoyable solo.
I came anticipating what a few recognizable restaurants would be offering (Circa, Luke’s and Capital Lounge) but left looking forward to visiting places that I’d previously overlooked (Slate instantly comes to mind). With more food and beverage choices than I could responsibly consume, great music, and great company I can honestly say this event exceeded my expectations.

Let’s get the puns out the way first. Taste of Success was a – wait for it – success. It was all sorts of cool.
I have to apologize for the lack of photos; not only were both my hands full with all sorts of delicious drinks and dishes, but I was quick to burden my plus one and any empty-​handed passers-​by with my plates as well. Once again, the venue was spacious and centrally located. The DJ managed allowed the music to evolve over the evening from Top 40 fare to sounds that evoked memories of the recent Virgin and Firefly Festivals.
The drinks flowed liberally, I actively sought out Indian pale ales from every brewery represented and was able to sample wares from DC’s newest brewery. Brick-​and-​mortar restaurants and food trucks were on equal grounds tonight, both modes eager to prove why their foodstuff was best. The food here, all served on small plates, and the by the umpteenth serving I’d sampled appetizers, hors d’œuvre, salads, main courses, deserts and back again thrice over.
And it was amazing.