Centennial Cherry Blossom Festival Menu Blooms At Renaissance Dupont Circle Hotel!

DUPONT CIRCLE -- While the chance for a few remaining traces of the winter-that-wasn’t to return still exists, for all practical purposes, Washington has already begun to celebrate the (early) arrival of spring. And the start of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival next week (peak bloom for the trees is predicted to last from March 24th to March 31st) only serves to further reinforce the point.

Pineapple Yuzu Lemongrass Sorbet with sesame cookie.
Made even more special by the fact that 2012 represents the 100-year anniversary of the gift of the trees to the U.S., area businesses are gearing-up to commemorate the occasion with a variety of related enticements. The Renaissance Dupont Circle Hotel’s M Bar & Lounge and Brasserie Restaurant, for example, today unveiled a special Japanese fusion Centennial Menu that will last until the end of the festival on April 27th.

Ahi Tuna Sashimi with Yuzu vinaigrette and white asparagus salad/

Beef Gyoza pan fried beef dumplings with Ponzu dipping sauce.
Meticulously curated by Executive Chef Devon Capili and the mixologists at the hotel, the newly launched menu pairs alluring savory plates with a series of handcrafted, cherry infused cocktails. Ingredients and flavors throughout are locally sourced in order to provide guests with an experience that matches the artful simplicity of the hotel itself.

The ‘Ukiyo-My’ cocktail (Ciroc vodka, black cherry juice, fresh lemon) is intended to conjure images of the ancient floating world of the Geisha.
A Tokyo Ramen standby is given the royal treatment with heaping portions of pork belly, pork shoulder, fish cakes, and poached eggs, while Kobe Beef Sliders on onion brioche are anything but ordinary with their fried onion, Roma tomatoes, pickled daikon, and Bibb lettuce accoutrements.

Tokyo Ramen with pork belly, pork shoulder, fish cakes, and poached eggs.
Those with a penchant for the sweeter things in life will delight in the dessert offerings up for grabs, including a Pineapple Yuzu Lemongrass Sorbet and a Morello Cherry Bread Pudding.

Morello Chery Bread Pudding with dark chocolate cherry ice cream.
To be sure, Japan’s gift of the trees to the District is truly the gift that keeps on (gourmet) giving!