Where There's Smoke

While I'm sympathetic to bars and restaurants losing the freedom to decide for themselves whether to allow smoking, I'm certainly glad I won't wake up with anymore smoke hangovers once D.C.'s smoking ban takes full effect Jan. 1. 701 Restaurant is taking a playful stance on the issue by celebrating smoked dishes and smoky drinks.

Through December, Chef Trent Conry will offer various smoked dishes on 701's lunch and dinner menus. A medallion of pork will be paired with a smoked orange reduction and a black-eye pea chipotle ragout, and baby octopus will be served with a smoked paprika sauce, roasted pineapple, asparagus, tasso ham and celery pesto.

At lunch, the smoking fix comes in the form of house-smoked chicken salad served with Himalayan red rice, apples, pecans, red onion marmalade, arugula and cider vinaigrette, and asparagus and smoked potato salad with baby arugula, frisee and a tomato shallot vinaigrette.

For smoke in a glass, Mo's Bar, named for bartender Mo Taheri, will pour a smoky Californian Paraiso Syrah by the glass ($9) and bottle ($36), and a flight of three single malt scotches ($12).

And think, you won't even have to air out all your clothes afterwards.

701 Restaurant
701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
202.293.0701

(701 photo by Michael J. Colella.)