WASHINGTON DC: Mike Isabella Selected as Official Chef for Diner en Blanc DC 2017

On Saturday, August 26, 4,500 Diner en Blanc guests will take over a public Washington, D.C. location from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. for an evening of fine food, wine and celebration. This year, award-winning D.C. chef and restaurateur Mike Isabella has been selected to create and assemble six unique picnic basket options for Diner en Blanc guests to choose from.

Isabella developed each menu to satisfy 4,500 palettes and meet all types of dietary restrictions including gluten-free and vegetarian options. Isabella used influences and ingredients from his 10 restaurant concepts, which feature French, Italian, Spanish, Asian, Mexican, Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisines.

Basket 1 – Requin French Picnic x Mike Isabella

Dips + Spreads served with gaufrettes and crudite

• Deviled lamb rillettes, macerated cherries, pickled mustard seed, eggplant-tomato ratatouille, fennel, garlic, shallot, herbs, chicken liver mousse, tomato + soppressata jam

Fromage

• Carpra Sarda (goat’s milk, aged 6 mo.), Raclette spring brook (cow’s milk aged 2-4 mo.), Point Reyes Original Blue (cow’s milk aged 5 mo.), Taleggio (goat’s milk. Aged 1-2 mo.) all served with cherry mustard + honey comb

Baby Heirloom Carrot Salad

• Toasted almonds, ginger, basil, citrus vinaigrette

Blueberry Clafoutis

• Lemon curd, toasted almonds

Basket 2 – Graffito Italian Picnic x Mike Isabella

Salumi & Formaggi Board

• Salumi: cacciatorini, coppa with apricot mostarda
• Formaggi: gorgonzola, dolce, taleggio

Kale Caesar Salad

• Romano, croutons, parmesan

Pasta Salad

• Roasted tomatoes, pepperoni, broccolini, sweet pepper relish

Tiramisu

• Lady Fingers, Espresso

Basket 3 – Kapnos Mediterranean x Mike Isabella

Crispy Flatbread + Seasonal Crudite + Assortment of Spreads

• Hummus: chickpea, tahini, sultana chutney
• Favosalata: yellow lentil, scallions, black garlic, pine nuts
• Melizanosalata: smokey eggplant, roasted peppers, walnuts, feta
  

Marinated Olives

• Marcona almonds, kefalograviera cheese, chili

Greek Farmhouse Salad

• Tomato, cucumber olive feta, grilled zucchini
  

Baklava

• Honey, almond, walnut

Basket 4/5 – Yona Bento x Mike Isabella (can be made gluten free)

Seaweed Salad

• Mandarin, cucumber, mizuna, sesame dressing
  

Steamed Edamame

• Sesame, nori, togarashi

Chilled Soba Noodles

• Summer veggies, sesame, chojang

Fried (or grilled) Chicken Bucket

• 4 pieces chicken, buttermilk yuzu sauce, heirloom radish slaw, tsukemono Japanese vegetables

Dessert

• Red Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies

Basket 6 – Yona Bento x Mike Isabella, Vegetarian

Seaweed Salad

• Mandarin, cucumber, mizuna, sesame dressing

Steamed Edamame

• Sesame, nori, togarashi

Chilled Soba Noodles

• Summer veggies, sesame, chojang

Dessert

• Red Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies

The signature Mike Isabella Diner en Blanc picnic baskets are prepared to feed a party of two.
Picnic baskets will be sold on the official Diner en Blanc e-store prior to the event.