If you visit our nation’s capital between now and Election Day (November 6), you’ll notice that the town is eager to see the results of the election. Consequently, many hotels and restaurants are encouraging people to vote with their stomachs and choose a dish inspired by Barack Obama or Mitt Romney.
The restaurants are pitting the sales of each against the other and are keeping an unscientific, if edible, poll through Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012.
Here are a few of our favorite offerings:
1331 Bar & Lounge at JW Marriott
The lounge where the Rickey was invented offers cocktails and wings inspired by the candidates. Specialty drinks include the Mint Romney and Barockin’ Mai Tai. Back from the previous election cycle are the Left Wings and Right Wings. The 2012 versions are Hawaiian-glazed Left Wings with fresh pineapple and Boston honey glazed Right Wings served with a mini pot of Boston-style baked beans. A miniature chocolate White House filled with chocolate truffles is available for dessert.
The lounge where the Rickey was invented offers cocktails and wings inspired by the candidates. Specialty drinks include the Mint Romney and Barockin’ Mai Tai. Back from the previous election cycle are the Left Wings and Right Wings. The 2012 versions are Hawaiian-glazed Left Wings with fresh pineapple and Boston honey glazed Right Wings served with a mini pot of Boston-style baked beans. A miniature chocolate White House filled with chocolate truffles is available for dessert.
Art Bar at Art & Soul
The cocktail list at Art Bar, Art Smith’s watering hole (you may know him as one of Oprah’s favorite chefs) at the Liaison Hotel Capitol Hill has a “Swing States” cocktail menu highlighting eight of the states (Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin) known to rock the vote. These range from the classically inspired Six Borders (Pennsylvania) made with vodka to the Cheese Head (Wisconsin) made with gin and cheese. Patrons wearing an “I Voted” sticker on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 6) who buy from the Swing States menu get a second drink free for a friend.
The cocktail list at Art Bar, Art Smith’s watering hole (you may know him as one of Oprah’s favorite chefs) at the Liaison Hotel Capitol Hill has a “Swing States” cocktail menu highlighting eight of the states (Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin) known to rock the vote. These range from the classically inspired Six Borders (Pennsylvania) made with vodka to the Cheese Head (Wisconsin) made with gin and cheese. Patrons wearing an “I Voted” sticker on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 6) who buy from the Swing States menu get a second drink free for a friend.
Georgetown Cupcake
The famed cupcake shop, made famous on “DC Cupcake” is offering (and shipping) Democrat or Republican Dozens: three Red Velvet cupcakes; three Chocolate & Buttercream cupcakes; three Vanilla & Buttercream cupcakes; and three Lava Fudge cupcakes decorated with an election-themed Democrat donkey or Republican elephant and 2012 fondant.
The famed cupcake shop, made famous on “DC Cupcake” is offering (and shipping) Democrat or Republican Dozens: three Red Velvet cupcakes; three Chocolate & Buttercream cupcakes; three Vanilla & Buttercream cupcakes; and three Lava Fudge cupcakes decorated with an election-themed Democrat donkey or Republican elephant and 2012 fondant.
Good Stuff Eatery
This fast-casual eatery (where Michelle Obama has enjoyed a burger) offers a burger ballot in honor of “America’s favorite political duo” James Carville and Mary Matalin. Carville’s burger comes toasted with roasted creole onion, southern fried pickles, cheddar cheese and a Ragin’ Cajun barbeque sauce, while Matalin’s sandwich is topped with grilled Portobello mushrooms, goat cheese, tomato, arugula and peppadew pepper mayo. Polls are updated daily and close on Election Day.
This fast-casual eatery (where Michelle Obama has enjoyed a burger) offers a burger ballot in honor of “America’s favorite political duo” James Carville and Mary Matalin. Carville’s burger comes toasted with roasted creole onion, southern fried pickles, cheddar cheese and a Ragin’ Cajun barbeque sauce, while Matalin’s sandwich is topped with grilled Portobello mushrooms, goat cheese, tomato, arugula and peppadew pepper mayo. Polls are updated daily and close on Election Day.
[Flickr via Tom Lodhan]
Lincoln Restaurant
Presidential cocktails face off at this bar inspired by the spirit of the 16th president. Contenders include the Republican-inspired Elephant (rhubarb-infused whiskey, homemade strawberry liquor, lime juice and bitters) and the Democratic Donkey (blackberry-infused gin, ginger syrup, lime juice and soda). They tabulate votes on a blackboard to show who is winning the race.
Presidential cocktails face off at this bar inspired by the spirit of the 16th president. Contenders include the Republican-inspired Elephant (rhubarb-infused whiskey, homemade strawberry liquor, lime juice and bitters) and the Democratic Donkey (blackberry-infused gin, ginger syrup, lime juice and soda). They tabulate votes on a blackboard to show who is winning the race.
Lobby Bar at The Madison Hotel
The hotel is reaching out to Facebook fans to create and name a cocktail in honor of the 2013 Inauguration. The bar will offer house two cocktails, plus the winner’s libation: Massachusetts Mule (Raspberry-Chocolate Mint Infused Vodka, Lemon, Lime and Ginger-Ale) and The Great Debate (Bourbon, Blended Vermouth, Green Chartreuse and Orange Peel) at the Lobby Bar from January 18-22, 2013. The winner of The Madison’s Political Cocktail Party contest will receive a weekend stay.
The hotel is reaching out to Facebook fans to create and name a cocktail in honor of the 2013 Inauguration. The bar will offer house two cocktails, plus the winner’s libation: Massachusetts Mule (Raspberry-Chocolate Mint Infused Vodka, Lemon, Lime and Ginger-Ale) and The Great Debate (Bourbon, Blended Vermouth, Green Chartreuse and Orange Peel) at the Lobby Bar from January 18-22, 2013. The winner of The Madison’s Political Cocktail Party contest will receive a weekend stay.
The Lounge at the Park Hyatt
The hotel’s resident cheese expert has selected two blue cheeses (including Barack Obama from Vermont) to represent the Democrat party and two red-rinded cheeses for Republican Mitt Romney. The hotel will keep a tally in the lounge, a scale with one token representing each order (blue or red) and display the results of cheese popularity by the tilt of the scale through Election Day. The winner of the national election, aka “The Big Cheese,” will lend his name to the 35-pound wheel of cheese currently on display in the lounge.
The hotel’s resident cheese expert has selected two blue cheeses (including Barack Obama from Vermont) to represent the Democrat party and two red-rinded cheeses for Republican Mitt Romney. The hotel will keep a tally in the lounge, a scale with one token representing each order (blue or red) and display the results of cheese popularity by the tilt of the scale through Election Day. The winner of the national election, aka “The Big Cheese,” will lend his name to the 35-pound wheel of cheese currently on display in the lounge.
Occidental Grill
Bake off with the cookie recipes that First Lady Michelle Obama and Ann Romney submitted to Family Circle magazine. Obama’s cookies are made with white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips, while Romney’s are oatmeal with peanut butter, chocolate chips and M&Ms.
Bake off with the cookie recipes that First Lady Michelle Obama and Ann Romney submitted to Family Circle magazine. Obama’s cookies are made with white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips, while Romney’s are oatmeal with peanut butter, chocolate chips and M&Ms.
Ritz Carlton Hotel Washington DC
The hotel’s bar is offering a thematic cocktail menu. For the country’s GOP supporters, there is the Grand Old Fashioned cocktail. It is made with bourbon, muddled strawberries and oranges, Peychauds Bitters and club soda. Meanwhile, the Blue Bourbon Baracks is made with bourbon, crystallized ginger, blueberries, angostura bitters and ginger ale to honor President Obama. There is also a running mate beer-and-sliders pairing sourced from each vice presidential candidate’s respective hometown.
The hotel’s bar is offering a thematic cocktail menu. For the country’s GOP supporters, there is the Grand Old Fashioned cocktail. It is made with bourbon, muddled strawberries and oranges, Peychauds Bitters and club soda. Meanwhile, the Blue Bourbon Baracks is made with bourbon, crystallized ginger, blueberries, angostura bitters and ginger ale to honor President Obama. There is also a running mate beer-and-sliders pairing sourced from each vice presidential candidate’s respective hometown.
Topaz Bar at Topaz, a Kimpton Hotel
Known for its craft cocktails, the bar has a dedicated “Political Campaign” menu featuring the Romney Float (non-alcoholic blend of Old Dominion Root Beer finished with whipped cream and a “Salted Lake” caramel drizzle) and the Obama Home Sweet Home – a twist on DC’s official cocktail, the Rickey, this elixir blends Bulleit Bourbon, lime juice, club soda and a splash of pineapple juice. Topaz Bar’s presidential roots date back to the early 1900s when Theodore Roosevelt lived where the hotel now stands. Roosevelt occupied the house during his tenure as vice president to President McKinley, and also for a short while before he moved into the White House when elected in 1901.
Known for its craft cocktails, the bar has a dedicated “Political Campaign” menu featuring the Romney Float (non-alcoholic blend of Old Dominion Root Beer finished with whipped cream and a “Salted Lake” caramel drizzle) and the Obama Home Sweet Home – a twist on DC’s official cocktail, the Rickey, this elixir blends Bulleit Bourbon, lime juice, club soda and a splash of pineapple juice. Topaz Bar’s presidential roots date back to the early 1900s when Theodore Roosevelt lived where the hotel now stands. Roosevelt occupied the house during his tenure as vice president to President McKinley, and also for a short while before he moved into the White House when elected in 1901.