The DC Food & Beverage Collective (DCFBC) will host a festive Lunar New Year Banquet at The Shell on Tuesday, February 26, 2026, from 6:30–8:30 PM. The evening features a family-style dining experience curated by James Beard Award–nominated chefs Danny Lee and Scott Drewno, with a menu inspired by the traditions, symbolism, and spirit of prosperity that define the Lunar New Year. Bringing together DCFBC members, industry professionals, and friends, the celebration centers on thoughtfully prepared dishes, shared tables, and a sense of community to honor the season together. Reserve your spot HERE.

CHĨKO Capitol Hill will transform for a special Lunar New Year Tea Service on February 21 and 22, with seatings at 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM. This immersive experience celebrates the holiday through a curated tea selection featuring Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese teas, paired with savory bites from CHIKO and elegant sweets by Caroline Ta of Sweets by Caroline and Rosie Nguyen of Rose Ave Bakery. Priced at $65 per person, the tea service offers a festive and thoughtfully crafted way to welcome the Lunar New Year. Please note that CHĨKO Capitol Hill will be closed for regular brunch during tea service hours, and allergen modifications are not available for this event. Make your reservations HERE.

Portuguese Long Lunch: Treasures from Around the World with Chef Mark Haskell is an in-person culinary experience taking place on Friday, March 13 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, priced at $55. This leisurely, flavor-filled class explores one of Europe’s most soulful cuisines, shaped by Portugal’s rich history as a navigator nation and its global connections to Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Guided by Chef Mark Haskell, guests will enjoy a generous, shareable menu celebrating bold flavors, fresh seafood, vibrant vegetables, and hearty meats, including bolinhos de bacalhau, sautéed field greens with chouriço and morcella black sausages, red roasted rice, curry-roasted sweet potatoes with ginger, molasses, and chile pepper threads, Portuguese African-style collard greens, minced lamb and bean ragout salad, and rice mariscos. Click HERE to sign up.

Marianne Tshihamba’s Silk Road Cooking Series – Turkish Lahmacun invites guests to an immersive, in-person culinary experience on Thursday, March 12 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Priced at $69, the class takes participants on a flavorful journey along the historic Silk Road, tracing how traders blended ingredients and techniques from Beijing’s vibrant markets to the coastal kitchens of Zanzibar, shaping some of the world’s earliest global cuisines. Under Marianne’s guidance, attendees will enjoy a hands-on dough-making session, learning how to shape a perfectly thin crust and balance a richly spiced lamb topping before baking their own Turkish lahmacun to crisp, golden perfection. Sign up HERE.

In this three-part cooking class series, participants will explore the building blocks of classic French sauces and learn how to use them to elevate everyday cooking. Through a mix of chef-led demonstrations and hands-on instruction, each weekly class guides students in preparing complete dishes that showcase a variety of foundational sauces—from stocks, roux, and velouté to béchamel, hollandaise, and caramel. The series is taught by Wendi James, a classically trained chef who earned her Cuisine and Pastry Diplôme from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and has worked in renowned kitchens including Restaurant Daniel, The Inn at Little Washington, and Charlie Trotter’s. A Chicago native now based in the DC metropolitan area, Wendi brings decades of professional experience, advanced pastry training, and a deep love of French cuisine to her teaching. Tickets are non-refundable. Grab your tickets HERE.

On Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00 PM EST, an evening celebrating culture, cuisine, and global leadership will take place at Bold Fork Books in Washington, DC. The event will spotlight Emmanuel Laroche and his work A Taste of Madagascar, with a special appearance by Solo Andry Lantosoa Rakotomalala, the first woman Ambassador of the Republic of Madagascar to the United States and a distinguished leader in economic development, corporate governance, and international relations. The conversation will be moderated by Andrea Sachs, travel reporter for The Washington Post. Guests are invited to click the event link for full details and to review the media advisory for additional information. Click HERE for more information.

A 90-minute in-person or virtual class exploring Gamay, the signature grape of Burgundy. The tasting focuses on Beaujolais, spanning Villages and Cru expressions, plus a few surprise Gamay wines from outside the region for comparison. Guests will discover how terroir shapes this versatile and often underrated grape. Anticipated wines include selections from Martin Woods, Domaine de la Prebende, Jean Paul Thevenet, Raphaël Bartucci, and more (list subject to change). Participants may attend in person or via Zoom. The venue has stairs and no elevator. Virtual attendees can pick up samples locally or request shipping for an additional fee, though delivery by the event date is not guaranteed.More info here.

A 90-minute in-person or virtual class exploring Willamette Valley, Oregon’s premier wine region. Guests will learn how the valley’s cool climate, volcanic and sedimentary soils, and sub-AVAs shape its distinctive styles. Guided tastings showcase the precision, balance, and elegance that have earned these wines global acclaim, featuring producers such as Argyle, Cristom, Adelsheim, Elk Cove, J. Christopher, Ponzi, and more (wine list subject to change). Participants may attend on-site or via Zoom. The venue has stairs and no elevator. Virtual attendees can pick up samples locally or request shipping for an additional fee, though delivery by the event date is not guaranteed.More info here.

A 90-minute in-person or virtual class exploring the fundamentals of Burgundy, one of the world’s most influential wine regions. The session covers key villages, vineyard classifications, and stylistic differences, with guided tastings featuring Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Côte d’Or and beyond. Guests will learn how soil, slope, and producer decisions shape each wine. Participants may attend on-site or via Zoom. The venue has stairs and no elevator. Virtual attendees can pick up samples locally or request shipping for an additional fee, though delivery by the event date is not guaranteed. More info here.

An in-person and virtual deep dive into Sangiovese, Italy’s most important grape variety. This 90-minute class explores the grape’s history, terroir, and stylistic expressions across key regions, with guided tastings that may include Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and other notable wines. Participants can attend either on-site or via Zoom. In-person guests should note the venue has stairs and no elevator. Virtual attendees may pick up samples locally or request shipping for an additional fee, though delivery by the event date is not guaranteed. More info here.