Foodies, oenophiles and beer and liqueur connoisseurs turned out to sample some of Northern Virginia’s best food and drinks. Our premier food event, Taste of NoVA, drew 2,000 people to the grounds of the National Museum of the U.S. Army in Fort Belvoir on May 19. The crowd tried tantalizing bites and drinks from 43 restaurants (many from our Best Restaurants list) and 24 wineries and breweries. From our Best Restaurants Top 10, chefs from 2941 (No. 1), Harrimans Grill, Ellie Bird, NUE: Elegantly Vietnamese, Trummer’s, and TRIO Grill chatted with guests about what they made.
Twenty-one sponsors, including Porsche Chantilly, MyEyeDr., and Maker’s Mark, helped bring together the event that also collected much-needed donations for the Northern Virginia Food Rescue. NBC4 Washington’s Eun Yang served as the emcee and Hayley Milon of DC News Now as the event correspondent.
Guests mingle as they enjoy food and drinks from over 65 restaurants, wineries, and breweries.
The High Noon tent serves up a variety of flavored hard seltzers.
The chefs at Taste of NoVA gather for a photo.
Dr. Navin Singh of Washington Plastic Surgery
Maker’s Mark handed out samples of bourbon whisky throughout the afternoon.
Mango with coconut sticky rice from Sense of Thai.
The staff at Champaka Thai Message & Spa give complimentary back massages to guests.
Lance Collins of Virginia Tech with Northern Virginia Magazine CEO Sang YangKirby Club’s couscous bowl with shaved cabbage, red pepper dip, chicken shawarma, and housemade sumac chips.
The staff at Local Provisions preparing loaded labneh with house country bread and crispy shallots.
Celebration by Rupa Vira’s lotus stem chaat.
Tuna tartare nachos from TRIO Grill.
The team at Ada’s on the River plating seared tuna with avocado mousse and pickled Fresno chiles.
Dr. Karl Smith of Karl A. Smith DDSDan Stevens of Roop LawChef Mike Cordero of Carbonara in ArlingtonHayley Milon of DC News Now
Dr. Larry Lickstein of Elle Aesthetic Arts & Plastic Surgery
Connor and Spencer HatcherRyan Draude of Giant FoodLeslie Helfgott of West Financial ServicesPeter O’Brien of Carmello’s of Old Town Manassas and Megan Morgan of Lost Rhino Brewing Company in AshburnCafé Colline’s foie de volaille with apricot chutney.
Corinne El Aomari of Gainesville Dental Associates
Ropa veija from Sabores Tapas Bar
Melanie Hogg of Melanie Hogg Century 21 New MilleniumGeoff Bennett of PBS News HouseDr. Angela Austin and Sara Regassaof Alexandria Children’s Dentistry
