ICYMI: Austin Grill will turn into the Southern-themed Hen Quarter

Food news, plus have we hit peak octopus?

By Stefanie Gans • Posted July 1, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

Octopus carpaccio (Photography by Jonathan Timmes)

On newsstands today: A guide to #NoVA Distilleries. I drove to Middleburg to Manassas to Culpeper and tasted more than 50 different liquors. (You should see our loaded bar cart and yes I’m now a fan of aged gins.)

A photo posted by Stefanie Gans (@gansie) on Jun 23, 2016 at 11:48am PDT

Austin Grill in Old Town Alexandria will turn into Hen Quarter, a casual Southern restaurant. [WBJ]

Octopus is the new kale. [Atlanta]

Food writers pick where to satisfy cravings for mac and cheese (Hank’s Oyster Bar), Chinese (Peter Chang), tacos (Taco Bamba), Korean barbecue (Kogiya) and frozen custard (Dairy Godmother) in NoVA and the rest of the region. [WCP]

There’s a 700-plus wait list to buy rosé gummy bears. [Refinery 29]

Starting today, distilleries can pour up to 3 ounces for on-site tastings. BTW, have you picked up this month’s issue: A Guide to Distilleries?! [ABC, NVM]