Cherry Blossom Festival Cherry Picks

View the Participating Restaurants in the National Cherry Blossom Festival for the unprecedented five week Centennial Celebration, March 20 – April 27, commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the gift of trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC. Cherry Picks features delicious cherry and blossom inspired cuisine and cocktails from over 100 of the DC-area’s top restaurants throughout the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Savor the tastes of spring from your favorite restaurant!

Choose your favorite restaurant from this list of participating restaurants. Some stand outs include:

Belga Café: Duck Breast with Belgian Kriek Beer - Roasted duck breast w/ sweet & sour cherry beer sauce. Cherry Tart - Almond cake, sour cherries, Kriek gelée.

Casa Nonna: Cherry Blossom Granita, $12. Fresh Cherry Granita- Vodka, St. Germain and soda water.

Chef Geoff's Tysons Corner: Dessert Special Macaroon Glace: Coconut Macaroons, Cherry Ice Cream Crumbled coconut macaroon placed under a scoop of cherry ice cream, and then topped with a whole coconut macaroon. Garnished with chocolate sauce, cherries, and toasted coconut. Beverage Special Cherry Blossom Rickey ½ oz of Orgeat Almond Syrup 2 oz Plymouth Gin 1 oz Maraschino Liqueur 1 oz lemon juice 1 oz cherry puree Shake with ice and pour over new ice in tulip glass, garnish with 2 thinly sliced lime wheels.

District Commons: Cherry Blossom Combo District Cherry Old Fashioned $10.95- Virginia Gentleman Bourbon, House made Cherries, Cherry Balsamic, House made Orange Bitters. Cherry Mash Sundae $8 - Cherry Ice Cream, Hot Fudge Sauce, Roasted Peanuts.

Founding Farmers: Cherry Chocolate Bread Pudding, $8 Made from scratch with our own bread, dark chocolate and aged cherries with a white vanilla cream. Sour Cherry Smash cocktail, $12 Founding Farmers Rye, fresh muddled fermented sour cherries and fresh lemon juice.

Hill Country Barbeque: Hill Country is offering a Double Cherry Pie Turnover for $6 throughout the festival’s run, as well as a Cherry Blossom Manhattan specialty cocktail at the bar.

Zest Bistro: Blossom Buzz cocktail with Stoli Cherry Vodka, Saint Germain liquor, pama, and a splash of cava. Entrée- Pork tenderloin with mustard sauce, dried cherry chutney, asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes.

Enjoy the beautiful blooms this year!

Photo: National Cherry Blossom Festival Bloom Watch