About the RoZay Brunch

But, since I went over there to sample the menu I’ll give you a summary of what the deal includes. For your first course, choose from creamy hummus, a tomato, onion, and cucumber salad, super tart feta and red pepper spread called htipiti, or, my favorite, farro served over a toum, a garlic and ginger infused spread, ultimately crowned with a heap of sweet peas and green garbanzo beans. The trifecta of textures from the chewy farro, creamy toum, and the peas combined with the bright flavors made it the stand-out dish of the mezze selection. A basket of fresh pita bread is complimentary and essential for mopping up your mezze.

Then, your main course can be a hefty falafel burger, piled high with tomatoes and tzatziki, a side, salad, or eggs scrambled tomatoes and feta, almost like a shakshuka but where the eggs are scrambled instead of baked.

About the Dessert…

And finally dessert. The loukamades, which are Greek donuts holes, seem like they would be the best but there is a surprise winner: a sweet and tangy vanilla bean flecked yogurt, served in a mini dessert glass, topped with apricots soaked in a sweet wine, dusted with crushed pistachios and topped with cool apricot gelato. It’s a sweet but refreshing way to end your meal. Chocolate truffles are served at the end, in case your sweet tooth was not satisfied.

Zaytinya’s Brunch: The Verdict

The RoZay menu is only being offered until Restaurant Week in August so make a beeline for Zaytinya before then. You’ll find me on the patio, getting my rose on.

Zaytinya, 701 9th St NW, Washington, DC, Website 

Scroll down for more yummy brunch photos!

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The Rosé Garden Menu

While there is a list of roses by the glass, as well as a lovely sparkling Rosé flight, the beverage menu goes way beyond just Rosé wine. The restaurant’s resident mixologist has come up with a series of Rosé-inspired cocktails, all of which are quintessential spring beverages.

The Cocktails

My favorite cocktail at the Ritz Rosé Garden was the ‘Rosie’s 75, a twist on the classic French 75. Made with lavender infused gin, St. Germain, lemon sherbert (which is actually just muddles lemon peel, not sorbet) and sparkling wine, it is super refreshing. I may be biased because I love sparkling wine, but it is a great cocktail to kick off your evening.

More Rosé Cocktails

Another one I enjoyed immensely was the Petals and Peaches. Not too sweet, with just the right amount of tartness, this cocktail is made with Lillet Rosé, Giffard Crème de Peche, grapefruit juice, grapefruit bitters and sparkling rosé. Adorned with a flower, it is tastes just as good as it looks.

Finally, if you want something really cool and crisp get the Pimms and Proper, which is served over ice and features Pimms No. 1, sparkling wine, ginger syrup, orange sherbert, fresh lemon juice, and cucumber water. The cucumber water has a cooling effect, and the drink is very smooth and easy to imbibe.

The Food

Of course, it’s not all about drinks at this Rosé garden; there is a menu of snacks created by Chef Alvin Dela Cruz to enhance your Westend rose garden experience. My favorite was the baked goat cheese, which comes with warm figs and a pile of crunchy crostini for dipping. It comes in a beautiful glassware with a lid and is optimal for sharing with your friends.

The Verdict

Check out West End’s Rosé garden this Friday from 4:30-7pm, before everyone else hears about it and it becomes impossible to get a seat on their cozy patio!

Ritz Carlton Washington, DC,  1150 22nd St NW, Washington, DC, Website

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