Appetite: 5 Dates to Circle in March

From paired dinners to St. Patrick’s Day to the kickoff of cherry blossom season, Alexandria’s food scene is bustling in March. Here are some of the month’s best bets.

Loire Valley Wine Dinner at Bastille, March 1

Kick off the month with a glass of vino and plenty of food. North Old Town’s beloved French café is offering up a multicourse pre fixe meal with wine to suit each selection. Five courses (including an amuse bouche to start things off) will match nicely with five wines on offer throughout the evening. It’s not a trip to central France’s Loire Valley, but it does make Thursday just a bit sweeter. $59 per person; reservations recommended. 606 N. Fayette St., 6:30-10 p.m.

Anniversary Beer Release at Portner’s, March 7

You’re not seeing double: Portner’s Brewhouse is celebrating its first anniversary with a duo of beer releases. The “Peach Be Wheat You” fruit beer will debut alongside the – wait for it – “And Also Wheat You” to make an impressive double-riff on a single style of brew. The former is a wheat beer brewed with peaches; the latter, the same base beer conditioned with whiskey-soaked peaches to give the final result a bit more zing. 5770 Dow Ave., 4-11 p.m.

Jameson Whiskey Dinner at the Majestic, March 13

St. Patrick’s Day comes but once a year, and the Majestic is getting the party started in fine form with a Jameson-centric dinner four days ahead of the main event. Enjoy a selection of Irish dishes – and wash them down with Jameson-based cocktails. $65 per person; reservations recommended. 911 King St., 6-9 p.m.

St. Patrick’s Day…Everywhere, March 17

There are too many festivities and too many specials to single out as the greater part of Alexandria becomes temporarily Irish for the day. In Old Town, Murphy’s, O’Connell’s and Mackie’s are all excellent choices to toast with the crowds – or strike out to less traditional spots for a quieter experience. Slainte!

Cherry Blossom Festival “Cherry Picks” Menu, March 20-April 15

A passel of restaurants across the D.C. area are participating in this year’s incarnation of the Cherry Picks program, hosted alongside the National Cherry Blossom Festival each spring. Visit some of Alexandria’s participating eateries to see their take on various cherry-infused recipes, ranging from savory entrees to sweet treats to cocktails. Local participants include Virtue Feed and Grain, Lena’s, the Majestic, Rockland’s Barbecue, and Vola’s Dockside Grill.

Hope Nelson owns and operates the Kitchen Recessionista blog, located at www.kitchenrecessionista.com. Email her any time at hope@kitchenrecessionista.com.