dLeña Highlights Tradition and Legacy for Día de los Muertos
Enjoy traditional culinary delights with an innovative twist in the heart of Mount Vernon Triangle
Washington, DC—Embark on a culinary journey at dLeña by Chef Richard Sandoval this fall with its celebratory Día de los Muertos menu items. From Tuesday, October 1, through Sunday, November 3, honor the rich culinary heritage of the holiday through food and drinks at the modern Mexican restaurant.
This year, Richard Sandoval Hospitality’s (RSH) culinary collection celebrates traditional culinary delights like mole, tamales, horchata, atole, and pan de muerto with an innovative twist. The dishes incorporate charred corn husk powder, known as totomoxtle, into these beloved dishes, adding a visual element of remembrance to the gastronomic experience. dLeña is excited to feature the empanada de langosta with lobster, sweet corn, squid ink masa black bean purée, and chile de árbol sauce. Restaurant guests are invited to sip on themed cocktails like the papel picado paloma with Gran Malo tequila, créme de violette, agave, lime red wine, and hibiscus. The cocktail’s yellow and purple colors, often used during Día de los Muertos, symbolize purity and mourning. It is believed that the holes in the papel picado, or perforated tissue paper, allows for the souls of ancestors to travel and visit the living. The other drink addition is the monarch made with Abasolo Mexican whiskey, Ancho Reyes chili liqueur, carrot, and orange bitters, signifying the warmth and refuge the monarch butterflies find in the state of Michoacán in central Mexico when migrating for the winter. Some communities believe the mariposas are souls of the ancestors returning to Earth for a brief visit.
An exciting new addition to this year’s culinary experience is the Día de los Muertos dinner with Chef Richard Sandoval on Thursday, October 24. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in the vibrant traditions of Día de los Muertos, transforming a meal into a powerful tribute to legacy and culture. The experiential dinner allows patrons to connect to the past, celebrate the present, and honor the spirit of the holiday in the most memorable way possible. Curated by Chef Richard Sandoval and dLeña Executive Chef Carlos Camacho, the evening includes a four-course pairing menu, showcasing the rich and diverse flavors of traditional Día de los Muertos cuisine. To book the all-inclusive ticketed dinner on Thursday, October 24, from 7pm, visit dlenadc.com/ddlm/dinner/2024.
dLeña and dLeña ROJA are located at 476 K Street NW, Suite D, Washington, DC 20001. Lunch hours are 11am to 3pm Monday through Friday. Dinner hours are 5pm to 10pm Sunday through Thursday, and 5pm to 11pm Friday and Saturday. Bottomless brunch is offered at dLeña from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations are available until 30 minutes before the restaurant closes. Visit dLeña ROJA Wednesdays through Saturdays for an additional hour of beverage service. For more information on dLeña’s Día de los Muertos menu or to make reservations, visit dlenadc.com.
About dLeña
dLeña by Chef Richard Sandoval is a modern Mexican restaurant located in the heart of Washington D.C’s Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood. Featured in the 2023 and 2022 editions of the MICHELIN Guide DC and a Best of Modern Luxury DC Award Winner in 2023 and 2022, the chef-driven concept celebrates “leña” or firewood, and the nuanced flavors smoke imparts on both its wood-fired food and smoky mezcal and tequila-centric menus. For more information on dLeña, visit dlenadc.com. For additional updates, follow dLeña on Instagram and Facebook.
About Richard Sandoval Hospitality
Richard Sandoval Hospitality is a leading restaurant group founded by Mexican-born chef, restaurateur, television personality and philanthropist Richard Sandoval. Known for offering guests an unparalleled culinary experience, this internationally recognized contemporary Latin restaurant group successfully owns and operates over 60 restaurant concepts around the globe. US restaurant locations span 10 states and the District of Columbia – as well as internationally in 11 countries including Canada, Costa Rica, Greece, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Qatar, Serbia, St Kitts, Turkey and the UAE. For a complete list of restaurants and more information, please visit www.richardsandoval.com.
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