The Secret Supper Club

How do you stand out as lodging and a restaurant when you’re half a block down from the, gulp, Inn at Little Washington? DC uber-developer Jim Abdo and wife Mai have figured it out. 

One night a month, since they opened the White Moose Inn on Main St, they've had a celebrity chef from DC stay over and cook up a storm for lucky guests of their six luxury suites. Sure enough, look who we snapped out front last Friday: famed Frederik de Pue of Table and Menu MBK, with sous chef Sean Johnson.

Our publisher was on hand for Frederik’s asparagus-themed five-course dinner, with wine pairings. First up: grilled wild asparagus with house-made ricotta, Lindera Farm mulberry vinegar, and tomato pearls. Paired with Rose Champagne, Gatinois, Grand Cru Ay, France.

Then came green asparagus charlotte, with trout caviar, coconut foam, and chervil, paired with Michael Shaps Wild Meadow Vineyard chardonnay. Frederik talked before each of the five courses about how he'd prepared them.

Third course was white asparagus, with morel mushrooms stuffed with Maine lobster, sea bean, uni candy, and sauce Americaine, with Matello Hommage Pinot Noir. Fourth course: braised lamb shoulder roulade.

And rhubarb compote for desert. The Abdos love being in the neighborhood with the Inn at Little Washington and suggest the following: come stay at the White Moose for both a Thursday and Friday night. On the first night, enjoy what they call their “secret supper club." Stay on, and the next night walk down the street for dinner at the Inn at Little Washington. And send them your suggestions for more celebrity chefs. Visit the White Moose Inn website; reservations and info: 540-675-3207.