In the Kitchen with Mark Krieger

Planning events for both Young Winos of DC and French Wine Social allows me to meet a lot of local business owners, especially wine stores and bars. Well this sunny, unusually warm Fall day was not the typical meet and greet.

Slate Wine Bar recently opened just 51 days ago! Having interest in hosting an event there, Mark invited me to stop by and discuss. Now usually these types of meetings are very basic, here's what we offer, what are you looking for, etc. Well not Mark!


Upon walking in, I noticed the well-lit bar area with porcelain floor, reclaimed wood bar, and shiny granite table top. The cozy dining room had exposed brick, white linen table cloths and a collection of antique corkscrews that adorned the walls. Then out pops Mark from the kitchen. He explained so much about the newly opened space from the time it took to get the place up and running to the recipes to meeting the staff. Talk about a welcome!

We took a tour of every inch, literally. I was in the walk in freezer to see the cheese and meat selection to the private space loft to the bathroom to admiring the antique corkscrews and then back into the kitchen. This is one place that has a ton of thought put into it. Who would ever think to get bar stools for the high-top tables that swivel and adjust height so everyone can be comfortable? And most people want fresh cracked pepper with their dishes so every table has their own. And you won't find paper on top of the tables, nope just clean fresh linens every time. It's all in the details. Some so small, we hardly notice on a regular basis.

Then the fun part...cooking! They were making a ton of meatballs for a private event and I got to taste test them. But with meatballs comes marinara and guess who's job that was...This girl! The marinara recipe is simple: tomatoes, paste, oregano, garlic, oil, pepper. I was even handed over the HUGE immersion blender. Of course I wore white on this particular day so I was given a chef's jacket to keep my work clothes clean because ya know, I did have to go back to work :(

Mark has poured his heart and soul into this place and it shows! From the details to the menu to the friendly staff and decor, Slate Wine Bar is not a place to be overlooked. They have daily wine and food specials on the chalkboard that change everyday. The food selection is even paired with the daily wine selection, no thought needed!

This place has all the things to make it a new favorite (as written about in my last post). You can betcha I'll be back very soon. Oh, and Ripple, you may have been replaced! ;) Just kiddin' there's enough love to go around.

Cheers!