A couple of months ago I had a chance to check out a bit of PS7′s new tasting menu.

Marshall and I had first visited PS7, located over at 777 I St NW, almost a year ago.? This winter Gina Chersevani went from EatBar/Tallula in Clarendon over to PS7 so we started hitting there more often.? Chef/owner Peter Smith’s food has really impressed me and Gina’s seemed to have gotten even more creative with her drinks there.

So while visiting there one night they told me about the new tasting menu concept they were hoping to do at the time.? At their request, I held off talking about it for a while, but it’s been long enough now that they cleared me.

One of the things to remember is that the menu at PS7 is different between the dining room and the bar.? For Restaurant Week I ate in the dining room and it was delicious; most of the time, though, we eat in the lounge.? The Chicago hot dog and the Primanti Brothers style sandwich are killer.

If you’re lucky you might get a chance to try a tasting menu in the lounge.? It’s not always available, so it’s not something I’d suggest relying on.? If it’s available, you’ll see a menu with a wax seal on it.

Mysterious, right?

Inside of the menu there’s a clear piece of stationary with some excerpts from the menu on there.? If you can’t read what it says there (sorry, I don’t have the greatest camera in the world), you see “the menu” at top, “the breath” listed in the? middle, with “the sky” underneath that which is the pale ale-braised duck leg with malted barley custard.

Yes, it’s very good.? The drink listed at the bottom is the “scorched milk” which consists of Woodford Reserve bourbon, Sauternes, and scorched milk.? You must try this drink.

Finally, at the bottom, it says “the end” and the price – $77.? If the teases are good enough for you, you crack the wax seal.? Cracking the wax seal buys the tasting menu.? (You should probably tell your server, too.)

For the sample one I have – and keep in mind that this one is older and so the food and drinks have probably changed – you’ll see this menu, which I’ll quote here.

the menu

the start
beetiful bubbles
heirloom beet and cava

the sea
“sashimi” seared scallops
asian pear, cilantro, black rice, honey vinegar
first frost
persimmons, plymouth gin, vanilla-scented

the pen
thyme-rubbed pork loin
brown butter-pine nuts, pickled watermelon salad
a glimpse of summer
hendrick’s gin, champagne-pickled wax beans

the breath

the pasture
oxtail tots
braised oxtail, hazelnuts, parmesan
across the pond
old overholt, six grapes port, lemon

the sky
pale ale-braised duck leg
malted barley custard
white velvet
grand marnier, ale, bourbon

the dell
domaine de canton lollipops
cheesecake, ginger liqueur, spiced caramel
scorched milk
woodford reserve bourbon, sauternes, scorched milk

the end
77

That’s the entire menu.? I’ve had several of the items on this menu and I’ve enjoyed them all – especially the oxtail tots.? The White Velvet is one of my favorite drinks there, too, especially given my love of beer.

That being said, given the translucent sheet I saw it’s a lot of trust to give Peter and Gina as to your meal.? I trust them, they haven’t sent me wrong yet, but you might not want to try it your first time to PS7 but rather wait until you’ve had a number of the items there.