Daniel Kramer (second from right) appeared on Good Morning Washington today to chat about Oktoberfest.
Today is National Cheeseburger Day, and tomorrow is the beginning of Oktoberfest.
That means it’s a good weekend for one Washingtonian in particular: Daniel Kramer, co-owner of Duke’s Grocery (1513 17th St. NW, DC) in Dupont, home of one of the city’s best cheeseburgers, and organizer of the District Oktoberfest party in Chinatown, which offers eight beers at eight bars with one ticket.
Daniel wowed a private party of his guests for the second anniversary of Duke’s Grocery on Wednesday, offering a tasty buffet inspired by the Duke’s menu and an open bar that included Warsteiner Oktoberfest along with other beers, wine and cocktails for guests.
The buffet offered sliders that were a dead ringer to your mouth for the full-sized Proper Burger, which consists of a thin burger topped with Gouda, chili sauce, aioli, pickles and arugula. Washingtonian magazine today named it one of the “most crave-worthy cheeseburgers around DC.”
In addition to the “Proper Sliders,” the buffet offered an assortment of charcuterie, hummus and Asian spring rolls.
The knowledgeable Matt Loscolzo guided guests through tequila tastings.
In the upstairs bar at Duke’s, Daniel will occasionally host tastings of select liquors, and Wednesday’s party was a great opportunity to do just that. Matt Loscalzo, sales rep for Washington Wholesale, served up a popular selection of Roca Patron tequila — including the Patron Silver (unaged tequila), Patron Reposado (aged up to six months), and Patrol Anejo (aged up to a year).
It was a fantastic party all by itself, but the best thing about it is that it heralds another year of Duke’s Grocery. Congratulations, Daniel!
A great buffet included the Proper Burger — albeit in “slider” form.