Eatz

BY DEBBY CRITCHLEY

Murphy’s is Irish Stew and a Lot More

Murphy’s Blackboard has everything you need to know!

All photos by Debby Critchley

Includes choice of entree, Caesar salad & garlic bread Choose one (1) of three (3) entreés:

1. Chicken or Eggplant Parmesan 2. Meat Lasagna 3. Linguine Chicken Alfredo

Three (3) hours preferred notice to permit for prep time.

Dining room and patio open!

Expires 2/28/21 Mention: Zebra 11 am - 3 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm, Monday-Friday 2850 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria VA 22314 aldositaliankitchen@gmail.com aldositaliankitchen.com

703.888.2243

Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub, 713 King St. has been part of Old Town Alexandria since 1978. If you haven’t been there, you really should check it out. This authentic Irish Pub was opened by friends and family to bring a bit of Irish heritage and entertainment to Alexandria. The dining area shares space with a long polished dark wood bar where you can select from an assortment of Irish beers and ales along with varieties from around the world and local brewers.

Corned beef and cabbage eggrolls

Oyster stew

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Greek salad Shephard’s pie

Last Few Weeks for Your Winter Favorites!

Including Homemade Split Pea Soup, Cassoulet Maison

127 North Washington Street Old Town Alexandria 703-548-4661

www.lerefugealexandria.com Old Town’s Longest Running Family-Owned French Restaurant

QUOTABLES

A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have. —Irish proverb

MURPHY’S OWN BACK CREEK OYSTERS FROM CHESAPEAKE WILD

Murphy’s Irish Pub is the owner of Chesapeake Wild Seafood. They work with local watermen to ensure that guests are getting fresh, local seafood delivered to their plate. Fish are always on the move and Chesapeake Wild focuses on what is currently available in the Chesapeake Bay and local waters to bring a variety of in-season, sustainable seafood. They harvest clams, oysters, and fish from local fishing areas like the lower Chesapeake Bay, Lynnhaven Inlet, Hungars Creek, and the Atlantic Ocean. Chesapeake Wild is committed to following sustainable seafood practices. This ensures that when the fishing boats go out to harvest wild seafood, the wild seafood will be there. Nothing matches the freshness and taste of wild seafood.

The oysters served at both the Alexandria and Virginia Beach restaurants come from Chesapeake Wild’s own beds. These Back Creek mollusks are large and briny beauties with a great fresh flavor. They are delicious raw or cooked. Try them raw or in oyster stew when it’s available.

Photos courtesy of Murphy’s and Chesapeake Wild

Stellina Pizzeria Opens a Shop in Shirlington

AND IT HAS A PASTA VENDING MACHINE!!

BY GRACE BILLUPS ARNOLD

Antonio Matarazzo, co-owner of Stellina Pizzeria in D.C., has a couple of new concepts for Virginia residents: a pasta vending machine and a second location.

What is a pasta vending machine?

Fully stocked with fresh pasta made in-house daily, the Stellina vending machine is a restaurant in a box. Inside, customers will find: 1. DIY pasta kits 2. Three kinds of pasta 3. Three different sauces 4. Salami 5. Cannoli kits 6. Stellina merchandise, such as hats, shirts, and blankets

The machine is open from 10:30 am to 9 pm on weekends and 10:30 am to 8 pm on weekdays. It resides regally inside Stellina Pizzeria’s upand-coming location in The Village at Shirlington.

What you need to know about Stellina 2.0

In addition to a machine that dispenses pasta upon request, the Shirlington Stellina Pizzeria also houses a marketplace where you can buy delicious homemade pasta and sauces, imported meats and cheeses, frozen pizzas and pastas, eggplant parmesan, olive oil, and coffee!

The new location opened Friday, February 12, 2021. The vending machine operates during store hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 4-9 pm, Friday-Saturday: 4-10 pm, Sunday 4-9 pm.

Matarazzo says, “This has been a tough time for restaurants, obviously, and a second location was not in our plans, but of course, the pandemic changed some plans. We found a space we liked and decided, ‘Why not? Let’s do it!’ So we did.”

Why Shirlington?

Matarazzo is originally from Avellino, Italy. When he came to the U.S., he bought his first house in the Fairlington community in Arlington. With much of his friends and family living in the Fairlington, Arlington, and Shirlington areas, this second location’s choice seemed obvious.

The new location has already seen an increase in patronage since opening, and the vending machine itself has received many visitors and much praise. Stellina’s second location will be a lifeline for employees and an inspiration for friends and family.

Matarazzo will move the vending machine to the D.C. location in the spring, with plans for acquiring more vending machines in the future. You will eventually be able to find them in buildings, offices, and communal areas throughout D.C. and Virginia.

Stellina, meaning ‘little star’ in Italian, was a name inspired by Matarazzo’s daughter Stella. “We were trying to find a name that was emotional for me and my partner but was also easy to pronounce.” Stellina also carries a message. The co-owners embrace five themes of life: Italy, Pizza, Style, Food, and Love. And a star has five points. Thus, Stellina Pizzeria was born.

Stellina Pizzeria opened in D.C. in 2019. Considering that the challenges of COVID-19 began that same year, Stellina’s vending machine and Shirlington location are big moves making even bigger news. For Matarazzo, “We were able to evolve ourselves in this pandemic. We just started to create things, and we are very proud of it.”

Photo: Rey Lopez, Eater D.C. At right: Stellina Pizzeria has opened its second location at 2800 S Randolph St. in Shirlington.

Below left: The pasta vending machine is stocked with house-made sauces and pastas, and they are selling quickly!

Below right: Stellina Pizzeria is Shirlington’s newest source for delicious housemade pasta and sauces, cannoli, tiramisu, salami, plus Stellina merchandise on-the-go and at your fingertips.

At left: Co-owner, Antonio Matarazzo (left) with Chef and Co-Owner, Matteo Venini (right).

Photo: Rey Lopez, Eater D.C Photo: Grace Billups Arnold

Photo: Hook Hall Helps l-r, Anna Valero, Hook Hall Helps founder; Nick Freshman, owner, The Freshman; Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, president-CEO, National Landing BID.

Hops N Shine Joins ‘Hook Hall Helps’ Feeding Unemployed Restaurant and Hospitality Workers

“Last week I made all of us to stay con135 meals for Hook nected and give back Hall Helps,” said C.J. during these difficult Cross, chef and owner times.” Valero notat Hops N Shine res- ed that the project taurant located at 3410 serves the industry Mt. Vernon Avenue in in two ways: providAlexandria. “There’s ing meals to out of so many great people work staffs and enwho work in restau- abling restaurateurs rants and they need to keep their kitchen our help. I was excited staffs employed. “It is to be able to support through the generosmy fellow restaurant ity of Nick Freshman industry folks.” that we are able to

Hook Hall Helps, extend these services the relief project to our industry colwhich has provided leagues in Northern thousands of meals Virginia,” she said. and supply bags to Photo: Hops N Shine “Anna has done hospitality industry l-r, C.J. Cross, owner, Hops N Shine; Nick Fresh- an incredible job adworkers since March, man, owner, The Freshman; Stephanie Mirrow vol- dressing such a criti2020, has added a unteer; Rebecca Orens, volunteer. cal need in our hosnew Northern Vir- pitality community ginia distribution lo- and I’m happy to be cation according to able to help her efAnna Valero, founder forts.” said Freshof the effort. Family man, “This certainly meals from a rotating isn’t how I imagined list of restaurants and opening the doors of supplies are now dis- The Freshman, but tributed from 3 un- I think our location til 5 pm every Thurs- and its accessibility day from The Fresh- will allow us to help man, at 2011 Crystal a lot of Northern Drive in Arlington’s Amazon’s HQ2 development in National Photo: Hook Hall Helps Supply bags containing snacks, toiletries and toilet paper are given to every hospitality industry worker along with three family-style meals. Virginia families.” Among the list of local restaurants parLanding. Nick Fresh- ticipating in the projman, owner of the all- ect is Alexandria’s day coffee, cocktail and din- keep the program going. The Hops N Shine which providing spot, is donating his space project restarted in Decem- ed meals for the first time on which was unable to open last ber as DC restaurants were, Thursday Feb 18. “If given spring because of COVID-19 again, closing because of ca- the opportunity I would most restrictions. pacity restrictions and man- definitely do it again, and I

The Hook Hall Helps proj- datory shutdowns. can’t wait until vaccines are ect began last spring when According to Valero, made available to restaurant DC restaurants were shut- “Through Hook Hall Helps, workers so that more folks tered. Working in partner- area hospitality workers re- will feel safe both going back ship with the Restaurant ceive meals and supplies pro- to work and patrons feel safe Association of Metropoli- vided through the generous dining in.” tan Washington, Hook Hall support of the greater Wash- Restaurants may sign up Helps provided more than ington, DC community. To to create meals at www. 10,000 meals from March un- support local restaurants, we hookhall.com/meals . Restil June and has raised more compensate kitchens that pro- taurants will be compensated than $750,000 in donations to vide the meals. It is a way for for the meals they provide.

DID YOU KNOW?

Washington’s Army Celebrated St. Patrick’s Day to Cure Winter Blues. In 1780, by General Order, Washington declared March 17 a holiday to raise morale and acknowledge the soldiers of Irish descent (St. Patrick’s Day). Celebrate St.Patrick’s and everyday at Gadsby’s GADSBY’S TAVERN

Open daily for lunch and dinner www.gadsbystavernrestaurant.com 138 N. Royal Street 703/548-1288

“An Indian standout in Alexandria” – Washingtonian Everyday Small Lunch Bowls Vegetarian Bowls $12 • Non-Vegetarian Bowls $14 In the Belle View Shopping Center Order and Pay Online 1510-A Belle View Blvd., Alexandria Completely Safe and Contactless Curbside Pickup 703-660-6085 703-660-6085

Mention this Ad for 15% Off Takeout Please note our temporary COVID 19 hours: or Buy 1, Get 1 at 1/2 Price for Dine-In! Lunch 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM Dinner 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM DishesofIndia.com