Chick-Fil-A

Brickskeller gets a new name and a cleaner bathroom

The biggest change that Brickskeller’s new owners have planned for the historic saloon will be its name, reports WTOP.

Megan Merrifield says she and her husband intend to keep the place as a beer-focused institution, and they want to keep the bar’s regulars coming back. The bar will get a new bathroom and possibly some new hardwood floors. Brickskeller will close on Dec. 23 and reopen a few days later under new the name, Rock Creek. Merrifield owns the Windsor Inn, Embassy Inn, and District Hotel.

Now open: Matchbox and The Big Cheese

Rockville has a new place for pizza and beer. Matchbox’s newest location opened last Saturday at 1699 Rockville Pike in Congressional Plaza. The 9,000-square-foot space that formerly held PGA Tour Grill features a two-level dining area, fire pits, and an outdoor rooftop patio. The menu is similar to Matchbox’s other locations in Chinatown, Capitol Hill, and Palm Springs, Calif. Chefs Jon McArthur and Jacob Hunter from the Chinatown location have relocated to Rockville to operate the kitchen.

The Big Cheese truck rolled out unannounced in Arlington last week. But today, the truck, featuring gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, will begin tweeting its location. Owner Patrick Rathbone offers six sandwich creations made with cheese from Cowgirl Creamery and breads from Lyon Bakery. The menu also features tomato soup.

• Related: First impressions on the Big Cheese truck (EatMore DrinkMore)

Rebel Heroes responds

Last week Tim Carman reported that Rathbone purchased the truck from Rebel Heroes, who have decided to shut down their Vietnamese and Cuban-inspired banh mi food truck. On their Facebook page, Tan Nguyen writes:

Hi Rebels, As some of you have heard from the media today, we've had to take the rebellion back underground. We're all working on other projects and between everything that's happening with our own projects (such as graphic design work/ consulting forme and babies arriving in the Spring for some of us--we are a family business after all) and the amount of resources (time being a major one) it requires on many levels, it's best to go out on top! I can't express how much I'll miss seeing all of our regular customers.

Delayed: Yona

Today’s expected grand opening for Yona has been delayed. According to a tweet, the all-natural and organically driven parfait bar is still waiting on a health inspection. The new operation, located at 1323 Connecticut Ave. NW, comes from David and Laura Smith, a father-and-daughter team based in the District. The menu features coffee and tea, smoothies, and build-your-own parfaits.

In other food and restaurant news...

• Chick-fil-A is rolling out its new spicy chicken biscuit on Jan. 10, 2011. If you want a free spicy chicken biscuit, you have to reserve one on Dec. 27.

• Fairfax-based Paisano’s Pizza is opening a location at 3650 South Glebe Road, says ARLnow. The chain, featuring pizza, pasta, subs, strombolis, and wings, has six locations around Northern Virginia, and is planning to expand to Burke, Tyson’s, Springfield, and Vienna.

• Ben and Jerry’s plans to be fully fair trade by 2013. According to So Good, “The company uses 121 chunks and swirls and 11 base ingredients, and they have pledged to change any vendor agreements necessary to ensure that by 2013 those ingredients will be fair trade.”

• Apps for food lovers to drool over (NPR)

From TBD’s Community Network

• We Love DC: Baking with St. Regis
• EatMore DrinkMore: First impressions of the Big Cheese Truck
• Metrocurean: Chef Five Bites: Bryan Yealy
• Metrocurean: 5 Bites: Lauren Szczerbinski
• EatMore DrinkMore: Merzi introduces Indian food to the masses
• Fabulous Food Finds: Salmon Ceviche in Cucumber Cups

Plan Ahead -- This week’s food and drink events

• Dec. 15 -- Wild Games Dinner at AGAINN
• Dec. 15 -- Glassware Giveaway at Rustico
• Dec. 19 -- Ugly Sweater Party at EatBar

Sweet Deals

• Central: Free samples of new dishes at 9:30 p.m. (till Dec. 21)
• Zpizza: Buy one Rustica, get one free (till Jan. 31)

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