dLeña Celebrates the “Sacred Moon” for Día de los Muertos
Experience an immersive tribute to heritage, memory, and connection in the heart of Mount Vernon Triangle
Washington, DC—This fall, dLeña by Chef Richard Sandoval invites guests on a captivating culinary and cocktail experience with a special Día de los Muertos menu. From Wednesday, October 1, through Monday, November 3, celebrate the spirit of the season by honoring the Mayan lunar goddess Ix Chel. Journey through eight moon phases brought to life with ancestral ingredients, immersive storytelling, and sensory-rich rituals.
Guests are invited to trace the moon’s silver path across the autumn night with eight different cocktails to experience throughout the month-long experience. Imbibe in innovative cocktails like the waxing crescent’s Living Spirit with tequila, Ancho Reyes, Nixta tamarind, agave, black salt, blue corn tortilla, and chipotle tuile, first quarter’s Mythic Essence with sotol, Xtabentún, tangerine, lime, honey, and orange blossom, waxing gibbous’s Yumiká with Almave Ámbar, horchata, amaranth, cardamom, honey, pineapple, epazote, and gold glitter, and waning gibbous’s Lunar Goddess with Contraluz Cristalino, Nixta, ginger, fig, lime, honey, milk clarified, and cherry granita, among others. Pair these drink specials with themed food offerings like the pozole de langosta appetizer with guajillo lobster broth, hominy corn, lime, and radish, and ofrenda de cempasuchil entrée with lamb tenderloin, creamy purple potato mash, roasted heirloom carrots, charred ashes, and smoky chipotle hibiscus sauce.
On Wednesday, October 15, step into La Mesa Lunar, an extraordinary dining experience led by Chefs Richard Sandoval and Giancarlo Sandoval in celebration of Día de los Muertos. Guests are invited to indulge in a three-course tasting menu paired with eight moon phase-inspired cocktail tastings, each artfully designed to mirror the moon’s celestial journey. From the new moon’s Illuminated Feast and full moon’s Underworld Deity to the half moon’s Moon’s Embrace and waning crescent’s Moonlit Waters, every sip and bite unveils a new phase of flavor, creativity, and meaning. The evening crescendos in a communal ritual circle, weaving together cuisine, cocktails, and connection in the spirit of remembrance and renewal. To book your seat for the $90 all-inclusive ticketed experience on Wednesday, October 15, at 7pm, visit dlenadc.com/holidays/ddlm.
dLeña and dLeña ROJA are located at 476 K Street NW, Suite D, Washington, DC 20001. Lunch hours are 11am to 3pm Monday through Friday. Dinner hours are 5pm to 10pm Sunday through Thursday, and 5pm to 11pm Friday and Saturday. Bottomless brunch is offered at dLeña from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations are available until 30 minutes before the restaurant closes. Visit dLeña ROJA Wednesdays through Saturdays for an additional hour of beverage service. For more information on dLeña’s upcoming programming and offerings, visit dlenadc.com.
About dLeña
dLeña by Chef Richard Sandoval is a modern Mexican restaurant located in the heart of Washington D.C’s Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood. Featured in the 2023 and 2022 editions of the MICHELIN Guide DC, a Best of Modern Luxury DC Award Winner since 2022, and one of OpenTable’s 2024’s Top 100 Restaurants, the chef-driven concept celebrates “leña” or firewood, and the nuanced flavors smoke imparts on both its wood-fired food and smoky mezcal and tequila-centric menus. For more information on dLeña, visit dlenadc.com. For additional updates, follow dLeña on Instagram and Facebook.
About Richard Sandoval Hospitality
Richard Sandoval Hospitality is a leading restaurant group founded by Mexican-born chef, restaurateur, television personality and philanthropist Richard Sandoval. Known for offering guests an unparalleled culinary experience, this internationally recognized contemporary Latin restaurant group successfully owns and operates over 60 restaurant concepts around the globe. US restaurant locations span 10 states and the District of Columbia – as well as internationally in 11 countries including Canada, Costa Rica, Greece, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Qatar, Serbia, St Kitts, Turkey and the UAE. For a complete list of restaurants and more information, please visit www.richardsandoval.com.
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