Were it not for Washington's rather distinct muggy weather, guests to last week's back-to-back opening galas of
Fig & Olive might have otherwise found themselves transported to a (tasty) Mediterranean oasis of sorts.
The chic eatery, which already boasts outposts in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, welcomed hundreds of D.C. tastemakers to its sparkling, glass-encased new flagship location inside the upscale
CityCenter neighborhood.
Guests to both the Italian (Wednesday) and French-themed (Thursday) nights were treated to a literal feast of sight, sound, and taste, with Fig & Olive's staff rolling out the red carpet for the occasions.
First greeted at the door by a fleet of luxury cars, the celebrations only grew in scope from there. Bottles of champagne, courtesy of
Maison Veuve Clicquot, flowed like a river which was only perhaps surpassed by the endless sea of passed bites originating from the kitchen.
VIPs, such as
Senator Mark Warner and
Francesca Craig, social secretary to the French ambassador, mingled freely with Fig & Olive founder
Laurent Halasz and even the mayor of Mougins, France.
The presence of the latter, of course, was only natural given that the restaurant's award-winning menu draws its inspiration from the South of France's much heralded cuisine. Think shareable plates of crostinis and crudos and signature dishes of branzino and lamb.
Fig & Olive's two-story CityCenter location spans some 9,000-squarefeet and will be open for dinner, lunch (beginning 7/6), and brunch (beginning 7/11). It stands in good company, with Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel serving as neighbors and a bevy of celebrities, socialites, and even Senators living in the luxe residences above.
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Be sure to check out all of our photographs from Fig & Olive's Opening Gala (Italy) HERE!
And all of the photographs from the subsequent France-themed Opening Gala HERE!