1 Meat, 3 Sides: Want Some Beer with Your Sushi?

Get caught up with the food scene in Montgomery County and adjacent Washington, DC, neighborhoods with "1 Meat, 3 Sides." This week, the big barbecue showdown takes center plate:

One Meat:

Or—rather—lots of meat, which will be sizzling away this weekend at the 20th annual Safeway Barbecue Battle. Eighteen different vendors are lined up for the event, including Better than Carolina BBQ, Hill Country (which does Texas-style barbecue), Pork Barrel BBQ, Memphis Barbeque and Caribbean Corner (formerly RY Caterers)—the selection is pretty broad, so you're sure to find some style of barbecue that you like. And, the Kettle Corn Guys will be there, appeasing the vegetarians. (Vegans may enjoy the live music and cooking demonstrations.)

The meaty battle (there are seven different contests) will take place on Pennsylvania Avenue (between 9th and 14th streets NW, Washington, DC) on Saturday, June 23, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for kids ages 6 to 12, and $15 for adults. Children 5 years old and younger are admitted free-of-charge. Discounted adult tickets may be purchased online for $12. (No discounted tickets are available for vegetarians or vegans.)

Read more about the Barbecue Battle on its website.

Three Sides:

For those who think sushi is too high brow, and for those who say beer has no place in fancy eating establishments, begs to differ.

On Tuesday, June 19, the upscale Friendship Heights sushi restaurant will serve a six-course, $85-a-person sushi-and-beer-tasting menu, Revamp.com reported.

The $85 all-inclusive menu will feature:

• Edamame paired with a Port City pale ale
• Lobster and asparagus suimono (clear soup) paired with a Brasseurs Illimites double porter
• Flounder carpaccio with white soy and truffle sauce complemented by a surprise beer of Brasseurs du Monde
• Honey and soy roasted duck with A l’Abri de La Tempete Corps Mort
• Spicy broiled mussels and Coronado Islander IPA
• Nigiri sushi paired with Brasseurs Illimites Imperial Stout

Craft beer and cold fish may be just the thing for a hot summer day.

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Garrett Park's Black Market Bistro earned a spot in Zagat's roundup of "DC's 5 Prime Picnic Fare Options." The new three-course box lunch—which includes a choice of soup or salad; crispy catfish, grilled chicken or a vegetable sandwich; dessert and a fountain soda for $12—received a shout-out by this venerable restaurant-rating institution. 

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Sadly, Sub Urban Bros' food truck—considered the leader of the food truck industry in Montgomery County by Food Truck Fiesta (the "official food truck tracker" of Washingtonian Magazine)—has retired. 

"Opening on approx. Feb 3, 2011, Suburban Brothers Great Sandwich Truck [served] inexpensive sandwiches on toasted bread. ... Initial serving areas [included] Rockville, Bethesda and Silver Spring. Suburban Bros retired on June 13, 2012," Food Truck Fiesta reported.

"We want to thank all of our supporters for a fantastic 2 years. but our run has come to a close. We appreciate everyone's well wishes and we hope to see everyone real soon in our future [endeavors]!! Please support your #MOCO food trucks- To our staff, I will always cherish out time working together and if you ever need anything from me , please do not hesitate to call!!" owners Rick Baldwin and Shane Patterson reported on the truck's Facebook Page.