Next Tuesday, June 8 (6:30 PM) Eatonville Restaurant‘s Food & Folklore dinner series is focusing on Moonshine! I’ve been talking with Max Watman, author of Chasing the White Dog: An Amateur Outlaw’s Adventures in Moonshine, the special guest speaker for the evening. [Books will be available for sale and for signing.] I’ve never been big on hooch, though it was a beverage of choice of my grandfather’s back in the day. Watman has conducted his own experiments in distilling as he describes in the book. Earlier this year, The Atlantic featured an article on the cocktail renaissance.

The Eatonville Food & Folklore event won’t be as formal as this clip especially with shrimp and grits and chicken fried steak on the menu (peach pie for dessert). But it’s worth noting that Washington, DC is one of the thoroughfares for illegal moonshine distribution. This story isn’t new. I know of a raid in the 1950s of a laundry business. Can’t divulge the details or names.

But apparently grandpa’s hooch is making a comeback as are little hole-in-the-walls (a little more chic than the jook joints) where a new generation can get a taste of what the old timers threw back to cut loose. Jook joints haven’t disappeared either. You need to know someone who goes there to get there.

Is this some kind of “folksy chic” people are trying on. You betcha.

WHAT: Food & Folklore – Moonshine
with Max Watman, author of Chasing the White Dog: An Amateur Outlaw’s Adventures in Moonshine
WHEN: Tuesday, June 8 at 6:30 PM
WHERE: Eatonville Restaurant, 2121 14th Street, NW
FEE: $45 plus tax and gratuity. Four-course prix fixe meal with moonshine tasting.
CONTACT: 202-332-6432 or email foodandfolklore@eatonvillerestaurant.com