According to the National Restaurant Association, there are more than 980,000 restaurants in the country making it a $660 billion industry. Why does America have so many restaurants and people spend so much in them? The answer is simple: we are a country that likes to dine out. Keeping that in mind, those who are trying to decide what to purchase for holiday gifts this year may want to consider restaurant gift cards for several family members and friends on their list.

“Just about everyone likes to dine out and especially when they are not picking up the tab for the meal,” explains Ryan Fichter, the executive chef at Rialto, a new Italian restaurant in Georgetown. “People enjoy giving and getting gift cards. They have become a sign of our times and are not going away anytime soon.”

National Chocolates Day, that special day all chocolate lovers celebrate, is on November 29, 2013.  This anticipated holiday focuses on the versatility of this "technically classified" vegetable, and chefs everywhere will test their talents in creating the most wonderful culinary delights, from savory to sweet, and everything in between.

 “We plan to create some seriously outstanding and memorable recipes to honor chocolate, and take full advantage of its ability to enhance so many dishes,” says Ryan Fichter, executive chef at Rialto, Georgetown's newest Italian restaurant.

Finally, a food that is so decadent and outrageously perfect, is actually good for you. Not only is chocolate delicious, it has also been attributed to health benefits, from lowering blood pressure, risk of heart disease and stress levels, to protecting the skin from UV radiation and aiding in vision health.

The historic hotel will host a Wine Dinner with one of Virginia’s premier vineyards

The Hay-Adams, one of the world’s leading luxury hotels, is pleased to announce that on Thursday, October 24, 2013 it will host a Five-Course Wine Dinner in partnership with Barboursville Vineyard. The Hay-Adams Chef Jaime Montes de Oca, Jr. will pair signature Lafayette Restaurant dishes with Barboursville’s featured wines presented by Barboursville Winemaker Luca Paschina.