Foodie News: Foosball Dining at Jaleo, Tater Tot-Eating Contest, Fish Taco Opens

Get caught up with the food scene in Montgomery County and adjacent Washington, DC, neighborhoods with Patch’s foodie news column, 1 Meat, 3 Sides. This week, a combination foosball-dining table takes center plate.

One meat:

Jaleo's Bethesda location opened back up on Monday, Sept. 9, after a week-long closure for renovation. The new interior features murals and chairs by Spanish artists and designers, lots of color and two specially-designed combination foosball-dining tables, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch reported.

Three sides:

Gaithersburg has a new dining option: 555 Lounge, at 555 Quince Orchard Rd., which opened just over a week ago. According to the restaurant’s website, the lounge-style restaurant has private seating and a dance floor. The menu offers a variety of burgers and sandwiches, mostly between $7 and $13; appetizers cost less than $10, Gaithersburg Patch reported.

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City Eats blog reported that Fish Taco (7945 MacArthur Blvd., Cabin John), a "health conscious taqueria," has opened.

"Brought to you by the team behind Food, Wine & Co., including executive chef Michael Harr, this fast casual eatery in Cabin John features plenty of diet-friendly tacos, plus margaritas for when you want to splurge," City Eats reported.

Read about other "hot openings" this fall in the DC area on City Eats.

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If you like tater tots, you won't want to miss this unusual event: a tater tot-eating competition at Bar Louie (150 Gibbs St., Rockville) on Sept. 19. "Rock the Tot" takes place every year at Bar Louies across the country, and in this, the sixth year of the competition, the restaurant is hoping to see some new world records set, according to a restaurant news release.

In the relay race, each of four members on a team will eat a pound of tater tots as quickly as possible. In the solo competition, competitors will eat as many tater tots as they can in three minutes. There will be prizes. Learn more on the competition's website.

To drink (or not to drink):

Irish pub Ri-Ra (4931 Elm St., Bethesda) closed last weekend, DC Eater reported. The closure was expected, but its exact date was abrupt and unannounced, according to Bethesda blogger Robert Dyer.

Dessert:

Here's how to help hungry children and get a cookie at the same time: The next time you stop by la Madeleine, donate $1 or more to Share Our Strength's annual No Kid Hungry campaign and receive a cookie—sugar, chocolate chunk or oatmeal raisin pecan.

Or, donate $5 and receive a coupon booklet with six deals on la Madeleine favorites, including a free pastry, a jar of tomato basil soup and specialty coffee, according to a statement from the eatery. 

La Madeleine aims to raise $200,000 for Share our Strength by Sept. 30. That's a lot of cookies!