Playmates and Cowboy Caviar on Capitol Hill

Although there's some superserious work churning through the halls of power on Capitol Hill at the moment─confirming a Supreme Court justice, reinventing health care─there's also some summer fun in the works. It always happens around this time of year: Congress is marching inexorably toward August recess and staffers start to taste freedom. It's almost like the last few weeks of senior year. So it's the perfect time for lobbyists to plan attention-grabbing stunts. Yesterday it was PETA's turn. The animal-rights group hosted their annual Veggie Dog Lunch, giving out around 400 meat-free hot dogs to passersby. But the main attraction was the servers: a pair of Playboy Playmates, clad only in lettuce-leaf and rhinestone bikinis, and, of course, heels. (You can see video of the event here.)

And tonight? Well this event comes from the opposite end of the culinary spectrum. Courtesy of the Western Business Roundtable, politicos will have a chance to sample Rocky Mountain Oysters. No, they're not actual oysters. Rather it's a euphemism for bull testicles, considered a delicacy in some parts. Apparently the "oysters" are breaded, fried, and served with a selection of dipping sauces. The dish is sometimes called "Montana tendergroins" or "cowboy caviar." According to the Roundtable's press release, they're trying to bring back some "cojones" to the Hill. Here's Roundtable CEO Jim Sims