Lunching in the DMV

Mama's on the Half Shell - Canton, Baltimore

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:58:00 +0000

Hey Everyone! The FI (still getting used to writing that) and I met up with college friends for a relaxing weekend lunch. They took us to a popular seafood spot - Mama's on the Half Shell in Baltimore. Thankfully there was zero line when we arrived because we passed one going out the door as we were leaving. It is in the city, so parking can be found on the street.

The place is pretty small, thus creating the line of waiting patrons. It is two levels of dark, colonial looking decor which looks like 'Baltimore seafood place'. Not sure what that means, but it fits! The vibe is casual, but airing on the nicer side.

Our friends ordered a 1/2 pound of Steamed Jumbo Shrimp with chipotle lime cocktail sauce, drawn butter and bread ($9.99). The shrimp were big, and delicious eaten with the sauteed onions. The cocktail sauce didn't taste like it had chipotle lime in it, but was still good.

I was craving Cream of Crab, so I ordered the closest thing on the menu. The Seafood Chowder ($6.99) had shrimp, scallops, clams and applewood smoked bacon in a heavy cream base. It was so good and satisfying. It was quite heavy so if I didn't want to stuff myself (which is never), then I could just eat this as my lunch.

Our friends high recommended this ginormous sandwich! What you see below is only HALF. The Seafood Club ($14.50) comes with a 3 oz crab cake, shrimp salad, lettuce, tomato, mayo, smoked applewood bacon and swiss cheese. You also have the option of fried oysters instead of the crab cake. The shrimp salad had big chunks of shrimp, the bacon was flavorful and you can't go wrong with a crab cake in Baltimore. It's hard to eat because it's so tall, so I took it apart and ended up getting rid of an extra slice of bread in order to fill up on the good stuff.

After our meal we stopped by the famous Vaccaro's to pick up some Italian desserts for the road! A little on the pricey side, and not as sweet as typical desserts.

The service was quick and nice. They sliced the sandwiches for us and I have no complaints. We didn't get a chance to try any raw oysters as their name suggests, but next time!

2901 O'Donnell St
Baltimore, MD 21224
www.mamasmd.com

Full Key - Wheaton, MD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 04:55:00 +0000

Happy New Year guys! Not just Lunar New Year, but regular New Year. This is my first post of 2013, and it's good to be back. Lots of positive changes happening including a new job, which will give me more free time (yey!) to get back to writing about deliciousness.

This past Sunday was Lunar New Year, and I celebrated the 'Year of the Snake' with my dad at one of my family's old stomping grounds. Full Key has served Hong Kong-Style food for decades in this tiny, old shopping center. I grew up in Wheaton, and my mom used to own a hair salon block away. It was nostalgic to be back after 15 years. Parking is limited up front, so there is parking in the rear. Closest metro station is Wheaton on the red line.

The interior has changed a bit since I was there last. Structurally, it looks the same, but they've added much more decor. Wallpaper, booths, picture frames and the Chinese roof replica. Even with the changes, the vibe is still very casual and not pretty, but clean.

The menu is fairly large, but typical for a Chinese restaurant. They specialize in Hong Kong-Style cuisine, which means mainly Cantonese influenced dishes.

We ordered Fried Squid with Chili Pepper and Salt (around $12), which was surprisingly good. Just looking at it, you would expect it to be boring, but it's crispy and flavorful. Half of the reason for the yumminess was the large amount of MSG sprinkled on top (you could see it), but it's ok once any a while! So good, you don't need to dip it in any soy sauce.

The Wonton and Noodle in Soup ($6.75) is a staple item because it's the best around! Huge pieces of shrimp inside the wontons, perfectly cooked noodles, and a flavorful sweet broth. It's a huge bowl too, so feel free to share so you can try the next item I'm about to mention.

Drool. As a kid, all I would order would be duck on rice. We ordered a 1/4 Roasted Duck ($7.95) which was fatty, crispy and had the right amount of salt. Look at the glistening skin!

It was great to be back, and I intend to not forget about this place again. The food was delicious, service was nice and quick, and food was inexpensive.

2227 University Blvd
Wheaton, MD 20902
(301) 933-8388

Bobby's Burger Palace - College Park, MD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:08:00 +0000

What a storm! I hope everyone is safe because Sandy was quite destructive, but thankfully our part of Rockville wasn't affected much. Just a few hours without power.

So we haven't started our 'wedding' diet yet, so I'll just continue to write about fattie places like Bobby's Burger Palace. The Fi (I guess that's his new name? Let's test it out.) visited the University of Maryland location. We met at UMCP, and things have changed. We never had nice buildings and restaurants like this when we were there! I'm not that bitter though...

The name is self-explanatory - they serve burgers. Gourmet ones created by Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to be exact. The interior is bright with warm lighting. It's filled with bar seating/communal tables and very comfortable chairs that spin! It's a casual place where you order/pay at a register, they give you a number, and they bring food out to wherever you are sitting.

Many of the burgers are named after cities and characterized by a food that represents them. For example: The Fi ordered The Philadelphia Burger is topped with Provolone Cheese, Griddled Onions and Hot Peppers ($7.75). He thought it was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.

If you're not in the mood for a burger, they offer sandwiches, salads, sides, milkshakes and other beverages. Also, if you don't eat beef, you can substitute the beef patty with turkey or chicken breast.

I wanted a flavor explosion so I ordered the Bobby Blue Burger with Blue Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato $7.75), and it wasn't as pungent as I was hoping. Again, it was an ok burger, but nothing particularly special. Ray's Hell Burger's equivalent is much better.

I love Sweet Potato Fries ($3) and these came with a Honey Mustard Horseradish Sauce which was awesome.

If you like dipping sauces, they have a variety including Jalapeño Hot Sauce, Chipotle Ketchup, Burger Sauce, and Barbecue. Sadly none of them really stuck out for me.

Overall, we weren't wowed. So if we were visiting our Alma Matar again, we'd probably stop by Cluck U. However, I will say their service was impressive. We weren't there for long, but 3 different times someone would check on us. Pretty nice!

8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
240-542-4702
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com

Happy News + Michigan Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 04:27:00 +0000

For those of you that don't already know...we're engaged! It's been a long but wonderful road (next month will be 8 years together), and he finally popped the question when we were in Michigan visiting his brother. We drove up to Traverse City near Lake Michigan (4 hours north of Ann Arbor/Detroit) to check out Sleepy Bear Dunes and wineries. He asked me along this quiet sandy beach, and I said yes. Thank you to everyone that has supported us! I guess I need to figure out a new nickname for him since 'The bf' doesn't apply anymore...
If you're up in the area, visit Chateau Chantal and Chateau Grand Traverse. They are beautiful wineries that you can also stay at.

While up in Traverse City, we went to Frenchie's Famous (3 pics on the left) for their famous pastrami sandwiches. Best I've ever had in my life! FYI, the dining room only seats 8 people and is always packed. We stopped by 7 Monks Taproom to celebrate! Nice bar with amazing food.

While back in Ann Arbor, we went out to eat a lot! I know this isn't the typical format I use for my recaps, but I'll spare you guys since we went to MI earlier this year.

Try Curry Up (cute name) for fast, delicious and spicy Indian food!

We got to go to a University of Michigan Football game! OMG the "The Big House" was overwhelming. It fits 120,000 people! Lots of UM pride in Ann Arbor. My college experience as a Terp was nothing like this.

After the game, we grabbed pizza at New York Pizza Depot (NYPD, haha), which was ok, but seemed to be a popular pizza place around campus.

The best pie ever at Achatz! All handmade pies. We bought a Four Berry pie with Michigan cherries, and I was in heaven.

Thankfully we missed the long line wrapping around Zingerman's Deli when we got lunch! We split a roast beef sandwich at one of Ann Arbor's most popular deli's. It was good but I wouldn't wait in line for it.

While we were walking around town, we stopped into Jolly Pumpkin for some local brews on tap. The Bam Biere (left) was one of the best beers I've ever tasted, and is one of Men's Journals' Top 25 Beers in the US.

If you want to try a local coffee chain, Sweetwaters has delicious drinks! We needed our caffeine fix, and this hit the spot.

Angelo's is still my favorite place in the world for a mind-blowing reuben. I refused to share!

For good and cheap sushi, we went to Saica for dinner with the family. They give you tons of food!

Thanks for reading and more posts to come!

DC VegFest 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 02:49:00 +0000

Hi Everyone! DC VegFest is back for it's 4th year this weekend, and I will be there again to support! Whether you don't eat meat, want to be healthy or enjoy new things, it's free and fun!

What: Free outdoor vegetarian celebration
Where: Yards Park, 300 Water St. SE, DC (near National Stadium), closest metro stop is Navy Yard on the green line (New Jersey Ave exit)
When: Sat. Sept. 22 from 11AM - 6PM

Co-organized by Compassion Over Killing and the Vegetarian Society of the DC, you can enjoy free food samples, dozens of vendors, and special guest speakers:

Jane Velez-Mitchell, CNN Journalist
Rich Roll - Vegan Ultra-Athlete and author of Finding Ultra
Michael Greger, M.D. Dir. of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at the Humane Society of the US
Terry Hope Romero - Cookbook Author, Viva Vegan!
Bruce Friedrich - Director for Strategic Initiatives, Farm Sanctuary
Afya Ibomu - Nutritionist and Cookbook Author, Vegan Soulfood Guide to the Galaxy
Doron Petersan - Author, Sticky Fingers' Sweets
Mariama Taifa-Seitu - Young Activist
Wendy Rieger - News Anchor, NBC4, Washington, DC

The first 1,000 attendees will get a chance to take home a free 2012 DC VegFest commemorative bag filled with samples from Cascadian Farm, Michele’s Granola, Bumble Bar, Beanitos, Mary’s Gone Crackers, Wholesome Sweeteners, Tasty Bite, and more. Plus, there are product coupons and other free items from some of our speakers and sponsors.

See you there rain or shine!

Iron Age - Rockville, MD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 02:50:00 +0000

Hi Everyone! Recently, the bf, my cousin and I went to eat a super late lunch at Iron Age. We figured since we had another boy around, it would be worth getting All-You-Can-Eat Korean BBQ.

The place is bigger than it appears from the outside. Sticking to its name, the interior is clad in metal/iron, not wood like many Korean restaurants have. Lots of TVs and a huge projector screen play Kpop music videos. They are open until 2am on the weekends, so I'm sure it's pretty popping at night.

The menu is very easy - pick Gogi A ($18) for 3 meats, or Option Gogi B ($22) for 5 meats and sodas. Each of us selected option B because it was more meats and drinks for $4 more per person.

We were given 3 meats, 1 skewer of veggies, 3 frozen triangles of rice, a pancake, egg soufflé, 4 ban chan sides, a soup and salad. The meats we were given were the first 3 on the menu. They weren't marinated, so they were bland, and tough. Both my cousin and I broke our chopsticks! The rice took 30 minutes to warm up thoroughly on the grill. The ban chan didn't include kim chi! The egg soufflé and soup were bland too. Thankfully the pancake wasn't too bad, so we had a few.

They also provided 4 dipping sauces: chili sauce, soybean paste sauce, sesame oil with salt/pepper, sweet sauce. I didn't think they were too special, but the bf liked the sweet sauce the best.

On our table had a call button, which we used at least 5 times because the service was poor. There were about 4 tables in the restaurant and it took them 10 minutes to take our order. They only gave us 3 out of 5 meats, and we thought they were bringing out the others later, but it never happened. We ended up cooking our own food, and using the call button for refills/requests because we weren't checked on. Towards the end of our meal, a server even blew out our grill before we were done cooking all of the meat!

I have a bunch of friends that will probably disagree with me, but lunch took forever, and it wasn't even good. I'd rather drive to VA or even buy marinated meat at H Mart and cook it myself for cheaper. My cousin who hasn't had Korean BBQ before thought it was fine. The Korean bf of mine liked the amount of meat, but not the taste. As a girl, I don't eat that much, so paying $22 for mediocre food and poor service isn't worth it.

1054 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 424-1474
http://www.yelp.com/biz/iron-age-rockville

Kraze Burger - Bethesda, MD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Quick update on my last post: I did the Whole30 diet for 4 days and quit because I wanted to die. So here I am back to eating whatever I want, yet practicing moderation...as I write about a delicious burger joint.

Last week before the "Caveman Diet", the bf and I grabbed dinner at Kraze Burger, which is a Korean-owned burger chain. (As I'm typing this post, I just found out it's pronounced 'crazy' not 'craze'.....hmmmm, interesting.)

They recently expanded the place and added a frozen yogurt portion because the last time I was there, this whole section that you're seeing wasn't there. Overall, very bright, clean, green, modern interior.

The place is small (10ish tables and a bar stools along a wall), so we found it interesting that they give you a buzzer to alert you when your food is ready. Slightly unnecessary, but either way, it's cool!

Onto the menu! They use all-natural, pesticide-free, 100% vegetarian fed beef. You can expect some Korean inspired sauces, however the menu is pretty normal with sides of fries, chili, salads, and sandwiches, except for the side of grilled asparagus, which I found unique.

I ordered the the Matiz (beef patty, grilled, onions marinated in Kraze BBQ sauce, American cheese, bacon, pickles, tomato, mayo and lettuce). Yummy! The patty was juicy, and everything together worked well. On the flipside, I didn't like how messy it was because of the sauce (look at the bottom bun), so just get lots of napkins.

The bf ordered the Maximum (beef patty, spicy Maximum sauce, bacon, tomato, onions, lettuce, mayo and American cheese), which he added jalapeños. He also found the patty to be juicy. They told us that our burgers would be cooked 'medium', but even though they weren't, they were still fine. He enjoyed the burger though it wasn't as spicy as he wanted it.

As if burgers weren't enough food, we split Chili Cheese Fries (crescent fries topped with chili and cheese). I've had their regular fries before which are skinny. They use thick-cut fries for this dish because they can withstand the toppings. I felt it was the best chili cheese fries I've had, however the bf still thinks Ben's Chili Bowl is a bit better.

Solid burgers that we think are at the top of our MoCo list. Size-wise, the burgers are slightly smaller than I was expecting. The fries I've had are very good. The burgers are around $8-9, which is typical, but pricey since the patty isn't huge. We'd definitely go back.

4733 Elm St.
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 215-9068
www.kraze.us

Food Blogger = Fattie Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 03:46:00 +0000

I'm typing to you guys as I'm lying on my living room floor in exhaustion from my first night of Insanity workout. I'm sure many of my fellow food bloggers that write restaurant reviews can agree with me - it's HARD to stay in shape and write about bone marrow, pork belly and crack pie. I have ZERO will power when it comes to snacks, which is why I had sweet potato chips and chocolate for dinner.

Tonight I've decided to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Oddly enough, I'm canceling my gym membership tomorrow morning because I don't go, (bores me) so I'd rather use that $ towards something else. I'm going to give Insanity workout a try, and be more active in general like breaking, wall climbing, riding my bike, hiking, hot yoga, etc.

I'd like to try this Whole30 Program, which is pretty much eating like a vegan for 30 days to cleanse your system (meat, seafood, eggs, tons of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of good fats from fruits, oils, nuts and seeds.) Seems SUPER hard, but could be beneficial. I'll let y'all know!

I appreciate all of you that read on a regular basis. Hope to get my next post, which is about burgers (how ironic) up this week!

Recap of Denver, CO

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 04:06:00 +0000

Hey Everyone! My brother and his family moved to Denver, CO from Phoenix, AZ earlier this year. The bf and I have never been to Denver before, and were excited to see the fam and scope out a new city. If you're ever planning a trip out there, check out some of the places we went to and ate at!

Day 1

Yogurtini
8000 E. Belleview Ave
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
(303) 770-1005

My brother and his family live right outside of the city in the suburbs, so there were a lot of strip malls with yummy places to eat. Almost right off the airplane, the kids wanted to get frozen yogurt. Hey, I'm always down! At $.39/ounce, they have at least 10 self-serve flavors. Lots of fruity ones, unique 'martini' flavors and toppings like Sriracha. We ended up going twice during our trip, and I was IN LOVE! So cute and clean in there. Compared to all of the other froyo places in the area, this is my family's fav.

Larkburger
8000 E. Belleview Ave
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
(303) 779-0093

For lunch, we had burgers at this Colorado-based gourmet burger place. Everything is all-natural, biodegradable, and energy-efficient. We ordered a Larkburger (beef), Truffle Burger, Tuna Burger, Kids Meals, Fries and Truffle Fries. The burgers themselves are actually pretty small, but I guess that helps with portion control. Even with their size, they pack a flavorful punch! We really enjoyed them as well as their fries. Sad we don't have them in DC.

Bones
701 Grant St
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 860-2929

We drove into Denver for dinner an Asian-fusion restaurant. Cute neighborhood, and the weather was perfect for eating outside. Even though I thought it was a pretty nice place, they had crafts for the kids.

We ordered Steamed Buns, Egg Noodles, Ramen and Soba. We all tried one another's dishes and they were good! I enjoyed the different noodles, but thought the buns were a little dry.

REI Flagship Store

To work off our dinner we headed over to the flagship REI store to walk around. It's actually in an old converted railroad building. It's HUGE!! They have a wall climb, multiple levels, an awesome bike testing area outside, class rooms for workshops, and every item you could ever need to be outdoors. The building is right next to a river, so we saw people fire-twirling and biking in the dark. If you are a lover of the Great Outdoors, you must stop by.

Paris On the Platte
1553 Platte St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 455-2451

After working off dinner at REI, we went for 'after-dinner' drinks at this cafe/bar. The vibe was hippie-chic. Dog paintings on the walls for sale, people with laptops and sketch books surrounded us. We ordered Milkshakes, Rootbeer Floats and an Egg Cream Soda. It was an interesting place to stop into since we were in the area. My Chai Milkshake was the bomb.com, and I need to find a place that makes one around DC.

Day 2

The Buff Restaurant
1725 28th St
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 442-9150

Our destination for the day was the Rocky Mountains for hiking. We stopped by Boulder, CO to fuel up on a hearty breakfast. It is located right next to University of Colorado - Boulder, which I've heard is an awesome place to go college especially if you like being active. I ordered Sourdough French Toast, which sounded different, but I ate the entire thing! My belly was happy.

Our family chowed down on Breakfast Burritos, Pancakes (The biggest ones I've ever seen! They were on Man Vs. Food), Eggs Benedict, Kid's Menu Bacon and Eggs. The place has delicious food and large portions. It's located next to a motel, so it's not anything fancy, but check it out if you're in Boulder.

Rocky Mountain National Park

I have so many nature pics, but decided not to freeze your web browsers, so here is a small taste of the Rockies. The park is 415 square miles of wilderness that goes all the way up to 14,259 ft high! It would've taken hours to drive up there, so we ended up kind of driving and stopping in places we thought were nice like one of their many waterfalls. It's only 1.5 hrs NW of Denver, so go breathe some fresh air, enjoy the silence and take in the beautiful sights!

Boba and Crepes
1154 S Colorado Blvd
Glendale, CO 80246
(303) 759-2737

It was a LONG day of hiking and driving, so on our way home we quenched our thirsts with some bubble tea. Good bubbles, sweet and flavorful tea. I got their Almond Milk Tea, which I gave my stamp of approval. The place smelled so good! The smell of crepes is similar to fresh waffle cones.

Day 3

Biker Jim's Restaurant
2148 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80205
(720) 746-9355

Typically when I'm on vacation I do a ton of research on where I want to eat. This trip I decided to go with the flow since it was to visit family, and figured they knew where to eat. However, this was the only place I insisted we try! They specialize in hot dogs made of game animals! We originally tried finding their cart using the address on Yelp, but they aren't always there as we learned the hard way. So my suggestion is to just go to the actual restaurant. We shared some Deep Fried Mac and Cheese, and Charred Tahini Cauliflower.

Can't go wrong with Alaskan Reindeer, Duck Cilantro, Rattle Snake/Pheasant. OMG....so cool and yummy! The reindeer was a hit for us, while the duck and rattle snake were more mild in flavor. You can also get different toppings on them including cactus, wasabi aoili and cream cheese. I recommend coming here! When else can you say you've eaten Elk or Wild Boar?

Ferril Lake at City Park

More after-food exercise! Rented a 4-person bike cart and paddle boat. Surprisingly, both of those items were a lot of work to get around. The park has museums, a lake, trails, playgrounds, etc. Unlike Central Park in NYC where a bazillion people are all up in your space, there is a sense of peace and relaxation even though you are in the middle of the city.

Pho Saigon
9555 E Arapahoe Rd
Englewood, CO 80112
(720) 873-8899

After monkeying around, we fed our new appetites with some noodle soup. You probably cannot tell, but the bf's bowl was ginormous, and I didn't think he could finish it...but he did! The pho was satisfying, and the place was pretty packed. Out of all the pho restaurants in the area (I didn't even know Vietnamese people lived in Colorado), my family recommends this place.

Cherry Creek State Park

This was my first time swimming in a lake, and at first I thought it was going to be one of those algae, mosquito-covered lakes you see at camp. Thankfully I was wrong! It is HUGE, and surprisingly clean. They brought in sand, so it's a nice place to hang out and catch some rays. There is a picnic area with grills, a playground and lots of trails for biking. I was surprised to feel how hot Denver can feel. Since the elevation is higher, you're technically closer to the sun, so the rays are strong.

Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill
630 S Colorado Blvd
Glendale, CO 80246
(303) 757-5900

Starving once again! My family loves to eat. Similar to Chipotle, but with a Mediterranean twist. We all ordered pitas with either chicken, shwarma or falafel. They have so many toppings that you can add to your dish. The falafel was drier than I prefer. You get a ton of food and it's a healthy option for lunch or dinner. It's funny that they offered burritos, which the bf ordered and adored.

Dry Dock Brewing Co
15120 East Hampden Avenue
Aurora, CO 80014
(303) 400-5606

The bf and I took my bro's car to a local brewery for a mini-date. They do not serve food, however they have free popcorn in a machine. It's literally a tasting room with some TVs and view of the brewery. I got a pint of their Apricot Blond and the bf got the sampler! I loved my beer because it was light and fruity as the name suggest. The bf's favorite was their Vanilla Stout since he likes dark beers. You can buy bottles and sodas to-go.

Big Bill's NY Pizza
8243 South Holly Street
Centennial, CO 80122
(303) 741-9245

Last dinner of the trip was spent at their favorite pizza joint. Pizza, bread sticks, wings and ice cream! The place was packed. The ice cream was a local brand and their Key Lime Pie flavor was a big hit with us. I wouldn't characterize the pizza as being close to authentic NY Pizza, but it's ok in its own way.

Day 5

Illegal Pete's
5312 DTC Blvd. #400
Denver, CO 80237
(303) 771-2277

Last meal before we left was a Chipotle-inspired place. The bf and I got burritos that we'd order at Chipotle. He always gets chicken, and thought Illegal Pete's meat was seasoned better. I always get vegetarian, and I didn't think it was as good, but not bad. My sis-in-law and niece shared fish tacos that they thought were tasty, but too messy.

Dazbog Coffee
Denver International Airport

There are a lot of locations around the city, but we didn't get a chance to try it other than right before our flight. We ordered blended coffee drinks, which was surprisingly delish! I ordered a White Chocolate drink and the bf tried their Vanilla.

Thanks for reading guys! Hope this was helpful, and I will bid you adieu with a picture of my niece and nephew's Pillow Pet collection =)

NASFT’s Summer Fancy Food Show: 6/17 - 6/19

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:42:00 +0000

Hi Everyone! The bf and I are off to Denver, CO in a few days! We cannot wait to see my bro, the kids and enjoy a new city. Full recap upon our return =)

One thing we will be missing while away is the Summer Fancy Food Show, but you don't have to!

Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC

NASFT’s Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest specialty food trade event in North America whose main goal is to connect food producers and businesses. NASFT members (producers) promote hundreds of thousands of unique specialty food and beverage products that are often unavailable at your local grocery store or chain.
In attendance will be chefs, food trade professionals, distributors and retailers from all over the world in order to introduce them to some of the most innovative specialty food products in the marketplace.

Some of the Programs you can expect:
Speaker Chef José Andrés
Educational seminars, tastings, tours and cooking classes
Chef Demo Theater
Celebrity hosts Nadia G and Aarti Sequeira

Business Builders 1-to-1

...and more!

If you register online, you can enjoy the event for $35 instead of $45. Use Promo Code: SX10. Offer valid until 6/14.

Check out images and info from last year's event. Hope you guys can enjoy the show for me!

District of Pi - Penn Quarter, DC

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 04:50:00 +0000

My younger cousin is pretty much at our place every other weekend. We hang out, eat, watch TV and eat some more! After eating healthy during the week, we justify weekend fattiness by ordering pizza when he's over. Eventually, this habit turned into a new tradition we call Pizza Saturdays (creative, I know). We've tried so many places around our Rockville, and decided to head into DC to try District of Pi.

Don't drive unless you want to pay a lot for garage parking, waste time looking for a meter, or deal with traffic. It's like 1 block from the Gallery Place-Chinatown station on the green/yellow/red line.

This was the coolest looking pizza joint I've ever seen. The lighting made it look more upscale, while the napkins and tile floors kept it casual.

Look at that chandelier! Fancy stuff I tell you. They also have an upstairs seating area that overlooks the ground floor.

As their front sign suggests, they have pizza and beer! They have an extensive bar with over 20 beers on tap. I ordered the Allegash White, which I've had elsewhere and enjoyed. I'd recommend it if you are a fan of Belgium White beers that are slightly fruity and crisp tasting.

For our appetizer, we ordered the Garlic Bread (warm fresh bread served with a blend of butter & extra virgin olive oil and a bulb of roasted garlic) for $5. I was a bit hesitant when the bf ordered it since I didn't want to fill up on bread, but wow! If you are a garlic fan, you will be jumping for joy. They give you toasted bread along with a roasted bulb of garlic. The garlic has been softened in the roasting process, so you just scoop a clove out with your knife and spread it like butter.

What originally brought us here was my cousin's recent love of Chicago deep dish. He went to Chicago earlier this year and his pizza experiences just haven't compared since. The only other places we've tried with deep dish are Armand's and Uno's.

We ordered the South Side Classico (mozzarella, sausage, mushrooms, green bell peppers, onion) for $23, which was massive! We ordered the large, though we should have ordered the small for $18. Don't forget to take into consideration the thickness of this pizza, so you are getting a lot of food for the price.

Doesn't it look amazing? The sauce was chunky, tangy and prevented the toppings from sliding off. The crust had a flaky texture, which I actually ate and didn't pawn off to the bf. I know the new "thing" is brick oven pizzas, but don't forget about deep dish folks! I enjoyed it, the bf was impressed, and the Chicago-loving-cousin was satisfied.

Our server was friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Food came out in a timely fashion. I have no complaints! I'd love to come back since it's close to the Metro, fun, trendy, and delicious. If you're not in the mood for deep dish, they also offer thin crust pizzas.

910 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 393-5484
www.pi-dc.com

Yocake - Rockville, MD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:26:00 +0000

Happy Memorial Day Weekend guys! Soooo I'm supposed to be getting "bikini ready", however there's a Yocake a few minutes away from me that's open until 10pm on Fri-Sat...oh my waistline. Their original location in Montgomery Mall opened in 2009, and congrats to them for expanding to a freestanding store in Rockville and soon in Dupont Circle.

The Rockville store has limited parking in front, but I've never had a problem finding a parking space. Plus, people have been making their own spaces by parking wherever they want.

The exterior looks completely different compared to the interior. Dark bricks covering the whole building bring an old, closed-off feeling, but the bright, white and modern decor is refreshing and gender neutral. Some cupcake places can be a bit girlie, but the bf doesn't feel out of place there!

Yocake combines two of the biggest food fads ever - frozen yogurt and cupcakes. Such a simple yet brilliant concept. My cousin ordered their signature YoCake, which is (as the name suggests) a cupcake with frozen yogurt on top ($3.95). You can add toppings for an additional cost. If you just want frozen yogurt, they have up to 9 non-fat and low-fat flavors.

They bake their cupcakes on site daily and there's always 12-16 different flavors to choose from. I've been a couple of times, and have tried the typical flavors like vanilla, chocolate, red velvet and honestly compared to other cupcakeries in the area, those flavors don't stand out. However, their fruity flavors are where it's at. Individual cupcakes are $2.75 each. We got the Buy 5, Get 1 Free for $13.75.

We originally came in because I wanted ONE cupcake as an after dinner dessert. Welp, I got 1/2 dozen. My favorite is the Lemon Burst (lemon cake with lemon cream cheese as the filling and frosting) because their amazing frosting is also injected into the cupcake making it extra moist. The bf's fav is the Neapolitan (vanilla cake with chocolate filling and strawberry frosting). Aside from digging the combo of flavors, the frosting is great.

An assortment of French Macarons ($1.30 each) are also offered. I tried their Pistachio flavor, which was very sweet. They are smaller than I'm typically used to, making them kind of pricey.

Overall, I love the hours because I'm always craving sweets, so when we're bored late at night, the bf and I can stop in for a treat. The staff is always very helpful and friendly. They have a good variety of options. Their cupcakes are a great price, however I like getting my frozen yogurt at places that charge by the ounce.

838-C Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 309-0863
http://www.yocake.com

Sei - Penn Quarter, DC

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:35:00 +0000

Hey Everyone! It's been hot (and rainy) recently, but on nice days I love going into DC for Happy Hour. The bf and I hit up trendy SEI for their Modern Asian tapas.

Of course there is street and public garage parking, but take the metro. It's only a block away from Gallery Place-Chinatown on the red/green/yellow line.

The interior is white, sparkling and glam. The regular menu consists of small plates, large plates and sushi, but the best deal is Cocktail/Happy Hour (Mon-Thurs 5pm to close, Fri 5pm-8pm) at the bar area only. They have drink and food specials from $3-$7 each.

Happy Hour = Booze! The bf ordered a Sapporo ($5), and I had a Mango Sake shot ($3) and an Asian Pear Sangria ($7). Fruity drinks are so refreshing in the heat....mmmm.

Onto the food! The Wasabi Guacamole ($6) was a nice twist to classic guacamole. They added just the right amount of wasabi for the flavor and heat.

You can't go wrong with juicy Kobe Sliders ($6) or flavorful Kalbe Tacos ($6). The sliders were my choice of the night and the tacos were the bf's favorite.

We also decided to get sushi. The Eel and Avocado Roll ($6) and Spicy Salmon Roll ($6) were ok, so compared to the other items, I wouldn't use precious stomach space for it.

Overall, SEI was delicious. The bar staff was quick, it's a fun environment, and the food is made well. We will probably only stick to their Cocktail/Happy Hour only because their regular menu is pricey for the amount of food.

444 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 783-7007
seirestaurant.com

Nava Thai - Wheaton, MD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:18:00 +0000

When my Thai friends recommend a Thai restaurant, I need to trust their judgment pronto! Nava Thai is located in my old neighborhood. I grew up on Arcola Ave, and my mom had a hair salon across University Blvd.

There's street parking and a small lot 1/2 block down. The closest metro stop is Wheaton on the red line.

The interior looks like a converted house, which gives it a relaxed vibe, but the ornate Thai decorations make it look much nicer.

Even though I'm trying to cut back on sugar (it never happens), I ordered a Thai Iced Tea ($2.50) and the bf ordered a Thai Iced Coffee ($2.50). Look at the cute cups they used! The server said they are from Thailand. They were delicious and a great price.

They have a huge menu! They have 80 Thai dishes and 91 Japanese items (includes rolls). Good luck deciding what to eat! They all sound awesome. I came with a group of 7, but I'm only documenting items the bf, cousin and I ordered. They all happen to be very popular noodle dishes and a dessert.

1. Pad See Ew (ผัดซีิ้อิ้ว) Stir fried rice noodle w/ Chinese broccoli in bean sauce and choice of meat ($9.95). I ordered it with beef, and I'm salivating as I type. The noodles had so much flavor! Plus the char from cooking added a nice smoky flavor.
2. Drunken Noodles – Pad Kee Mao (เกี๋ยวเตี๋ยวขี้เมา) Stir fried rice noodle w/ veggies & hot pepper, and choice of meat ($9.95). The bf ordered beef and found the two chili pepper symbol not too spicy. He thought it was good, but liked my Pad See Ew a little better.
3. Pad Thai (ผัดไทย) - Famous Thai noodles w/ egg, shrimp, bean sprouts, green onions & crushed peanuts ($9.95). The cousin ordered this, and though it had more of a fish sauce flavor rather than peanuts, it was still very yummy.
4. Mango and Sticky Rice ($4.50). The rice was sweet and the mangoes were ripe. Great way to end a meal.

I actually can't wait to go back and try other dishes. I was able to sample my other friends' and everything was flavorful. The service was great! They were so friendly. helpful and attentive. I found the prices to be very reasonable too.

11301 Fern St
Wheaton, MD 20902
(240) 430-0495
navathai.food.officelive.com

Haven Pizzaria Napoletana - Bethesda, MD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:49:00 +0000

Bethesda has a new pizza place - Haven Pizzaria Napoletana! The bf and I were invited to check out what makes their pizza different.
Look at all the food bloggers listening to Chef Mark Bergami speak. It's nice being around people asking interesting food questions, and knowing NOT to eat until we've all taken pics =)

The their bar has a gorgeous wine display and their casual, yet upscale decor fits for families, business lunches and dates.

Other than pizza, their menu consists of Starters: Arugula Salad, Romano Salad, Haven Arance Salad and Have Potato Chip.

The ovens are 'one of a kind'! They have two 1000lb ovens that are 12x12 ft wide and completely coal operated. This picture doesn't do it justice, but they are huge! I wonder how many times people have tripped over or got hit with the pizza peels.

We washed down our meal with Foxen Park Sodas that are very poplar in Haven, CT.

The we tried many of their pizzas but shown below are the Tomato Pie and Haven White Clam Pie (my favorite!). The char on the bottom of the pizza gives it a nice flavor and the dough has a nice chew to it.

I don't know if you can see how they slice the pizza, but it's cut into 4ths, then each 4th is cut into 3rds diagonally. This is to prevent one from folding it like a NY-Style slice. Cool, huh?

They also make their gelato in-house daily in their Italian batch freezer! It's half the fat of ice cream and have a smooth silky texture.

Definitely a place to check out!

7137 Wisconsin Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 664-9412
havenpizzeria.com

The Cupcake Social - May 4th @Blackbryd

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:53:00 +0000

My beautiful, selfless friend, and fellow food blogger Michele from Squirrels-n-Sweets is participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day AKA she's walking 60 miles in 3 days (crazy!!) to raise money for breast cancer research. Come support her event! Read below what sparked the creation of The Cupcake Social. This girl has a heart of gold.

If you are a bakery or blogger that would like donate cupcakes, hit us up! The more the merrier!

The event will be held Friday, May 4th at Blackbyrd (U Street Corridor, DC) from 5:30pm to 8pm!

All you have to do is show up, make a donation in the amount of your choice ($10 recommended) and select a free cupcake. Thanks to so many generous local bakeries for donating their goodies! Wait! There's more! You will also be entered into a raffle for giveaway prizes. Cupcakeries include:

Alexandria Cupcakes (Alexandria)
Bake Shop (Arlington)
Baked & Wired (Georgetown)
Mom's Office (Fairfax)
Occasionally Cake (Alexandria)
... and more to come!

(Written by Michele) So what sparked The Cupcake Social?

Last year, I received some shocking news: my co-worker had breast cancer. No one directly associated to me has ever been diagnosed. The closest I've come was my ex supervisor's mother who had passed away year's prior. It's one of the most widely known forms of cancer yet it didn't touch my world. Until Susan.

I wasn't ready to hear something so scary, so personal., so close. We work in the same office. She's the mother of two little girls- I bought scout cookies from them. She constantly has a smile on her face and a light hearted comment to add. I have been fortunate to work with several accomplished women in a male-dominated business and she is one of whom I take notes from.

She didn't let us see her fall though. She kept right on going, even after two surgeries. One day, I was irritated in the office and she asked me what was up. I had my tiny rant. And then I realized who I was venting to- a person going through so much is the one listening to my punk @$$ complain. Unbelievable.

Some people complain about the attention breast cancer gets... and then I heard Susan say she was not doing this for herself.

She was doing it for her daughters' futures.

It hadn't occurred to me that they may be in the same jeopardy as their mother one day. There's something very powerful about the love women possess. Maybe that's why this cause gets such passionate support.

Bourbon Steak - Georgetown, DC

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:02:00 +0000

Hi Guys! The bf recently celebrated 5 years at his current company (good job babe!), so they gave him $100 to spend on dinner. Since he had no choice but to share his reward with me, we went to Bourbon Steak for a fancy pants date.
Located in the swanky Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown, they have valet parking for around $10. The closest metro is Foggy Bottom on the Orange line.

It's so classy in there, but still up to date and sophisticated. Just look at it! They gave us a nice window table, which gave us a bit more privacy. I observed that we were surrounded by more business meeting dinners than dates.

All celebrations require a little alcohol! We ordered a glass of Moscato and their French 75 (plymouth, fresh lemon, sugar, served tall with a lemon peel). Both delicious, sweet and refreshing.

As we looked over the menu, they brought us a complimentary assortment of fries and sauces. Get this - all fried in duck fat!

After placing our order, they brought another complimentary dish! Their truffle bread was yummy and have a nice texture. However, a side of butter would have made it even better.

Their menu is like many other steakhouses with appetizers, steaks, other meats and sides. We decided to try their steaks since it is their specialty.

LEFT: 10 oz Wagyu Flat Iron ($41) - I ordered this marbleized cut of beef, and thought it was tender.
RIGHT: 14 oz Ribeye ($54) - The bf ordered his favorite cut and found it lacked seasoning.

To accompany our steaks we ordered two sides:

TOP: Wood-Roasted "Magical Mushrooms ($10) - I'm not sure what made them magical, but they were cooked just right, and tasted simple.
BOTTOM: "Breakfast for Dinner", Egg, Corned Beef Hash ($10) - This reminded us of a Bangers and Mash because the corned beef hash was in the fried mashed potato patties with mustard seeds.

We satisfied our sweet tooth with an interesting but beautiful dessert! Brown Sugar Bananas (banana cake, peanut ganache, fried captain crunch ice cream). The captain crunch is what sparked our interest and was used to coat the ice cream. The gold colored blocks were honey jelly, and my favorite part!

They love giving complimentary items, and I gladly accept. These tiny Passion Fruit Pops packed so much flavor and cleansed the palate.

Overall, I thought the service was professional, found the venue gorgeous and the complimentary items to be a nice perk. The food was good, however not memorable. We like bold flavor, which was lacking in the food. The prices are very expensive, so our expectations were high.

Four Seasons Georgetown
2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 944-2026
http://www.bourbonsteakdc.com/

Seasons 52 Spring Menu

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:16:00 +0000

Hi Guys! The bf and I were recently invited to try Seasons 52's Spring 2012 menu. I wanted to share some of my favorite items. If you've never heard of the restaurant, they have locations nationwide, all of their menu items are 475 calories or less, and they pride themselves on using seasonal ingredients.

We were greeted with a glass of Zardetto Prosecco with Strawberry Kir Royal. So pretty!

Director of Culinary, Chef Clifford Pleau and Master Sommelier, George Miliotes joined us live from Orlando to walk us through the new menu. You could tweet them a question by using @Seasons 52 #S52Spring...I love technology. Chef Chris (North Bethesda's in-house chef) also helped answer our questions.

Appetizers included:
Artichoke & Goat Cheese Flatbread - with leaf spinach, balsamic onion and roasted peppers
Artichoke-Stuffed Artichoke Leaves - with organic arugula, Parmesan cheese and balsamic glaze
Tomato & Haas Avocado Salad - with organic arugula, balsamic glaze and grilled bruschetta

Our meal was paired with handpicked wines to compliment each dish. Let's just say I was feeling "nice" after dinner was over!

Wines included:
Aveleda Vinho Verde, Portugal '10/'11
Botani Moscatel, Sierras de Malaga '10
Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Corvina Veronese '08/'09
Lioco Indica Rosé, Mendocino '11

Entrees included:
Columbia River Steelhead Trout - with spring vegetables, basmati rice and lemongrass sauce
Spicy Snow Peas & Shiitake Mushrooms - with roasted almonds
Lamb T-bone Chops - with asparagus, truffle mashed potatoes and red wine glaze
Tiger Shrimp Penne Pasta - with spring asparagus and oyster mushrooms in a light lemon-basil sauce

Mini Indulgence Desserts! Mango, Pecan Pie, Key Lime, Fruit Cup, Carrot Cake, Mocha, Lemon Meringue, Rocky Road, Peanut Butter and Chocolate....OMG. They are 375 calories each.

The bf and I agreed that our favorites were the Artichoke & Goat Cheese Flatbread and the Lamb T-bone Chops. The bf does not like goat cheese or lamb and loved them! That says a lot. I was impressed with the wine selection and was happy to be introduced to them. Check it out folks! The menu will be around for the next 12 weeks.

11414 Rockville Pike
North Bethesda, MD 20852
(301) 984-5252

www.seasons52.com

Pho & Grill - Olney, MD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:27:00 +0000

I'm going to try EVERY single pho place in the DMV! Ok...just kidding. It may seem like I've written about so many already, but I'm Viet...can't help it =) My dad lives close to Olney, so he recommended we catch up on life over a delicious, quick lunch at Pho & Grill.
The restaurant is located in a huge shopping center in the heart of Olney, so there is plenty of free parking.

The interior is pretty, warm and modern. I love the dark wood, wall decor and extra lighting.

As the name suggests, they offer mainly pho and grilled items along with traditional appetizers and drinks. We shared an order of Spring Rolls/Cha Gio (deep fried rolls with pork, mushrooms, vermicelli, carrots and onions served with fish sauce) for $3.50. They were delicious and freshly fried!

My mom used to make these when I was a child. It's one of my favorite items that I don't see often at other Vietnamese restaurants. We ordered the Pork Roll/Nem Nuong (fresh rice paper wrapped with grilled pork, crunchy wheat roll, lettuce, mint, carrots and cucumber served with house special sauce) for $3.50. Amazing! Similar to a summer roll, but better because of the grilled pork, and they added a fried spring roll wrapper to give it a nice crunch. I admire great wrapping like this because I've tried it before and it's not as easy as it looks!

Onto the pho. I ordered a small bowl ($6.50) and my dad and bf ordered large bowls ($7.50). The pho was good, the tendon was very tender, and the broth had a strong anise flavor.

The service was the BEST I've ever had at a pho restaurant. Fast, friendly, attentive and helpful. They have another location in Gaithersburg, but if you're in Olney, I would recommend checking them out.

18153 Village Center Drive
Olney, MD 20832
301-260-7728
www.pho-grill.com

Go Blue! - Ann Arbor, MI Trip Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:04:00 +0000

With 80 degree weather in the DC area, Michigan might not be high on the list of destinations this time of year, but the bf and I had a fun (and cold) time with his family anyway! I swear I was the only person in full snow attire with a puffy coat, hat, scarf and gloves. It was in the mid-30's and that's apparently considered a mild winter! I wanted to share some delicious places to check out if you're ever in the Home of the Wolverines.

Day 1

Beirut Restaurant
7650 Merriman Rd
Romulus, MI 48174
(734) 326-1000

We took an early flight and ended up in Detroit before we could get picked up. With time to kill, we took a short cab ride to eat some Lebanese food that we found on Yelp. By the way, it was snowing and 2 guys were smoking outside in tshirts...maybe we're just weaklings.

We ate a lot! We ordered spinach pies, chicken wrap, falafel wrap, french fries, rice pudding and Turkish coffee. Our favorite items were the wraps and home made fries, which all had a very pungent garlic sauce. The service wasn't great (think high schoolers working at their parents' place), but food came out fairly quickly. Random, but the server was in love with my camera, so I let her shoot around the restaurant.

Day 2

Maize and Blue Delicatessen
1329 S University Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 996-0533

If you didn't already know, Ann Arbor is home for the University of Michigan. This college town has a lot of school pride and great sandwiches. We were taken to two famous deli's for a taste competition. Thankfully with the students being on Spring Break, there were no lines anywhere!

We ordered the New Yorker (Pastrami, turkey, Switzerland Swiss, Dijon mustard and onion on grilled sourdough rye) (top) and the Maize N' Blue Special (Roast beef, smoked turkey, cheddar, Jarlsberg cheese, honeycup mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, mild pepper)(bottom). Out of the two, I liked the Maize N' Blue Special because the honeycup mustard added a nice kick.

Angelo's
1100 Catherine St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 761-8996

We then stopped by Angelo's On the Side to compare against Maize and Blue. The original restaurant is next door, but this is their carry-out location. That must have been a pain to write on that board so neatly...

We ordered a Reuben (subbed the corned beef for pastrami, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing, Swiss cheese). It's served warm on their homemade bread. Tastes best dipped in their hot sauce. OMG, I'm salivating as I type. I still think about this sandwich at random times, like loading the dishwasher. That's what you call memorable. I'm sure you can tell... this is my winner!

The Scrap Box
581 State Circle
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
The bf's niece celebrated her 9th birthday at a very unique place. They are a "place for creative recycling", which means they sell you donated scraps. The scraps can be used for craft projects, art classes, etc. I'm all about being green! Companies and individuals who donate the materials would have thrown them away anyway. During the party we decorated magnets, made marble mazes and ate birthday cake. It was a cute time.

Seoul Garden
3125 Boardwalk St
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
(734) 997-2121

For her birthday dinner, we went out for Korean BBQ. Our table was filled with beef, chicken, vegetables, soup and sushi. All of that for 4 adults and 2 kids! Everything was delicious and the service was on point.

Day 3

Seoul Street
1771 Plymouth Rd
Ste 101
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734) 719-0085
This was my first time trying Korean fried chicken. It's characterized by its thick, crunchy skin and hot and spicy glaze. After ordering over the phone and then waiting over an hour in person (ridiculous), we finally got our order of wings and thighs. Was it worth the wait? Probably not, but I was impressed! Tasty, spicy, crispy, juicy and filling.

Ann Arbor has some great food and I was happily surprised. Family - If you're reading this, thanks for having us!

Sticky Rice - H Street Corridor

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:05:00 +0000

Walking around H Street Corridor for the first time made me feel like I was in another city. The cool, hipster vibe and unfamiliar establishments was the change I needed from the typical NW outings. My amazing cousin AKA twin recently treated me to dinner at Sticky Rice.
Street parking was a breeze (meter machines) but I'm sure it gets worse when the bar crowd starts rolling in. Closest metro (not really walking distance) is New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U on the red line.

There are 3 levels with the bar at the front entrance. The exposed brick, red walls and Asian inspired paintings make me feel like I'm eating in a tattoo parlor. Love it.

We tossed back a few after a tiring work week. The Salon Cosmo Sake Lychee (left) was a perfect balance of sweet, fruity and earthy, and the White Gummy Bear (right) tasted just like one but with a kick! Both around $8.

"Napoleon, give me some of your tots." These are the best tater tots I've ever had! Perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They come with a side of their world-famous, secret tater tot sauce, which reminded me of a spicy mayo. Pictured is their side ($3), but you can walk around with a huge tin bucket for $8.

I ordered off of their Monster Roll list (10 pieces) because I was starving! What arrived was huge - Chili Roll (tuna, cilantro, cucumber, jalapeno, grilled pineapple, tempura crunchies and tobiko) for $12.50. I expected more heat but it had a unique flavor because of the pineapple. Pretty good.

My cousin ordered off of their specials menu - Eel Bow (eel, cream cheese and cucumber topped with tuna, salmon, yellow tail and rock fish) for $12. Sometimes cream cheese can be an over powering flavor, but it worked well with the other ingredients.

Everyone on Yelp was recommending these Sticky Balls (tuna, crab, siracha in an inari pocket deep fried topped with scallions, wasabi dressing and eel sauce) for $10.75. They are AMAZING! It's a special dish that is delicious hot out of the fryer. The sweet and spiciness melt in your mouth. I want now.

The atmosphere was fun and chill. I found the unique items appealing, however the sushi wasn't memorable. The service was slow, but nice. Overall, I'm excited to go back and try other signature creations.

1224 H St NE
Washington, MD 20002
(202) 397-7655
stickyricedc.com

Hot N Juicy Crawfish - Woodley Park, DC

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 04:52:00 +0000

When the weather is cold and rainy, I typically turn to hot, Asian soups to calm my mood, but Hot N Juicy Crawfish provides the same effect. Picking at spicy seafood warms me up and helps me forget that it's gross outside. Thank goodness for my readers because I mentioned wishing the Boiling Crab (San Jose) was closer, and they told me about this place! Living Social offered a deal just in time too.

When it's nice outside, they offer outdoor seating. If you drive, good luck finding street parking. We took the metro because it's literally across the street from the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan stop on the red line.

I love exposed brick. The place is a decent size with rooms that are slightly sectioned off. Top 40 music was blasting during dinner, and the vibe was DC mixed Louisiana.

As the name suggests, the place is known for their crawfish. You can order other seafood items like crab, shrimp, lobster and clams too. They are all cooked in a plastic bag within your seasoning of choice. Simple concept, huh?

We ordered The Drool (crawfish, shrimp, snowcrab legs, sausage, corn on the cob, and side of fried calamari) for around $30-35. SUCH A DEAL! We also ordered a side of Cajun Fries (less than $5) that were good, crispy and spicier then expected.

Can you see the joy in his face?

They offer 5 seasoning flavors: Louisiana style, Cajun, Garlic Butter, Lemon Pepper and Hot N Spicy Special. Spice levels: Baby Spice, Mild, Medium, Spicy, and Extra Spicy. We ordered the Hot N Spicy Special, Mild. The server warned that they do not play when it comes to spice. Holy crap, the Mild I would consider Medium/Spicy. I would describe the sauce as thin, garlicky and spicy. The calamari was fried to perfection as a tasty side.

I was a crawfish-peeling virgin. They advise that you twist off the head, suck out the juices, then fold the tail in half to crack it, and then peel out the tail meat. Gosh, crawfish are tiny creatures! The shrimp tasted very sweet.

When you walk into the restaurant, they have this huge wall of Polaroids. It didn't say what it was for, so I asked and the server joking said "it's for people I like" and she added our picture =)

The servers are great. Very friendly, helpful and want to hear their customer's opinions. The food is good, however I wish the sauce was thicker/richer because it doesn't adhere to the seafood. Its a low-key place where you can get down and dirty with your food. Check out their Happy Hour of $1 beers all-day Monday through Wednesday! Can't beat that.

2651 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 299-9448
hotnjuicycrawfish.com

Mark's Duck House - Falls Church, VA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:34:00 +0000

Ah dim sum. I don't get to have it often because the bf doesn't like small dishes...pshhh! Well that's what friends are for! One of my friends took me to Mark's Duck House - her favorite spot for Sunday dim sum. The restaurant has been around for over 20 years serving Hong Kong-style cuisine. As their name suggests, they are known for their Peking Duck. However, we didn't get a chance to try it.
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.

This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.

They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.

1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)

5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!

Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!

6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:54:00 +0000

I wanted to find a quick, after-work recipe for dinner, and this stir fry recipe is just that! You can interchange the meat and veggie to whatever you want. BenjiManTV's video explains it very well. I used beef and broccoli, and changed some of the potions.

Tips:
-Buy a wok.
-Prep all ingredients before cooking. Stir frying is fast, high heat.
-Keeping the beef, onion and broccoli around the same size for even cooking.
-Don't use stew meat, it gets chewy. I've learned the hard way.

Ingredients:
1 lb Beef (sliced)
Half a chopped Onion
1.5 c Broccoli
3 Garlic Cloves, chopped
1 Tbsp of Fresh Ginger, chopped
Chili Pepper Flakes (depends how spicy you want it)
1 Tbsp Chili Paste (depends how spicy you want it)
6 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
4 Tbsp Teriyaki Sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/4 Cup Water

1. Heat oil on low heat, throw in ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir for about 30 secs and remove the ingredients and 1/2 the oil. Put it to the side.

2. Turn heat on high, add beef, salt and pepper. Cook until about 1/2 way cooked. Remove beef from pan. Put to the side.

3. Add the saved oil (not the garlic/ginger chunks) to the pan, and add the broccoli. Stir, then add the water and cover for 15 secs. This will steam to help soften the veggie.

4. Add the onions (I didn't have any this time) and garlic/ginger/chili flakes. Stir for 15 secs, then add beef, chili paste and teriyaki sauce. Stir until meat is fully cooked.

5. Dinner is served!

Tabard Inn - Dupont Circle, DC

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:06:00 +0000

I need to do the whole 'brunch thing' more often. Heading into the city without traffic on a late Sunday morning for breakfast food is my kinda deal. I met my friend and former college roomie at the Tabard Inn, which has one of the most popular brunches in DC. They offer valet out front for $7 until 3pm.

This 40-room hotel has a multi-level restaurant that reminds me of a row house. Cozy, small and Victorian. Thankfully we weren't in the main room (it can get loud and cramped), but were seated next to a window on a higher floor. They have a nice garden patio for when the weather is nice.

It's advised to make reservations 2-3 weeks in advanced. So plan in advance and give them a call!

The menu is inspired by fresh, seasonal, local ingredients and consists of mostly savory items. All dishes are a la carte, and due to high volumes during brunch, there are no substitutions folks!

While waiting for our dishes to arrive, we received a basket of sweet and salty selections like muffins and cornbread.

My friend went the savory route and ordered the Scrambled Eggs with cream cheese and chives, house-made Toulouse sausage, home fries ($14). She loved her dish! I tried the eggs and potatoes, which were both amazing. We've been inspired to add cream cheese to our eggs in the future.

She also ordered a side of Cheese Grits, which wasn't listed on the menu as an a la carte item, but our server said it was possible.

Isn't this so pretty? It was very simply plated, but tastefully done. I went the sweet route, and ordered the Lemon Buttermilk Waffles with raspberry-plum compote, whipped cream ($12). You can taste a hint of lemon in the batter, which goes along well with the fruit compote. Fluffy texture, and I didn't need to drown them in maple syrup. It was very sweet on its own, which would've been perfect with a side of bacon.

Very nice, and cozy place. All of the items on the menu looks delicious and we've heard about the donuts they make, but we didn't get a chance to try them. Our server was very knowledgeable when we asked for recommendations. I definitely enjoyed trying my friend's food and will probably go the savory route the next time.

Tabard Inn
1739 N St NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-331-8528
www.tabardinn.com/restaurant