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ozgirl

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  1. ozgirl
    The card also has your traveler id # on the back of it. (in case you lose that little sheet of paper they give you) You'll need this for all of domestic/international travel reservations so that you also (are eligible) for TSA pre. I too tend to carry my card with me. You never know where you'll be when you need to book a flight somewhere.
  2. ozgirl
    that hotel does look cool - and the location is fantastic. looking at the map on the hotel's website, i was reminded of another restaurant that we liked... Mother's - it's a coal or wood fired pizza/italian bistro. The place is pretty big with lots of outdoor picnic tables to eat at when the weather is nice and the pizzas are good. and fwiw.. there's a grocery store pretty much next door in case you want your own food/supplemental snacks - or get tired of the atrocious service we found to be pervasive throughout all dining establishments in Copenhagen. (beyond taking your order and getting your food, and sometimes not even that - good luck getting anyone's attention... especially to get the bill.) we thought maybe it was just us, but then we found many posts about the very bad service in restaurants in Copenhagen. I wish I had more advice to give on this topic, but we never managed to solve the problem ourselves.
  3. ozgirl
    If you are in need of a "budget" option, Ramen Momo is great! For a big ol' bowl of ramen, it's only 17 krona, plus extra for more add-ons. Ramen Momo offers both meat-based and vegetarian styles and is delicious and the chef on duty is Tibetan and very friendly. Ramen Momo is located between the city square and the harbor, behind the Black Pearl apartments/hotel.
  4. ozgirl
    We were in Copenhagen 2 years ago. We stayed a full week and found it the right amount of time for touring the city, and for a day trip out to Kronberg Slot (the castle that Shakespeare based Elsinore Castle on). We stayed in the Vesterbro neighbourhood - a former industrial, but now a hip part of town and close to the train station as well as walking distance to the Tivoli. The neighbourhood had design shops, coffee shops galore, music shops, and the seemingly pre-requisite 2-3 bike shops. We also looked at staying in the Norrebro area, a more settled, established neighbourhood. I think you can't go wrong with either one. As for the design shops, the two big ones I can think of are Illum Bolighus and the Hay.. both located on the Stroget (the pedestrian only street). These places are the mecca for danish design. But, because it's Copenhagen, Danish design is everywhere - you'll find it in random shops throughout the city. Be ready for sticker shock though. My husband and I joked that the items here at Design Within Reach (which we find expensive) to actually be "within reach", compared to what we found in Copenhagen. That being said, there is an area where there are many antique shops (in Osterbro, perhaps?) where you might be able to find some mid-century modern/danish design deals. And since this is a food forum after all, I also recommend the Torvehallerne food market. We also really enjoyed the beers at the Fermentoren.
  5. ozgirl
    We stopped by Indique over the weekend to check out the new menu. The renovation of the space was minimal - new wall colours, maybe? Nothing jumped out at me, but the new menu was obvious, covering both new cocktails as well as food. Among the four of us, we each tried a different cocktail: the Mumbai Mule, Rickshaw Ride, District Martini, and the House of Cardamom. All were delicious. The Rickshaw mule really packs a punch and their version of a Mule, including fresh curry leaves, made for a distinctive and refreshing twist. We tried hard not to rely on our favourite staple dishes (saag paneer, aloo gobhi -- gone are the salmon sliders from the new menu). We had: sweet potato chaat trio of chutneys cauliflower chili fry paneer pasanda saag makai masala grilled cod morel vegetable stew Everything was delicious and the cooking was better than ever. It seems that the kitchen is reinvigorated by the new menu. Standout dishes were the morel stew, the masala grilled cod, and the cauliflower chili fry. The only weak dish (and it was still tasty) was the sweet potato chaat. It arrives in 3 small scoops (each in a different color of sweet potato: white, orange, and purple) on a decorative banana leaf. It looks like each scoop should be a schmear of some kind and you kind of don't know what to do with it, since there isn't an accompaniment to it. It felt like it needed a papadum or naan to put it on. But, we happily ate it as is, and it was good. Excited to try more of the menu next time. Hopefully, we're on a roll. ps. the samosa chaat is still there.
  6. ozgirl
    I forget if this was from Plenty or More Plenty (they tend to blend, but I am preferring More Plenty the more I use it). Anyway... there is a roasted brussels sprout recipe in one of them with grapefruit segments that is outstanding. It's a little savory and a little sweet/sour. Definitely a keeper for the sprouts recipe rotation.
  7. ozgirl
    Just tried the "breakfast banh mi" this morning. That is one delicious sandwich!!! The banh mi bun on it's own is always good - crusty on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. But, the addition of a slice of their eggy frittata, combined with ever-so-slightly sweet and plenty vinegary (in a good way) vegetables, plus some mayo(?) makes for an unbelievably good sandwich. My new favourite item at Bread Furst.
  8. ozgirl
    I am intrigued by these delivery services and have a friend who has become a regular user of Blue Apron. He loves it! Has anyone tried The Purple Carrot? (same concept as Blue Apron and others, but provides only "plant based" meals).
  9. ozgirl
    On the way to La Colombe over the weekend, we passed by a new independent coffee house, Compass Coffee. We couldn't resist not checking it out. We weren't disappointed. The space is great - light, airy, with 2 large skylights in the ceiling, an industrial feel to the tables and chairs with white subway tiled walls. Definitely a place for hanging out - and there was already a presence patrons with their Mac laptops surfing/working away. While we were enjoying our cortados and rosemary/garlic biscuit, one of the owners came over to introduce himself. He and his friend, both former Marines got into coffee during their tour of duty and wanted to add to the DC coffee scene. Much, if not all of the storage units and furniture were built/welded by the 2 owners. Pretty impressive. They are roasting their own beans and the barista on duty pulled a lovely smooth and rich cortado. The biscuit was a bit chewier than I prefer, but had good flavour. Compass Coffee has only been open about a month, but the place was bustling with activity. Beans are sold in tin canisters which are treated like growlers in the way that you get a $1 discount when you bring the canister back for a refill of your next bean purchase. We are big fans of La Colombe, but are excited to also support Compass Coffee in their venture. It's a great new addition to the DC independent coffee scene.
  10. ozgirl
    Mr. Ozgirl and I went to Frankly... Friday night after reading the comments here. (gotta love this site!) We were not disappointed. What a little gem - tucked away from Connecticut Ave, behind a Safeway. It was a lovely night and we were able to score a table in their patio area. Since it was our first time, we wanted to try as much as possible off the menu. We started with a bowl of assorted olives and the arugula salad. The salad was great! There is a strong hit of lemon zest in the dressing and it's a wonder and completely unexpected pleasant surprise. I found the lemon to be addictive and I wanted more salad - just so i could get more hits of the lemon zest. We also ordered the mushroom and spinach pizzas. Both really lovely. The crust had nice charred blistered bits on top and seemed lighter in texture (not soggy) than the other neopolitan styles we've been enjoying of late. Perhaps it's due to the oven. Either way, this was a pleasant change. In both the mushroom and spinach, the toppings were also tasty and varied. We didn't order dessert, but the brownie seemed to be a big hit with the families seated around us. So happy to add this to the list of locations suitable for casual - don't feel like cooking - weeknight (or week-end) meals out.
  11. ozgirl
    Just noticed the other day that the meatless meatballs are back! Assuming the recipe is still the same, It is a happy day in the ozgirl household.
  12. ozgirl
    The information on the 2 different sizes now clears up some confusion from last Friday. A friend had called the bakery earlier that morning asking if they had any challahs left and was told no (and they wouldn't reserve her one in the future). Meanwhile, I was at the bakery and was just about to text her to ask her if she wanted me to pick her up a challah as I was looking at a bunch of them (of the large size apparently) sitting on the racks. She told me of her earlier conversation with the bakery and we were both confused. In the end, at the cost of $12, she declined the challah offer and went to Whole Foods to pick one up there. When I went to her place later that night, with the Bread Furst challah I bought in tow, the 2 challahs placed next to each other were the same size. So, long story short, the $12 Bread Furst challah = about the same size as the $4 Whole Foods challah.
  13. ozgirl
    Went on Friday to try more items - this time it was the asparagus and wheat berry salad with a lemon vinaigrette and i bought a challah (available only on Fridays). The salad ($8) was lovely... light and refreshing with spring greens, feta, marcona almonds, and of course the asparagus and wheat berries. Definitely going back for that one again! The challah ($12!!!!). The challah was clearly labeled with the price. I thought it was outrageous, but I thought I'd try it once - maybe it was THAT good. It was good, but NOT $12 good. As one is supposed to have 2 challahs for a Shabbat dinner, that's a hefty price to pay for bread for the table. The challah itself has a hearty crust on it - which for many folks is fine, it just makes it easier to hollow out the middle part and leave the crusty shell. :-) Kudos to the bakery though for continuing to work out the ordering/paying kinks. There is now a coffee board listing items and prices (and there are pour overs if one wants to wait, despite what the Bread Furst blog had once mentioned). There was also a sign this morning directing folks where to stand and form a line.
  14. ozgirl
    Had dinner at the Iron Gate last week. I love the new enclosed space/bar area. We arrived early and enjoyed some tasty cocktails at the bar. We found the hostess, bartender, and the waitstaff to be gracious, helpful, informative, and accommodating. We had written in ahead asking for vegetarian fare only. The restaurant was happy to accommodate us there was well. We planned on doing the 4 course tasting menu, thinking that any more than that would be too much food and given our relatively late start to dinner - too much food too late in the evening. We very much enjoyed the "taste" course - pickled beets, celeriac? with apples, pickles, grilled radicchio, and other items. it was a lovely course to start the meal. Then things got a little salty. We had the gnocchi and subbed in a risotto for the second course. The gnocchi were the clear winner. Nice bite and good flavour. The risotto was too salty for me and Mr. Ozgirl graciously switched dishes with me and he ate the risotto. We followed up with the tuna. The tuna, without the added sprinkling of sea salt and olives was delicious. I think on its own, this dish (in its entirety) is a success, but after pickled items, a salty risotto, this third salty dish was just too much. We finished with the cheesecake and a (blue) cheese plate. Both desserts were good. While the food was 50/50 (2 good courses, 2 ok courses), we enjoyed the service and appreciated the effort the Iron Gate made to accommodate our vegetarian/pescatarian restrictions. One quirk about the new space though... The WC seems to be in an area that isn't insulated. We happened to be there on a cold and wet night and I remember thinking how terrible it must have been during the polar vortex to use the toilet. It was cold in there! could use a space heater (or air conditioner in the summer months i imagine). just sayin'.
  15. ozgirl
    Stopped by this morning, before the rush. what a beautiful space! I hadn't realized how big that place really is. it was a bit chaotic - but completely forgivable since they'd only been open a whole hour when Mr. Ozgirl and I arrived. It wasn't clear if I needed to order coffee separately if i didn't want pastries/bread - but as we did, i just stood in line and ordered everything together. Also, it wasn't clear if you go straight to the register to order to place your order with someone else and then pay at the cashier. (Since it's the same frustration as Little Red Fox, I'm really hoping they fix this in the future.) Prices were definitely higher than i'd hoped for a neighbourhood place, but i wasn't surprised when i saw them. So, Surprised? no. Disappointed? a little. As for the food - we got a brioche (delish! - such buttery goodness, lovely texture, and a perfect size), a scone (Mr. Ozgirl loved it. i didn't get any.), and a lemon mint cake which was good, but not enough lemon or mint flavour for me. They are also serving Madcap coffee which was great. Three pastries, plus a drip coffee and a latte to go cost just over $16. I think a sign listing their coffee prices will help and a few "order here", "pay here" signs will also be good. Excited to try some of their challahs, other breads, and prepared foods and thrilled Mark Furstenberg has come my neighbourhood! Walking to/from the metro for the daily commute just improved significantly.
  16. ozgirl
    dupont is now closed too.
  17. ozgirl
    Went to check out the new Dolcezza coffee and gelato lab the other week out near Union Market. Turned out it wasn't open yet, but the inside looked great!! Like something out of Brooklyn or Portland. Looking forward to checking it out more when they finally do open.
  18. ozgirl
    It's also pfefferneuse (sp?) season, which makes me very happy. nothing like not one coating of sugar, but two -- iced layer, then a powdered sugar layer. the lack of vegetarian meatballs is now starting to settle in, however. since TJ's announced that they needed to change their supplier about a month ago, i was using my stash sparingly, but have now run out. i tried to stock up when i heard the news, but was too late. i don't know why a new supplier is needed, but i'm hoping that they find one soon - and that can provide the same product. they were so good! a meat eater probably wouldn't confuse them for beef, but were pretty darn close.
  19. ozgirl
    Checked out Little Red Fox twice during their opening week. What a great addition to the neighbourhood! The place is more market than cafe, with only 1 table and about 4 chairs near the storefront window. We went around 7pm on their opening day and they were already sold out of most goods. We took this as a good sign of support for the new place. Of their prepared foods, there was still some baked goods and a macaroni and cheese. We snagged that last mac and cheese and picked up a variety of cookies (brown sugar snickerdoodle, gingerbread, and peanut butter) to go. By the time we got home, the mac and cheese was still warm and plenty for 2 people. And it was really good - creamy and cheesy, with what tasted to be a combination of cheeses used, with a bit of a crunch from the breadcrumbs on top. The cookies were also tasty. The standout was the brown sugar snickerdoodle - not too sweet and nice and chewy. On our second visit, we ordered a latte and a couple of breakfast burittos (vegetable/black bean & vegetable/sofrito). Both were great! The black bean version had eggs, spinach, and black beans. The sofrito version contained homestyle potatoes, eggs, spinach(?), and the sofrito sauce. I can only speak for the black bean version with its fluffy eggs, sauteed greens, and nicely spiced beans. Mr. Oz gobbled up the sofrito version before I got a chance to try it, but there were no complaints from him. Service wise - things moved a little slow as the staff are working out some kinks (to be expected), but everyone there is friendly and working hard to get the place off the ground. The current set up of the store lends itself more to a take-away than an "order your food and sit and enjoy it"/cafe atmosphere. I'm more than happy with this current set-up, though on a strictly personal note, would love it if it evolved into more cafe and less market. With the addition of Little Red Fox and the upcoming Bread Furst, Van Ness is looking up.
  20. ozgirl
    i'm pretty sure i just saw it at the MOM's in Rockville. May want to call ahead to verify that they have it.
  21. ozgirl
    Thanks darkstar. It might have been an off day. I've never had a cup like it at Qualia before. Service-wise, when I was there on Saturday, it wasn't very crowded, only a couple of people ahead of me. No chaos behind the counter. I chatted with the barista over the whole milk option, both of us agreeing that whole milk was the way to go. The barista seemed on his game. As for the coffee itself, I've never found the coffee undrinkable until this particular cup. I really enjoyed the first visit. The coffee was good and I continued to come back, often bringing friends/1st timers to the place to share the joy of Qualia. Admittedly, throughout the visits some lattes were better than others, but I chalk that up to different roasts/origins of bean and some just weren't "my cup of tea" (or coffee as the case may be). None were this burnt though. I can't recall in detail the varied tastes of my other cups at Qualia, but I don't recall them having a burnt taste at all. This time though, it was as if it only had one flavor profile, burnt. I'll go back again. One bad cup won't ruin it for me. Since I find that each of the lattes I've had there seem to vary slightly one from other, here's hoping it was a one-off.
  22. ozgirl
    I've been to Qualia many times now since my first visit back in May. I really like the relaxed vibe, outdoor seating areas, and it's only a quick jaunt across the park to get there from my house. Qualia seems to take its coffee seriously and committed to its own roasting program. But, during my last visit there, the coffee was just not good. The taste was so excessively burnt/over roasted, I couldn't drink it. I had ordered a latte with whole milk, and even the milk couldn't cut the burnt taste. (It also didn't taste like whole milk.) I'm not sure what happened on this last visit. Maybe a bad batch? Barista having an off day? Service was friendly and attentive, but this was clearly not a good pour. The redeeming factor was a good, crusty bagel, ever so slightly toasted. the way i like it. Wonder where they source their bagels from. It was definitely not a "roll with a hole". Given the quality and growth of the ICH in the DC, I now expect more from my coffeehouse in terms of coffee quality. Hope Qualia's roasting was just having an off day.
  23. ozgirl
    Tried the vegan pizza over the weekend. I'd always been curious about the vegan, but was wary to purchase a whole pie and I'd never seen it by the slice (at the Tenleytown location). Happened to be at a friend's house, with a kid with lactose issues, vegan pizzas were ordered, so it was a great opportunity to try it. Gotta say, as vegan goes, it was pretty tasty. The slices had been warmed up in a skillet to crisp up the bottoms which improved them nicely and got rid of some of the chewiness. The "daiya" brand cheese that I think they use is made from pea protein instead of soy. It melts great and in melted form I couldn't detect any weird chemical notes or odd flavours. That being said, I doubt one would confuse it for real cheese. :-)
  24. ozgirl
    forgot to add that I have no personal idea if this actually works.
  25. ozgirl
    I seem to recall Adam Richman talking about this exact issue when doing a retrospective type piece from the Man vs. Food series. His remedy was to eat bananas before chowing down on the insanely spicy stuff. Something about enzymes from the bananas coating your stomach/colon.
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