Laura24601
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Everything posted by Laura24601
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Tonight, my husband and I kicked off a bittersweet culinary journey. We currently live in Eastern Market, and over the past 10 years, one or both of us have lived in Falls Church, McLean, Alexandria, Crystal City, Pentagon City, and 12th and M NW. If all goes according to plan, in the next few months, we will be moving to Maryland--perhaps Crofton, where I have family, perhaps Silver Spring, perhaps Laurel, perhaps Takoma Park. We are looking forward to having a nice home with a nice yard, and plenty of space for the two of us...plus another someone on the way. (This is too early to be FB news, but I'm happy to spill the beans to this wonderful group of semi-anonymous folks.) We are really excited about moving, but we are also going to miss living in DC more than I can say. One of the ways we are saying goodbye to this neighborhood and the neighborhoods we've lived in over the years is to take a culinary farewell tour of sorts. I proposed this to Steve tonight, and he could not have been more enthusiastic about the idea. Starting this weekend, we are making a point to go to all the places we love that we probably won't be going to again, at least for a while. Not fancy places, not special occasion places where we'll want to go for anniversaries and birthdays and other "let's splurge for a sitter" nights, but the dozens of places that feel like OUR places. The places that--even though they aren't close to our current home--are our neighborhood restaurants. We kicked off this farewell tour with Haandi in Falls Church. We had a delicious meal of Baigan Bharta (eggplant, bell pepper, tomatoes and wonderful spices), Rogan Josh (really tender lamb in a creamy sauce with cinnamon and nutmeg), salad, and that wonderful saffron rice with peas. The service was friendly, and I was so glad to see that Haandi was packed. This was the perfect place to begin this project--a warm and comforting restaurant where you know you're going to be satisfied and treated well. Being there reminded me of the days when I lived a few blocks down Route 7 in a town house with five other ladies who have proven to be my best friends in this area. Re-telling stories about living in that crazy group house was half the fun of the dinner tonight. And I'm thinking that's the way this whole farewell tour is going to go. Because some of the best memories I've had in DC and VA happened in restaurants, with good friends, with my dear husband, and even with some lousy dates. The tastes and smells of familiar favorite places always brings back those memories. -
There are countless reasons why I strongly dislike the new design/atmosphere of Jaleo. But because the food is so consistently good, I won't harp on that. Except to say: food should never, EVER be served in a shoe. And tonight, our croquetas de pollo were served. In a shoe. A clear plastic shoe with red shoelaces. Granted, I was crying over delightful tapas. But I was still crying. And so was Jesus.
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Pre-movie, had-to-be quick dinner plans in Georgetown were shaping up, and all signs were pointing to Chipotle. I have nothing against Chipotle, but as I hadn't yet been to Tackle Box, I thought it would be good to branch out a bit and steered our group there. Overall, it was the right decision--everyone seemed happy with his or her choices (grilled zucchini, fried shrimp, rainbow trout, fried calamari among the positive notes), but we left baffled about the hush puppies. As porcupine noted upthread, "Like little oily sawdusty bricks of compressed corn-like substance." As usual, my feelings on this topic are best expressed in haiku: A sad day it is When Captain D's is better Fried bread CAN be bad
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Last night, I had an amazing bowl of sour cherry gazpacho at Belga Cafe, which includes a nice little scoop of sorbet. It was by turns tangy, sweet, creamy and refreshing. It was offered as one of the specials, so I don't know how much longer it will be around, but it definitely is something to try on a hot day.
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I experienced some good starts and finishes here with a group of coworkers at lunch yesterday. The aforementioned pretzel bread is unusual and delicious, and worth going back to try again. And the Boston Cream Pie with Salted Caramel Sauce is really, really good, with a wonderful dark chocolate glaze. The salt blends in really well; it's a nice element, not overdone. But my main, at least, lacked flavor. The Vegetable Pot Pie has a deliciously crispy top crust, but as Chris mentions upthread, the interior is gluey and (I thought) underseasoned. Others were happy with their entrees, so maybe I didn't pick a winner. Service was very friendly, from the front of house to our table. Our server seemed really engaged and eager to make recommendations. Overall, I'm glad to see so many restaurants coming in to the previously unexciting Foggy Bottom area. Just in time for me to resign from my GW job and go to UMD! I'm sorry to miss out on everything happening in this neighborhood.
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Comfort Dishes, Guilty Pleasures, and Old Favorites
Laura24601 replied to DaveBVI's topic in Shopping and Cooking
It's the most wonderful time of the year. Shamrock Shakes are back at McDonald's, and Cadbury Eggs are hatching at a local CVS near you. During Lenten seasons of yore, I have given up alcohol, meat, spening money on anything that is not absolutely nessary, fried foods, and even bow-chicka-wow-wow. But I have yet to attempt forgoeing Shamrock Shakes and Cadbury Eggs until Easter. Because life is too short, I am too weak, and these seasonal guilty pleasures are just too good. -
As many times as I've been to brunch in Dupont, how have I never had brunch at Firefly before today? Subconsciously, I must have categorized it as a "special dinner only" place because I have had so many wonderful evenings there. So...$2 mimosas? Yes, please. And as there were three of us, it only made sense to upgrade to a carafe, right? As usual, I wanted savory and sweet, so I compromised by sharing deviled eggs with my companions and then sharing the lemon ricotta spoonbread with only myself. The spoonbread, while wonderfully balanced in flavor, was a bit dry. But the delicious cinnamon whipped cream and poached pears on top made the whole dish delightful. It was so nice to have a sweet brunch dish that wasn't too sweet. And even my friend who claimed she doesn't like deviled eggs enjoyed trying these--the texture of the filling is wonderfully rich and light at the same time, and not too mayonnaise-laden. The service was friendly and speedy, and overall it was such a nice brunch experience. It reminded me of how much I love Firefly, and I'll be back soon.
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I can't speak for the main dishes, but I had a great evening at the center bar (I think it's called the Oak Room?), and I look forward to going back. The Hamilton Mule (vodka, lime, ginger, sugar rim, soda) is lovely--the fresh ginger gives it a really nice kick. A whisky sour comes with fresh sour mix, and apparently a gratis cheese selection and a charcuterie board featuring "surryano" ham (serrano ham made in Surry, Virginia) , because our bartender wanted to make sure my group tried some of the bar food, which he helps source. (So of course we ended up ordering more cheese and more charcuterie.) The little details like the housemade pickled vegetables and mustard on the charcuterie boards and the tangy marinated leeks that accompany the rmushroom arancini make it easy to enjoy the bar, and easy to look forward to trying their main dishes. The staff seem to be really proud of the place, excited about the food and the atmosphere, and I'm looking forward to a proper dinner and perhaps some live music. Ask for Soup at the center bar...he's quick, fun, and knowledgable. They really seem to have a great team behind the bar.
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Tysons Bagel Market, Leesburg Pike
Laura24601 replied to Audrey2025's topic in Washington DC Restaurants and Dining
I love this place so much that my husband and I make the trek from DC on as many Sundays as we can. I secretly hoped for a long time when we were dating that he would propose by hiding the ring in the light cream cheese layer of their wonderfully spiced cheese bagel, a small hazlenut coffee with loads too much half-and-half steaming merrily nearby. For those who have long loved the chewy, yeast-y, awesome-y goodness of Tysons Bagel Market, you might be dismayed to hear that they have recently redecorated. Unfortunately, a new paint job and new signage means this place no longer looks like a cross between The Max from "Saved by the Bell" and the Northside Middle School cafeteria in Anderson, Indiana, circa 1992. As a Lutheran and a Midwesterner, I don't like change, but luckily the bagels are as tasty as ever, and the staff is as friendly as ever. And so I will happily continue to visit and have already started dreaming of finding diamond stud earrings in the cream cheese on my 50th wedding anniversary. -
As I work just around the corner, FF is my team's go-to place for breakfast birthday celebrations. What's not to love about the breakfast fare--the potato-leek hashbrowns are always nicely crispy, the pancakes are light and fluffy, and there are enough interesting/fun items like benigets with various dipping sauces to keep it interesting... But why must the service always, always be confoundingly slow? This morning, our waiter asked for our coffee orders, and abruptly left in the middle of the order to get the first two latte orders in. He then came back to get our other three orders. Then, though we indicated we were also ready with food orders, he left to get the other coffees/lattes first. Throughout the meal, bringing water refills or "extras" like ketchup and extra syrup took a good deal of time. The food is so tasty, that of course we will be back. But every time, it seems that getting efficient service at breakfast is tricky. (Admittedly, I'm probably just grumpy because I gave up meat for Lent, and their bacon is so, so good.)
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A few weeks ago, I dined at Zengo for the first time and had a generally positive experience. It was packed to the gills, which surprised me a bit after reading this thread before my visit. My Caipirinha was quite good--tasted very bright. XO Style Edamame was different/interesting, but I found the oiliness to be a bit too much for something you usually eat quickly and effortlessly with your hands--it was too much work for edamame, though the spicy kick is nice. Adobo-Hoisin Lamb T-Bones were a tad too well done (I ordered medium-rare), but overall had a nice, deep flavor. The real star of that plate--Chinese mustard mashed potatoes. My companion's braised short ribs were decent, but not particularly memorable. But hey--on the night you get engaged after ice skating on the Mall, any restaurant is the best restaurant of all time. Zengo, you are the best restaurant of all time.
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In a few weeks, I'm going to be 31. I had conveniently forgotten about that fact until I received one of Don's friendly reminder-to-wish-people-happy-birthday messages. While I'm sad about being old, I also happily remembered that I am a member of this forum, a fact that I had inconveniently forgotten because I am old. See how that works? Friends, though I have neglected to post lo these many months, I had to make sure everyone knows about Crazy Hour at Nooshi. All alcoholic beverages are half-price from 4-7 p.m. (I could be wrong about that start time, but I am definitely right about the last call time.) Mojitos! Beer! Martinis! Combinations thereof! The food isn't amazing, but it's easy to walk away feeling happy and satisfied when you've had that extra mojito just because they are HALF! PRICE! I can't recommend everything on le menu, but I can fully support the Mee Goreng with vegetables and any roll that begins with "spicy crunchy". ETA: Now that I actually posted and saw my profile photo...I feel obligated to post a newer photo soon that does not perfectly capture me at 26.
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Where to take the birthday boy who is not a big fan of "schmancy" dinners and whose favorite food is rice? Present. The food, atmosphere and service were all wonderful. We didn't have anything not already described in the thread, but I did want to answer my own questions which made me hesitate before making our reservation: "Is this place really special enough for a special occasion?" Yes. "Is it really worth a trip out to the 'burbs?" Yes. "Are you sure? Shouldn't I be spending more money on a birthday dinner?" No.
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And a little something in Daily Candy.
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I very much enjoyed lunch at Siroc today. The atmosphere is warm and lively, if a bit noisy and cramped at full capacity. But I'll toast full capacity for a new restaurant in these times! Service was very friendly and informative. I had a half-portion of the cress and endive salad described upthread, and the bacon was amazing--finely chopped and subtly glazed so that each bite of the salad had a nice crunchy, savory sweetness to it. My half-portion of fettuccini with lamb and carrot ragu and pecorino was good--very flavorful, tender lamb--but the pasta stuck together in a clump. Dessert was absolute heaven--moist, golden almond cake with blueberry topping and a creamy cinnamon sauce. I love that there was such an interesting offering, and hooray for the French press! I'd be interested to try Siroc for dinner, perhaps after a bit more time to settle in.
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Um, I didn't want to have to "go there," but I assure you that there is nothing to be "brutally honest" about when it comes to my girlish figure. Maybe this isn't a server problem...maybe it's more of a menfolk/foot-in-mouth situation!
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What makes it even worse, for me, is that I've always really enjoyed Jaleo at both locations and have talked it up to other people quite a bit. I've experienced mild service problems there before (forgetting items, bringing me the wrong wine), but those were always taken care of quickly and politely. I probably will be back, but it won't be my go-to for pre-Arena Stage dining. And to answer how I refrained from going ballistic...I rested comfortably on my charm and stunning good looks, per usual. He's the one with the problem, not me!
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Dear Server at Crystal City Jaleo, I'm sorry I didn't catch your name, but I wasn't much inclined to after about three minutes into our interactions last evening. After greeting my two girlfriends and I and asking if we had experienced tapas before, you patiently explained how tapas work...even after we had told you that we'd been to Jaleo numerous times. But then when taking our order of two tapas dishes each per your guidelines, and I ordered the bacon-wrapped dates and the patatas bravas, there was really no need to look me dead in the eye, raise your eyebrows and say, "Well! We're not watching our weight tonight, are we?" Well, first of all...no "we're" not. And second, I will not be consuming these items by myself. I will be partaking in all the dishes ordered by the table...remember how that works? What with the sharing and the trying different things and all? So I will also be having artichokes and shrimp and asparagus and all the other things I'm sharing with these two lovely ladies. You also managed to insult the rest of the table by telling three women in their late twenties that "There's no need for me to check your IDs...you're clearly old enough to drink!" And finally, when my friend says right off the bat that she is an Arena Stage staff member and politely presents her discount card and business card, there's really no need to give her a hard time about using it, joking how it will affect your tip. It's your attitude that is affecting your tip, buddy. Do you not appreciate the extra business that Arena Stage has brought to your establishment by making a temporary home in Crystal City? Luckily, the food was delicious and it was convenient to run off to the show after we got the check. But next time? We'll be down the street at McCormick's, where the food isn't revolutionary, but the service is friendly...or at the very least, not rude!
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Alas, FunnyJohn, I think the word is out about the rooftop. My friends and I made the trek upstairs only to find it utterly packed at about 8:30 this evening. Perhaps on a weeknight it will still be manageable, but we headed back downstairs to the main bar area. No loss there. There were a few open tables and plenty of hockey fans. The fries are wonderfully crispy and I enjoyed the Rose Jack (or was it the Jack Rose...hic!), with house-made grenadine. Unfortunately, this pleasantly crisp drink looks suspiciously like a Cosmo, which is probably why Johnny Clarendon felt the need to ask me if I was out with my lady friends "Carrie Bradshaw style." Raising my eyebrow, I said, "Oh, no. We're more like the Golden Girls." Pouring one out for Bea Arthur...
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Belga Cafe is utterly charming, and for me the crowds and din just added to the atmosphere. The Gentleman Caller was thrilled to find Duchesse de Bourgogne, and I enjoyed a nice sparkling white (can't remember and didn't merit looking up at the moment). So far, so good. The venison was tender and flavorful, the frites were crisp and deliciously golden, and everything is going swimmingly, and then... The mussels mariniere, which I have been thinking, dreaming, praying about all week...food porning around the Internets, asking friends for recommendations, sifting through old Tom chats...the consensus seems to be that Belga does them right, with some soul, here they are, our friendly and helpful server is lifting the lid off the gently steaming pot, and then... So dry. So stick, stick, sticking to their shells. So...off. So not something you can really send back or bring up, but rather something you can pick at and try to be happy with the many, many things you have to be happy about. So, so sad. We left happy, yet I mentally looked back over my shoulder at Belga Cafe, at what might have been. Maybe desserts next time? Not tonight, because the boy baked me a pie. So there's a happy thought. Fin.
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I had a good meal at Regent Thai tonight, much better than I had expected. It's warm and inviting in there, if a bit loud. Everything I saw on other tables looked good, and my date was very happy with his fare, which I did not sample. I enjoyed the Pad Eggplant with seafood, which had nicely textured eggplant (I hate overcooked, mushy eggplant), two giant and flavorful mussels, several beautiful shrimp, three decently presented scallops, and a ton of great broth, with some nice kick to it. At $15.95, it seemed like a good deal, especially since it was free to me. (Hey...he always gets the view.) And best of all, of course, was being able to give Lauriol Plaza the side-eye and keep on walking. The service was wicked slow, however, which made us rush through eating as we had to make it to the Improv. I'm sure it doesn't need to be mentioned here, but...Forest Hills Elementary School in Anderson, Indiana serves better carrot cake than the "24 Karat" nonsense at the Improv. Fortunately, it wasn't the biggest laugh of the evening.
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Former most shameful thing I've ever eaten: 4 a.m. hot dog cart "mystery dogs" (actually called Mystery Dogs) outside of Kilroy's Sports in Bloomington, Indiana, during undergrad. Current most shameful: Nachos at Recessions Former worst-tasting thing I've ever eaten: Bacon-flavored jelly beans as a gag gift in my Christmas stocking, 2005 Current worst: Nachos at Recessions Former biggest sin committed during my time on Earth: Calling my mother a "b*%" Current biggest sin I've committed during my time on Earth: Nachos at Recessions Former fantasy enemy pain-infliction: Burying alive and mocking via a long-range radio, a la Vivian to Carly, "Days of Our Lives," circa 1995 Current fantasy enemy pain-infliction: (Say it with me): Nachos at Recessions
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Asia Nine, West Penn Quarter
Laura24601 replied to Meaghan's topic in Washington DC Restaurants and Dining
Service is very pleasant and timely, atmosphere is pretty and relaxing, food is not particularly, but certainly fine for the price point and purpose. This seems to be more of a happy hour/cocktail spot than a dinner destination. I had the crab wontons, miso soup, and crunchy salmon roll...all good and basic. The green tea creme brulee had a lovely crunchy top, and the custard had a nice green tea flavor, but the custard texture was runny and left a lot to be desired. It's a welcome newcomer, but I don't recommend planning a special evening here, not with so many other winners in the neighborhood. That said, if I lived in the area, I would be a fairly regular takeout customer. -
Firefly is consistently one of my favorite places in DC. I went there Saturday night for dinner with my best friend. We traditionally go out for a pre-Christmas celebration; last year, we went "all out" at a much-lauded, trendy spot, and were a bit underwhelmed. This year, we didn't want to be disappointed, so we went to the cozy and always tasty Firefly. I started with the arugula and portabello fritter salad, which was savory, crunchy, lightly dressed, and delightful. For mains, I had the bistro steak with truffle fries (very good, straightforward, exactly what I wanted), and he had the pot roast with mashed potatoes, which was worlds more special than any pot roast has any right to be. It was just melting perfection. But the highlight was dessert...kind of a "center cut" of carrot cake topped with pumpkin cheeseake mousse. It was amazing! Rich, spicy, comforting. The service was great. My one bit of constructive criticism is that the rolls they offer are a bit too dry and cold; they resemble yeast rolls, and so it's disappointing when they're not piping hot, well-salted, or soft. But other than that, it was a lovely meal at a lovely place. I'm all about trying new places, but on special nights with my best friend, I just don't want to take any chances.
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Wha-huh? www.theparkatfourteenth.com
