‘Al fresco’
courtesy of ‘c00lmarie’
This month was a strange one for me food-wise. I ate out of a food truck the same day I went to a five star wedding at 2941. It also marked my first ever trip to Taco Bell (not the same day). I tried poutine for the first time and introduced people on three separate occasions to the tasty barbecue at Capital Q. I tried to get in my last summery foods, the entree salads and the light meals, and now I’m ready for some stew and things with melted cheese on them. But until the weather officially changes, I’ll remember my September meals quite fondly…

Though this isn’t really the place for it, it’s important you know what my favorite food in the world is. Well, it’s really a category more than an actual food. What is it? The sandwich. The glorious, glorious sandwich. Anything slapped between two pieces of carb-loaded goodness is going to excite me. That is why this month, in addition to the classy categories calling out my favorite cocktails and desserts there is “My Favorite Thing Between Two Pieces of Bread” because honestly, that’s probably my favorite thing I ate all month.

Where I’ve Been: Pret a Manger, 2941, eatWonky, Capital Q, Vapiano, Rebel Heroes, Firefly, Coastal Flats, Carmine’s, Five Guys, Johnny’s Half Shell, Sweetgreen, Pleasant Pops, Meridian Pint, PS 7s, Clyde’s, Star & Shamrock, Ted’s Bulletin, Moby Dick’s House of Kabob.

‘Yummy Lunch!’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

My Favorite Cocktail: Though I’m really more of a beer girl, strictly on account of my own stupidity when it comes to liquor, I can still try and get down with my girlie friends when they have a girlie happy hour. This month we found ourselves at PS 7s, land of delicious cocktails. As expected, I wasn’t disappointed with my Gnomes Water, made with gin, cucumber water, lemon and lavender syrup. It was clean and refreshing, and I sucked ‘er down in a quite unladylike way.

My Favorite Thing I Ordered at a Counter: It seems like I’ve been talking and thinking about food trucks endlessly lately, but this month was my first trip to Rebel Heroes. I was absolutely in love with it from the second I saw three people shoved inside who were actually smiling. I went with the roasted pork banh mi and after the first bite I have moved on from love to Mark Wahlberg in Fear. I was completely obsessed.

‘Vapiano’
courtesy of ‘ellievanhoutte’

My Favorite Appetizer: Octopus is one of those things on a menu that, like avocado, I feel I can’t pass up when I see it. I wasn’t shocked that I loved the grilled red wine-poached octopus at Firefly, but I was shocked how much I loved it. It was smokey and rich and perfectly cooked. I hope no one else I was eating with noticed when I strategically put that plate out of everyone’s reach and suspiciously close to mine…

My Favorite Thing Between Two Pieces of Bread: I love a good burger and anything with avocado, so the Southwestern (West Virginia) Burger at Ted’s Bulletin was destined for greatness from the start. It’s a monster, piled high with avocados, roasted red peppers, green chili sauce and cheddar cheese. But all that lends itself to that satisfying smoosh you get to do to get the burger down to a size that will fit in your mouth.

My Favorite Entree: Unfortunately for everywhere I ate this month, I also ate at 2941. The roasted lamb loin was cooked to perfection, with a beautiful fennel puree and a really nice tomato confit as a compliment. I am usually a fish and chicken girl instead of a red meat lady, but I went to town on this lamb. To show you how unlike me it is to love lamb, my second favorite entree this month was probably the pizza bagel I had at Star & Shamrock.

‘Pleasant Pops (Cucumber Chili flavor)’
courtesy of ‘justgrimes’

My Favorite Dessert: So, I’m not really in to desserts. No I’m not one of those girls. I just would rather eat an entire bag of Hint of Lime Tostidos instead of a cupcake (and I do). But the sweet thing that made me the happiest this month was the watermelon and cantaloupe popsicle from Pleasant Pops that I had at Adams Morgan Day. Not too sweet, full of flavor and served in a tiny plastic bag, it was just what I wanted.

All in all, a great month of eating. On to the next!

Ashley Messick

Ashley is a born and bred Washingtonian who left for college but came running back to the District as fast as her little legs could carry her. By day she is a Capitol Hill brat, but by night she is a lean, mean, eating machine. It’s her goal in life to steal Anthony Bourdain’s job…by whatever means necessary. Contact her at Ashley (at) welovedc (dot) com or follow her on Twitter.