Category Archives: Food and Drink

Adams Morgan, Food and Drink, News, The Daily Feed, We Love Drinks
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Fat Tire Comes to DC

Photo courtesy of
‘”Fat Tire” – San Francisco’
courtesy of ‘adamjackson1984’

I’ve heard rumors that New Belgium was going to start shipping their famous Fat Tire beer out East, and it seems those rumors are true. The GOG reports that the Black Squirrel in Adams Morgan snagged some bottles of the famous ale, along with a few other varieties from New Belgium. Up till now, North Carolina was about the closest place you could get Fat Tire and I’ve heard of many a beer aficionado making a point to grab a few cases when they were down that way.  Me, I’ve never had it, so I’m heading to the Black Squirrel tonight to try some, as I hear quantities are limited.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Enjoy French Wine with Us!

Photo courtesy of
‘Mural, Bistrot Lepic’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

This event is now full. Thanks for your interest!

If it were up to me, no one would ever be intimidated about ordering wine ever again. So this Saturday afternoon (May 8) I’m hosting a small gathering at Bistrot Lepic’s upstairs wine bar, where owner Cyrille Brenac will help you understand the mystique of the vine with a flight of three of his favorite wines from Lepic’s collection. It’s informal and complimentary, in a lovely relaxed setting featuring some of the best French wines in the city.

The catch? Limited guest list. So if you’d like to come mingle with me and fellow WLDC author Max Cook as we learn about French wine from Cyrille and document it for a Drinks Special article next week, please respond below (and don’t forget to use a real email address when you fill out the comment form so I can reach you!) and I’ll hook you up with all the details.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Congratulations Kojo Nnamdi and Joe Yonan!

Photo courtesy of
‘w/yr host kojo nnamdi’
courtesy of ‘stereogab’

Congratulations are due to Kojo Nnamdi, and his producers, as well as to Joe Yonan, Editor of the Post’s Food Section, for their wins in the James Beard Foundation Awards! Yonan won for his work editing the Food Section, and Kojo won for his radio show. The Beard Foundation exists to “celebrate, preserve, and nurture America’s culinary heritage and diversity,” and issues a set of journalism and multimedia awards, as well as their restaurant and chef awards, which will be given out tonight in New York.

Up for Beard awards tonight are Amanda Cook (CityZen, Pastry Chef), José Andrés (Minibar, Outstanding Chef), Cathal Armstrong (Restaurant Eve, Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic), Brian Voltaggio (Volt, Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic), Peter Pastan (Obelisk, Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic), and Johnny Monis (Komi, Rising Star). Good luck everyone!

Entertainment, Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Mount Pleasant Music Festival Kicks-Off Farmer’s Market Season

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Hoffmann’

We’re supposed to have pretty stellar weather, complete with cloudless skies this weekend. With that said, I urge you all to spend the vast majority of your time outdoors.

Not sure what to do? Well here’s an option: The Mount Pleasant Music Festival is this Saturday. The event is FREE. Starts at 2 pm goes until 7 and should prove to be quite the outdoor event considering it’s the kick-off date of the Mount Pleasant Farmer’s Market season!

Interested in picking up some fresh produce and basking in the sunshine as you take in some of DC’s finest local music? Head to the corner of Lamont and 17th sts., NW.

Live acts include: Deleted Scenes, Frau Eva, the Four Horsemen, and more.

Food and Drink, The Features, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: Owen Thomson

Photo courtesy of
‘Owen’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

We Love Drinks continues our series where we look behind the bar, profiling the many people – from mixologists to bartenders, sommeliers to publicans – who make your drinks experience happen.

Owen Thomson has an interesting tattoo on his arm. His sister points it out to me as we sit at Cafe Atlantico’s bar, while he rustles up a selection of cocktails both old and new. “Abandon Hope All Who Enter Here” scrolls across his forearm, the inscription above the gates of Hell in Dante’s Inferno. Not an atypical tattoo choice perhaps but as the story behind it unfolds, it seems there’s nothing typical about the man now helming the bar at Jose Andres’ “nuevo latino” restaurant.

A native Washingtonian, creator of the cocktail program at Bourbon in Adams Morgan, president of the DC Craft Bartenders Guild, with studies in archaeology and the law under his belt – all this might make you expect that Owen would have a bit of an extreme Type-A vibe about him. But instead he’s completely down-to-earth, with a dry wit and a passion for educating both consumers and restaurants about the glories of fresh ingredients. Fellow WLDC author Samer and I sat down with him one Saturday afternoon to find out more about Owen’s plans for his new role behind the bar at Cafe Atlantico, and what happens when you mix the molecular gastronomy of Minibar with a rare 1950’s cocktail book…

“I want to turn this into a smoke and a fog and they said ‘oh yeah we can do that.’ Cool!”

Cool indeed.
Continue reading →

Food and Drink, News, The Daily Feed
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Porter’s: Closed? …or Closing?

0429101246-00

Fellow We Love DC author Dave Levy heard word that Porter’s in Dupont (located at 1207 19th Street) was being shut down so I ran outside my office to sneak and peak.

That’s when I ran into the movers. All outdoor and indoor furniture was being manhandled into a moving truck upon my arrival just 10 minutes ago.

We are currently awaiting confirmation from a source providing additional information that the moving truck is related to the bar’s final days at its Dupont location.

Look for more on this story as it becomes available.

Porter's: "Closed for the time being."

Update, 3:33 pm: Porter’s is officially closed for the time being. Ownership respectfully declined further comment. However, Porter’s does hope to re-open in the future. (Photo above taken at 3:27 pm via mobile phone.)

Update, 2:57 pm: Three phone calls made to Porter’s within the last hour were not answered. All calls received a busy signal.

Continue reading →

Business and Money, Food and Drink, News, The Daily Feed
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13 DC Cosis Change Ownership

Photo courtesy of
‘cosi’
courtesy of ‘sara~’

13 Washington, D.C. Cosi restaurants will be changing their ownership from Cosi Inc. to Capitol C Restaurants, LLC in a deal worth $8.4 million, which translates to roughly 4 million Chicken T.B.M. sandwiches and 2 million Signature salads.

Capitol C plans to expand its Cosi restaurant reach by opening  an additional 6  locations in the district.  There are currently 143 Cosi establishments throughout the U.S. and U.A.E., 44 of which, like Capitol C’s locations, are operated as franchises.

Food and Drink, Interviews, The Features
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He Loves DC: Nathan Anda of Red Apron

Nathan High Res

So I’ve been trying to cut back on my meat intake. Well, that is, until I met Nate Anda of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s Red Apron Butchery. Anda shattered my dreams of a meat-free existence and replaced them with ridiculously delicious beef jerky and charcuterie. Every cured meat I tried from his line made me love pork. I was able to whip up pizzas, salads, cheese and breads.

I met Anda at the Dupont Circle Farmer’s market, and he loaded me up with recommendations, pointing out stalls with his favorite product pairings. I rushed home to try them and haven’t looked back since. His products are impeccable, and I couldn’t wait to talk to Anda about why meat, why DC and what he loved about them both.

Katie: How long have you lived in the DC area?
Nathan: Since January 2002

What is the best thing about DC, in your opinion?
Its a smaller city than New York and LA. It’s easy to get around, and I almost always run into somebody I know when I’m not planning on it (that can be good and bad I guess), and DC gets great concerts!

What would you change about DC if you could?
I can’t stand the traffic.

What inspired you to create Red Apron?
I have always had an appreciation for using local farmers and getting in the whole animal and finding ways to utilize everything. Michael Babin (owner of Neighborhood Restaurant Group) and I toyed with the idea of a butcher shop about 5 years ago and once EatBar opened, the menu was really meat/charcuterie based; that’s when the real research and development took place. After traveling to Italy a couple years back and seeing the salumerias and macelerias, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Continue reading →

Adventures, Business and Money, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, People, The Daily Feed
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DC To Get A Waffle House, Courtesy of Fred Smoot?

Photo courtesy of
‘The Old Waffle Shop’

courtesy of ‘Penelope700’

Former Redskins cornerback, Fred Smoot, loves DC. Despite his current free agent status, the footballer hearts our city and has developed a deep connection to the fans and DCers, he’s met during his tenure on the Deadskins’ roster.

Although his player status for the 2010 season is still very much up in the air, Smoot told Kevin and Rock on 106.7’s The Fan that no matter what he plans to keep his connections to the area by opening up D.C.’s first ever Waffle House. During the weekly radio show, Smoot stated, “I’m actually in the process of starting a couple businesses up here. I’m bringing Waffle House to D.C. — I think they’ve been yearning for it for a long time. My first location is right off 14th and U.”

Of course, Smoot’s plan will not only bring the deliciousness of tasty waffles to the area and meet the heavy demand for the breakfast item, but will also revive the long lived syrup vs. gravy debate that this September saw syrup take the prize. Perhaps it’s time for a rematch?

Adventures, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, People, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Cochon 555: Get Your Pig On

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef. This little piggy had none. And this little went “wee. wee. wee” all the way home. And by home, I mean The Ritz-Carlton for Cochon 555 on Sunday, May 2.

This yearly competition travels the US in search of  the “Prince / Princess of Porc” and has 5 local Chefs go head-to-head in a pig preparation throw down. Last year’s Prince, R.J. Cooper of Vidalia returns to defend his title and chefs from Bourbon Steak, Bibiana, Eola and Westend Bistro will try to usurp him. Lots of Pre-cooking, braising, grilling, pressing, pickling, rubbing, smoking, searing, saucing, spicing, injecting, marinating, etc. is involved and top-chefs have been known to use the entire animal.

Tickets for the event go for $125, and guests not only get to enjoy some tasty pork, but will witness a whole pig butcher demonstration, taste great wines, brews and enjoy a plethora of pig perfect desserts. There will also be an after party at a location to be determined.

Business and Money, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
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Get Your Greek/Turkish On

Photo courtesy of
‘Greek Salad’
courtesy of ‘christaki’

Starting April 30th, Dupont Circle will be getting a new Greek and Turkish restaurant. Agora will feature small plates prepared on the wood-fired oven and charcoal fired BBQ grill, and overseen by Turkish born Chef Rasit Gulsen, formerly of Nizam’s Restaurant in Vienna, VA.

The restaurants menu will feature Turkish and Greek fare reflecting owner, Latif Guler’s, heritage growing up in the small town of Foca, Turkey.  The restaurant will highlight wines and beer from the Mediterranean regions of Turkey and Greece, and will serve a nice selection of Ouzo, an anise-flavored spirit widely consumed in Greece.

The two-story, 170-seat restaurant located at 1527 17th Street, NW, (aka the “doomed” spot that was formerly Jack’s, Le Pigalle, Peppersm, etc.) has been transformed to a Mediterranean oasis by Brie Husted Architecture and features a collection photos that capture the everyday life of picturesque Foca. Other features an upstairs expansion complete with 48 seats that can be used for private dining and a sidewalk café that can accommodate 34 guests for both the lunch and dinner service.

Adventures, Food and Drink, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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How Many GU Students Does It Take To…?

Photo courtesy of
‘DSCF0842’
courtesy of ‘joelogon’

Yesterday, some Hoya had a serious brain fart and decided to heat up their pizza in the common room oven without removing it from the PAPER box. Of course, as physics and common sense would have it, a fire broke out and the Harbin Hall dormitory was evacuated. DCFD were promptly on the scene and students returned to their dorms just in time for Jeopardy.

Usually, I’d chalk this mistake up to drinking, but considering the fire occurred at 7pm (prime college dinner time) I’m gonna just call a bonehead a bonehead.

Food and Drink, The Features, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: Dickson Wine Bar

Photo courtesy of
‘Dickson Wine Bar’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

Dickson Wine Bar has been open for a few weeks now, occupying a three story brick building opposite Nellie’s. It’s got a rather nondescript industrial look outside, save for the old stone plaque “Dickson BLDG 903 You” from which the bar took its name. I walked by one night in late March, noticing the sexy candlelit interior, and vowed to hit it as soon as possible. I’ve been back twice and can say it will definitely become a regular stop for me from now on. You can’t beat having a bar like this five blocks from your house!

It certainly has a great pedigree – the owners are Tien Claudio (with her husband and DC legend Eric Hilton) and Steve Kaufman (with his husband Fred Paxton), all locals living in Adams Morgan. They wanted to create a friendly neighborhood bar, and that’s the vibe here – residents, workers, Howard University students – everyone’s mingling nicely in an atmosphere that manages to be both adult and fun. As my friend who lives a block away puts it aptly, “the clientele seemed more interested in the food and drink than in finding potential spouses.”

And that food and drink is definitely a draw. Executive chef James Claudio (who also helms the kitchen at Marvin) has dedicated the food menu to local ingredients, and the wine list designed by Jarad Slipp, restaurant director at Cityzen, features organic and biodynamic selections. Rounding out the team is Tom Street, who created the cocktail program and selected the beers. Tom told me they are planning on changing the entire beverage program “quite often,” and in keeping with the eco-conscious theme, the food menu will also change seasonally. Everyone on staff is incredibly personable and helpful, which imbues the bar with a kind of care and love that’s really striking.
Continue reading →

Downtown, Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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J&G Patio Opens Today

Photo courtesy of
‘monster hibiscus’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

One of my favorite things about living in DC is the many outdoor patios to lounge about on, noshing and inbibing while being kissed by the sun. From upscale to dive, so many places have an outside spot to enjoy well into the evening.

Add to that list now the J&G Patio, located on Pennsylvania Avenue just outside the doors of the J&G Wine Bar (which is turn is below the J&G Steakhouse, all part of the W Hotel). I’ve been waiting for the patio since the hotel opened. I love how that stretch of tree-lined sidewalk opposite Pershing Park is starting to ramp up like Little Paris (ok, overkill metaphor, but I can dream, right?). With Cafe du Parc already next door it’s going to get both lively and lovely, and I’m curious to see how it will differ from the scene upstairs at POV.

The J&G Patio will serve a selection of plates from both the Wine Bar and the Steakhouse, and of course feature cocktails, wine and beer. There are 86 seats (no reservations), and starting today, it’s open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, and weekend brunch. Yes, I said it’s open today! so enjoy the evening sun (leave work early, I won’t tell anyone).

Food and Drink, The DC 100
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DC Omni 100: #71 Gazpacho

Photo courtesy of
‘Chilled Soup, Hot Summer’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’

It’s time for another item on the DC Omnivore 100 list of the top one hundred foods every good omnivore should try at least once in their lives.

With warm weather hitting the area, palates and appetites turn from stews and comfort food to lighter, refreshing dishes in an effort to cool off during the summer. Gazpacho, a cold liquid salad, originating from Andalusia, the southern most region of Spain, is a thirst-quenching option that should definitely be on everyone’s mind.

Typically, Gazpacho includes hard bread, tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, garlic, olive oil, vinegar of wine, onion and salt. However, there are many modern variations of gazpacho, often in different colors and omitting the tomatoes and bread in favor of avocados, cucumbers, parsley, watermelon, grapes, meat stock, seafood, and other ingredients.

A good gazpacho’s viscosity should be a tad short of a thick tomato sauce and the ingredients should be completely blended. And in my opinion, there’s nothing worse than getting a gazpacho that’s watery and filled with cubed peppers.  This should be a substantive, cold soup. Continue reading →

Food and Drink
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Chocolate: Are You Sure Your Love Is True?

DeVries and Abbatiello

Steve DeVries and Biagio Abbatiello prepare to talk chocolate

Chocolate. Most people think they love it. But is it really chocolate they love — or sugar?

That’s a question chocolate maker Steve DeVries might pose. Most chocolate is made industrially and is full of sugar. The normal ratio is two parts sugar to one part cocoa. This sweetness can obscure the delicate and complex flavors of the bean itself.

DeVries found this out firsthand years ago after he bought some cacao beans at a plantation in Mexico. With almost no direction, he brought them home, roasted them until they smelled like brownies, and ground them himself. What DeVries experienced was delicious, “a complexity of flavor I’d never tasted in chocolate before,” he said. “It was like crushing grapes and getting a fine burgundy.” The reason, he discovered, was that chocolate had been overindustrialized.

Now head of Denver-based DeVries Chocolate, he is a bean-to-bar chocolate maker. While most makers buy chocolate and form it into bars with various flavorings, he starts from scratch with the beans themselves.

Last night, DeVries explained the process of making chocolate at the National Geographic Live! event Chocolate: From Bean to Bar on April 14. In addition, Biagio Abbatiello of Biagio Fine Chocolate near Dupont Circle led a tasting of artisanal chocolates from around the world. The pair also sat down with me beforehand to answer extra questions, one of which was, “How is DC as a chocolate town?”
Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Foodie Earth Day in Old Town

Photo courtesy of
‘Christmas 2008 – Seasonal Accent – 12-19-08’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Grab your puppy and head to Jackson 20 in Old Town, Alexandria to celebrate Earth Day at Jackson 20. As Earth Day falls on a Thursday, guests can bring their four-legged friends and enjoy the restaurant’s popular Doggie Happy Hour. On the 22nd, the restaurant will officially unveil “J20 Eco Hour,” where an unusually large selection of canned beers and boxed wines will be available. Now this may not sound particularly classy (slap the bag anyone?) but canned beer is much more eco-friendly than glass, easier to recycle and cheaper to ship. The new beer program will feature $2 “Working Man’s Canned Beer,” with selections like Pabst Blue Ribbon, Schlitz, Iron City Light, Yuengling, Stroh’s Light, and $5 “Craft Canned Beer” featuring Hienniewisse, Mama’s Little Yellow Pils, AVBC Pale Ale, Porkslap Pale Ale, Old Chub Scottish Ale, and Moo Thunder Stout. Boxed Bandit Cabernet or Chardonnay is available $4.

Don’t forget to wash all that beer down with some food! Continue reading →

Business and Money, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, The District, We Green DC
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DC Chef Talks Sustainable Seafood On CNN

Photo courtesy of
‘Anacostia Fish Market #34’
courtesy of ‘andertho’

Barton Seaver, executive chef at Northwest DC’s restaurant Blue Ridge appeared on CNN today to speak about the realities of seafood sustainability and ways that Americans, and the world for that matter, can make their menus more sustainable when it comes to seafood.

Seaver recommends switching out mainstream choices such as tuna, swordfish and salmon, which have been seriously over fished and over eaten, with smaller, plentiful species like mackerel, sardines, clams, catfish, oysters, and my personal favorite, anchovies. Another practical and healthy suggestion is for restaurant and home chefs to use more vegetables in their dishes. And with the DC farmers market season ready to kick into gear, it’s the perfect time to incorporate produce from local sources into our cooking.

These simple and implementable cooking choices, according to Seaver, can have a measurable impact on depleted fish populations and can help in comprehensive efforts of seafood sustainability.

Capital Chefs, Food and Drink, The Features
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Capital Chefs: Alain Roussel of La Ferme (Part II)

Photo courtesy of
‘Chef Alain’s Perfect Chocolate Souffle’
courtesy of ‘CathyLovesDC’

Nestled away in a gorgeous residential neighborhood, a delightfully rustic French restaurant has been catering to nearby residents for the past 25 years. We were greeted with a handshake and said our farewells with the typical kiss on each cheek. Presenting us with perfectly typed out recipes and instructions, Alain was quick to jump right into the good part: eating. He orchestrated our kitchen experience like no chef has done before, alternating a little cooking with a lot of eating.

We started off making his Grand Marnier Soufflé. The presentation of the huge Grand Marnier bottle was enough to make me want to “Ooo” and “Ahh,” but then I asked if I could taste the bucket of pastry cream hanging around on the table, and oh boy, I could have stolen that whole container and taken it for myself and been set for the afternoon – or the week, really, because he said that’s how long it could last for. But there was work to be done, and as it turns out, many, many more pastries and delicious things to be eaten.

Before we made our first soufflé, we paused to drink our perfect French coffee. And while our soufflé was rising in the oven, we were treated to hot pain au chocolat straight from the kitchen of the French patisserie, Lenôtre. Crusty, brown, warm and with the perfectly crunchy essence of butter, the pain au chocolat would be just one, of the many, reasons to return to La Ferme. I can even respect Chef Alain for not attempting to make his own pain au chocolat or croissants, because really, why mess with something so perfect? Continue reading →

Entertainment, Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Paella Sundays

Photo courtesy of
‘two types of paella’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

The Crystal City branch of Jaleo, José Andrés’ award-winning tapas restaurant, is hosting Paella Sundays from 4pm to closings.  Diners can experience a traditional Spanish Sunday Supper complete with gazpacho, salad, paella and flan for $18 per person (excluding of tax and tip).

Every Sunday, guests can enjoy unlimited servings of two daily paellas including Paella de pollo y setas silvestres, a traditional paella of chicken and wild mushrooms as well as a Chef’s Selection Paella, a vegetarian paella featuring seasonal produce.

This is a fantastic way to spend a Sundays  with family and friends, and your meal can be enjoyed inside and outside. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling (703) 413-8181.