February 2nd must have been a big day for America’s most reliable meteorologist, Punxsutawney Phil. He probably noshed nervously on a soil-crusted parsnip root before emerging from his hole, only to return right back again, spooked by the dark shadow of his plump ground-hog body. He predicted 6 more weeks of winter. What he did not predict was 10 more…

Last week a French-accented human metaphor marched straight into my radar, unwillingly shattering my composure and making me blush like a damn fool, but also unknowingly re-awakeing within me an interest in pastries as well as a nostalgia for the culture of caring – but like really caring – that surrounds it where I come from. A tiny shot of bitter,…

Not long ago I took part in a pretty cool menu development exercise in the Marriott HQ test kitchen in Bethesda, Maryland. The article is published here: http://www.thedailymeal.com/dc-writers-and-chefs-colloborate-new-marriott-menu/24414 Thought I’d add some photos.

There is a restaurant inside a gas station and it sells sandwiches that are really good. I’ve known this for months now. A friend suggested the place last summer, when I was still very new to DC’s food scene. It seemed like a quirky idea but I generally shy away from gimmicks when searching for good…

I’ve been eagerly anticipating an evening at barmini since the very first time I had a Gin Tónica à la José at Bazaar in Miami one year ago. It once represented to me the pinnacle of the G and T, the highest peak to which the drink could be developed. There were aromatic juniper berries rolling between fine cubes of ice and…

Not too long ago I attended a special progressive dinner, part of a weekly series called “West End Wednesdays.” The idea was to showcase the restaurants of a neighborhood that is often overlooked as a dining destination. The participating restaurants were Westend Bistro, Blue Duck Tavern, Marcel’s and Ris. At each stop we were treated to a dish paired to a cocktail…

Daikaya has a lot of die-hard fans and I guess I can understand why. It’s cool, the menu is versatile and the venue is geographically accessible. The kitchen stays open late and plays music loud enough to make you think you never left da club. The izakaya upstairs boasts a creative cocktail menu paired with exciting bites…

I think by this point I’ve harped on plenty about my love for sweetbreads. At the restaurants of Buenos Aires I ordered them time and again, and once I started befriending locals who would cook for me it practically became a staple. Mollejas sizzling on the grill, taken off when cooked through just right, doused with…

Recently I attended a wonderful event at Zaytinya. Local craft brewery D.C. Brau was invited to pair some of its signature ales to Chef Michael Costa’s Greek-inspired Mediterranean cuisine. For the full story, check out my coverage of the event for The Daily Meal. Here is a quick slideshow of the delicious treats I tried:…