I sat, cross, my arms crossed. I had pushed away my plate with an expression that echoed my repugnance. It was a betrayal so grand as to be inconceivable at first. I looked around for signs that this was all a practical joke, that I had unknowingly fallen victim to the candid camera. Surely this hadn’t really…
Italian. Lately I’ve been getting into it more. Not red sauce and gravy, chicken parm hoagies or pepperoni ‘zuh or calzones. Not Italian-American, but not because this stuff is any less legitimate than Tuscan pappa al pomodoro or the agnolotti of Piedmont. European Italian, but just because my body can handle the lightness of it better. The dishes invented…
A few months back a friend of mine introduced me, in passing, to Bayou Bakery at Courthouse in Arlington. We popped in for a few breakfast beignets and returned later the same day for a crawfish cookout and some NOLA-style Creamsickle flavored sno-balls on a hot summer day. Despite my very narrow perspective on the…
I have stayed away from Georgetown since I’ve moved to DC for 2 main reasons. The first is the relatively limited access to the neighborhood for those who don’t drive (and, since it’s impossible to park, I guess for those who do too). The second is the reputation it holds of being stodgy and anachronistic…
Autumn is a time of change. Green leaves yellow, the time clock rolls forward and my preferences shift just as naturally. As comfort starts to outweigh elegance, a steaming bowl of something substantial starts to look far more appealing than a million dainty small-plates perked up with micro-garnish. It seems Daikaya, the popular double agent ramenya-izakaya…
One reason I love when friends visit me in D.C. is that it gives me an excuse to get away from work, venture out on foot and explore the city, treding paths that would normally be out of the way and, consequentially, ignored. I had this opportunity again recently, when a friend from Boston was…
Last week I attended a preview party for the newest member of Jeff Black’s Black Restaurant Group, Republic. The restaurant will soon become a Takoma Park landmark, providing residents with a casual-chic venue to enjoy as their own. The name “Republic” itself hints at the neighborhood’s nickname, “The People’s Republic of Takoma Park.” In line with…
Having heard many great things about a horseradish vodka based brunch Bloody Mary, I was excited to visit Mari Vanna near DuPont Circle last week. I knew their infused vodkas were popular around town, but I honestly never expected them to be paired with Russian food that kept it so dang real. Because while some…
New Chef de Cuiz’ in the house at Masa 14, Richard Sandoval’s Latin-Asian small plates restaurant on the bustling 14th Street corridor. D.C. native Eric McKamey brings to the table (or to the masa, rather…) skills he has honed at some of the city’s most respected establishments, including The Oval Room, Proof, Central Michel Richard,…
Not too long ago I attended an opening party at Osteria Morini, located in the Lumber Shed building within the 42-acre space along the Anacostia Waterfront that makes up the urban, mixed-use development project called The Yards. It is the first D.C. outpost of Michael White, Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Altamarea Group, which encompasses six…
That Best Bite 