• 21May

    The Lamb Jam Was Back In Town!

    Here are some pictures of some of the wonderful food and drinks from last night’s DC’s Lamb Jam. Click here for the list of winning chefs/dishes. The Lamb Jam is an amazing event every year; it was fun being one of the judges this year.

    -JAY

    Permalink Filed under: Events, Restaurants Tags: 1 Comment
  • 21May

    A One-On-One Labeling Lesson From Andrea Donsky

    label lessonsIf you’re like me, you learn better when the person teaching you is passionate about the subject matter. My experience in speaking with Andrea Donsky was no exception. Andrea is a charming and intelligent individual, who is extremely passionate about healthy living. In the forty five minutes I spoke with her, I walked away with an encyclopedia of new knowledge, and a belief that I could incorporate her strategies into bettering my own lifestyle.

    Andrea’s story reminds me not only of my own, but of many others who are now living gluten-free lifestyles. She was experiencing symptoms for which doctors could find no explanation or cure. So she took control of her own health and well-being. She read everything she could get her hands on and began experimenting with controlling her diet. Over time she noticed that by following a strict gluten free and dairy free lifestyle, she was feeling like a new person.

    This is where Andrea sets herself apart by setting the bar higher. Where most of us would have settled for being happy because we were feeling better, Andrea decided that still was not enough for her. She had grown to feel passionate about the healthy lifestyle she was living so she felt she needed to share all that she had learned with other people who were still suffering. She finally quit her job and went to study formally at a Holistic Nutrition school.

    donsky

    Andrea Donsky.

    She didn’t quit there though, her commitment and desire to share her knowledge inspired her to begin The Healthy Shopper Inc., a coupon book that offers discounts on healthy food options, and NaturallySavvy.com, a website dedicated to educating people on the benefits of living a natural and organic lifestyle. Both of these outlets fulfill her purpose of using her knowledge to educate the public about eating healthier.

    It was an honor to speak with Andrea recently and have her share information from her latest book Label Lessons: Your Guide to a Healthy Shopping Cart, as well as revisiting topics from her previous book Unjunk Your Junk Food.

    Enjoy these highlights from our interview.

    So Andrea, you’ve mentioned that you help clients stay away from Fad diets, do you include more rigid adherence to not eating processed foods like the Paleo diet in that category?

    I don’t really consider Paleo a diet, it’s more of a lifestyle choice. I’ve tried every diet out there at one point or another: Atkins, Food for Life, Zone, Blood Type, etc. What I’ve learned is that every person is different, and you need to choose the eating style that fits your style. Right now I follow a gluten and dairy free lifestyle and it works wonders for me. I still have a sweet tooth so I indulge occasionally, as evidenced by my first book “Unjunk the Junk Food.” However, when I do, I make sure to read the ingredients and understand what I’m putting into my body. I believe that reading labels is the key to healthy living.

    What are some of the most common mistakes people make when trying to grocery shop for healthy foods?

    Many people focus on the fat and calories instead of actually reading the ingredients. We live in a culture that has taught us to look for lower fat or caloric content. However, to get that lower fat or caloric content food companies are adding all kinds of dangerous ingredients and chemicals to still give us that desired flavor. During the two years it took us to write Unjunk Your Junk Food, we came across a group of seven harmful ingredients that appeared in most of the “bad” choice products we came across so we called them: The Seven Scary. They are: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Trans Fat (Partially Hydrogenated oils), Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), Artificial Flavors, Artificial Colors, Artificial Sweeteners, and [certain] Preservatives. If a product contains any of The Scary Seven ingredients, we urge people to put them back on the shelf. The problem doesn’t start with the fat or calories in a product, but rather the harmful ingredients they can contain and the damage those chemicals can do to our bodies. Many companies also try and trick you with misleading labeling and marketing terms. People need to learn to focus on looking at the ingredients label rather than the front of the package.

    What advice do you give families trying to get their kids to eat healthier?

    Educate the kids and get them involved starting at a young age. Explain the difference between organic and non- organic to them. Watch movies. My nine year old watched Supersize Me at a friend’s house and now he avoids McDonald’s. I believe in teaching our kids how to properly read labels. If you get them involved in their own food choices it helps to minimize their susceptibility to ads and peer pressure. They are still kids, so I am realistic with my expectations, but every little bit counts.          

    I saw on your Twitter recently that you were asking your readers if the expense of following an organic diet was limiting. What are your thoughts on the matter and what advice would you offer people a limited food budget?

    Do the best you can with the budget you have. If you can start by eliminating any of The Scary Seven ingredients, that is a huge step in the right direction. One of the things I did to work within my budget is to eat less meat. I try and make vegetables the main source of our meals. Coupons can also help you save money. The Healthy Shopper Coupon Book (www.thehealthyshopper.ca) has great e-coupons on its site or you can also find the coupon books at health food stores across Canada.

    You offer so much wonderful information with scientific evidence to back it up. How do you break down and sum up your overall message for people to remember? Do you have a mantra?

    If you don’t understand what you’re reading, put it back on the shelf. And start with one thing, it’s all about baby steps. If you eat a lot of eggs or milk, switch to organic versions. You don’t have to go gang busters with trying to incorporate all of these changes at once. Just one thing can make a difference and then continue incorporating other small changes slowly.

    Check out Andrea’s latest book Label Lessons: Your Guide to a Healthy Shopping Cart for more information about healthy changes you can make to improve your lifestyle. You can download the E-book for free through June 26th. Also check out her website http://www.naturallysavvy.com/ for more interesting articles.

    -JPM (Joyana)

     

    Permalink Filed under: Books Tags: , 2 Comments
  • 21May

    Oyamel Cocina Mexicana

    Last weekend, a few friends and I ventured into the city with an ambitious agenda of touring the capitol, perusing the Air and Space Museum, visiting the zoo, and enjoying a quality lunch. The goal was to accomplish all of this without spending too much money, or collapsing in the heat (whichever came first). Somehow, we pulled it off with little pre-departure planning, and found ourselves starving outside a quaint tapas restaurant on 7th Street NW called Oyamel Cocina Mexicana.

    Nothing less than a saving grace, Oyamel materialized before us just as we were giving up hope of finding a mutually agreeable location. We powered on by a few smaller sandwich joints and a couple Mediterranean-esque lunch spots, despite the moaning objections from our stomachs. The wafting aroma of traditional Mexican cuisine and an ultra-cool interior, which we could see through the large glass windows lining the front of Oyamel, drew us in immediately. We were at once greeted by a wonderfully friendly host who informed us it would be a 15 minute wait (the place was crowded and obviously very popular) and handed us menus to browse.

    We were seated in no more than 10 minutes, and decided to order guacamole for the table. At about 14 dollars it’s a little pricey relative to other Mexican restaurants, but the amount served is generous, and the servers prepare it fresh in front of your table in a large stone bowl. Once we had our fill of guacamole and the spicy salsa, the first bowl of which was complimentary, we each placed our orders.

    Oyamel serves tapas, meaning the dishes are smaller and visitors generally order two to three to make a full meal. The menu offers a wide variety of unique seafood, beef, pork, chicken, and vegetarian dishes including the cachetes de puerco con camote (“negra modelo braised Kurbota pork cheeks with sweet potato, habanero pepper, onion, cilantro and spiced pecans”) and the camarones al mojo de ajo negro (“shrimp sautéed with shallots, arbol chile, poblano pepper, lime and sweet aged black garlic”).

    Two of my friends chose the camarones ($10.00) along with the tinga poblana con puerco taco, a “stew of shredded pork with chorizo, chipotle, lettuce and avocado” ($4.00). My other friend and I also selected the tinga poblana taco, along with two other tacos. I went with the pescado Mexicano, a seared fish taco with cilantro pesto ($4.00), and the cochinita pibit con cebolla en escabeche, a barbecued pork-style taco ($4.00). My friends raved about the camarones, which happened to be the server’s favorite. Our tacos were also delicious and were served in convenient V-shaped dishes that held the tacos upright and together.

    Overall, Oyamel gave us a wonderful dining experience, perfect for a day strolling through the capitol. Time permitting, I’ll be back in the city sampling more of Oyamel’s offerings; perhaps the sautéed grasshopper taco?

    -Paige (EPC)

    Permalink Filed under: Restaurants Tags: 1 Comment
  • 20May

    Kid Review: Chipotle

    chipotle - kid reviewI like Chipotle for many of the same reasons I eat at Old Country Buffet. You can pick everything you want in your burrito: the rice, the beans, meat, and other things. I went to the one in Kingstowne (Alexandria), but there are plenty of other locations. Search here for the one nearest you.

    Again, it’s hard not to like a restaurant where you can get anything you want (or in this case, anything you want on your burrito). The menu at this restaurant is less flexible than other Mexican restaurants in general, but for burritos, there is plenty of variety. The large number of possible fillings is good for picky eaters, and they have items that can be helpful to people on diets. For example, there are burrito bowls, which are just like burritos, but without a tortilla and in a bowl. It’s not much different than the burrito, and it’s great if you are gluten free.  (Believe me, I was once gluten free!) You have salad for more strict diets, and tacos if you prefer a crunch.

    Chipotle logoOne of the interesting things about Chipotle is how they put your burrito together.  You don’t just order it and have them make it in the kitchen.  They build it right in front of you while you’re watching.  First, one person puts a giant tortilla on a steam press.  When it’s heated, he or she will add white or brown rice, then slide it to another person who puts on the beans and/or meat that you ordered.  Yet another person puts on the cold stuff:  guacamole, tomato salsa (they have lots of different kinds of salsa), sour cream , lettuce, and/or cheese. My choice is always white rice, black beans, lettuce, and cheese.

    Since the menu at Chipotle is (as I mentioned) less flexible than other Mexican restaurants, you won’t find things like enchiladas, flautas, tostadas, etc.  It’s a good choice if you really enjoy eating burritos (like me). There are also no dessert options, and you do have to stand in line for your food.

    But, if you’re in the mood for a burrito, try this place out.  I think you’ll like it as much as I do.

    -John, Kid Reviewer

    Editor’s Note: You can Find John’s first article (Old Country Buffet) and more informational about him here. By the way, Chipotle sells tacos as well.

    Permalink Filed under: Restaurants Tags: No Comments
  • 17May

    Chef Bart Flexes His Mussels At His New Restaurant, B Too!

    Chef Bart has just (soft) opened B Too, which like his other restaurant, Belga, is a fine Belgian restaurant. B Too’s menu is available here. We were in attendance at the soft opening, and got to try some great food and beer.

    We ordered the:
    • Baby grey shrimp ($15) with krupuk, tomato confit, and basil. These tiny shrimp are both sweet and briny and are delicious. This dish had two preparations of the shrimp, one of which included mayonnaise.
    • Frog legs ($9.50) with tomato, cream, garlic butter, tarragon, and Ricard (French anise liquor).
    • Josper grilled hanger steak ($26) with root vegetables, Belgian frites, and both the 5 Pepper Sauce  and the Béarnaise sauce. The Josper Oven was used on this tasty steak. The 5 Pepper Sauce had to be ordered without mushrooms due to an allergy.
    • Mussels Marieniere ($21) with white wine, shallots, garlic, parsley, and frites. Although everything we ordered was very good, the mussels and frites were my favorite items of the evening.
    • Chocolate Eden and Vanilla Waffle for dessert, both of which contain various components and are tasty.
    What is a Josper Oven? “The Josper Oven is brand new to our market, and is a unique combination of a traditional oven and charbroiled cooking. The use of the charcoal greatly influences and enhances the flavor of the food.”

    B Too has an extensive beer list (which will be expanded soon). I had a Deuce (which is like beer champagne), a cocktail made with beer, and the two beers CY talks about below.

    CY‘s Beer Tasting Notes: We drank the St. Bernardus Tripel, which is from his favorite brewery. His description: “Sweet malts, Fruity esters, complex, and yummy.” With dessert we had the Kasteel Rouge, which “is like eating cherry candy while riding a cherry boat in the cherry river.”

    This is definitely a restaurant you want to dine at for delicious Belgian food. There were many other items we wanted to try, but  our stomachs can only hold so much before we explode like overfed goldfish. The soups and the rabbit sounded really good, so maybe we will try them next time.

    The service was very good as well. The decor was certainly interesting–it has some artwork and pieces I’d expect to see in an upscale Argentine steakhouse, such as well-placed cow/bull hides and horns. The downstairs bar has a nice vibe to it (and has a curtained painting of a pig snout).

    -JAY

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  • 15May

    Anniversary Eve: The Bread Basket

    Restaurant EveA few weeks ago was my first wedding anniversary. My husband and I wanted to find a place that would really be special for us to celebrate. Both our parents apparently had the same idea and surprised us with gift certificates to Restaurant Eve. So we made a reservation for the Tasting Room. I’m so glad we did, because I have to say, I don’t think I have ever been so spoiled by a restaurant in my life.

    We Are Enjoying Our Anniversary Dinner!

    We Are Enjoying Our Anniversary Dinner!

    When I made the reservation I mentioned that I was gluten- free. They greeted us at our table with a personal basket of gluten-free bread for me, as well as the usual basket of bread for my husband. I have to say, I’d spend the money to go back there just for the bread. In fact, I wonder if they do take out, to allow me to pick up their gluten-free bread. That’s how amazingly delicious this bread was.

    The rest of the meal was a culinary delight as well. We got the five course tasting experience. They told me that anything on the menu could be prepared gluten-free, except for two items. It was such a liberating experience for me, I really felt like I could let loose and enjoy myself for once without any dietary restrictions. Every course that came out was artfully arranged and prepared to perfection. I also liked that I was forced to step out of my comfort zone and try things that normally I’d be too timid to imagine eating.

    For the real adventurers they also offer the seven and nine course tasting options, where you do not order for yourself and instead just have the chef send out dishes for you. The expense is not that much greater than the five, but that was a bit too far out of my comfort zone for me. Maybe I’ll work up to that for our five year anniversary.

    Overall, our experience at Restaurant Eve far surpassed our expectations. We felt like royalty for a night. Two servers were assigned to just our table. A sommelier came by and chose our bottle of wine for us. And our whole meal was served at a leisurely pace that allowed us to sit and chat comfortably for over three hours. You do not feel that usual pressure to vacate the table so it can be turned over for the next seating. Instead you’re encouraged to linger and enjoy. We shared with them at the end of the evening that it was our first anniversary. One of our servers returned a moment later with a goody bag including a gift certificate to return another time this summer. It was such a thoughtful gesture and made the night that much more special.

    Restaurant Eve takes the dining experience to a different level. It truly felt personalized and true to the title “dining experience” rather than just a meal. I highly recommend going there yourself for your next special occasion. It’s an experience you’ll never forget.

    -Joyana (JPM)

    Permalink Filed under: Events, Restaurants Tags: , 1 Comment
  • 14May

    Social Media For Restaurants 101 – Amy’s, You’re Doing it Wrong

     This is too funny not to share.

    -RAY

    ——————————————————————————-

    Looking for a palate cleanser after last night’s shellacking of the Washington Capitals by the New York Rangers?  How about a heaping helping of schadenfreude ?

    A restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, was featured on Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares. As a rule, when a British chef comes into your restaurant with a camera crew and an attitude, that pretty much means things aren’t working out too well for your business.  I don’t want to ruin any of the suspense, but let’s put it this way – if you thought Denise Whiting’s debacle with “Cafe Hon” was bad, wait until you see this from Buzzfeed.

    pain

    These people are clueless. They have no clue.

    Here’s the full link for you cut-n-paste types – http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/this-is-the-most-epic-brand-meltdown-on-facebook-ever

    Oh, and the best part – these folks still have left every single Redditor comment and nasty post of their own up on their Facebook site. They have no idea. Their Yelp is a danged riot, too. This link will take you to a comment the day of the “Kitchen Nightmares” shooting.

    UPDATE – 6:30pm – these two seriously are the gift that just keeps on giving.

    • Obviously our Facebook, YELP, Twitter and Website have been hacked. We are working with the local authorities as well as the FBI computer crimes unit to ensure this does not happen again. We did not post those horrible things. Thank You Amy &Samy
    Permalink Filed under: Restaurants Tags: , , , , , , , 5 Comments
  • 13May

    Some Of The Best Baked Goods We’ve Eaten Recently

    Some Of The Best Baked Goods We’ve Eaten Recently:

    Kyle Bailey and Tiffany MacIssac shared their GBD doughnuts at Graffiato’s May Industry Takeover Night. Some of my favorites were the Key Lime Curd Filled Brioche, Grapefruit Campari, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Chocolate Creme Filled Brioche.

    My friend Patricia King owns a gluten free bakery in Easton, MD called Patisserie Patrice. She sent me two kinds of bread, a Strawberry Granola Bar, and a Snickerdoodle, all of which were gluten free and delicious. She did a great job with the textures on everything, especially the granola bar (which is addictive).

    A Bit More sells a wide variety of regular and gluten free baked goods at the Kingstowne Farmer’s Market (Fridays 4-7pm). Our favorite items (that contain gluten) are the Triple Chocolate Rocky and blueberry lemon scones, while our favorite gluten free items are the Glazed Pecans, Granola Bites, Pumpkin Spice Bread, and Brownies.

    Bonjour La Parisienne (which needs to update their website) also sells at the Kingstowne Farmer’s Market. Everything is “a unique recipe,” which means that he threw something random in it and that it somehow works. I did not try the Challah bread (which contains pumpkin puree), but the blueberry muffins (which I think either contain yogurt or sour cream) and the chocolate chip cookies are decadent and amazing. Seriously! I did not ask what the secret ingredient in the cookies are. Next time I’ll try the Cinnamon Buns.

    Edit: (5/17/2013) Maybe the guy from Bonjour La Parisienne was kidding last week about the pumpkin puree. Apparently pumpkin is not an ingredient in the challah.

    -JAY

    Permalink Filed under: Events, Restaurants, Stores Tags: , , , , 2 Comments
  • 11May

    Kid Review: Old Country Buffet

    Editor’s Note: My friend is homeschooling her son (an aspiring foodie), and she asked me if her son could (with her help) write an article as a Guest Blogger. Sure. Here it is:

    —————————————————

    Old Country Buffet 1By Guest Blogger, John Remmers

    Old Country Buffet is an all-you-can-eat restaurant with huge variety: salad, mashed potatoes, pizza, noodles, rice, meatloaf, tacos, chicken, lots of healthy stuff, and plenty of dessert, including ice cream. I went to the one located at 7820 Richmond Highway in Alexandria, but there are several DMV area locations.  Check out their website here to find one near you.

    The first thing that I have to say about this restaurant is that is very good. There is a lot of flexibility. Have a kid? No problem. Have a diet or an allergy? No problem. Super hungry? No problem. Picky? No problem. See the pictures on my website and you’ll have more of an idea what I’m talking about.

    When we were there, there was a group of teenagers from Charlotte, NC on a field trip. This restaurant is good for groups like that, too, because: Everyone could have what they want, they didn’t have to decide, they didn’t have to all order, they could just get it themselves, and they didn’t have to wait for their food to be ready.

    What does it cost? Well if you know anything about all-you-can-eat restaurants, then you would know that it’s a flat price rather than paying for each item. The cool thing for kids is that how much you pay depends on how old you are. For example, I am in the 8-11 group and got lunch for just $5.49. I think that’s a good price for all I can eat! Plus they have lots of coupons, clubs and events to make it even cheaper. (On Family Night, which is Thursdays 5-8, kids get in for just $0.99, and I got cotton candy once!)

    Now, let’s go over the negatives. I honestly couldn’t think of any, but my mom found some, so here they are. You have to get up to get your food, and since kids under ten aren’t allowed to serve themselves, you have to get your own and your child’s food. Although these complaints are minor and only prevent you from being a little less lazy.

    Like I said, this restaurant has huge variety and all of it is very good. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone in any circumstance. Try it, tell your friends to try it, and tell your friends to tell their friends to try it. I am certain that you will not be disappointed.

    –

    John Remmers is a homeschooled math whiz, professional blogger, food lover, casual gamer, wii owner, minecraft player, young entrepreneur, and family lover.  Check out his daily blog for more about homeschooling, food, video games, and other fun stuff: www.empowernetwork.com/helpakidout

    Permalink Filed under: Restaurants Tags: 6 Comments
  • 08May

    June’s DC Food Blogger Happy Hour Will Be At Cuba Libre

    June DCFBHH smallThe June DC Food Blogger Happy Hour will be hosted (by me) at Cuba Libre on June 5th. They are even extending their Happy Hour Specials until 8pm for us. Please RSVP for the event on the DCFBHH Facebook page.

    BTW, I have it on good authority (from July’s host) that the July DCFBHH will be on Wednesday July 10th instead of first Wednesday so as to not have it so close to July 4th. I won’t slip the news about the venue, but it is one of my favorites.

    BTW, Graffiato’s next Industry Takeover Night is Monday June 3rd. These are amazing events with free appetizers, big crowds, and drink specials. They are first Mondays every month at 10pm.

    -JAY

     

    Permalink Filed under: Events, Restaurants Tags: , 2 Comments
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