In my inbox.

-JAY

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From September 6 – 10, 2011, participating Chick-fil-A^® restaurants are giving away a variety of FREE breakfast entrées to customers who make a reservation online.

Deep Dish & Thin Crust.

CAF and I were enough to try District of Pi tonight, before the official opening tomorrow (August 31).

“The District eatery, like its St. Louis siblings, focuses on sustainability and minimizing its carbon
footprint. The buildout maximizes the use of reclaimed materials, both from the original space and others in the area. The entire wine list is also green, consisting of organic, bio-dynamical and other wines by sustainable wine-makers.”

Spicy Cucumbers.

What did we think?

I really like their house beer (a Steam style beer), which is made specifically for them.  The bartender (Kate who is awesome) made CAF a great nonalcoholic combination of orange juice and ginger beer.

We had both a thin crust pizza with pesto sauce, red onion, and chicken and a deep dish pizza with tomato sauce, eggplant red onion, and sausage.  Both were good but keep in mind that the deep dish is a cornbread-like crust and not a Chicago-style crust.  They were not served hot enough but that may have had to do with managing a full restaurant on a preview night where everyone basically was seated at once.

We had both spicy cucumbers and wings as appetizers.  The spicy cucumbers are actually a spicy fresh-made pickle were one of the best dishes we tried that evening.  The wings had an awesome spice rub but were rubbery instead of crispy; I understand that they were baked but there are ways to do it so that you don’t get your mouth full of rubbery skin.

The apple pie uses the same cornbread crust as the apple pie, and while we liked the filling, the apples could have been cooked more.  You get 2 scoops of ice cream on a piece of pie; I really like their vanilla ice cream.

We will definitely try Pi again.  Next time we will try the garlic bread, which we hear is very good.

-JAY

Disclaimer: Something to this effect is stated in our “About” section, but (as sometimes happens), we received freebies.  That said,  our words are our own.

The top floor of Riot is like walking into an office lobby (with a whole bar full of fringe benefits lining the whole back wall), and I saw many attendees exchanging business cards over a glass of wine. Downstairs looks more like a friend’s basement in that it is more intimate; the low ceiling, closely packed tables, and busy bar encourage flirting over drinks.

I’d like to mention two strapping young fellows who were lucky enough to become my case studies in the aforementioned flirting – “Buttercup” and “Man Candy”.

Man Candy made his way to three new lucky girls after failing with our guest. Buttercup’s next action, after hovering over our guest’s shoulder, was to reassure his whiny girlfriend that he was just making conversation.

The food was appropriate for the setting: only one deep-fried item, but not too many unpronounceable words. A special house brew called Riot Act Red and the Summer Riot cocktail were the specialty drinks of the night, but they also offered the standard alcoholic fare, including four types of wine and seven types of beer.

The antipasto skewer featured artichoke, mozzarella, and sun-dried tomato drizzled with pesto. It would’ve been great with some salami or capicola.

The next hors d’ouevre was a duck dumpling that I wished had been fried. The thick chili soy sauce made up for the missing crunch that I look forward to in potstickers.

The hibachi beef skewer, in my guest’s words, was “to die for,” but we couldn’t say the same about the dry chicken skewer with bell peppers.

A round of fruit skewers gave us a break from all the heavy food.

Riot then served us two different takes on phyllo dough. For some odd reason, I got a hint of fish in the spanakopita. The dough wasn’t cooked through, so the pastry didn’t flake well. The brie appetizer, on the other hand, came wrapped in a pocket of slightly overbaked phyllo. I’d rather have dough that is too crispy over soggy, undercooked dough, and the brie also won me over with a ribbon of sweet raspberry filling.

I can’t promise the same for an ordinary day at Riot, because few of the Grand Opening bites are on their regular menu online. The selections range from hearty pasta entrees to some decently-sized (at $10, I hope so) desserts such as tiramisu, and if the quality of tonight’s appetizers was an indicator, you’ll be satisfied with what you paid for. If you’re going to brush off a sleazy guy with an obnoxious grin by pretending to be absorbed in your food, you might as well make it good food.

-Nina (NFG)

Disclaimer:  I know something to this effect is stated in our “About” section, but (as sometimes happens), we received freebies.  That said, our words are our own.

The packaging is simple, and the directions are easy.  Like any recipe with wet and dry ingredients: in one bowl, whisk an egg, then whisk in a cup of milk.  In another bowl, empty the entire packet of Pedon’s dry pancake mix then slowly incorporate your liquid into the dry mix with the whisk. Flex your whisking muscles to ensure a smooth batter and a couple minutes later you’re ready cook it stove-top.

The aroma while it’s cooking was a big tease, because it took a few minutes before the top dried and I could turn it over.  Check out the gorgeous, even coloring once I flipped it.

The flavor of the finished product was similar to what I expected a pancake might be, and the texture was very good. No, it doesn’t taste exactly like a wheat-flour pancake but I didn’t mind. Salt content was perfect, and the option of adding sugar to the batter isn’t necessary; instead, pour some quality maple syrup on top and enjoy. Pedon’s got a winner: they’re in the same league as Pamela’s pancake mix which is the gluten-free gold standard in our household.

After offering a taste to my family, I polished off the entire batch. Win.

–Mark Feghali (MFF)

Disclaimer:  I know something to this effect is stated in our “About” section, but (as sometimes happens), we received freebies.  That said,  our words are our own.

In my inbox.

-JAY
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The Columbia Heights Day festival planned for Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, are now canceled. (The attached DC State Fair is just postponed for now.)

Columbia Heights Day Initiative President Sergio Herrera offers the following statement:

“It saddens us to say, due to circumstances beyond our control, the 5th Annual Columbia Heights Day Festival is canceled. Many of the companies and services that we rely on to present the festival are unable to perform their contracted duties for us, due to the potential of extreme weather. We sincerely apologize for the last minute notification, but our decision to cancel the festival is based on information provided to us this morning.

“We are in the process of reaching out to all festival participants to make them aware of the event cancellation. Over the coming days, we will be answering specific questions from individual people and organizations regarding this situation. Until then, we thank you in advance for your patience as we sort through the logistics; please stayed tuned to our Facebook and Webpage for updates.”

Website: www.ColumbiaHeightsDay.org

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ColHeightsDay

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaHeightsDay

Columbia Heights Day is presented by the Columbia Heights Day Initiative, a local, independent, grassroots 501(c)(3) organization. Columbia Heights Day is dedicated to celebrating community, diversity and service. For more information, visit www.ColumbiaHeightsDay.org.

–
Liz Bartolomeo
202.255.2677

In my inbox.

-JAY
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The Culinary Historians of Washington Are Pleased to Present

Patricia Jinich

Mexican Culinary Traditions

Sunday, September 11, 2011
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To be held in: Bethesda/Chevy Chase Regional Services Center
Meeting Room A
4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD

Patricia Jinich, host of the PBS television series, Pati’s Mexican Table” and Chef of the Mexican Cultural Institute will be speaking about Mexican culinary traditions and also about how important the month of September is for Mexicans, at home and abroad.

Jinich was born and raised in Mexico City, and comes from a family of accomplished cooks. Her PBS series, “Pati’s Mexican Table,” can be seen locally on WETA. Jinich has also served as a political analyst, and completed a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies at Georgetown University, and worked at The Inter-American Dialogue, a policy research center.

Patricia left policy work to pursue researching, writing about, and cooking Mexican food, and to share her knowledge of Mexican cuisine and culture. In 2007 she launched Mexican Table, an ongoing series of culinary programs comprised of informative talks, cooking demonstrations, and tasting dinners at the Mexican Cultural Institute.

for more information, contact Claudia Kousoulas
301-320-6979 appetite@kousoulas.com
www.chowdc.org

This is a free event, no reservations necessary.

In my inbox.

-JAY
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Dear Jason,

The Silver Spring Latino Fiesta is shaping up to be a fun day. We are taking this to a new level of celebrating the cultures of the Latin world in style.

There is still time to apply. Three events in one day – Our festival, Pan African Festival on the plaza, and Fenton Street Market. So much cross promotion, and a great time for all. Don’t miss out.

Saturday September 24th 10am to 7pm.

Downtown Silver Spring is known for its scenic and quaint Ellsworth Drive in the commercial district. Downtown Silver Spring hosts over two hundred events across the workweek, weekends and year. It is an attractive shopping hot spot where visitors expect something new to be happening almost every day. On a regular event day, 8,000 visitors traffic this area, while this caliente event expects more than 15,000 to attend in its first year.

Exhibitors will be able to rent a 10′ x 10′ space only ($100). No tents will be provided. Parking is free on weekends at Downtown Silver Spring and there are several surrounding parking garages.

Spaces are limited so get your application in today.

Visit www.capitolmarketplaceevents.com to apply.

Hope you can come party with us,

The CME team

I’m still working through a pile of samples from the Fancy Food Show. Here are some more standout products from the show:

Last week I grilled Karoun Dairies‘ Yanni Grilling Cheese and Jalapeno Grilling Cheese. The plain variety was great in sandwiches with homemade (from a garden) pesto on grilled ciabatta rolls. The jalapeno variety was delicious and eaten straight (after being grilled) and were made with an excellent blend of jalapeno and spices.

Saffron Road makes frozen ethnic (mainly Indian, Thai, and Moroccan) entrees, which are carried in this area by Whole Foods. We tried 4 varieties: Lamb Vindaloo, Lamb Saag, Lemongrass Basil Chicken, and Chicken Tikka Masala. I passed on the Chicken Pad Thai, and don’t remember seeing the Lamb Koftis or Moroccan Lamb Stew at Whole Foods (Arlington). Whole Foods had one of Saffron Roads’ chicken nugget products (I think it was the Chicken Bites) but not the Tandoori Seasoned Chicken Nuggets, so I passed on the nuggets as well.

So, how were the frozen dinners? They all have tasty sauces and quality ingredients. They are a little small for me, which made me wish that they included a compartment with an added vegetable or even a dessert. Also, their listed spiciness level is inconsistent (across products) and therefore not very accurate. Plus, if you follow the microwave directions, results are inconstant across entrees, even with the same microwave. Some entrees will get severely overcooked if you follow their directions, and we had a problem with one entree (Chicken Tikka Masala) with the meat cooked much faster than the rice. I still recommend Saffron Road’s products, but you should watch them like a hawk when they are being microwaved.

My favorite of the products was the Lamb Saag, which had more of a substantial sauce (because of the spinach). My second favorite was the Lamb Vindaloo. The Lemon Grass Basil Chicken was probably my least favorite but it still had interesting green peppers (which seemed to have some vinegar in them). Texturally, the lamb did seem to respond a bit better to being microwaved.  I will definitely purchase the Lamb Saag (and probably the Lamb Vindaloo) again.  I may even try the other entrees and nuggets

I took this at pic the Fancy Food Show.

I met the Cake Mix Doctor (Anne Byrn) at the show, and then found her Deep Dark Chocolate Cake Mix at Ross in Seven Corners for $3, so I picked one up. “S” made it today (and used store bought chocolate frosting) and it turned out well although a little dense. We used regular sour cream, but might use light sour cream next time. “S” said that she would “…make this to bring to a party instead of buying a pre-made cake.” Anne has good recipes on the website to “doctor” cakes.

Milton’s Craft Bakers‘ makes multi-grain crackers.  I got my hands on three varieties: Original Multi-Grain, Everything Multi-Grain, and Roasted Garlic & Herb.  Our favorite of the three varieties was the Garlic & Herb, with the Everything coming in second, although they were all tasty.  They did a great job with the flavor combinations on the Garlic & Herb and Everything varieties, with the former containing rosemary (extract), garlic powder, dehydrated garlic, and parsley flakes, and the latter containing rosemary (extract), caraway seeds, poppy seeds, dehydrated onions, sesame seeds and onion and garlic powders.  While they are delicious, it would be nice if the crackers were larger so that they would work better as a cheese delivery method. I’ve seen the Original variety being sold at Costco three boxes at a time; Milton’s says that Safeway and Harris Teeter carry most varieties.  They use recycled board & ecofriendly inks in the packaging for the crackers.

I actually felt bad for the other participants at a Blush N Brush class when they ate boring look crackers as we munched on Milton’s. No, that doesn’t mean we shared.

I also sampled Rigoni’s  Fiordifrutta organic fruit spreads and Nocciolata (organic hazelnut/chocolate spread).  There are some great Fiordifrutta flavors (I tried strawberry, fig, and grapefruit); I’ve been buying their products for years.  The nocciolata is a new product to me, and is delicious.  If you like Nutella and want a great tasting organic alternative, try this product.  It was great on toasted (good quality) wheat bread.

For those of you who want your chocolate and booze in one shot, try Tortuga‘s Chocolate Rum Turtles With Sea Salt.  It is a product from Barbados, and the flavor combination of chocolate, rum, and pecans is layered and delicious.  I also have one of their rum cake samples on hand. Mmmmmm, rum.

-JAY

Disclaimer:  I know something to this effect is stated in our “About” section, but (as sometimes happens), we received freebies.  That said,  our words are our own.

In my inbox.

-JAY

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Columbia Heights Day is this Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.
There’ll be a food truck row in the 1100 block of Kenyon Street NW. Plus, we’ll have other vendors selling treats including cupcakes, ice cream and water ice. Participating trucks include:

AZN Eats
BBQ Bus
DC Slices
Eat Wonky
El Floridano
Pleasant Pops

At 4 pm at the festival, Sticky Finger’s Bakery will be having their annual cupcake eating competition. And the DC State Fair will be on-site all day celebrating urban gardeners, bakers and more.

Many neighborhood restaurants will also be having some special Columbia Heights Day offerings, including:
The Heights — $5.00 off pitchers, champagne, and wine if you “like” The Heights on Facebook. Also drink specials all day (including a special Columbia Heights Day punch) and happy hour from 4pm-7pm everyday at the bar, communal table, and patio.

After the festival, stop by Acre 121 and Lou’s City Bar for the official after-hours event — both located at 1400 Irving Street in the Highland Park building.
Full details about the festival are below:

5th ANNUAL COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DAY

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27

Community celebration and street fair features live music and arts performances, DC State Fair, family activities, food trucks and more

WHAT:            5th Annual Columbia Heights Day

WHEN:            Saturday, August 27

10:00 am to 6:00 pm

WHERE:            Harriet Tubman Elementary Field and 11th Street NW

• main entrance on Kenyon St. NW between 11th and 13th streets
• 11th Street is car-free between Irving and Lamont streets
• Just 3 blocks from the Columbia Heights Metro (Green and Yellow lines)

FESTIVAL MAP:            http://bit.ly/CHDay11map [Google Map]

COST:            FREE

WHO:            Highlights include:

• Three stages of live music and dance performances
• Kids Zone, featuring a petting zoo, fun games and family entertainment
• The National Symphony Orchestra’s musical instrument petting zoo
• Performances all day at BloomBars
• Morning yoga workshop and Zumba class
• Neighborhood dog show
• King & Queen of Columbia Heights pageant
• Food truck row on Kenyon Street
• Cupcake eating contest
• 2nd Annual “DC State Fair”
• More than 70 local businesses and community groups
• After Hours Party post-festival at neighborhood bars

Performances, classes and demonstrations:

10:00 am — free yoga class with Quiet Mind Yoga (field)

11:00 am — free Zumba class with Lola (main stage)

11:30 am — dog show (main stage)

12:00 pm — performance by the cast of Arena Stage’s Oklahoma (main stage)

12:15 pm — King & Queen of Columbia Heights (main stage)

12:45 pm — Challa (Kids Zone)

1:00 pm — In Da Streets (Kids Zone)

1:15 pm — BloomBars Presents: Christylez Bacon & Washington Sound Museum (main stage)

1:45 pm — BloomBars Presents: Ella (Kids Zone)

2:00 pm — Sweetbread Jim’s (acoustic stage)

2:00 pm — Belladonna’s Bohemian Belly Dance (field)

2:30 pm — Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment  (Kids Zone)

3:00 pm — National Symphony Orchestra announcement (main stage)

3:00 pm — Potomac Bombs (field)

3:15 pm — Luck Dub (main stage)

4:00 pm — Sticky Fingers’ 4th Annual Cupcake Eating Contest (main stage)

4:00 pm — Rene Moffatt (acoustic stage)

4:15 pm — Flex Matthews (main stage)

5:00 pm — BloomBars Presents: Zezeh Zax (field)

5:15 pm — The Chariors (main stage)

Website:            www.ColumbiaHeightsDay.org

Twitter:             www.twitter.com/ColHeightsDay

Facebook:         http://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaHeightsDay

CONTACT:           Liz Bartolomeo, Columbia Heights Day Initiative, 202.255.2677

Columbia Heights Day is presented by the Columbia Heights Day Initiative, a local, independent, grassroots 501(c)(3) organization. Columbia Heights Day is dedicated to celebrating community, diversity and service. For more information, visit www.ColumbiaHeightsDay.org.

In my inbox from Artisan Confections in Clarendon.

-JAY

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