• 30Aug

    peaches-fruit-frost-mdPeaches, peaches everywhere!!!

    Lunch at DC Coast.

    I am constantly confused by this restaurant.  It’s not bad, it’s not good, it’s just nice.  The scallops are well cooked, the gazpacho was tasty (although the melon included was not ripe), and the bread is warm.  For dessert – peach cobbler.  Here’s a hint, heat it up.  Goodness.  A cold cobbler is like a yellow watermelon – there’s just something that’s not right about it.  In the end, I will continue to eat at the Coast for lunch but wouldn’t make it a dinner choice.

    Dinner at Co Co. Sala.

    I was excited to eat here.  I’d heard great things.  The fig amuse bouche was tasty.  The salad that followed had some odd combinations – cheese chunks with orange, along with some unidentifiable components.  Not the best.  For the entree, we could make a selection from a number of small plates.  I went for the “famous” bacon mac and cheese and the blue cheese burger.  The burger was delightful.  The mac and cheese was good, but not exactly famous worthy.  Perhaps people aren’t really creative at home and when they hear someone added bacon to mac and cheese they are agog with amazement and declare it the best thing they’ve ever tasted.  Let me also say I appreciate the chocolate covered bacon topping – it fits with the theme well – but it’s a little OTT.  Goodness, if you’re going to do it, deep fry it and then chocolate dip it!!!  Go all the way!

    For dessert – peaches and cream.  Again, cold.  Is there some secret movement afoot to serve all things peaches cold?  As a people, as food lovers, we must derail this movement as quickly as possible!!  The chocolate candies served with the dessert were the best thing about it.  And the complimentary after-dinner drink was a nice surprise!  (I’m loving how restaurants are more and more offering an after dinner drink!!)

    Dinner at Cafe Atlantico.

    Super excited for this dinner!!!  P.S. I know I need to try the Mini Bar at some point…so, Cafe Atlantico, I’ll be back!!!  I love all things conceptual, and the cocktails – cotton candy mojitos?  HELLO!  I started with the tomato and watermelon salad.  It was salty to the extreme – verging on inedible.  But perhaps, it was supposed to be surrounded in a mist of sea air and I just didn’t get it.  For dinner – a skirt steak.  Very tasty!  And guess what…it was served with peaches!  For dessert, passion fruit sorbet.  Now I’ve had some post-traumatic issues with passion fruit after a torturous few months with them in Africa, but this was very delish.  I will overlook the sea inspired salad and return again.

    Tonight, the adventure continues…Rasika.

    AEK

  • 26Aug

    The first stop…DINO.highres_8199264

    I had been to DINO twice before.  The first time was delicious.  The second was a huge let-down.  And the third…Restaurant Week 2009…another success!  The most genius part of the meal – for an appetizer you can get a half order of pasta.  Then an entree.  And then dessert.  And, to top things off, you also get a complimentary glass of grapa or limoncello!

    I had an order of the duck pasta and swordfish.  Both were wonderful.  The polenta and de-constructed lasagna were also delicious.  I can’t remember the names of the desserts, but they were tasty – and complimented by the orange-infused grapa.

    Another great feature – all of their wines over $50 are 33% off until September 13th.  That makes a quality wine more affordable than a cheap-o one!

    SEIZE THE DAY and head to Dino.  A restaurant week gem that offers the full menu, quality wine, and a buzz-worthy atmosphere.  Service, granted, was a bit eh – but he was covering the entire front room.  I can overlook it.

    Next up….D.C. Coast for lunch.  I’ve loved it before, so let’s see it the love will continue…

    AEK

  • 24Aug

    Thanks to Greg’s List DC for the info.  I am a big fan of Hello Cupcake’s “Maya,” which is a spicy dark chocolate cupcake.

    -JAY

    ——————-

    Free Cupcake Day!!!!!

    Tuesday, August 25, 2009 – 10:00am – 7:00pm

    Hello Cupcake

    1351 Connecticut Avenue NW

    Washington, DC, 20036

    United States

    See map: Google Maps

    www.hellocupcakeonline.com

    Hello Cupcake is turning 1!

    Please join them at their Dupont Circle shop on Tuesday for Free Cupcake Day to help celebrate!

    One free cupcake per customer. No special orders, multiple cupcake boxes, or deliveries on day of celebration. Good while supplies last!

  • 15Aug

    portland

    The Portland Epicurean Tour…

    Tomato-orange Soup at Elephants Delicatessen – a Portland legend.  Tomato, yes.  Orange, a little more nuanced.  Not the liquid love it’s hyped up to be.

    Bridgeport Beer…delicious.  And the entire operation only produces one dumpster of waste per week.  Portland has more breweries in its city limits than anywhere on earth.  Pretty amazing, and it creates an atmosphere of something for everyone.  I learned the history of the IPA – hint, it involves India.

    Pearl Bakery…sourdough bread, buttery croissants, and brownies.  The best part – an amazing olive oil that is only sold in bulk to large-scale operations.  The bread and pastry, while nice, could have been bought at a Whole Foods.

    Next up, wine tasting and mustards at the cooking school In Good Taste.  The only highlight was curry mustard.  We bought some to take home and I forgot it was in my carry-on bag.  It sadly made it’s way to the trashcan.  We also learned about ceramic knives…I’m intrigued…more on these later.

    We then went for tea.  Chinese and nothing to do with Portland.

    After tea, Hot Lips Pizza.  The chefs create seasonal toppings like peaches and feta.  Why doesn’t D.C. have this exciting pizza creativity?  Forget the giganto sloppy slice!  Interestingly, I learned a woman on our trip – who looked like Trey’s mother from Sex and The City – worked for the Reagan White House.  How interesting!  Food brings everyone together!

    It was also here we first tried Dry Soda – in flavors of rhubarb, lavender, and lemon grass to name a few.  Inspired with a nice glass of gin.

    And finally, we went to Cupcake Jones.  Any loyal reader of AEK knows I HATE HATE HATE the cupcake craze!  But I will admit, while I didn’t try it, this establishment attempts to make flavors like Root Beer Floats – filling the cupcake with root beer flavored buttercream.

    All in all, Portland is a liveable city.  The Pearl District, where we primarily ate, was a New York City sized U Street.  The tour was great and I suggest you sign up – and then walk around after and explore the area.

    AEK

  • 03Aug

    imagesSeattle….food tour…Seattle Bites Food Tour…FABULOUS…

    Let’s take a tour of Pike Place Market for $30 (per person) and get healthy sized tasty bites from various famous stands.  This is a MUST do in Seattle!  And the highlights were…

    1) Crepe de France…a Nutella/banana/almond crepe with whipped creme.

    2) I Love New York Deli…pastrami and pickels shipped in from New York daily?!  A knish that’s a REAL knish!?  All from a stand that’s about the size of my bathroom?!  I do love New York, even in Seattle.

    3) Pike Place Chowder…supposedly the best New England clam chowder in the U.S.  Yeah, right, this isn’t New England!  But wait, I think it might be the best chowder.  And they aren’t allowed to compete in Rhode Island any more because they just kept winning.

    4) Maximilien…an “eh” cheese tarte.  But a full glass of wine and beautiful view.  They say it’s the most romantic restaurant in the market – kissing and such.

    5) Uli’s Famous Sausage…good sausage, darn good sausage.

    6) Pure Fish Food Market…not the one where they throw the fish, but pretty darn amazing.  Smoked salmon.  Ah, the smoked salmon.  Even my fish-hating fellow traveler gobbled it all up.

    7) La Buona Tavola…pretentious “small-batch” wine seller.  Filled with passionate winers, the kind that say they don’t drink desert wine because it’s not real wine.  They knew their stuff and garnered some instant respect.  And the wine was wonderful.

    And the tour completed.  3 hours, tons of food, and an inside into the market.  Here’s an interesting fact – look up why there are no Japanese sellers in the market.  Google it – trust me – it’s interesting.

    As a side note, we also grabbed some delicious pastry at Piroshki Piroshki – doughy filled yumminess.  And no, we didn’t go to the first Starbucks.  And yes, I did go to the first Sur La Table.  And no, we didn’t drink Seattle’s Best Coffee – it’s owned by Starbucks.  P.S. the FABULOUS flower bouquets are $5 after 5:00 because they want to get rid of them.  But you’ll learn that on the tour.  You can find them through www.tripadvisor.com – do it when you go…or else!

    Up next…PORTLAND!

    AEK

  • 01Aug

    We recieved a message from casting assistant with CBS EYE TOO Productions. They’re currently seeking dynamic and charismatic two-person teams for a restaurant competition show. The teams of two must have pre-existing relationships (couples, friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, etc), the combined front and back of house skills to run a restaurant and energetic personalities. Unfortunately, they cannot already own a restaurant.

     They will soon be holding auditions in Washington D.C.!

     

    I’m considering this myself.  BTW, you might want to set aside a couple of hours to read the rules that they have listed on their website. 🙂

     

    -JAY

     

     

    Here is the info:

     

     

    MAJOR CABLE NETWORK &

    CBS EYE too PRODUCTIONS

    SEEKING

    TWO PERSON TEAMS FOR

    **NEW RESTAURANT

    COMPETITION SHOW**

    Casting in Washington  D.C 

    Do you and your spouse, sibling, parent or cousin each have the right skills to run a restaurant? Are you a pro in the kitchen while your teammate is a star in the front of the house? Is your wife a chef and you’re a front of house manager? Is your brother dreaming up restaurant menus in his head, while you’ve been waiting tables your entire life?  Do you make restaurant quality meals at home and want to show that you can take it to the next level?? If so, keep reading!!

     

    WHO SHOULD APPLY: 

    Two person teams with pre-existing relationships: Husband & wife, ex-husband & wife, father & daughter, mother & son, newlyweds, brothers, sisters, twins, cousins, best friends.

     

    The Skills to Run a Restaurant: Are you a restaurant manager, waiter, host, business person AND your teammate is a chef, home cook with restaurant quality food, line cook, sous chef? Combined do you make the perfect team to run a restaurant? 

    Personality that Pops: Are you and your teammate charismatic and outgoing? We’re looking for lots of energy and charm!

     

    *Please don’t apply if you already own your own restaurant or have previously owned a restaurant.
     

    We will be holding auditions in Washington D.C: 

    • To apply, please e-mail us at restaurantshow@yahoo.com
    • Interviews are by appointment only, so please contact the above address ASAP if you are interested!
    • Please include your names, ages, locations, occupations and contact phone numbers.
    • Also be sure to include a recent photograph of yourselves and a brief summary as to why your team is perfect for the show!

     

    For more information and application go to www.restaurantshow.wordpress.com.

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