• 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)

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  • 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

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  • 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

     

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  • 07May

    Giveaways (Ronco Kitchen Gadgets and 9:30 Club)

    “To honor moms everywhere, the Ronco Company is giving away some of its famous kitchen gadgets this week.  The Ronco Company known for its line of healthy kitchen gadgets is giving away an EZ-Store Rotisserie Oven and a Smart Juicer to a lucky mom this Mother’s Day. All you have to do is “like” Ronco on facebook to be entered into the drawing. The winner will be announced first thing Monday morning on the 13th. Contest ends Sunday May 12th at midnight. Good luck!”

    Also, DCFüd is still giving away a pair of tickets to 9:30 Club’s May 19th event, Sound Bites. The contest closes May 12th.

    -JAY

     

    soundbites 2013 email flyer

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  • 23Apr

    Some of the Best Things We’ve Eaten Recently # 12

    I recently attended Shecky’s Night Out in DC, despite the “No Boys Allowed” rule. I was hoping to see Rachel DeAlto speak (since I’ve written with her for another publication and have never actually met her), but unfortunately, Shecky’s rescheduled and Rachel had an obligation to speak in New Jersey that evening. Shecky’s had various vendors including fashion, bath products, and cosmetics, but also Merlot’s Masterpiece (painting/wine events) and Chouquette. Why am I mentioning Shecky’s night out? I’ll tell you why. I got to try Chouquette‘s chocolates, and they were definitely among the best things I’ve eaten lately.

    I would like to insert a little feedback for Shecky’s. You probably want food at the event, even if it is a vendor (and you make money off it), since shopping and diet cocktails seem to make make girls hungry–I saw some of them tearing into the Orville Redenbacher Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Crunch samples that were part of the event’s gift bag like they needed the calories and sugar to keep their shopping pace up.

    Other great things we have eaten lately:

    My new favorite healthy snacks are Saffron Road‘s Bombay Spice Crunchy Chick Peas. I like the Felafel flavor as well (but would like it more if it had a bit less flavoring), and have yet to open the wasabi-flavored bag. I will say that the zippers do not work well because the spices get into them during manufacturing.

    Frontera’s New Mexico Taco Skillet sauce is a quick way to make tasty tacos. We used ground turkey, avocado, lettuce, and tomato in our tacos. The Texas version is good too, but I prefer the New Mexico.

    The spicy wings at Rice & Noodles in Franconia are excellent and are part of a 2 courses for $10 or $11 special from Sunday through Wednesday. The wings take20 minutes, so make sure they know to bring the food out as it is ready or that one dish will slow you down. I have really liked most of the dishes I’ve had at R&N, but there has been an occasional clunker R&N delivers within 3 miles.

    April’s DC Food Blogger Happy Hour was hosted by Daphne of Go Gastronomy at the downtown location of ChixDC. I was surprised at how good the food was at ChixDC, including the Caribbean wings special. (The next DCFBHH is hosted by me on May 1st at Ambar.)

    Last night, I tried Daikaya‘s (Shoyu) Ramen for the first time, and was very impressed. The nitamago (marinated soft-boiled egg) is delicious. The pork dumplings are good as well. The downstairs space s a ramen house, while the upstairs space is a restaurant with a nice long bar and beautiful decor.

    Daikaya‘s printed menus (both at the upstairs and downstairs restaurants) are designed in such a way that they are hard to navigate, and are a bit frustrating; you have to flip back and forth a lot to follow the menus. It was nice that they sat me right at the middle of the bar because I got to see and take pictures of the ramen as it was plated. Once the upstairs restaurant launches a happy hour menu, I’ll probably check it out.

    -JAY

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  • 16Apr

    Take Me Out To The Gluten Free Stand At The Ballpark!

    When the average American thinks of food offerings at a baseball game the usual association they make is to a ball park hot dog and Cracker Jacks. For centuries, baseball stadiums have derived a good chunk of their income by providing these classic food choices to the hoards of fans spending the day in the sun cheering on their favorite teams.

    As my husband and I were getting ready to attend our first Nats game this season, it hit me that I hadn’t been to a game since I began my gluten free lifestyle. Hm, I thought, this might definitely pose a problem. Out of the usual classic baseball food offerings, none of them fell under the gluten free category.

    Falling back on the ever trusty Google search engine, I was happy to discover that Nats stadium has actually thought of the gluten free population. They now have an entire gluten free concession stand by Gate 136. They offer gluten free hot dogs (including GF buns), nachos, BBQ pulled pork, a caramel popcorn mix, and even gluten free beer! They have really gone out of their way to make it so a gluten free individual can still enjoy the game without feeling like they are missing out on part of the experience.

    I was also happy to discover that in addition to gluten free offerings, they have expanded their food  choices substantially. They cater to a variety of dietary restrictions including offering vegetarian options and even a Kosher concession stand! Fans are also no longer tied to just the unhealthy fast food options. There is a Healthy Options concession stand by Gate 114 with offerings like salads, wraps and grilled veggies.

    Choice is a valuable commodity, folks. And it is comforting to know that as baseball has evolved over the years, so have the food offerings. So now thanks to the Nationals, when fans go to the stadium the ones who still crave that traditional experience with a ballpark frank and Cracker Jacks can still get it. But the ones who’d like to instead dig into a healthy salad and not tank their diet for the day can also enjoy that choice instead. And I’d say, that is a Home Run!

    -Guest Blogger, Joyana Peters McMahon (JPM) of Gluten Free NOVA Girl

    .
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  • 15Apr

    The Lamb Jam Comes To DC On May 20th, & I Am Judging!

    ALB_lambjam_NYC“On Monday, May 20th at the Eastern Market from 6-9pm, 19 of DC’s top restaurants and chefs will come together to celebrate American Lamb by creating succulent and savory selections for the lamb loving public. It is a friendly chef/dish competition to garner awards and prizes in categories including “Best in Show,” “People’s Choice” and “Best Leg, Breast, Shank and Shoulder” with voting by a panel of key media representatives and event attendees. Tickets include gourmet lamb tastings, local wines and beers, hands-on American lamb butcher demos, lamb swag, sweets, caricature artist & much more! New this year, a VIP Pre-Party from 5-6pm, includes specialty cocktails with a variety of American Lamb charcuterie & sheep’s milk cheeses. Beat the lines with the VIP Pass, only a limited supply available! To view participating chefs, sponsors and to purchase tickets visit: http://dc.fansoflamb.com/lamb-jam.dc/.”

    We attended last year and posted pictures of the event here. And, JAY of DCFüd (that is me) is one of this year’s judges!

    -JAY

     

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  • 10Apr

    Can’t Get Enough Of The Wines of Catalonia

    Torelló 3D BY Custo 2007, DO Cava comes with 3D glasses (which Michael Birchenall of Food Service Monthly is wearing), but the U.S. has not approved the wine for import because of the (intentionally) unclear label.

    Torelló 3D By Custo 2007, DO Cava comes with 3D glasses (which Michael Birchenall of Food Service Monthly is wearing), but the U.S. has not approved the wine for import because of the (intentionally) unclear label. Winemaker Francisco de la Rosa Torelló is holding the bottle.

    Yesterday I attended events featuring the wines of the Catalonia region of Spain practically all day including:

    • Sommelier Seminar (Oyamel)
    • International Cartavi Awards (Jaleo (Jaleo won an award))
    • Media Lunch (Jaleo)
    • Walk-around tasting (Jaleo)

    The dishes served to us during lunch were dishes from the same region and were paired with delicious wines. See the gallery above to get a peek at some of the food we ate at Jaleo.

    The quality and variety of the wines featured during all the events was exceptional. It was nice that at the Oyamel class we learned a about Catalonia’s different wine regions. Many of the wines were organic and from family vineyards with long histories of making wine.

    Some of my favorite wines that day were also great values ($16-20):

    Recaredo – Gran Reserva Particular 2001, DO Cava

    Vinicola de Nulles/Adernats - Seducció 2012, DO Tarragona

    Parés Baltà - Indigena red 2010, DO Penedès

    -JAY

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  • 10Apr

    I’m Hosting Food Blogger Happy Hour on May 1st

     

    Ambar is a new Balkan restaurant; we will be upstairs on the patio. Please RSVP for the event on DC Food Bloggers’ Facebook page.

    -JAY

    DCFBMM-May

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