How far are you willing to go for free food? Are you a stand-in-line-for-hours-at-Krispy-Kreme kind of person? Or do you want your free deals as no hassle as possible, like when you accidently stumble into Ben & Jerry’s on Free Cone Day?
If you fall into the former category, you may be in luck. Tomorrow is Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A, this Fud-writer’s favorite fast food restaurant. In honor of the restaurant’s “Eat Mor Chikin” slogan, patrons who enter the restaurant dressed HEAD TO TOE in cowprint gear get a free combo meal.
Think you can squeak by in only a cowprint hat or something? Your efforts will be rewarded, but only slightly – patrons in “partial-Cow” attire get a free single entree.
So head to Chick-Fil-A tomorrow before I have to make some sort of “Get Moooving” pun. Oops. Too late.
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14Jul
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12Jul
This entry was written by new contributor CZ
Mark and Orlando’s is very similar in atmosphere and layout to Komi, if you’ve ever been there. It’s a converted flat with exposed brick, simply decorated with an open window to the kitchen in the back where Orlando stands and keeps an eye on the floor. It’s unpretentious and very comfortable. I will say it was a bit confusing when you walk in because there is no host/hostess stand. You walk into the bottom of the stairs and you can either go straight into the dining room, or upstairs. Luckily, one of the waiters saw us from the bar and told us to come on in.
The menu was extremely diverse, but simple. There weren’t an overwhelming number of choices, but it had something for everyone. One thing I did notice, however, was that there weren’t any of what I call “standards,” things like NY strip teak with Bearnaise or sesame-encrusted tuna with wasabi-mashed potatoes. So if you are someone who is expecting something like that, you will be disappointed. -
12Jul
This entry was written by guest contributor PKG
A few summers ago I was a member of the Crystal City runners, and we used to meet on Wednesday evenings at a big condo across from Reagan National Airport. After the five mile runs, we would sit in front of a fountain and consume refreshments. A young Japanese couple belonged to the group; the husband was attending graduate school at GWU. The wife, Hideko, would bring a bottle of a mysterious lemon concentrate and some paper cups. She would then pour each of us a small amount of the lemon concentrate, and then she would cut it with water and hand a cup to each of us. The rest of Crystal City runners began calling it our lemon elixir.
After a few weeks, I began to get curious about this lemon elixir. I asked Hideko to tell me the recipe. Hideko had a shaky command of English, and when she told me that it consisted of only lemons and honey, I thought that I had misinterpretated her, because I could taste no honey in it. Now when I make Hideko’s Magical lemonade for guests, I always ask if anyone can guess the ingredients: no one has ever guessed honey.
Three items are needed to make HML: 3.5 lbs of lemons, one 32 ounce (2 lbs) jar of honey, and a medium sized Tupperware container (roughly 7″ in diameter and 5″ deep). -
11Jul
Today’s 7/11. Do those numbers ring a bell?
If they bring to mind a ubiquitous convenience store chain, you’re onto something. DCist beats us to the punch to inform you that in honor of the date, 7-Eleven gives out free 7.11 oz Slurpees each year to customers.
In the interest of not completely turning into www.DcFreeFud.com, we won’t bore you further, but find your nearest location on the company’s website. The chain has over 20 locations in the District alone.
What’s your favorite Slurpee flavor? -
11Jul
Many have surmised that Chipotle burritos very well may contain crack, or some similarly addictive substance. But while Chipotle isn’t about to tell us what they put in those things to make them so irresistible, the company has gone further and refused to post the nutritional content of its undoubtedly-unhealthy menu. Have you ever wondered what they’re hiding?
Center for Science in the Public Interest, formerly discussed here for its focus on Splenda, took matters into its own hand one day, and sent some of the dishes to the lab for independent analysis. The results may be disheartening (though kind of obvious) to the chain’s die-hard fans. If ignorance is bliss when it comes to your fast-food splurges, DCFüd encourages you to stop reading here: you have been warned.
[Webmaster’s note: To be fair to the giant evil corporation that keeps us all addicted to their Burritos, Chipotle did finally start providing nutritional information in late 2003. You can view their version in the pdf document here — amg] -
08Jul
A Bit More Internet With Your Coffee….
Updated 7/8/2005: Restaurants and cafes with Wi-fi seem to be popping up through town and, since I’ve been slacking over here at DCFUD and haven’t updated this list in forever, I figured now was a good time. Thanks to the numerous people who’ve written in with suggestions, this list is now updated. Please keep the updates coming in to dcfud.writers@gmail.com.
There are those among us here at DCFUD who cannot be separated from our computers. I’m among the worst, especially as I often spend large portions of my day working in coffee shops. For those of you with the same addictions as me, here are a list of places I know of with wireless (wifi) internet for partrons.
NameLocationClosest Metro$$CommentsSoho Tea & Coffee 2150 P St NW
Dupont Circle Free You and your computer are never alone at Soho. I’ve never seen less
than 3 people on laptops working there. At peak times, the network can crawl
because so many people are on it. Good tea and coffee; tons of power outlets,
and great atmosphere. The food is a bit boring, though.Tryst 2459 18th Street NW
Woodley Park/Zoo, then 98 Bus or about a 10 minute walk Free Tryst is, well, the place to drink coffee and use your laptop
in the greater Adams Morgan corridor. The sandwiches are pretty good, as
is the tea, coffee, and booze. Wireless is free and plentiful (runs off
a T-1 line) and the wait staff have no problem serving you a drink and then
letting you sit for 2, 3, or even 6 hours. Don’t try it late at night, though,
as Tryst turns into a bar after about 10 — and now turns the Wireless off for weekend evenings.Love
Cafe1501 U St., NW
U Street/ Cardozo or walkable from Dupont Circle Free Cake Love is glorious food; Love Cafe lets you eat that glorious food
while not missing a minute of your high-speed Internet access. Readers note that Love Cafe’s wireless is often out, however.Murky
Coffee Arlington (nee Common Grounds)3211 Wilson Blvd, Arlington Clarendon Free Even though it is in Arlington (shudder), patrons claim Murky Coffee has excellent coffee and espresso. I haven’t been since the change from Common Grounds. Murky Coffee 660 Pennsylvania Ave, SE Free I’ve never been to Murky Coffee, but people who live nearby swear by it.
So give it a try and report back here.Java Shack 2507 North Franklin Street, Arlington Courthouse $6.95/day An astute reader reported this one. I’ve never been, so no comments. Dr. Dremo’s Taphouse 2001 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington Free A bar/taphouse, rather than a coffee shop. I’ve only been to Dremo’s to drink, but they now offer free Wireless for when work requires a shot of Jaegermeister rather than a shot of espresso. Sparky’s Espresso Cafe 1720 14th St NW U Street/Cardozo Free Another reader recommendation. Sparky’s sells booze and coffee, but reports indicate that it’s often loud and not conducive to large groups. Mayorga Coffee Roasters 8040 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring Silver Spring Free Another reader recommendation. I’ve never been – any thoughts? Greenberry’s Coffee and Tea Company 1737 Wilson Blvd., Arlington WiseZone Another reader recommendation. Wireless Internet is ~$0.20/minute or $24.95+ a month. Any comments on the coffee/food? Caribou Coffee 1101 17th Street NW; 1400 14th Street NW; and 1701 Pennysylvania Ave Farragut North; McPherson Square; and Farragut North SBC FreedomLink For some reason, people who hate Starbucks love Caribou Coffee, ignoring the fact that it, too, is a large evil corporation. Regardless, Caribou now offers wifi to customers along with a pretty darn good cup of coffee. SBC FreedomLink memberships are $19.95-$39.95/mo or $25 pre-paid for 3 connections. Starbucks Stand on any street corner. Turn around. Welcome to Starbucks.
T-mobile Daily, pay-as-you-go, or monthly subscriptions used anywhere T-mobile
provides service. $20-$40/mo unlimited use.Borders 1801 K Street NW
Farragut North T-mobile Decent coffee and hot tea. Often have inexpensive and decent soup. Daily,
pay-as-you-go, or monthly subscriptions used anywhere T-mobile provides
service. $20-$40/mo unlimited use.Barnes & Noble 555 12th St NW (Metro Center); 3040 M Street NW (Georgetown)
Metro Center SBC FreedomLink Don’t let the Starbucks-serving coffee shops inside confuse you. Barnes & Noble’s new wireless network doesn’t function off the T-mobile network like Starbucks; instead, it runs of SBC FreedomLink. But, the bookstore is known for letting you hang around for hours on end. Cosi Various locations
Farragut North; Dupont Circle Surf-and-Sip Coffee is decent at best, although they do have good, but quite expensive,
sandwiches. Internet is $5 for a single day or $10-$30/mo on an unlimited
usage basis.Foster Brothers 3515 Connecticut Avenue NW
Cleveland Park Boingo Haven’t been there in forever, but it is in the shopping center directly
across from the metro. Internet is $7.95/day or $21.95/month.FedEx Kinkos Various locations
T-mobile Their coffee sucks (its generally been sitting there for hours) but its
free. FedEx Kinkos is best for drive-by wi-fi usage — you can stand in
the parking lot, pick up the wireless network, post your musings, and be
on your way.CyberStop
Cafe1513 17th Street NW
Dupont Circle Free Free Wifi for customers. I pass this place all the time but have never
gone in. DCSOB seems to have taken it up as his temporary residence, however. Also offers pay-per-minute computers for the laptop-challenged.
For a high-tech shop, they sure have an out-of-date website though.Uni, A Sushi Place 2122 P Street, NW
Dupont Circle Free No idea how the service is, but a sign in the window now proclaims they
offer free Wi-fi Internet to customers.R&B Cafe 1359 H St, NE
Unknown A loyal reader notes, “Don’t blink or you’ll miss it–the sign is very small. The owner was manning the counter and made me a decent cappuccino.” Windows Market & Cafe 101 Rhode Island Ave NW (at 1st St)
Free A reader notes, “It’s a little neighborhood
market and adjoining cafe, very bright and cheery place where they make some pretty damn good sandwiches.”Warehouse Cafe 1021 7th St, NW
Gallery Place/Chinatown Free Haven’t been to this one ourselves, yet. Any thoughts? Rappahannock Coffee 2406 Columbia Pike, Arlington
Free “Free WiFi and Ethernet. They also have live music on many Friday evenings,” says a commenter. College Perk 9078 Baltimore Ave, College Park
Free Free wireless & great quesadillas, according to a commenter. Kabob Palace Eads (just of 23rd), Crystal City
Unknown Commenter recommendation; we know nothing about it. Thoughts? Previous Updates
Update 2/17/2005: Express loves us!Updated 2/12/2005 & 1/21/2005 with recommendations from readers! Thanks to everyone who contributed their suggestions – keep them coming.
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08Jul
Is there a god? Are we the only life out in the universe? Why are we here? These are all questions that humankind sturggles with every day. Here’s another – Can you improve upon a Kripy Kreme doughnut?
Paula Deen says she can, but her recipe requires that you drown said Krispy Kremes in eggs, condensed milk and fruit cocktail. That’s an improvement?
I have my own answer to that eternal question. Krispy Kreme brulée. It turns an already crazy good dessert into something that reaches foodgasmic proportions. This is an excellent way to revive a stale glazed doughnut.
In a nonstick pan put the tiniest sliver of butter you can possibly cut. Turn the burner onto low heat and spread the butter to cover the surface area of a doughnut. Place the Original Glazed Krispy Kreme on the buttered area and heat until the glaze melts. This should take 1 to two minutes. Flip over and repeat.
By the time the bottom side has melted, the top side should have hardened into a texture that resembles the hard sugar top of creme brulee. Place the doughnut on a plate hard side down. Wait a minute or so for the top to harden. Eat immediately, preferably with a glass of milk.
I would almost call this diet food because you can only eat one of these suckers at a time and you will not be able to look at another dessert for at least a month.
—This entry was written by guest contributor TCD, one of the brains behind the DC Food Blog. -
07Jul
My eating habits have been ridiculous lately. Not only have my at-home kitchen concoctions largely consisted of variations on “I can’t believe it’s just Ramen”, but the few meals I’ve eaten out have been at diners, chains, bars and (gasp!) fast food joints. Ranging from the painfully mediocre to the admittedly delicious, my experiences in slothful dining have been varied, though they all have involved fried potatoes of some variety. Here’s a roundup.
Guilty pleasure: Yeah, yeah, the savvy foodie will turn his nose up at a chain like Bennigan’s, but I completely scarfed down one of its unholy appetizers, the Bleu Cheese Chips. The thick cut potato chips were coverd with gobs of Montery Jack and Bleu Cheese melted on top. I consumed them compulsively. I’m not proud of this, but it’s a fact.
Fine, but forgettable: Hitting happy hour at Bailey’s Pub & Grill in Arlington, I was pleased with their $2.50 beers and skeptical of the menu. The bacon-and-blue burger I ordered was inoffensive, but hardly memorable. Crispy fries, though. -
05Jul
It’s F-R-E-E!
That’s right, those spunky fools at California Tortilla are opening up another DC area location. You know what that means; free burritos! Here’s the scoop: The new Burnt Mills California Tortilla, located in the Burnt Mills Shopping Center (opposite Trader Joe’s) at 10721-A Columbia Pike in Silver Spring, is giving away a free specialty burrito and soda to those who attend their Grand Opening tomorrow, July 6, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Not only that, but the first 10 people in line at 11 a.m. get a free burrito every week for a year at the Burnt Mills California Tortilla and the next 20 get a free burrito every week for a month!
Speaking of CalTor promotions, July is free cup month. Just bring in a big ol’ plastic refillable cup from another restaurant to any California Tortilla location and they’ll exchange it for one of their much groovier 32oz. plastic cups and a free soda that day. Plus, refills are only 99¢ on any visit after that. Not as good as their free popsicle or free DC Improv promotions, but still not too shabby.
–Entry by guest writer SouperAvram. -
05Jul
When it comes to potato chips, I generally think of them in four flavor categories: Regular, Sour Cream and Onion, BBQ, and Probably Inedible. Perhaps the tides are turning, but can chips flavored with Norwegian Lobster and Tientsin peppers really be good? Too many times have I been fooled by a New Flavor!, like “Spicy Salsa” or somesuch, that turns out to be all sugar and no spice.
A recent report from the UK says that the market for spicier, more exotic flavors is increasing rapidly, due to a more world-wise population with more adventurous tastes. I certainly hope that this is true, because I cannot wait to try Sage or Cantonese Black Bean flavored chips. Yum!
I cannot wait for Cantonsese Black Bean chips to hit my local vending machine.
