Monthly Archives: January 2012

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Taylor Gourmet Brings You Breakfast


Aramingo Avenue Breakfast Hoagie at Taylor Gourmet
Courtesy Marissa Bialecki

Who hasn’t woken up on a Saturday morning (hungover or not) and started jonesing for a breakfast sandwich, only to realize that practically nothing is open before noon and you don’t really have the desire for a three hour boozefest brunch extravaganza? That’s where the new Taylor Gourmet on 14th street comes to the rescue: they’re doing breakfast on weekends and they’re doing it right.

Starting February 4th, you can grab (or have delivered–hoagies in your PJs!) an array of breakfast hoagies at the 14th Street location. If you’re impatient and are in the mood for breakfast at 3 AM after all the bars have closed down, Taylor Gourmet’s got your back on that one too. The restaurant will have breakfast hoagies available on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 PM til 3:30 AM and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 AM til 10:30 AM. Doug Rashid, the man behind @Taylor_Gourmet and some of the restaurant’s PR, said that for now they’re going to start with the breakfast option at the 14th Street location and then evaluate whether or not they’ll extend it to the others throughout the city.

The lineup for the breakfast menu includes some highlights, such as the Aramingo Avenue hoagie (bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, American cheese, egg and a homemade beer cheese sauce), the Reed Street (pepperoni, egg and sharp provolone), the Queen lane (sausage, broccoli rabe, egg and sharp provolone) and one for the vegetarians out there, the Lehigh (eggplant, egg and mozzarella). Also, don’t pass up the risotto balls stuffed with sausage, bacon, Taylor pork roll and cheese. I recommend dipping that, no, smothering it, in the beer cheese sauce as well.

capitals hockey, Sports Fix
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Caps Edge Penguins, 1-0

Photo courtesy of clydeorama
Vokoun Moving in Crease
courtesy of clydeorama

A breakaway goal and solid goaltending was enough to beat the conference rival Pittsburgh Penguins, 1-0, last night at Verizon Center. Jason Chimera scored on a first period breakaway for the winning goal and Tomas Vokoun made 30 saves to earn the shutout. The game had consequences in the race for the playoffs for both teams as the Caps passed the Penguins in the standings to move into 8th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Penguins dominated the early going in puck possession and offensive zone time. The Caps came out looking flat, chasing pucks, passing into each others’ skates and shooting from long range. Only Brooks Laich and Troy Brouwer were able to take the puck and body to the net. A couple of rocking checks by Alex Ovechkin and Brouwer seemed to wake Washington out of their west coast fog and generate some energy from their Eco Watch health products.

The Caps got on the score sheet 15 minutes into the game when Joel Ward knocked the puck away from Evgeni Malkin to spring Jeff Halpern for a 3-on-1 break. Halpern saucered a perfect pass to a streaking Chimera who beat Marc-Andre Fleury high on the blocker side. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Penn Quarter, The Features, We Love Food
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We Love Food: Poste Moderne Brasserie

Photo courtesy of bonappetitfoodie
Pork Rillettes at Poste Moderne Brasserie
courtesy of bonappetitfoodie

Back in September, there was a changing of posts at Poste when Dennis Marron became the new executive chef. It’s always interesting to see how a chef changes up a menu and makes it their own, so when I received a recent dinner invitation to check out Marron’s new menu, I jumped at the chance.

Poste is one of those rare gems–a restaurant located in a hotel that actually serves delicious dishes that keep you coming back for more. Marron’s menu is expansive and covers all the brasserie fare such as mussels and frites, as well as burgers and traditional French dishes such as beef bourguignon and coq au vin. For the person in your life that bemoans small menus, take them to Poste. From the taste of it, Marron’s switch to a classic French menu with some modern twists here and there (ie: the onion soup burger or the banh mi sandwich) was the right call.
Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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DMV’s Ticket Amnesty Program End January 27

Photo courtesy of maxedaperture
Amount Due
courtesy of maxedaperture

If you own a car in the District, you are probably quite familiar with that sinking feeling upon returning to your vehicle and seeing that little piece of paper tucked behind your windshield wiper, with its red underside just glaring and sticking its tongue out at you. Hey, at least they didn’t tow your car. And maybe you forgot about that last ticket or angrily shoved it in a drawer somewhere thinking to yourself that you were really “sticking it to the man.”

Well, all those tickets have to be paid eventually; and if you were issued a parking, moving violation or photo-enforcement ticket prior to January 1, 2010, you can pay it off without any late fees. You can pay online or over the phone at 866-893-5023. Additionally, you can pay in person at the DMV Adjudication Services located at 301 C Street, NW, open from 8:15 AM til 4 PM, Monday through Friday.

The Ticket Amnesty Program ends on January 27, 2012.

Food and Drink, Foodie Roundup, The Daily Feed
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Cupcake Wars All-Stars

Photo courtesy of theqspeaks
Vegan Easter cupcakes
courtesy of theqspeaks

If you like seeing DC on the national screen — Real Housewives not included — then you might want to head to Adam’s Morgan on Sunday.  As you might know, vegan bakery Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats won Food Network’s Cupcake Wars in March of last year, and now it’s defending its title in Cupcake Wars All-Stars.

Sticky Fingers is hosting a viewing party at Bourbon from 7- 10 pm, with the actual episode airing at 8pm.  You’ll be able to watch the show with Sticky Fingers Founder Doron Petersan and head baker Jenny Webb.

The event is free and open to the public. Just head here for the online invitation. Cupcakes are complimentary, and Sticky Fingers even writes that “heckling is encouraged.”

Best of luck!

Music
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The Winning Ticket: D.R.U.G.S.

This week we are giving away a pair of tickets to see D.R.U.G.S. at the 9:30 Club on January 24. Tickets for this concert are available on Ticketfly or at the 9:30 Club box office.

For your chance to win these tickets simply leave a comment on this post using a valid email address by 5pm today. One entry per email address, please. Comments will be closed at 5pm and a winner will be randomly selected. The winner will be notified by email. The winner must respond to our email within two hours or they will forfeit their tickets and we will pick another winner.

Tickets will be available to the winner at the 9:30 Club Guest List window one hour before doors open on the night of the concert. The tickets must be claimed with a valid ID. The winner must be old enough to attend the specific concert or must have a parent’s permission to enter if they are under 18 years old.

If today does not turn out to be your lucky day, check back here each Wednesday for a chance to win tickets to other great concerts

Food and Drink, The Features, We Love Food
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We Love Food: Toki Underground


Toki Underground, Washington DC courtesy of Plantains & Kimchi

Culinary Ninja. That is the only way to describe Erik Bruner-Yang, the man behind Toki Underground, a tiny ramen sanctuary on H Street. Recognized only by the small blue emblem on the door, this Taiwanese restaurant is serving the best ramen I’ve ever tasted, and in the coolest, freshest environment I’ve been to in a while.

It’s not as if Toki hasn’t received a share amount of praise and hype and I found me a secret. Au contraire, it’s been one of the most buzzed restaurants in town, and given their no reservations policy, a one to two hour wait is to be expected. What the kimchi is right–but seriously–it is worth it.

When you walk up the stairs you enter Erik’s world. A world filled with the most wonderful smells–of fried dumplings, hearty ramens, and tempura vegetables–sights and sounds that transport you. Every inch of the place screams rockstar genius. The walls are filled with graffiti art, skateboards form a faux roof above the kitchen, plastic toys battle each other on the edges. It’s a man’s world, and one which I never wanted to leave. The music blares and track after track the beats just get better.

Hello ninja house party, where have you been all my life?

The drink menu includes imported beers, an extensive list of premium sake, and some Thai drinks I had never heard of. I opted for the Toki Monster- a perfectly stirred Bourbon with honey liqueur, served on the rocks, with a pork belly skewer accompanying it. I’ll repeat–a pork belly skewer, as a garnish. One bite and sip of this monster and I knew this place meant business. I also knew that pork belly skewer was singlehandedly responsible for my increased BAC as one is never enough. But on to the food…
Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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Day of Action Against Guantanamo This Wednesday

Photo courtesy of ElvertBarnes
Assemblance.WitnessAgainstTorture.GTMO.NW.WDC.7January2012
courtesy of ElvertBarnes

If you were surprised by all the underwear-clad Metro riders on Sunday, don’t be one of those people surprised by the orange and black human chain during lunch break on Wednesday.

On Jan. 11, activists from around the country will be locking arms from the White House to the Capitol to protest the 10th anniversary of Guantanamo Bay prison. Organizers need/expect at least 2,771 people to complete the chain, which equals the number of detainees still held at Guantanamo and Bagram.

The protest starts at 12pm with a rally at Lafayette Park and is sponsored by Amnesty International and a bunch of other organizations. To get involved, register with any of the sponsoring groups, wear black or orange on Wednesday, and keep up with the campaign via the hashtag #closegitmo.

Oh yeah and eat an early lunch. I doubt it’s polite to break the human chain for a Chop’t run.

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo

Photo courtesy of Glyn Lowe Photos
Whole Foods Market.. – (Explored)
courtesy of Glyn Lowe Photos

Yeah, it’s a picture of a supermarket. But take a moment and look at the shot. It’s hard to realize but a lot of time, thought, and money went into designing this facade (and similar corporate architecture). We’re just bombarded by so much of it, that it’s hard to notice when the simple beauty of the view. Glyn Lowe gives us a view where we see all of the lines, from the window panes to the sign to the U-shaped cart barriers, moving in the same direction. And then there is the mix of colors. Reds, yellows, oranges, and then the green of the Whole Foods sign. A simple, yet satisfying, urban shot; gotta love it!

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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13th Annual Washington DC International Wine & Food Festival

Photo courtesy of bhrome
proof.glass.2
courtesy of bhrome

If the thought of winding your way through stands of artisanal food purveyors and more than 100 wineries doesn’t get your heart pumping and your stomach grumbling, then I don’t know what will. The Washington DC International Food & Wine Festival is returning for the 13th year.

Everything from olive oil producers to chocolatiers, along with local restaurants, will be taking over the Ronald Reagan Building from February 11-12, 2012. Plus, there will be tastings for more than 600 wines from across the globe, along with a beer garden complete with craft beers, mixology lessons, and cooking demonstrations.

Tickets are $85 for Saturday, $80 for Sunday or $145 for both days. The IWFF runs from 2 – 6 PM on both days. As a We Love DC reader, you can get $10 off of grand tasting tickets by using the code WEDC10 now until February 9th. Happy wining and dining!

Weekend Flashback
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Weekend Flashback: 1/6-1/8

Photo courtesy of ep_jhu
Fresh Noodle
courtesy of ep_jhu

How did everyone enjoy their Spring weekend in the middle of Winter? Personally, I was both shocked and pleased to be walking around without a jacket on. However, as a friend of mine said this weekend, you just know we’re going to be paying for this weather later in the year. But let’s worry about those 30 degree days in May when they come. Check out what our photogs saw during the good weather and relive 60ish weather in January. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Update on Penn Camera

Photo courtesy of Mr. T in DC
Leica M7 Camera at Wonderland
courtesy of Mr. T in DC

A quick update on our previous story about Penn Camera. Their clearance sale is now on. Check out their webpage, but the relevant info is, “10% off all cameras and lenses; 30% off all dark room and cases; 50% off all albums and frames.” As previously reported, the clearance sale is only at the E Street, Rockville, and Tysons (all their other stores have been closed). Also, here’s info on how to retrieve repairs and processed film.

I’m still hoping to get more information about their long term plans, particularly with their photo classes and rental services. I’ll update as more info becomes available.

UPDATE (1/10/12): Seems Penn has updated their clearance sale. As of today, it is now, “20% off all dark room and cases; 30% off all albums and frames.”

Entertainment, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Wizards Come Up Short Against New York, Fall to 0-7

Photo courtesy of MattBritt00
Melo Takes Toney Under His Wing
courtesy of MattBritt00

With the acquisition of center Tyson Chandler, the New York Knicks hoped to enter the season with their own “Big Three”: Chandler, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Carmelo Anthony. Like many other recent “dream teams” in sports, the Knicks have started off slow winning only two of their first six. Tonight the story was different as Anthony, Stoudemire, and Chandler combined for 72 points in a 99-96 win over the Washington Wizards.

Unlike the Wizards’ previous game- where the team was doomed after starting the game 0-12 in the field, the Wiz played competitive all four quarters. The Wizards outscored the Knicks 32-18 in the opening quarter but cooled off towards halftime. The Knicks regained the lead early the third quarter but Washington kept it close. Nick Young missed a three-pointer at the buzzer that could of sent the game into overtime.

“They played hard- one thing they didn’t do was hang their head,” Coach Flip Saunders said after the game. Before the game he described it as a “must play hard” situation- and it looks like the Wizards did that at least.

Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Friday Happy Hour: Barrel-Aged Negroni

Barrel-aging was so big in 2011 that it popped up on some contrarians’ year-end lists of most-overdone trends in the dining and drinking world. Personally, I disagree. When done well, that round, woody quality imparted by leaving something to age a bit can really add depth and deliciousness to whatever you put in there and it can give a subtle twist to a classic recipe. The trendiness of house-aging spirits or whole cocktails has just made it possible for even smaller places to get in on a few tiny barrels behind the bar.

While Boundary Stone might not bill itself as a “cocktail place,” they nonetheless keep a very solid collection of spirits around. Normally I have a beer or bourbon when I am there, but I was intrigued when the specials chalkboard boasted of a barrel-aged Negroni made with Bluecoat gin – and was pleased when the brightly colored drink arrived. On the sweeter side for a Negroni, the five weeks spent in a miniature (read: quick-aging) barrel gave the drink a real cohesion and suppleness in the mouth. The oaky flavors hit almost immediately and provided a lovely counterpoint to the bitter Campari.

Due to the capacity of the small barrels, Boundary Stone makes only a limited batch of each aged cocktail at a time. Should you not catch this one, they have a vanilla-infused Manhattan coming out next and other experiments down the line – so keep an eye on the chalkboard for those.

Food and Drink, Foodie Roundup, The Daily Feed
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Food Tweet of the Week: Taylor Gourmet

taylor
Here at We Love DC, your food team is (re) introducing the  Food Tweet of the Week feature. Basically, every Friday we’ll highlight a restaurant, chef, mixologist, food truck, or pretty much anyone associated with the industry who made us laugh, click on a link, salivate at a picture, or mix a drink at home.

The first tweet award of 2012 goes to Taylor Gourmet, the hoagie shop that opened its third DC-proper location this week. This is one of the best Twitter accounts out there. It is funny: think banter, tongue-in-cheek humor, and useful information with a cool twist.

My favorite Tweet is after the jump.

Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Features, We Love Food
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Winter Restaurant Week 2012

Photo courtesy of Daquella manera
Cena courtesy of Daquella manera

So you are one week into your New Years resolutions of getting fit, eating healthy and exercising more… Good for you! Now get over it, because starting January 9th restaurants across the District will be offering killer deals for Winter Restaurant Week. From January 9-15, select restaurants across the city will offer a three-course lunch for $20.12  and three-course dinners for $35.12. Best part is, no mass daily-deal purchase necessary, all you need is a reservation. Now, who doesn’t love a delicious bargain?

Restaurant Week is a week to go big rather than stay home, as some of the pricier dining options in DC become immediately accessible. It is a chance for you to cross out some of those places you’ve had on your list for a while, instead of waiting for the next birthday/anniversary/you-name-it special occasion, you’re excused to dine with the big boys and save a pretty penny too. While some haters (I was indeed one of them) worry that the lower price point comes at the expense of quality, the restaurants below are quality-driven and promise a memorable dining experience regardless of the end bill. And let’s remember, it is their reputation on the line after all and consistency is key. So stop drinking the hate-orade and embrace the feast week.

Here are some suggestions:

Art and Soul– Art Smith will offer an extensive menu that includes some of his signature dishes, as well as a specially priced wine list for the week. Now that’s being a Southern Gentleman.  Menu highlights include shrimp and grits, charcuterie of the day, Yorkshire pig and cabbage, pan fried flounder, and sweet offerings like chocolate bread pudding and apple tart. Update: Art and Soul will be extending their restaurant week menu through January 22nd.

701 – Chef Ed Witt has developed an extensive and exciting menu, mouth-watering options include lemongrass lobster bisque, bourbon caramel apple salad with mustard greens, veal sweetbreads, red wine beef short-ribs, cider braised rabbit leg and desserts including an upscale s’more- chocolate bar with vanilla bean gelato, marshmallow and graham crackers. Need I say more?

Rasika– Reservations at Chef Vikram Sunderam’s Indian mecca are near impossible to snag, so book now if you want to dine here during Restaurant Week. The Penn Quarter powerhouse is consistently delicious and will undoubtedly be offering some of its best dishes.

Photo courtesy of angela n.
Art & Soul courtesy of angela n.

Fiola– Everything here from the classic antipastis to the homemade pastas and innovative fish and meat offerings is spot on delicious. As Fiola’s first Winter Restaurant Week, chef Fabio Trabocchi is sure to deliver. I also recommend you spend the money you would have on the meal and try many a drinks by Fiola’s resident mixologist, Jeff Faile. These men know what they are doing. Continue reading →

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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The Ten Best Concerts In And Around DC For 2011


“The Foo Fighters” by Andrew Markowitz

Time once again to calculate and list the ten best musical performances I saw in the past year in and around Washington DC.* This ‘best of’ article is one of my favorite activities as a music writer because it embodies the very essence of why I take the time out of my increasingly busy schedule to attend so many concerts and write about them. Simply put, I am a fan of great live music and when someone or a group of someones delivers a really special performance I want to tell as many people as I can about it. There is real magic happening during a great musical performance that is unlike anything else I have ever experienced; if I manage to share just a fraction of that magic with my readers by exposing them to a band they might not otherwise have heard then my job as a music writer is done.

In the last six months, positive events in my personal life have greatly affected my ability to cover as many concerts as I’d like too with the quality of writing that I feel they deserve. Because of this I have been writing much less than usual and I predict that this trend will continue for most of 2012. I know from reader feedback and from conversations with some of the great people I’ve met at shows over the years that my writing about music has had an impact on their musical world. Knowing this enables me to walk away from music writing fulfilled.

2011 was kind of a weird year for live music. The entire year felt like an odd hang-over from 2010 (one of the greatest years of live music ever). In recent conversations I think I have been undervaluing 2011’s shows, because now as I revisit all of the sets I saw, I realize that there were plenty of great performances, they were just obscured by a lot more mediocre ones than I have seen in recent years. Once I dusted away the humdrum and the disappointing, I was left with about 35 really great sets to choose from for my top ten list this year.
Continue reading →