Ashley – We Love DC http://www.welovedc.com Your Life Beyond The Capitol Tue, 15 Oct 2019 09:50:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.9 Eat Like Me: April’s Best Dishes http://www.welovedc.com/2011/05/02/eat-like-me-aprils-best-dishes-2/ Mon, 02 May 2011 15:00:02 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=67423 Photo courtesy of
‘Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup̵

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Photo courtesy of
‘Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup’
courtesy of ‘[F]oxymoron’

This month saw me head to Spain for a family trip, where I ate my weight in jamon. To prepare for the trip I didn’t bother learning any Spanish, but I did make sure to eat a ton of American comfort food so I wouldn’t miss the land of my birth. And that land is one of Chinese take out, Wolfgang Puck, and nachos. It’s a complicated land, but it’s mine.

Where I Ate: Smith Commons, The Source, Fireworks Pizza, Ted’s Bulletin, Young Chow, Bourbon Steak, Meridian Point, Le Pain Quotidien, Ventnor Sports Bar, Lyon Hall, Sushi-Ko, Wisey’s.

Best Breakfast: On the rainiest day in recent memory, I had a brunch date with my Arlingtonian friend Kristi. So I trudged, nay sloshed, over to Arlington to try out Lyon Hall. I will be the first to admit I was a little cranky, but once I slid in the front door of this French bistro, I was hooked. Why was I hooked? Because they had an entire pot of coffee ready for me. Friends. Forever. My meal was great too, though it was probably enough for me and all my Arlington friends. The sausage and eggs is a bold order, but with homemade lamb sausage and three (!) perfectly cooked eggs, it’s a great way to start the day.

Photo courtesy of
‘4597-09Crop’
courtesy of ‘furcafe’

Best Drink: It’s no secret that I don’t quite know my way around a drink menu, but I do know that I like a French 75. And the one at Bourbon Steak never disappoints. It may not be fancy, but it’s great every time. And that’s all I have to say about that.

Best Appetizer: I’ve eaten a lot of very fancy, very beautiful food in my days. Let me tell you, the pulled pork nachos at Ventnor Sports Cafe in Adams Morgan is neither. But it is good. Now, when I had it, I had been drinking. But! When I’m drinking and the Caps are winning, I can’t be bothered with choosing between comfort foods. Enter the hybrid. And believe me, if pulled pork piled on top of nachos is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

Best Thing I Ordered at a Counter: Wisey’s in that place that I always remember I like right after I order food from somewhere else. But one fateful day, I actually remembered this Georgetown spot and was thrilled with myself. Okay, I walked by it on my way to Dean and Deluca, but still, I stopped in nonetheless. They may be known for their Chicken Madness, but I’m a fan of the California Chicken Sandwich, which I inevitably forget is served hot every single time. I’m usually pleasantly surprised since the chicken, avocado and havarti all melt together in a wonderful way, while the spots make me think I’m kind of eating something healthy. The croissant is a different story, but we’ll just call all that butter “good fat.”

Photo courtesy of

courtesy of ‘Sexy Fitsum’

Best Main Course: Even though all the parts of this main course come on the menu at Sushi Ko, it takes a culinary genius like myself to bring all the pieces together in perfect harmony. There are too many tasty dishes on the Sushi Ko menu to choose just one, so I have found that the combo of the spicy shrimp roll and the scallop roll come together to make me one very happy sushi eater. The scallop roll is a really beautiful piece of fish, and the spicy rolls at Sushi Ko are a great balance of spicy without being so hot they burn the bumps off your tongue. It’s not necessarily the fanciest Japanese food you’re going to find, but it’s great every single time.

Best Thing Between Two Slices of Bread: I really may be stretching the definition of “two slices of bread” this time, but I think it’s worth it. The new Saturday dim sum brunch at The Source really shouldn’t be missed, and if you do settle in for this culinary marathon, please make sure to order the duck bao. The pancake is thick and doughy, but the sweet sauce and crispy skin are really what will keep me coming back. And the fact that they’re small means that I can have six or eight orders to myself and it’s totally acceptable…right?

So what were your favorite dishes this month?

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Food Truck Tracker http://www.welovedc.com/2011/04/22/food-truck-tracker-171/ Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:00:49 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=68375 Photo courtesy of
‘porc food truck – purveyors of ro

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Photo courtesy of
‘porc food truck – purveyors of rolling cuisine’
courtesy of ‘justgrimes’
It’s Good (Food Truck) Friday!

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Food Truck Tracker http://www.welovedc.com/2011/04/21/food-truck-tracker-170/ http://www.welovedc.com/2011/04/21/food-truck-tracker-170/#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:00:03 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=68366 Photo courtesy of
‘4 girls, 1 hour in line, 12 tacos. Thanks

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Photo courtesy of
‘4 girls, 1 hour in line, 12 tacos. Thanks @takorean! #curbsidedc #fb’
courtesy of ‘iwantamonkey’
So, how mad are you that your friends get tomorrow off for Good Friday while you’re stuck in your stupid office? So mad you’re willing to take a two hour lunch? I say go for it.

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Food Truck Tracker http://www.welovedc.com/2011/04/20/food-truck-tracker-172/ Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:00:36 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=68364 Photo courtesy of
‘Curbside Cupcake Truck’
courte

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Photo courtesy of
‘Curbside Cupcake Truck’
courtesy of ‘foodtruckapp’
Food from a truck, just like Mom used to make.

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Food Truck Tracker http://www.welovedc.com/2011/04/19/food-truck-tracker-169/ Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:00:28 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=68361 Photo courtesy of
‘DC Slices at Navy Yard Metro’
cou

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Photo courtesy of
‘DC Slices at Navy Yard Metro’
courtesy of ‘urbanbohemian’
Food trucks — toooooootally kosher for Passover.

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Food Truck Tracker http://www.welovedc.com/2011/04/18/food-truck-tracker-168/ Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:00:15 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=68358 Photo courtesy of
‘Random Acts’
courtesy of

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Photo courtesy of
‘Random Acts’
courtesy of ‘Burnt Pixel’
Food truck time. It’s the only thing that’ll make you feel better after waiting for two hours at the post office…unless you’re in a two hour food truck line.

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We Love Food: Seventh Hill Pizza http://www.welovedc.com/2011/04/12/we-love-food-seventh-hill-pizza/ http://www.welovedc.com/2011/04/12/we-love-food-seventh-hill-pizza/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:00:27 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=67665 Photo courtesy of
‘Seventh Hill Pizza’
courtesy of

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Photo courtesy of
‘Seventh Hill Pizza’
courtesy of ‘kspidel’

Last summer, in a fit of humidity-induced insanity, my friends and I decided to taste test non-delivery pizzas around town. There were seven pies, and in an attempt to branch out a little, I picked up one from Seventh Hill. I figured this Eastern Market spot (which no one had heard of before) would finish somewhere in the middle of the pack with perennial favorite 2 Amy’s coming out on top. In a Cinderella story that ESPN would surely have composed a specific theme song for, Seventh Hill came out of nowhere and clinched the win.

I don’t live near Eastern Market, but between working near by and friends in the area, I spend a lot of time eating on Capitol Hill. And time after time, I come back to Seventh Hill. It is a perfect little neighborhood joint, with just a few tables and friendly staff, a small menu and a couple daily specials, it’s a restaurant I never get tired of. Owned by the folks behind French bistro and next door neighbor Montmartre, it wouldn’t seem like a French team would know much about pizza, but they surely do. The stones that make up the oven — the architectural center of the restaurant — are imported from France, but the cooking is all Italian. Chef Anthony Pilla (only 24-years old!) makes a spectacle of his pie making, swiftly tossing dough in the air with the greatest of ease.

Photo courtesy of
‘Don’t hate.’
courtesy of ‘jsmjr’

As I said, the menu is small, but I’ve yet to find anything I haven’t loved. As a girl who normally specifies that her pizza be “anything with meat” it’s pretty amazing that my favorite Seventh Hill pizza is all veggie. The Lincoln Park has zucchini, artichoke, portobello mushrooms, mozzarella and rosemary, a nice woody pizza that won’t leave you feeling like you just slathered baby oil all over your face. And though most of the specialty pizzas are meatless, when I’ve got a craving for something porcine I head for the Seventh Street — a salty prosciutto and roasted red pepper concoction. My final favorite, besides you know, all of them, is the Eastern Market. I’ve never seen a pizza with mushroom and olive tapenade and goat cheese before, but somehow it works.

Besides the small menu of speciality pizzas and the obligatory make-your-own list, there is usually a daily special of a pizza, a panini and a soup. Displayed on a chalkboard inside the restaurant, you can expect rustic soups and delicious, melty sandwiches. Splitting a small pizza and a panini with a friend is a great way to do Seventh Hill, especially since it leaves room in your tummy for the piece de resistance— the nutella calzone. It’s exactly how it sounds — Seventh Hill’s delicious dough wrapped around a healthy (ha!) shmear of nutella and fired in their brick oven. Served simply on a wood board dusted with powdered sugar, it is a gooey, messy, life-changing dessert.

Photo courtesy of
‘Seventh Hill Pizza’
courtesy of ‘kspidel’

Seventh Hill may be just a tiny neighborhood restaurant, but it passes my time-honored test of “would I drive across town for it?” And I do, often. If you get there and there’s a line, don’t be deterred. Most of the orders seem to be carry out, and the guys behind the counter are quick. Now that the weather is starting to turn for the better, I can’t wait to spend some more time on their patio, munching my nutella calzone in a state of bliss. I don’t do yoga, I’ve never meditated, but I do eat pizza. Namaste.

Seventh Hill Pizza is located at 327 7th St. SE. The closest Metro station is Eastern Market (Orange/Blue Lines). For more information, call 202-544-1911.

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Food Truck Tracker http://www.welovedc.com/2011/04/05/food-truck-tracker-160/ Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:00:25 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=67643 Photo courtesy of
‘Eat Wonky’
courtesy of ‘t

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Photo courtesy of
‘Eat Wonky’
courtesy of ‘tbridge’

Just in case you brought your wetsuit to work today, here is where you can find some lunch in the great flood.

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Eat Like Me: March’s Best Dishes http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/31/eat-like-me-marchs-best-dishes-2/ Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:00:16 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=65864 Photo courtesy of
‘00374-04Crop’
courtesy of R

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Photo courtesy of
‘00374-04Crop’
courtesy of ‘furcafe’
This month got off to a bit of a slow start food-wise. I had a few lackluster meals and a few blah-worthy chain restaurant lunches that didn’t bode well for a month of culinary excellence. I ended strong though, with trips to Bar Pilar, Urbana and my new love of my (edible H St.) life, Ethiopic. If it wasn’t for a superb crab cake at J&G, the lamb tibs at Ethiopic would take the cake as my favorite dish of the month. I also ate at a lot of old favorites, but tried to branch out. Sometimes it worked (the rice bowls at Surfside), and sometimes I didn’t (why I ever stray from the T.U.B.S. sandwich at Ted’s I’ll never know). But as always, I ate well, and I ate plenty.

Where I Ate: Ping Pong Dim Sum, Lola’s, Vace, Market Lunch, Taylor Gourmet, J&G Steakhouse, Tonic, That’s Amore, Austin Grill, BlackSalt, Taqueria Nationale, The Black Squirrel, Sticky Rice, Surfside, 7th Hill, Ted’s Bulletin, Radius Pizza, Harry’s Tap Room, Ethiopic, Science Club, Urbana, Bar Pilar

Best Breakfast: I’m almost getting tired of saying it, and I promise to go somewhere different next month, but seriously, The Brick at Market Lunch is the best.

Photo courtesy of
‘day 52: bokeh calamari’
courtesy of ‘ehpien’

Best Drink: At my twenty-first birthday, I very famously told the bartender over and over to “make me anything with champagne and juice.” Needless to say my college bar didn’t exactly do me proud in the cocktail department, so I still long for that perfect juicy, bubbly, girly concoction. I got mighty close the other night at Urbana with The Glass Slipper. It’s Ketel One, ice wine, white grape juice, prosecco and frozen grapes. It’s tangy and bubbly and sweet, and just what twenty-one year old me would have wanted if she know how to order anything but a rum and coke.

Best Appetizer: Though Radius Pizza is most likely my favorite pizza in all of D.C. (cue a flurry of profanity-laden emails), before this month I had never had anything else off their menu. I went out on a limb and ordered the bruschetta, simply because I knew I couldn’t eat an entire pizza, or at least shouldn’t — it’s almost bathing suit season after all. I didn’t read the menu that closely after I saw white anchovies (love!) in the ingredient list, since the other main component was roasted eggplant (hate!). It had all the makings of a culinary disaster, but Radius did me proud. The smokey, creamy eggplant was great against the anchovies, and it was plenty for a small dinner. Plus two beers…and a couple slices of pizza…

Photo courtesy of

courtesy of ‘jsprig’

Best Thing I Ordered at a Counter: This month’s trip to Surfside found me a bit conflicted. I’ve become seriously tired of all options in my office cafeteria, so I’m trying to order leftover-friendly foods these days. While I love the shrimp tacos dearly, they don’t exactly keep well. So I ventured to another section of the menu this time, and hit the rice bowl section hard. I went with the shrimp (couldn’t stray too far) with veggies in a green curry sauce. I found it to be completely delicious — the light curry flavor was perfect. And while my office was a little annoyed that I heated up something curry-full for lunch, I couldn’t hear their complaining over all the deliciousness.

Best Main Course: As a girl with deep-seeded roots in the Maryland Eastern Shore, I like to think I know my crab cakes. And if you ask most Eastern Shoremen, they’ll tell you the only way to make them is a whole lot of crab meat, a little mayo, a little Dijon, some breadcrumbs and a dash of Old Bay. To gussy the crab meat up with anything fancy would be an injustice to the Eastern Shore and all the crabbers that came before us. So when I loved the crab cake at J&G this month, with its heavy handed ginger application and pink grapefruit suprems, I was shocked to say the least. But it was just wonderful — light and fresh and definitely not Eastern Shore approved.

Photo courtesy of

courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Best Thing Between Two Slices of Bread: Just like Surfside, I went outside my comfort zone this month at Sticky Rice and ordered the Umeboshi Pork Sandwich. No worries, I still got an order of tots. I’m a creature of habit after all. The sandwich was a monster, and by the way, came with a side order of tots (epic ordering fail!). The slaw was tangy, the sauce was sweet and the wasabi aioli was spicy. And as a bonus, there was enough extra sauce to float my extra tots in!

Best Dessert: It’s Urbana, back again. I went dessert heavy at my dinner at Urbana, and none did my ordering abilities prouder than the Blood Orange Semifreddo (though the tarragon ice cream gets definite points for creativity). One of the reasons I dislike dessert at times is because my idea of the best way to end a meal is not with a huge pile of chocolate. The semifreddo is a great alternative — refreshing and a little sweet but with tons of fruity flavor. Just like sorbet cleanses your palate, this little dose of orange did the trick.

That was my month, how was yours?

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We Love Food: Hank’s Oyster Bar http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/29/we-love-food-hanks-oyster-bar/ Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:00:13 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=66640 Photo courtesy of
‘P1010522’
courtesy of ‘s

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Photo courtesy of
‘P1010522’
courtesy of ‘sygyzy’
Hank’s Oyster Bar has all the makings of being my go-to secret neighborhood joint — that perfectly undiscovered gem, with amazing food and an owner who remembers me so I never have to wait for a table. In a perfect world, yes, this would be the case. But this is not a perfect world and the rest of Washington has discovered Hank’s. There’s usually a wait, and to make matters worse, it’s not even in my neighborhood. But it almost was my neighborhood. I looked at an apartment in the Cairo building, and while I was thrilled with the opportunity to live in a haunted former brothel, I was even more excited about the possibility of living within viewing distance of the line at Hank’s.

After much deliberation, I didn’t move in with the ghost whores, so I still long for Hank’s. Don’t get me wrong, I make it over there quite frequently, but it’s not enough. In the end, what calls me to this little spot on Q St. is the lobster roll. It may not be the most perfect variation (I’m sure I’ll get email from all the Maine descendants out there) but it is reliable and always delicious. So full of meaty, lobstery, mayonnaise-y goodness, I have a really tough time ordering anything else on the menu. And the fries are the perfect accompaniment to my buttered roll full of sinful seafood. At $23, it isn’t exactly burger-and-fries cheap, but it’s delicious and completely worth it.

If I don’t get the lobster roll, and those are only on days where I’m trying to be dainty and actually eat with a fork instead of my man hands, I stick with the specials on the side of the menu. It’s always fresh, always delicious, and the dishes always highlight the ingredients in a simple but inventive way. One time when I decided to stray from the roll, I ended up with pork belly and apple-vinegar braised cabbage. It may be one of the better pork belly dishes I’ve ever had, and to say that about a dish from a seafood restaurant seems downright sacrilegious. But if it’s wrong, I don’t want to be right.

Photo courtesy of
‘Hank’s Oyster Bar’
courtesy of ‘kimberlykv’

But if you’re not exactly a seafood fan, don’t worry, you can still find something delicious here. Even if the pork belly isn’t back on the menu, Chef Jamie Leeds prepares a meat eater menu item for each day of the week. We’re talking braised short ribs, chicken schnitzel, flat iron steak and fried chicken.

But you’re not going to come here if you’re in the mood for steak, right? You’ll come for oysters. I can say here, in this circle of trust, that I am not a fan of raw oysters. Before you turn your nose up at me, I’ve tried them plenty of times and just can’t get on board. I can say, after conferring with my oyster-loving friends, that this is the place they like to go. A chalkboard on the wall tells you what they’ve got in that day, and the waiters and waitresses are more than qualified enough to explain the intricate differences between your Blue Points and your Kunamotos. I definitely don’t know the difference, since I had to check about two hundred times to confirm how to spell Kunamoto.

Photo courtesy of
‘Hank’s Oyster Bar’
courtesy of ‘kimberlykv’

As you will come to discover very quickly at Hank’s, they don’t serve dessert. No skin off my nose, but I know it’s a sore point with a lot of diners. I think their little bowl of dark chocolate chunks is actually the perfect way to end my meal — a little something sweet to go with my coffee. It’s also a nice little parallel to the tiny bowl of Goldfish Crackers you’re served when you sit down. Now if they could just get some Dunk-a-roos or Gushers, I’d really have something to write home about.

While Hank’s has plenty going on nightly, they do have some big changes afoot. In May, they will take over the storefront next door and double the size of the restaurant. The plan is to open a more extensive bar and lounge, with a bigger drinks menu and late night service (2am on weeknights and 3am on weekends). With the expansion, they’ll also double the size of their outdoor patio. That’s fine by me since it seems even better to chow down on a nice lobster roll in the fresh air. And on April 16th, both Hank’s locations will host Oyster Fest, with all you can eat oysters and other menu items including BBQ oysters, french fries and onion rings. Make it all you can eat lobster rolls and I’ll be the first one in line. Well, I might be the first one in line anyway.

Hank’s Oyster Bar has two locations: 1624 Q St. NW and 1026 King St. in Alexandria. The Q St. location is close to the Dupont Circle Metro Station (Red Line), while the Old Town location is close to the King St. Metro Station (Blue/Yellow Line). For more information call 202-462-4265 or 703-739-4265.

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J&G Steakhouse Debuts Their New Bar Menu http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/28/jg-steakhouse-debuts-their-new-bar-menu/ http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/28/jg-steakhouse-debuts-their-new-bar-menu/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:00:05 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=66644  

I’ll be the first person to admit that the …

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Photo Courtesy of J&G Steakhouse

I’ll be the first person to admit that the area around the White House isn’t exactly where I spend my free time. The first time I have to shove a tourist in to a crosswalk when there’s less than twenty seconds left in the little countdown, I lose my mind and hop the Metro for greener pastures. That being said, I feel like I know the area pretty well, so when I headed to J&G Steakhouse the other night, I was shocked to find myself in a bar that I never even knew existed.

I was there to check out their new bar bites (more on that later), but ended up pleasantly surprised by the wine bar. With a subterranean entrance right off the W Hotel patio on Pennsylvania Ave., I must have walked by this tiny 40-ish person bar a handful of times and never even noticed it. With the cool vibe the W has been pushing since they opened, but slightly toned down and butched up with a long wooden table running the length of the restaurant, this secret spot will definitely be a new go-to for only the coolest of my out-of-towner friends.

But the food, of course, is divine. As one would expect from dishes coming out of the J&G kitchen, the small bites are inventive and binge-worthy. Select one dish for $8 or three for $20, and you’ll get oysters, a signature slider, crispy calamari, or my personal favorite — the crab cake. All bites are expertly paired with wine in a way that does this girl and her drinking habits proud. Though the dishes are derived from the upstairs menu, they are nowhere near the size. Be forewarned that this will not be the happy hour to fill up on free nuts or pass appetizers, but it is a great way to get a delicious bite in a cool setting.

The Sips & Bites menu is available in the Wine Bar only, Monday through Friday, from 5pm-7pm.

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Penn Quarter Farmers Market Opens Today http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/24/penn-quarter-farmers-market-opens-today/ http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/24/penn-quarter-farmers-market-opens-today/#comments Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:00:55 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=66725 Photo courtesy of
‘Penn Quarter Farmer’s Market #2

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Photo courtesy of
‘Penn Quarter Farmer’s Market #2’
courtesy of ‘[F]oxymoron’
Today may not seem like a good day to wander around outside, but sometimes the draw of tables full of vegetables and homemade goodies is just too much to pass up. After their winter hiatus, the Penn Quarter Farmers Market opens back up today and will be open until December 22nd. Operating from 3pm until 7pm on Thursdays, the market will be in the same location as in years past — 8th St. NW between D St. and E St.

A favorite of area chefs, the PQ Farmers Market has hosted plenty of chefs over the years, including that time Jose Andres led Anthony Bourdain around and made him eat weird raw things on No Reservations. There probably won’t be a TV crew today, but Rob Weland of Poste will be performing a cooking demonstration from 4pm-5pm for your viewing and tasting pleasure.

So head down and check out what 8th St. has to offer this year, rumor is that ramps are coming…

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The 2011 RAMMY Noms Are Out http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/23/the-2011-rammy-noms-are-out/ http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/23/the-2011-rammy-noms-are-out/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:00:40 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=66469 Photo courtesy of
‘Restaurant’
courtesy of

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Photo courtesy of
‘Restaurant’
courtesy of ‘kingkool68’

Last night, in front of a ballroom full of nervous (and slightly tipsy) chefs and restaurateurs, the 2011 RAMMY nominations were announced. As Washington’s answer to the James Beard Awards, the RAMMYs carry some serious clout around these parts. There are a few restaurants that show up a number of times (Bourbon Steak, Citronelle, Equinox), but there are a few dark horses out there like Ted’s Bulletin, The Majestic and Liberty Tavern to round out the competition.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 26th after careful consideration by a panel of judges and as well as you, Joe T. Public. Us laymen will be able to vote in four categories this year: Voter’s Favorite Restaurant, Neighborhood Gathering Place, Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene and Power Spot of the Year. Voters will be able to fill out a ballot that will run in the April 28th issue of The Washington City Paper or online. So vote early and often, I guess.

A full list of the RAMMY noms after the jump.

Neighborhood Gathering Place:

  • Bar Pilar
  • EatBar
  • Bastille
  • Perry’s
  • Ted’s Bulletin

Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene:

  • Bourbon Steak
  • Chef Geoff’s Tysons Corner
  • Estadio
  • Masa 14
  • PS7

Power Spot:

  • The Bombay Club
  • Carmine’s
  • Equinox
  • The Palm
  • The Source

Pastry Chef:

  • Fabrice Bendano, Adour
  • Rebekka Baltzell, Restaurant Eve
  • Chris Kujala, ris
  • Tiffany MacIsaac, Neighborhood Restaurant Group
  • Tom Wellings, Equinox

Wine Program:

  • 2941
  • Citronelle
  • Dino
  • Taberna del Alabardero
  • Cork

Mixology:

  • Bourbon Steak
  • Founding Farmers
  • Proof/Estadio
  • Tabard Inn
  • ChurchKey

Upscale Casual:

  • Bibiana
  • Birch & Barley
  • Liberty Tavern
  • Proof
  • Tabard Inn

Fine Dining:

  • Rasika
  • The Source
  • Bourbon Steak
  • Citronelle
  • Trummer’s on Main

New Restaurant:

  • Estadio
  • Kushi
  • Michel by Michel Richard
  • Pizzeria Orso
  • ris

Rising Culinary Star:

  • Will Artley, Evening Star Cafe
  • Kyle Bailey, Birch & Barley
  • Justin Bittner, Bar Pilar
  • Shannon Overmiller, The Majestic
  • Javier Romero, Taberna del Alabardero

Chef of the Year

  • Bertrand Chemel, 2941
  • Todd Gray, Equinox
  • Haidar Karoum, Proof
  • Vikram Sunderam, Rasika
  • Brian Voltaggio, Volt
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We Love Outdoor Dining: Our Favorite Spots Around Town http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/22/we-love-outdoor-dining-our-favorite-spots-around-town/ http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/22/we-love-outdoor-dining-our-favorite-spots-around-town/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:00:59 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=66417 Photo courtesy of
‘indigo landing at dusk’
courtes

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Photo courtesy of
‘indigo landing at dusk’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

Now that the weather is starting to turn for the better (don’t mind that pesky rain), all I can think about is eating and drinking outside. And in Washington, where the appropriate outdoor dining season is about two weeks long, it pays to be organized. That is why we’ve put together our favorite spots to sip a beer or have a bite on a patio, deck or sidewalk. Enjoy them, but if you take the last table at one of our favorites, we’re going to be seriously mad.

Addison: Although it tends to fill up quickly, one of the best spots for both value and people watching is the patio at Arlington’s Mexicali Blues. There’s no better way to while away a summer afternoon than with $2 Mexican drafts and $4 margaritas. If you prefer substance over style, check out the covered porch at Jay’s Saloon and Grille. The AstroTurf and plastic patio furniture lend to an ambiance that might be more suited to a trailer park, but $10 domestic pitchers and a decent food selection make this a favorite.

Rebecca J.: Cleveland Park Bar & Grill has a fantastic rooftop deck with flat screen TVs housed under a deck rooftop, so you can be in the sun and watch the game sans screen glare.

Photo courtesy of
‘Comida’
courtesy of ‘Daquella manera’

Katie: Although I wouldn’t recommend eating anything here, really, the finest outdoor seating I know of around these parts is at Indigo Landing, overlooking the marina and National Airport. I’d order drinks, maybe some fries, something the kitchen can’t mess up, and stay on the deck for as long as they’ll let you.

Marissa: It’s probably cliche at this point, but eating at Lauriol Plaza is delightful during the summer. Grab some enchiladas and split a pitcher of their frozen margaritas and you’ll completely forget about the surrounding noisy 18th street. Yes, you’ll have to wait for a table, but I repeat: go for the margaritas and time will fly.

Photo courtesy of
‘Al Fresco’
courtesy of ‘Rukasu1’

Brittany: There is a sort of joke amongst my friends that I am afraid of the outdoors. It is not exactly true – but I am kind of a whiner about summer humidity and such. Blame it on moving back here from San Francisco where I did not have to deal with my hair curling up as soon as I set foot outside. For my occasional outdoor drinking (other than apartment terraces and roofs), you might catch me on the back patios of The Gibson or Little Miss Whiskey’s, or, perhaps, making an extra-rare sunlight appearance to sip coffee at one of the lovely sidewalk tables at Big Bear.

Tom: Alexandria’s Columbia Firehouse has one of my favorite hidden spots, a three table patio out of the way of the rest of the world. In the springtime, when the ivy comes in, you’d swear you were anywhere but Northern Virginia. Color me also in love with the outside tables at I Street’s The Bottom Line.  Sure, it’s a hole in the wall, and I don’t think I’d recommend the food, but the drinks are strong, the tapped ales flowing, and the service is strong.

Photo courtesy of
‘Cantina Marina’
courtesy of ‘sinksanctity’

Ashley: I’ve already waxed poetic about the patio at Zorba’s Cafe in Dupont, and the long tables at Brasserie Beck are perfect for leisurely happy hours with friends, but my absolute favorite outdoor spot in town is the back patio at Poste. It’s a little oasis in the middle of Chinatown, and the food ain’t bad either. Sitting under one of their umbrellas with a nice gin and tonic is just about the best way I know to ring in the sunny weather.

Jenn: The first sunny afternoon I can sip a dark-n-stormy at the battered outside bar at Cantina Marina is heaven. There’s something about it – completely unpretentious, a total ramshackle structure that seems out of place in DC. Maybe it’s the sparkle of the sun on the water, but it instantly calms me down. My SW friends hate it every time I mention “their secret” bar, but my hope is that someday the much-anticipated Waterfront development will bloom with places like this. Maybe that’s a fool’s hope. But lolling around an afternoon in a sundress, sucking back the simplest mix of rum and ginger beer, while neighbors and regulars mix with happy puppies and kids, well, it gets even this hard urban heart of mine every time. That Potomac River breeze sure helps.

So those are our favorites, did we miss any of yours?

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We Eat, We Write, We (Hopefully) Win Awards http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/22/we-eat-we-write-we-hopefully-win-awards/ Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:00:27 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=66419 Photo courtesy of
‘Corey Lee’s James Beard Award&#

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Photo courtesy of
‘Corey Lee’s James Beard Award’
courtesy of ‘patrick_h’
Newest food town my tush. We’re here, we’re delicious, get used to it. Need proof? The James Beard Award Nominees are out and our fair city made quite the impression. Well, that statement is sort of misleading. You know that annoying saying, that D.C. is Hollywood for ugly people? Well it looks like D.C. is Eataly for media folks. We don’t necessarily know how to cook, but we sure do have a lot to say about those who do cook. I guess in a town of politicians and lawyers that’s to be expected.

While I may be exaggerating just a touch, there were plenty of D.C.-based writers and television shows that were singled out this year. Tim Carman of the Washington City Paper was nominated for the best “Food-Related Columns and Commentary” and though he is no longer with the City Paper, I’m sure they will be more than happy to forward his award-related mail to The Washington Post. Or maybe they’ll keep it hostage, since The Washington Post was nominated for their own award for “Food Section of General Interest” which in my personal opinion sounds like the most boring category to be nominated in. And I love food and general interests!

Proving that silly saying about being the ugly Hollywood wrong, D.C. got some props for some visual media this year too. A 60 Minutes feature on Jose Andres (more from him later) was nominated for “Best Television Segment”, though I’m thinking that host Anderson Cooper and his perfectly coiffed ‘do might have something to do with that. The most baffling of the D.C.-related nominations goes to Top Chef’s D.C. season and its nomination for “Best Television Program.” I (and most of the Internet) wasn’t exactly a fan, but I’ll take a nomination where I can get it, so…bring it home, Padma!

There were nominations for actual cooking this year, not to worry. The only national chef or restaurant nomination was for “Outstanding Chef”, and went to our old friend Jose Andres of Minibar. We fared a little better when the categories were broken down by region, with three local chefs vying for Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic). Repeat nominees Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve, Johnny Monis of Komi and Peter Pastan of Obelisk will compete for the award, while Bryan Voltaggio of Volt is noticeably absent from this year’s list.

Last but not certainly not least, I’m most excited about Dogfish Head Brewery’s nomination for “Outstanding Wine & Spirit Professional.” Milton, Delaware in the house!

A full list of all the James Beard Award nominees can be found here. The awards will be given out on May 9th in New York City.

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We Love Food: Zorba’s Cafe http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/15/we-love-food-zorbas-cafe/ http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/15/we-love-food-zorbas-cafe/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:05:03 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=65562 Photo courtesy of
‘Zorba’s Cafe’
courtesy o

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Photo courtesy of
‘Zorba’s Cafe’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

So now that it is sort of starting to get warmer (right? RIGHT?) all I can think about is eating and drinking outside. As a native Washingtonian, I know that the window of outdoor eating opportunity here in our nation’s capital is small, and I like to take advantage of it when I can. Since we’ve been friends for a while, Internet readers, I feel like it’s high time I let you in on my absolute favorite outdoor dining spot — Zorba’s. If you’ve never been here before, you have without a doubt walked by it a thousand times and never looked twice. Right by the Q St. exit of the Dupont Circle Metro stop, it doesn’t exactly scream “fancy dining experience.” And to be honest, you’re right. It may not be fancy, but they’ve got lots of patio seating, pitchers of beer and food that reminds me of sunny days nursing a hangover on the beaches of Greece. Or at least, that’s what I think they’d be like.

I first knew Zorba’s as a place to drink only. Whether it was the less than classy decor, the plastic trays or the counter service, I somehow got it in my head that it was one of those places where you overlooked the substandard food in the name of cheap pitchers and people watching galore. For years, all I ordered was hummus. Then one day I was just too hungry for chickpeas and I figured I would try a little souvlaki and just eat around the pork if it was gross. Needless to say, I ended up pleasantly surprised.

Photo courtesy of
‘Zorba’s Falafel Platter’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Since my first clandestine (read: necessary) meeting with the food at Zorba’s, I’ve been back many a-time. I order the pork souvlaki more times than I’d like to admit, but when I find something I love, I love it a little too much. I’m a little like Lenny from Of Mice and Men in that sense. But only in that sense, thank you very much. The tender pieces of pork are stuffed into a house made pita so fluffy and flavorful you’re just sure that old lady from the Oikos Greek yogurt commercials made it. I’m a sucker for the tzatziki though, and always order extra for dipping. The only thing that kills me with the souvlaki is the side order of fries that comes with it. They’re clearly frozen fries from a bag. Cash in on those saved calories and order another pitcher of beer.

Photo courtesy of
‘Inside Zorba’s cafe (Greek restaurant)’
courtesy of ‘BethD77’

That hummus I used to order should have led me in to the light a little earlier though, because it’s delicious. Truthfully, I can make a pretty stellar meal out of the hummus and the taramasalata and the fluffy pita, but I’d be doing an injustice to my stomach to pass up everything else on the menu. The gyro plate is great, with tons of meat piled on top of enough veggies to make you feel good about yourself. I’m also a sucker for the kefte kabob, flavorful meatballs chock full of onions and parsley and grilled to the juicy and tender point of perfection. I always order the spanikopita, and though it is on the greasy side and has the nutritional value of an onion ring, it seems like a crime to pass them up. A second on the lips, a lifetime on the hips? Well an hour on the treadmill is worth a few orders of spanikopita. So take that, Self Magazine.

Photo courtesy of
‘Zorba’s Delphi Salad’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

A meal at Zorba’s begs the age-old question, do I think food tastes better when I’m eating it on a sunny patio? Or while drinking? Well, I am here to tell you that I’ve eaten Zorba’s grub while both sitting inside on a rainy day and whilst sober, and both times I came away happy. So go forth and try, and bring your friends and your sunglasses because you’ll want to stay and sit and eat and drink for a very, very long time.

Zorba’s Cafe is located at 1612 20th St. NW. The closest Metro station is Dupont Circle (Red Line). For more information, call (202) 387-8555.

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Food Truck Tracker http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/11/food-truck-tracker-149/ Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:00:31 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=64379 Photo courtesy of
‘Sâuçá Food Truck’
courtesy o

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Photo courtesy of
‘Sâuçá Food Truck’
courtesy of ‘justgrimes’

Time to start the weekend. So what if it’s 11am? It’s lunchtime somewhere.

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Food Truck Tracker http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/10/food-truck-tracker-148/ Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:00:40 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=64373 Photo courtesy of
‘TaKorean’
courtesy of ‘R

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Photo courtesy of
‘TaKorean’
courtesy of ‘RRRPhotos’

On your mark. Get set. Go! (To a food truck, duh.)

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Food Truck Tracker http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/09/food-truck-tracker-147/ Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:00:10 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=64370 Photo courtesy of
‘Curbside Cookoff 2010 Lobster Truck&#

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Photo courtesy of
‘Curbside Cookoff 2010 Lobster Truck’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Nothing says Wednesday like a nice long lunch “checking out a new food truck.”

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Food Truck Tracker http://www.welovedc.com/2011/03/08/food-truck-tracker-146/ Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:00:48 +0000 http://www.welovedc.com/?p=64365 Photo courtesy of
‘PORC Mobile’
courtesy of

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Photo courtesy of
‘PORC Mobile’
courtesy of ‘bonappetitfoodie’

Happy March, everyone. Hit a food truck today when you frantically run out at lunch to turn in your rent check. (Stupid short February and its stupid 28 days!)

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