Tag Archives: meat

Food and Drink, Interviews, The Features
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He Loves DC: Nathan Anda of Red Apron

Nathan High Res

So I’ve been trying to cut back on my meat intake. Well, that is, until I met Nate Anda of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s Red Apron Butchery. Anda shattered my dreams of a meat-free existence and replaced them with ridiculously delicious beef jerky and charcuterie. Every cured meat I tried from his line made me love pork. I was able to whip up pizzas, salads, cheese and breads.

I met Anda at the Dupont Circle Farmer’s market, and he loaded me up with recommendations, pointing out stalls with his favorite product pairings. I rushed home to try them and haven’t looked back since. His products are impeccable, and I couldn’t wait to talk to Anda about why meat, why DC and what he loved about them both.

Katie: How long have you lived in the DC area?
Nathan: Since January 2002

What is the best thing about DC, in your opinion?
Its a smaller city than New York and LA. It’s easy to get around, and I almost always run into somebody I know when I’m not planning on it (that can be good and bad I guess), and DC gets great concerts!

What would you change about DC if you could?
I can’t stand the traffic.

What inspired you to create Red Apron?
I have always had an appreciation for using local farmers and getting in the whole animal and finding ways to utilize everything. Michael Babin (owner of Neighborhood Restaurant Group) and I toyed with the idea of a butcher shop about 5 years ago and once EatBar opened, the menu was really meat/charcuterie based; that’s when the real research and development took place. After traveling to Italy a couple years back and seeing the salumerias and macelerias, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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All Up On Your Grill

Photo courtesy of
‘Grilling Out’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

It’s that blissed out season of grilling, ya’ll. Nothing says summer quite like a beer in one hand and a pair of tongs in the other. Our cute neighbor regularly busts out his gas grill, straps on his “Virginia is For Lovers” apron, and makes me jealous while whipping up steaks out on his fancy grill. I get all envious of his style and his yummy smelling food.

My nutritionist, Danielle Omar, of Fairfax, Virginia sent out her newsletter today and included some super helpful tips on grilling from local catering Chef Oliver Friendly of Eat & Smile foods. A few of them were surprises to me (especially coming from my nutritionist) – over-salt your meat and use canola oil instead of olive oil in your marinades. For more tips on grilling, check out her blog. Furthermore, nothing beats a perfect and convenient outdoor grilling than finding the right grilling equipment like those popular grills for propane gas. Overall it is still a matter of style and the love for cooking that makes an excellent grilled food.

But that made me wonder (Carrie Bradshaw style) – what are your grilling tips? Favorite recipes? Favorite foods on the grill? Leave it in the comments!