FoodFash

Adventure Begins in the Kitchen

Cheers!

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Through a series of unwelcomed metro events came a very welcomed perfect timing.  As I was coming out of the elevator at the Eastern Market metro, Emily was walking towards me.  I immediately chatted her ear off while we rushed home to freshen up for dinner.

We were ravenously hungry when we sat at our Brasserie Beck table, but naturally opened up the wine menu first.  Something sparkly was most definitely a priority when meeting up with this bestie.  And having an intense, out of town work week only fueled that fire.

I ordered the Fricassee of Mushrooms, that was unknowingly swimming in cream, and the In House Cured Salmon.  It didn’t even cross my mind to complain about the dairy, I was starved and it was secretly welcome.  Em helped me sop up my plate with the massive amounts of sourdough stacked in a basked on the table.

She and B ordered everything else on the menu.  Kidding.  Well, half kidding. They feasted on two variations of mussels, sweetbreads, and beef tar tar.  And since I had already lost my dairy battle, I sampled some of each.

I’m off to explore some DC-ness!  Happy weekend!

Special Treatment

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I’ve  posted up at the same Crystal City hotel spot frequently enough to know the lay of the land, but not long enough to stop thinking that Crystal City is a goofy name.  Don’t you think Crystal City should look like the picture below and not the picture above?

photo source

Crystal City… Emerald City…  Potayto, Potahto.

And since I’ve crossed the line of feeling familiar, I braved walking the dusk streets rather than ordering delivery.  This was a big step for me.  I’m afraid of the dark.  Like… more afraid than any little kid you know.

I read every street-side menu and finally decided on one of the seven Italian restaurants on the strip: Cucina Vivace.  The chilled tomato and roasted pepper soup and linguine with olive oil, spinach, and herbs caught my attention.

I could have done without the soup, it was a little chunkified for my liking, but the pasta was super fresh, delicate, and well seasoned.  I felt really terrible leaving my leftovers but, like I told the waiter (who thought my flashy camera was an indicator that I was important), leftovers and hotel rooms don’t quite mix.

Have you ever noticed a difference in restaurant service when you’re with camera as opposed to without?

A Fantastic Start

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After stuffing the fullest, most awesome swag bags I have seen to date, we spruced ourselves up and headed to Alma de Cuba for dinner.  We walked there.  It was perfect.  I’m falling fast in love with Phili and I’m OK with that.

The group headed upstairs to our table, but I couldn’t help but bask in the hipness of the first floor.  It’s true, I’m a sucker for swanky of all sorts, both over the top and undercover.  Alma de Cuba was somewhere in the middle.

I started with a gin, St. Germain, and muddled strawberry cocktail.  It was stiff and refreshing (i.e. perfect).  Following the cocktailness, Smoked Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho and Rainbow (tuna, salmon, black bass) Ceviche arrived.  The gazpacho was to die for, even though my first bite induced a feeling of guilt as the smoked flavor told my brain I was eating bacon.  I got over that feeling quickly and slurped up the entire thing!  The ceviche was tasty as well.  I was really impressed with the entire experience.   I’m super thankful that Meghann included me in this adventure!!!

After dinner, we headed to Sabrina’s house for tea and dessert – she is thirty five weeks of preggo cuteness and an amazing hostess to boot!  I’m having such a wonderful time here with my used to be virtual, now real life, friends!

More soon, I promise!!

KitchenBar

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Within hours of KitchenBar popping up at BT, I had a slew of emails and inquiries.  Miss Erica knows my style and was the first to send me an Outlook invite – if it’s on my calendar, I’ll be there.  I’m addicted to schedule like that.

It was definitely strange to be in a familiar place with a foreign menu, but the strangeness faded as the wine settled and the food arrived – the presentation was A+.  As far as taste is concerned, everything was good (I promise, don’t take this the wrong way), but I had a difficult time being at BT and not comparing the current cuisine to the likes of what I was accustomed to eating in that particular space.  With that being said, the most enjoyable taste on my plate was a combo I had never had before: egg and tuna.  Other favorites amongst the table were the charred eggplant puree with burratta, prosciutto de parma zeppole with rosemary doughnuts, and burratta with watercress, peaches, blackberry sorbet and almonds.  Fancy shmancy!

Then it was time for group shot, x-rated napkin folding, medical astrology, and polishing off the remaining wine – you know, the usual for a Wednesday…

Now back to Healthy Living Summit Packing!