8.31.2010

Sign Up for September Cooking Classes in DC

I have a Google problem. I look up one thing and end up with an overwhelming amount of great information...  Today it was cooking classes. There are so many interesting classes coming up, I want to go into a registration frenzy. I've culled my picks from CulinAerie and Zola Wine & Kitchen below:

September 1: Fully Loaded Shellfish at Zola Wine & Kitchen
September 2: Burgers & Brews at CulinAerie
September 7: Fromage, Formaggio, Siers, Queso, Cheese at Zola Wine & Kitchen (how could I resist a class that's all about cheese???)
September 11: Date Night, Indian Style at CulinAerie
September 20: Beginners in the Kitchen at CulinAerie (gotta start somewhere!)
September 21: Meatless for Meatlovers at CulinAerie (Kim O'Donnell will be leading and giving all class members a copy of her new book!!)
September 28: Grains at Zola Wine & Kitchen (I've developed a quinoa obsession)

What are your favorites? (I've heard Hill's Kitchen (site only has May classes though?) and Cookology in Dulles Town Center is great - they also do kid classes!) Is there an instructor that I *need* to follow more closely?

[PS. My first knife skills teacher was Olga from Mango Tomato. She broke me of my fear of my 10 inch chef's knife and is willing to do small classes or private parties. Here's her blog post from my class.]

8.29.2010

Movin' On Up: First Time Home Owner Angst

So, it appears that it's really happening... I'm buying my first condo. I've been hesitant to write about it, as if putting it on my blog might make it too real - or worse, what if I did that and it didn't happen. It has been a crazy, frustrating, exhilarating, depressing, scary and fun experience so far.

My road to home ownership hasn't been an easy one. Once I finally found the place I wanted and the seller accepted the bid, we were moving to close and then, bam, the appraisal came back wayyyy off. So we had to renegotiate. And I pretty much bit off all of my nails and went on a shoe shopping spree in response.

Now, we're back on track and moving towards a mid September close date. I really do love the place and am so ready to be in there. Even though it's right in the city, my street is quiet and has a lot of trees. My favorite things about it are the fantastic stove (six burner gas range with double oven, ohhhh yeahhhh...) and the gorgeous light that streams in the living room.

So. It's really happening. I've started packing. And blogging. I'll be sharing the fun along with the anxiety. Today, I've started packing and am obsessed with paint chips. You see, the kitchen is this great lime color and I want to keep it. But what goes with lime? I'm not sure I love what is currently there, so I've broken out the color wheel.

Do you have any recommendations about contrasting colors that would go this lime?
My new kitchen stove. Swooooooon!

8.25.2010

Five Things YOU Can Do to Help Our Gulf

I'm a Gulf Coast girl, born and raised. Between hurricanes and the BP Oil Spill, my home turf has had a rough last five years.
This is what it should ALWAYS look like.

I also happen to be an optimist who thinks everyone can play a role in helping fix things. After Katrina, I went down and helped rebuild a house, which was an amazing experience (and still ongoing.) With that under my belt, I was thinking of all of the different ways people can help the Gulf.  Donate. Share. Volunteer. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Attend or host a Citizen Gulf Day of Action event in your area. People across our nation are self organizing to raise money and awareness. Proceeds will go to a Catholic Charities program on the ground to fund after school programs for kids in the affected areas. For those of you in DC, we'll be at Busboys & Poets at 5th & K Streets NW starting at 6:30. Bonus: Drink specials and date auction!

2. Bear witness. Share stories about the Gulf with you friends, family and community. When you see evidence of oil or something that needs to be addressed, snap photos and share in every way possible. Tweet it and tag it with #CitizenGulf to get the word out.

3. Stay informed. Follow people like satirical but dead-on @BPCares, local New Orleans news site NOLA.com and reporters who are staying on the case, like Bloomberg's tenacious Lizzie O'Leary. Ask, no, demand that your local news keep reporting on the progress and the recovery.

4. Look for ways to reduce your oil consumption. No one expects anyone to stop driving cars in a place without public transportation, but there are plenty of things we can do to reduce consumption. Here are 10 ways, including cutting back on Ziplocs, checking your tire pressure and doing a home energy audit. The bonus is that these all also save you money!

5. Find ways to volunteer on the ground. Don't don your poor man's haz mat suit and head for an oily beach though, this stuff is dangerous. This article from Huffington Post talks about how volunteers are being utlized and lists organizations where you can get involved in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.

Got another way you are helping, share it in the comments.

8.23.2010

Scenes from the Farmers Market, 8.22.10

I love leisurely Sundays where you wake up, grab a coffee and stroll the farmers market. In this fantasy, it was considerably less muggy and sweaty, but we go with what we have.

I'm 15 days away from closing on my first condo, so budget was top of mind this week. I wanted to first case the market, shopping via camera. Then, I would go back, with my food budget of $25, and make my purchases. It worked out great. But, I didn't have the financial fortitude to pass up a latte. Especially a latte as gorgeous and delicious as my first one at Filter Coffeehouse (on 20th Street NW near S Street in Dupont Circle).

With that coffee love pouring into my belly, I started exploring Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Here are a few of my favorite things I found...

 Squash Blossoms & Green Beens
 Multicolored Okra (These came home with me.)
Keep reading after the jump for more market finds, entertainment & cute pups!

8.20.2010

Review: Lunch at the Equinox Bar

On Tuesday, Alejandra (aka @frijolita and food blogger here and here) and I had Lobster Truck on the brain. Like half of DC, we got our tails down to Farragut Square to be there on opening day. And, as can happen in the food truck world, something went awry and we found ourselves stranded in Farragut Square.

I had just been to Equinox for the launch of the Mid Atlantic Red Fruit Festival, so it was top of mind.  Plus, Alejandra hadn't been ever (and it felt like forever since I'd actually eaten there myself.)  While not a new kid on the foodie block, Equinox pioneered eating local and is one of the best spots in town to find true Mid Atlantic cuisine.

We pulled ourselves up to the bar and within seconds bartender/new best friend, Johnny, was taking care of us and we were ordering away.

We started out with this Yellow and Red Tomato Salad topped with Onion Strings and Watercress. It immediately made me think, you know, if I were to enter the Mid Atlantic Red Fruit Festival's tomato recipe contest, I'd want it to be with something simple and perfect like this. Something where the tomato was the star, not loaded down with cloying cheese (although, yum) or smashed into a panini (also yum).


Next up we had the Raviolini. I can't really even remember what was advertised on the menu as the ingredients because I was so surprised to find POPCORN in it. I never considered mixing popcorn and pasta but the crunch contrasts so perfectly with creamy, cheesy pasta. Consider trying it at home... or just leave it to brilliant Equinox Chef Todd Gray.


With that we were satisfied and ready to roll back to the office. But Johnny wasn't quite done with us and the next thing you know dessert popped up in front of us. I think I blurted out, "Well, this is clearly the best thing that will happen to us all day!"

We got to try the Equinox Chocolate Cream with Olive Oil Ice Cream, Hazelnuts and "Chocolate Soil". Alejandra about died because she's been obsessed and blogging about olive oil in desserts. Next thing you know, she's chatting up Chef Gray about how to make chocolate soil. I wouldn't be surprised if a version shows up in one of her recipes soon.


I was all about this crazy layered White Peach Parfait. Now, I'm a peach purist and think they are best served simply, but this concoction left me slack jawed and wanting more. Consider this. Layers of mousse, meringue, compressed peaches and sorbet. I die.

Or rather, I went back to work. It wasn't pretty. But the meal sure was.

[NOTE: Make a reservation at Equinox or just pull up a seat at their intimate (read: only six seats) bar. It's located right by The White House at 818 Connecticut Avenue. You can also follow them on their blog, Twitter or Facebook.]

DISCLAIMER: While we have no idea if they knew we were food bloggers (we didn't advertise or set anything up, nor did we tell them we blogged til it was over), the desserts were gratis. We may have just been fun, fabulous gals at the bar. But who knows? Better safe than sorry in letting you and the FTC know.

8.19.2010

Help Save the DC Food Trucks!

Yesterday, Curbside Cupcakes sent out an alert on their Facebook page and I went into panic.  Apparently, some local merchants and business improvement districts aren't so into the food truck craze.  I get it, it's competition. But they are trying to change the law in DC to try to limit or kill all of the creative, gourmet food that's popping up on street corners near you.

So, whether your fave is Curbside Cupcake, Fojol Brothers, Sauca, Lobster Truck, El Floridano, DC Slices or a player to be named later, your trucks need your help.  We need to show the City Council that we support mobile truck options. 

And you can help. Right there from your phone or laptop.  Just send an email voicing your support to mailto:Hlder.Gil@dc.gov - tell em to SAVE OUR FOOD TRUCKS!

A sample email is below for those of us that are too busy to compose one on our own:
Subject: I Support Title 24 Chapter 5

Dear City Council,

I am a customer of _____________ and I am writing to you to support the current proposed DCRA regulation Title 24 Chapter 5 that will allow mobile vendors to stay in DC and continue offering more choices and value. Please do not allow the introduction of any discriminatory language into these regulations. Please pass the regulations as written and protect the diverse vending options in the city.

Thank you,
[You]
 
[NOTE: If you haven't get found your favorite food truck in DC, follow my Twitter DC Food Trucks list and try one near you. They are really fun and a great break from the usual office food.]

8.17.2010

Leavin' on a Jet Blue Plane...

JetBlue is back with their All You Can Fly deal!  This is an affordable fantasy if you can get time off of work September 7th to October 6th, 2010. For $499, you get a ticket and you can fly anywhere they fly anyday (except Friday or Sunday - you can upgrade to that for $699).

If you had one month and could fly anywhere you wanted, where would you go? For the JetBlue deal, international and Puerto Rico flights are included.

My list from the spots they fly would be... New York, Seattle, Portland (OR), San Francisco, San Diego, Austin, New Orleans, Tampa (say hi to the homies), Cancun, Aruba, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Bermuda, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Boston, Portland (ME), Chicago and then, maybe, back home to DC.

Follow JetBlue All You Can Fly on Facebook or @JetBlue on Twitter so that you can get updates when they offer this deal periodically.

NOTE: Need places to stay on the cheap? Consider CouchSurfing, House Swap or Vacation Rental by Owner.

8.12.2010

Summer Sweet Corn, Peach & Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese

Ever have one of those days where you stare at your available ingredients and draw a blank? Today, I got home late from work and was staring at five ears of fresh summer corn, three tomatoes, four peaches and a bouquet of basil. I thought about all of the things I wished I had to make for dinner with them (Rockfish with citrus salsa & sweet corn. Bread for peach paninis. Arugula to make a big salad.)

And, I thought about take out. But I refused to let those great ingredients waste another day and go bad. After all, I started this blog to keep me honest about making at least one meal a week - one that I'd never tried and one sourced from my local farms.

I sent a #FoodieBatSignal out to my Twitter followers and got a lot of great ideas. When you crowdsource dinner, you'll rarely come up empty. I'll share their ideas after the jump, but here's what I ended up making, inspired by Shaw Girl.

Summer Sweet Corn, Peach & Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese
Makes a side dish for 4 or salad entree for 2
Ingredients

  • 2 peaches, diced
  • 1 large heirloom tomato, diced
  • 2 ears fresh sweet corn, cobbed
  • 3 basil leaves, chiffonade (cut into strips)
  • 2 tablespoons, goat cheese
  • lime
  • olive oil
  • salt & pepper

Directions

  1. Combine peaches, tomato and sweet corn nibblets in a large bowl.
  2. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the top.
  3. Drizzle (lightly) olive oil over the top.
  4. Add fresh ground salt and pepper, to taste.
  5. Toss all ingredients above to combine.
  6. Plate the salad in the center of your plates. Top with crumbled goat cheese and basil. Serve.
TIP: You can eat fresh corn straight from the cob. Who knew? (Shaw Girl knew.)


Keep reading for more ideas from some of Twitter's best foodies:

8.11.2010

We Need Your Vote to Help Us Get to SXSW 2011

The first rule of SXSW (the one no one is supposed to tell their boss) is that more connections get made and creativity happens at the afterhours parties than the bajzillion talks during the day. I was a rookie last year, so I sat in the Austin Convention Center every day, doggedly chasing down panels that looked interesting. 

This lead me to the second rule of SXSW: Find the interersting *speakers* rather than choosing based on the panel descriptions. I missed out on some of the most talked about sessions because I didn't know who was "good."

This year I'm trying to present at SXSW along with Jessica Kirkwood of Hands On Network and Wendy Harman of Red Cross on our experiences of using social platforms to get people to help make a real difference in the lives of others. But, we need your help.  You see, SXSW is a democracy... and the panels that get picked are the ones that are "thumbs up'd" the most. So, I'll need you to vote for our panel here.

After the jump is a full listing of the speakers that I'd like to see at SXSW - I hope you'll cast you vote for these also... and I hope we'll see you there.

8.09.2010

Carmine's DC: Happy Hour & Lunch Specials

I hate chains. There I said it. I feel like once you start trying to duplicate a great restaurant, you lose what is great about it. Service gets sloppy, decor gets cheesy. So, when I saw that Carmine's, the venerable New York Italian steak joint was opening across the street from the office, I pre-judged.

But, Carmine's you get my first impression rose. On a whim, I popped in to the bar for lunch this afternoon planning on getting a salad. Once thing Carmine's doesn't do is anything in moderation. They have great lunch specials. For $9.00 I got a Eggplant Hero larger than my head and a hefty portion of Caesar salad (you can also get mixed greens.) Bring a friend to split your meal or divide that price by two, because there is no way anyone should be able to finish this in one sitting.
This looks way smaller in the photo than it did on the plate.

Intrigued, I started eavesdropping. My neighbors were raving about their meals, packaging huge to-go cartons and saying they heard Elena Kagan was visiting Carmine's already.

I started chatting up the bartenders (shocking. I wasn't appointed VP of Bartender Relations amongst my friends for nothing) and snagged the happy hour specials for you. They are definitely aiming to bring folks in and expand their happy hour, but here's what they are starting with.... from 4-7pm, you can select from:
  • $4 Peroni drafts
  • $5 Big Berry Cosmo (frozen cosmos... I might have to bring those back even though SATC jumped the shark.)
  • $5 house wines (daily special red and white)
  • $5 specialty cocktails - two per day & one is usually a Champagne cocktail
If you want to graze while you drink away your work day, they will be serving small portions (this is like the Hummer is a small SUV) of fried zucchini and stuffed mushrooms for $4.00 each.

NOTE: Carmines' is also doing Restaurant Week lunch and dinner. Get menus & reservations on OpenTable.com. Definitely come in a group, this is HUGE portions, meant to share as if you were at an Italian wedding.  Carmine's is located at 425 7th Street in between E & F NW. It's close to Penn Quarter/Gallery place and Archives/Navy Memorial metro lines.

Shhhhh! Secret Dog Deal at Bourbon Steak

There are 23 days left in August. That means there are 23 days left to get to Bourbon Steak's bar and get in on their super-secret "Dog Days of Summer" deal (in the lounge area only). For a sweet $7.00, you get an amazing artisan Red Apron hot dog and a cold pint of beer.
Hot dog with relish and cold beer. (I added the duck fat fries and red onion rings!)

Tell Duane we sent you (and give him a follow on Twitter @dcelixirmixer).  To stay up to date on all of Bourbon Steak's events and promotions, follow them on Twitter at @BourbonSteakDC.

Bourbon Steak is located in the Four Seasons Hotel at 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.

8.08.2010

Farmers Market Vegetable Confetti Salad with Champagne-Dijon Vinaigrette

If you've been following along on my journey, you know that I'm shocked at how vegetables I thought I hated are actually fantastic when made with fresh, local ingredients and the right recipe. On Saturday afternoon, I joined fellow bloggers Olga (Mango and Tomato), Alejandra (One Bite at a Time) and Sylvie (Thrifty DC Cook) for a demonstration at the 14th & U Farmers Market in Washington, DC.

When doing a demo, you genuinely want to WOW your guests... but at the farmers market, there are no ovens or refrigeration, so we had to get creative. I decided to turn one of my former hated veggies - squash - into a tangy, fresh and colorful salad.
Thinly Sliced Golden Summer Squash

Farmers Market Vegetable Confetti Salad with Champagne-Dijon Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw vegetables (thinly sliced) We used golden squash, white squash and zucchini for our demo, but you could also add carrots and radishes... or whatever is fresh from your local growers.
- Champagne Dijon Vinaigrette (recipe after the jump, but you can also use your favorite vinaigrette)
- 1/4 cup goat cheese
- baguette

Directions
1. Shave your vegetables into into thin slices using a vegetable peeler or mandolin. Try to get as many colorful vegetables as you can so that you have a vibrant presentation.
2. Using tongs, toss the vegetables in your vinaigrette until thoroughly coated.
3. Pile salad onto plate and top with a crumbling of goat cheese.
4. Serve with a piece of fresh french bread to douse up all of the great taste.
Farmers Market Vegetable Confetti Salad

After the jump, read how to make the vinaigrette (hint: it involved a cocktail shaker!) and get the other bloggers recipes as well...


8.07.2010

Fun on 14th Street: Mid City Dog Days

Today, after our 14th & U Farmers Market demo (recipe & blog post coming soon), Ike & I went for a stroll down to Mid City Dog Days. All along 14th Street NW between P & W Streets, businesses were having special deals and promotions. You've got one more day to get down there and check it out.

Wasabi (or Seoul) Hot Dogs on Masa 14 Patio

Highlights were the amazing Wasabi Hot Dogs on the grill at Masa 14... Spotting White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (looking hipster appropriate in his Converse Chuck Taylors) & his cutie daughters checking out the 15% off home goods at Timothy Paul.... Getting Ike's toenails trimmed for 10% off at Green Pets... Meeting mayoral candidate Vince Gray (who graciously like Ike lick him for the cameras)... Drank a spiced lemonade at Cork Market (and a free lemonade at Busboys & Poets!)... and running into Metrocurean blogger Amanda.

All in a DC afternoon... Get out & check it out Sunday!

8.03.2010

Bearing Witness for Our Gulf: Citizen Video

As a native Floridian who grew up on the Gulf of Mexico, I've watched, horrified the BP Oil Spill and it's after effects. I'm angry about so many things. The lax safety on the oil rig. The people who lost their lives who were just trying to work for a living and provide for their family. The ruining of the ecosystem. The fish and animals that are dying. The dispersant that appears to be making it all worse.  Two words: Tony Heyward.

With all of that - I feel almost whiny complaining that it could impact my favorite meals or that my favorite beaches are being marred with tar balls.

This week, I've been upset at reports that "maybe it's not that bad." I work in PR. I get spin. And I think it's so important that we don't allow this tragedy to be spun out of our conscience. It's important that we all stay angry and that we hold BP accountable for cleaning this up.

Here's the latest video by a citizen that snuck past the BP PR/Security and flew over the Gulf to get a real report of what's happening out there.



It's disturbing, but it's important that we know what's really happening.

8.02.2010

Corn & Peach Salsa, Grilled Watermelon Salad & Other Things I Wish I Made This Weekend

I've been slacking on cooking for myself with fresh, local ingredients. I blame my birthday and all of the requisite eating out that comes with celebrating yourself. Also, the stress of the condo buying (or not... it appears it may be dunzo due to a really out of whack appraisal).

But, that doesn't mean I haven't seen a TON of things I wish I was making and eating. Here's a round up of the recipes that are just begging for summer eating:
Two other great recipes came to me through social media that I'll share here:

@EatThisNotThat's Grilled Watermelon Salad
Cut watermelon into cubes. Rub w olive oil & grill. Toss w/ arugula, goat cheese, more olive oil & balsamic vinegar!

Joe's Jersey Summer Corn & Peach Salsa
Ingredients
1 ear Jersey corn cobbed
1 scallion (green only)
1 tbs cilantro
2 tomatoes diced fine
1 white peach diced fine
Quarter lemon juiced

Toss ingredients and let it sit for about 30 min in the fridge. Serve with pita or tortilla chips.