4.29.2011

Yeah, I Watched. And Loved It.

I thought I'd watch the wedding coverage, but not in real time. I mean, 4 am start time? I'm only getting up then if I'm flying out to an island at 5am.

But I woke up around 6am and it ended up being perfect timing. I saw the Queen arrive. She didn't look dowdy, she looked fantastic and happy (despite her slight Mean Girls snub of Camilla...) And Wills and Harry... I feel like I watched them grow up. I loved seeing them so happy and comfortable with each other. They looked like guys. Just guys. Dressed fancy.

Then Kate. I dig her. She seems cute and funny and most of all, she seems like Wills best friend. Her dress was perfection - a nod to Grace Kelly, couture and tradition all at once. I loved when he told her she looked beautiful. I loved the ceremony. I loved that they kissed on the balcony. Twice.

But most of all, I loved this moment:

4.25.2011

Lobster Love Coming to Penn Quarter: Luke's Lobster Summer 2010

I love me some Lobster Truck, but it's rare to get the famed food truck more than once a week in your neighborhood. If you work in Penn Quarter (like me!), you're about to have the option to lobster it up daily if you so desire.

Luke's Lobster is moving in at 624 E Street NW this summer. Has anyone tried the NYC outpost?

I like that brother/owner's Luke and Bryan source the lobster directly from their Dad's sustainable Maine seafood company.  Sneak a peek at their menu and get to know them in their cutie video below:

4.19.2011

What I've Been Eating: Carmelized Tofu Tacos by TaKorean

It's widely known I've got a food truck obsession. I recently tried TaKorean and it vaulted into my favorites list... Check out this trio of caramelized tofu (they also come in steak and chicken) tacos with spicy kimchi slaw and the works. I died. Can't wait for them to come to my work neighborhood again soon!

To find TaKorean, follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

4.18.2011

What I've Been Eating: Dinner at the Fiola de Fabio Trabocchi

Anytime Alejandra says, "Hey I got a ___________, wanna try it?" my answer (sight unseen) is yes. This time, it was an early reservation to the new Fiola da Fabio Trabocchi.

Let's start at the bar. Fiola's nabbed Jeff Faile from Palena. The man makes a brilliant cocktail. We had Manhattans.
And to soak up the Manhattans, we had crispy, cheesy jamon quesadilla and gooey cheese sandwiches. Little did we know, we didn't really need to go there since so much food was headed our way, but no regrets...
One of the things that's fun about getting in to a restaurant's soft opening is that they are trying lots of new things and want you to taste them. This little number was bruschetta with fish cheeks was complements of the bar.
At this point, we realized we were filling up. And filling up fast. But we still had to try entrees, right? It's, like, our duty as food bloggers... (help me justify all we ate, por favor?) Next up, we tried to narrow down the selection of pastas - Chef Fabio makes almost all of the pasta in house and the staff had been raving about three things. We couldn't make up our mind, so the manager told us we could do half portions of the pasta... we chose the Pappardelle with Mushrooms which was my absolute favorite...
... and the Gli Spaghetti, which was topped with sea urchin and included a tangle of crab and chili in the pasta.
But, the chef was bummed that he didn't get to show off his Lobster Ravioli. I tend to think Lobster Ravioli is a throwaway dish on a menu. Um, no, not here. This is just a tasting portion and check out that gorgeous lobster and pillowy ravioli!!!
At this point, I had the pasta sweats and thought I was going to die. But again, chef insisted. You *have* to try dessert... we have the most amazing pastry chef.  And, again, he wasn't lying. This kid has mad dessert making skills. My favorite was the Bambolini, which was donuts with ricotta and citrus marmalade. I took them home and had them for breakfast the next day.

Add Fiola to your to taste lists. It's located at 601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW near Archives-Navy Memorial Metro. You can follow them on Twitter, Chef Fabio's blog and Facebook for all of the latest specials... but I recommend getting there and tasting in person.

4.17.2011

A Perfect DC Sunday Morning

Some days, you just have such a good morning, it's nice to document it...

Per usual, I started the day off online... check the Twitter account, get sucked in to Pinterest. Gave Ike control of the laptop...


But it was just too gorgeous of a day outside to sit around and nerd out... so, we grabbed the market tote and headed out to the Dupont Circle Farmers Market...


We were on a mission... a first-of-the-season asparagus mission. Target acquired (and turned into a diptych with these gorgeous beets!)


We popped by Joe Yonan's cooking demo just in time to try some amazing caramelized mushroom and goat cheese tacos... and of course acquire a copy of his new cookbook, Serve Yourself!


More photos and stories after the jump...

TODAY: Joe Yonan Signing Copies of "Serve Yourself" at Dupont Farmers Market

Listen, I think Joe Yonan's a great/fun/cute guy, but I think his cookbook idea is BRILLIANT. Joe just released Serve Yourself which is dedicated to breaking down recipes into single servings. So, all of my excuses for blogging about restaurants (it's just me, *whine*, I hate to waste...), instead of learning how to cook with fresh ingredients... gone.

Joe, who edits the Food section of the Washington Post as well, will be at the Dupont Circle Farmers Market today signing copies of Serve Yourself (thanks to our great local bookstore, Politics & Prose.)
Look for this guy: Joe Yonan
In addition to Joe being there, it's GORGEOUS and sunny. We all need rays after yesterday's depressingly rainy day (where I may or may not have watched Whip It, Love and Other Drugs, Reality Bites and four On Demand episodes of Sex and the City).

If you can't make it to the market, you can get a copy of Serve Yourself
from you local bookstore or right here through Amazon.com:

Serve Yourself: Nightly Adventures in Cooking for One

Cue: All The Single Ladies and get cooking!



4.16.2011

What I've Been Eating: Ocean City Fluke with Asparagus & Morels at Equinox

Did any of you take advantage of the $1 Living Social lunch deals? My friend's Alejandra and Laeticia did, so I joined them at Equinox for an on-the-fly lunch yesterday.

I'm a huge fan of Chef Todd Gray and his wife-partner Ellen's commitment to local, sustainable ingredients.

Check out this Ocean City Fluke with Asparagus and Morels! It's all of my favorite spring farmers market finds (except the yet-to-be-spotted ramps) in one bowl. 


Go to Equinox to try it- or attempt it at home and share your recipe.

4.08.2011

Upside? Shutdown Specials

Pretty much the only thing all Americans agree on is that it's ridiculous that Congress can't work out a budget compromise to keep our government functioning.  Tea partiers and liberals are uniting that Congress doesn't deserve to get paid if rank and file workers living paycheck to paycheck don't get paid.

So, with all of this insanity, we DC residents need a little levity... so, we bring you the shutdown specials. *If* they can't agree, at least we can get something out of it. Send me the specials you see and I'll aggregate them here.

Things kicked off with Z Burger:
They added later that the offer extends to employees and contractors. Just flash your badge and get a burger. Should make up for the lack of paycheck, Ergh...

Next up, Dino bar manager Andrew Shapiro gets in the game by announcing happy hour all night long! Lawd, govvies need it after all this showdown stress:

Think you'll spend that free day traipsing through the Smithsonian's? Think again, Washington City Paper reports on all of the museum closings here... and the Corcoran Gallery of Art capitalizes:

Union Pub on Capitol Hill will be offering penny beers for sad(?) staffers from 5-6pm everyday the government is shutdown.
If the politicians can't get their act together, Pound Coffee can. If there's a shutdown, the cafe will be offering 25% off it's food as a "Keep em Fed" special:
Haha, Taylor Gourmet is always on it with witty social specials... 10% off starting at 12:01. Get the password on their Facebook page or below:

Um, is there really a food truck called Shit Truck?
If the government shuts down, The Phillips Collection (my favorite museum in town), will be offering buy one get one half off admissions, discounted Arnold Palmers and discounts in the gift shop. Details here (pdf).

All I can say about this next one is... word.
RedBow Fitness is offering a special $10 on noon classes if Congress can't play nice and we're all stuck at home.