DCVegEats

I need sugar.  Face it, this lock-down requires a little (just a little) stress eating.  My attempts at baking Chocolate Chip cookies have not turned out well, so I headed to Georgetown to check out the new Levain Bakery.  The line was two blocks long.  So, I headed to Plan B, a new pastry shop in western Rosslyn.  Named Eclairons it doesn't have a website yet but is related to Pastry XPO , a cafe at Mosaic I had tried a year or so ago.  Despite opening issues (I was the only one there but the clerk took a while to ring up the order and almost overcharged me), the sweets here are better than the Mosaic version.  I purchased a lot of iems to get a sense of what worked and what didn't.  Visually impressive their "cookies" (two meringue wafers filled with a variety of fluffy stuffings) were the least yummy.  They are "okay" but not stunning and tend to crumble everywhere at the first bite.  More engaging were the cupcakes and eclairs which ...

It's the first of September, and while it is still toasty outside Labor Day is looming and autumn is likely right around the corner.  With the lockdown continuing forever, it seems, I continue to cook a lot.  Like, a LOT.  I've tried a "significant" number of new recipes this summer, just to get out of the rut.  Many have been good, some not so much.  There were four standouts worth sharing.   First was the Whole Lemon Walnut Pesto .  I used this stuff on EVERYTHING.  Pasta, of course, sandwiches and wraps, rice, vegetable mix-in, you name it.  I made two batches in one week.  It is one of those perfect dishes, where the balance is there of sweet and sharp and tangy and creamy and chewy.  It appeals to my sense that there should be no waste after cooking and was a delightful summer spin on a basic staple.  Brava to this one. Second was Mujadara.  There are a number of recipes online but they are all essentially the sa...

Okay, so I like things which are a tad crunchy in, like, everything I eat.  So, in my random-surfing-of-the-internet-while-very-bored I came across the Mealthy CrispLid.  I had to have it.  Apparently, everyone else wanted one too so it took a while to get to me.  Does it crisp?  Yes, and I really like the feature of being able to see inside.  Does it cook?  No.  And this is an issue, one I saw nothing about when reading other reviews.  I've come to believe that I might be the only person on the planet with an 8 qt Instant Pot.  The Mealthy lid fits both a 6 qt and 8 qt but I think the recipes are set for the smaller volume, as I have had to increase both time and temperature on every recipe to get the desired results.  As a veggie, I haven't had to worry about undercooked meat but I have learned to "half-cook" veggies in my microwave before putting them in the CrispLid or they are crunchy on the outside while raw on the inside (t...

Wow.  Actually able to try out a new restaurant which opened during quarantine -- and it was terrific!  Yes, I got take-out, but that was an advantage as I was able to sample a much wider range of menu options.  This place isn't just vegetarian-tolerant, it is downright friendly and the chef seems to embrace the idea of going beyond the expected in this type of cuisine.  A wide variety of dishes are marked as being vegetarian or vegan.  We start with the cheese dip which is not your typical electric orange stuff which echoes the artificiality of Velveeta.  No, this is a much less refined but far better tasting dip which seems to have a base of crema, cojita and roasted poblanos.  Honestly, I could have eaten it solo with a spoon.  The chips are equally nice being made onsite, and were still warm when I got them home.  Nothing here is what you would expect ... it is better.  The Empanadas are my favorites with light and fluffy exteriors...

If you love local restaurants as much as I do, the thought of all the struggles they are facing (along with their employees) is heartbreaking.  From the very beginning, I made a pledge.  In addition to donating to charities for out-of-work restaurant staff ( https://www.ramw.org/coronavirus-worker-relief-fund ) I would get takeout at least once a week.  I've stuck to that, trying to balance my choices so that the waistline didn't expand along the way.  So far:  Peter Chang's, Raaga, Mexicali Blues, Bethesda Bagels, Pupatella, Lebanese Taverna, Sweet Leaf, Oby Lee, Masala Express, Troy's Italian Kitchen, Silver Diner, Il Radicchio and two local Farmers' Markets.  Up next, Bakeshop, Livin' the Pie Life and True Food Kitchen.  Keep the faith, folks.  If we all pitch in (and what a huge challenge -- having to eat food you don't prepare!) we can help these places out.

Returned from an overseas trip (abruptly) to an empty fridge and a more empty grocery store.  Instead of getting my "list" of grocery items, I went for what they had.  Coleslaw mix (basically shaved cabbage in a bag), some hot peppers, Thai Eggplants and picked-by-hand Spinach (complete with clumps of mud).  Started searching recipes.  Made an Asian stir-fry yesterday, will do a Coconut Green Curry tomorrow, then soup.  Days of meals off of the leftovers of the produce department.  Not bad!  Flexibility, patience and a willingness to try new things is a must in this day and age.  Yes, I will be buying some restaurant take-out (they desperately need the funds) and will not be eschewing Asian places.  There is zero fact -- fact, not fear -- that the poor of this nation who man the kitchen areas of restaurants are more likely to spread any kind of disease.  Much more worried about my elderly white parents in a community of other elderly w...

Tried out a new Middle Eastern restaurant, Astor Mediterranean, which was so weak it didn't deserve a review.  The DC Metro area is replete with really good Falafel and Babaganoush options these days.  This one simply didn't rise to any kind of bar. Also stopped by Union Market again.  It's worth a return visit since the vendors change a good bit.  New additions include local favorites, like  Teaism .  On this most recent trip I had a savory black truffle crepe from Petite Loulou , which was just delightful. In other news I may have finally found some real competition for the top-of-the-line Chocolate Croissant at Best Buns .  Another downtown appointment led me to Firehook Bakery .  Their huge croissant isn't as flaky as those at Best Buns but it is the first chocolate croissant I've had where there was actually a lot of chocolate.  Good chocolate, too.  The thing to do would be a taste test -- compare them back to back.  Bu...

An appointment downtown allowed me to do lunch at this ritzy upscale restaurant only a block or two from the White House.  Under the Knightsbridge Restaurant Group umbrella (Rasika, Olivia, Modena, Bindaas, Oval Room, Sababa & Annabelle) this one didn't fail to disappoint.  Food was outstanding as was service.  Prices for lunch were somewhat reasonable -- I got out for under $34 with tax and tip, although I do have some problems with their pricing scheme which I will address later.  It is a quintessential DC style establishment.  There was Mozart playing as I arrived, and an interior which screams elegance from any time period from the 1950s to now.  The seating might be the most comfortable I've ever had in a restaurant.  Yes, there is a dress code, and tables are arranged (with white tablecloths, of course) in such a way to provide a sense of privacy, if not actual privacy.  During my meal a diplomatic meeting was clearly taking place...

This Michelin Star restaurant was listed as one of the top 30 restaurants in the United States last year, making it utterly impossible to get in.  I took a chance on a cold, rainy Tuesday night in January and snagged one of the last spots at the bar for dinner.  It did not disappoint.  I almost don't know where to begin.  The place itself is beyond funky.  Mismatched wall paneling, unique Harry-Potter-esque doors, industrial fixtures, graffiti covered bathrooms and pure fancy mix to create an entertaining, unique, eye-catching space.  I laughed out loud when my bill arrived ... tucked into a book!  The book was The Prophet by Khalil Gibran.  Somehow, it fit.  There is very loud, thumping music at the bar.  African beats, middle-eastern belly dance tunes, instrumental Asian versions of pop hits like "Jumping Jack Flash".  It all helps to make the space feel alive (sound levels are likely better for conversation in the second floor ...

Don't get over to the Navy Yard side of town very often so it was a treat to wander through this burgeoning neighborhood taking in the sights and sounds.  Osteria Morini is a lovely Italian restaurant right on the river with cozy wood tables, comfortable chairs and outstanding wait staff.  The food was also quite nice although I would say that everything was a tad "different" -- in a good way.  Started with the Burrata Antipasti.  Rather than a Burrata ball, it was a flat dish, with the cheese either melted down or scraped out from the center, then chilled.  It was topped with candied walnuts (the menu said pumpkin seeds), apples (soaked in something) and shaved fennel.  It felt dessert-like -- a kind of rich cream with a subtle hint of cheese and sweet toppings.  Not at all what I expected but when it comes to Burrata, I will try anything and everything.  It was particularly spectacular when slathered onto a warm slice of the house-made Rosemar...

Been meaning to check out this new entry to Ballston, a local chain which has two other locations in the area.  Like many restaurants in the DC Metro, the owners have a focus on sustainability and giving back, which is nice.  Unfortunately, I was pretty underwhelmed by their food.  There were the garlic knots, which are replete with garlic but very, very small.  When I think garlic knot I think bun-sized.  These were finger sized.  By making them small you lose the soft center and basically have all-crunch, which isn't ideal.  They came with a tomato sauce which tasted fresh but was overly sweet, in my humble opinion.  I'm also picky about my pie -- I prefer more tomato to cheese, which is not typical in America, I've found.  For that reason I order Margherita Pizzas where ever I can find them.  The Margherita here is ... unique.  Covered in Burrata Mozzarella rather than standard Mozzarella, the topping is hugely rich, almost too...

It's been a large hard march (and many a meal) to try and find a good veggie place at the Waterfront.  Pretty though the setting may be I have been plagued by average, overpriced food and one too many dishes advertised as veggie which were clearly not (leading to unfortunate post-meal moments).  Kith/Kin was one of the better expensive restaurants but didn't knock it out of the park.  Like the other upscale places this restaurant has a stunning view and an elegant interior.  The menu is limited and changes frequently, a series of so-called "small plates" representing the chef's Afro-Caribbean roots with a good amount of haute cuisine skills applied.  The food is creative and downright photo-worthy.  The good news is that the "small plates" aren't really that small.  I ordered three, thinking they were tapas sized, and ended up taking home a doggie bag.  I went at lunch as their veggie offerings seem more plentiful at lunch than dinner.  I...