There are few celebrity chefs who can compete with Bobby Flay for sheer star power. Whether he’s taking on a challenger on Iron Chef America, coming to town to challenge a local favorite in a Throwdown or simply serving upscale southwestern-influenced dishes at his restaurants across the country, he tends to command attention.
So when my family told us about his newest (and nearby) venture, Bobby’s Burger Palace, we were eager to check it out. After all, Flay had won his ‘burger’ throwdown, and the menu suggested an approach to burgers that was reminiscent of Spike Mendelsohn’s Good Stuff Eatery. With extended family in tow, we made a pilgrimage to check out the Burger Palace only a week or so after it first opened in Monmouth.
We arrived at the Monmouth Mall and made our way around to the Palace, one of several freestanding restaurants situated around the mall itself. I know, I know…we’re not really doing anything to combat Jersey stereotypes here, but what can you do? We walked up to the door in the freezing cold of the evening – and found ourselves facing a line that snaked out the door.
But we would not be deterred. We had been promised hot, juicy burgers with creative toppings and accompaniments, and damnit it we were going to have them!
More pictures of the space and our impressions of how well the host of Boy Meets Grill handles the heat after the jump. (more…)
Happy Valentine’s Day! We have something for everyone here, regardless of your V-Day philosophy.
Slate examines America’s love affair with peanut butter.
Michelle Obama, First Lady and Vogue cover girl, is steadily climbing to the top of my Wannabe-BFF list (look out Tina Fey!) after being spotted having lunch with staffers at Five Guys. Dear Mrs. Obama, let’s get milkshakes and talk about careers, clothes and how you keep those upper arms so darned toned.
Cooking at home for Valentine’s Day? Check out what DCFoodie owner Jason prepared for his wife last year. Jason offers recipes, wine pairings and a post-mortem on the dishes (although we suspect his 3 month old baby may be the best testament to how well the meal turned out).
Lemmonex is a big advocate for a nice meal at home, too.
An industry report indicated that consumer interest in cooking and eating ethnic foods will continue to grow while organic foods may suffer as consumers become less inclined to pay more for the produce.
Why make chocolate a dessert-only option? Here are other ideas on how to incorporate it into the star attraction.
Any interest in wooing your sweetheart with a “foolproof” soufflé?
The NCAA has no love for sponsor Vitaminwater. Players who drink certain flavors may test positive for banned substances as a result.
Counter Intelligence falls in love with a white pinot noir.
Whole Foods is tapping into the Valentine’s Day market with a “whole trade guarantee,” pushing gift items with a whole trade approved sticker “to promote its ongoing commitment to sourcing socially responsible products.’
California Tortilla is sharing the love with laid off workers. Bring in your termination papers and get a free burrito.
Hey culinary travelers! Is fermented shark fin in your future? The economic collapse of Iceland’s economy means a more affordable (and romantic?) dining experience for you.
Brunch DC fires back at a City Paper reporter’s dislike of his/her favorite meal. Mostly I’m amused Brunch DC had the guts to put the word shower in quotes, indicating it is some mythical behavior like “unicorn hunting” and “free lunch.”
Local updates and food brand news after the jump.(more…)
On Valentine’s Day eve, I’d like to pause to give thanks to certain chefs in DC. As a woman who spends a decent amount of time in restaurants around town, I find that some places are just a bit more enjoyable based on who is running the kitchen. Let’s face it: knowing there is a little eye candy working behind-the-scenes on those dishes can make dinner that much sweeter.
So to celebrate Valentine’s Day and give a little back, I’d like to kick off a poll for DC’s Most Crushable Chef. Please read on, cast your vote and be sure to use the comments to lobby for your favorite (this is DC after all). We’ll post the results in a week, so make sure to get your vote in early!
Johnny Monis, Komi. Oh, dreamy Johnny Monis. The brooding eyes. The attention to detail in the kitchen. The really kick ass roast pork with cracklins that I crave fortnightly. What’s not to love? “Johnny Monis is not only one of DC’s most creative and consistent chefs,” Itty Bitty Bitter Betty gushed, “he is handsome and makes a mean house-cured olive.”
Barton Seaver, formerly of Hook. Ever since he burst onto the DC dining scene with Hook, a modern seafood restaurant in Georgetown with a focus on sustainable fish, Barton Seaver has taken home the title of DC Chef pretty boy. I think I heard swoons about the “hot chef at that M street place” long before anyone talked to me about his fresh, unfussy recipes. Diners (especially of the female variety) are waiting with baited breath to hear about his next move in DC.
Teddy Folkman, Dr. Granville Moore’s. It may have been the mussels and frites that led Teddy to victory in the Bobby Flay Throwdown, but his disarming smile and easy humor have been charming patrons long before the episode aired (is that a dimple I spy under that 2-day scruff?). He’s also a remarkably generous person. One night at Granville’s Teddy overheard my admiring his Hoegaarden tshirt and wishing for one of my own. A few minutes later he reappeared (wearing anothers shirt) with his Hoegaarden garb nicely folded for me – right off his back. Teddy’s laid back personality and easy access to guilty pleasure frites (some of the best in the city, in my opinion) may give him a leg up on the competition although a straw poll of foodie friends indicates Teddy may still be the Joey McIntyre to Barton’s Jordan Knight. Shares Stefanie Gans of Endless Simmer: “Although he’s left Hook, Barton’s definitely still in the running for the hottest chef in town. but without any food to back up his looks, I may have to go for the man that can serve me french fries with truffle aioli: Teddy.” Coffeeshopgirl agrees, “I think Barton Seaver wins on looks alone but if Teddy Folkman were to ply me with mussels and Belgian beer, I might switch over and vote him most crushable.”
Spike Mendelsohn, Good Stuff Eatery. The Top Chef season 4 contestant that everyone loved to hate (or just loved to love) and recent DC resident can still fire up a hot-or-not debate among a table of women. Anthony Bourdain once mused that Spike would do well in DC as he’s a natural politician. We think its really because he’s just a natural flirt. Spike’s biggest admirers have been with him since day 1. “The first time I saw him on Top Chef I thought he was the ‘hot one.’ But then he opened his mouth and I heard that easy combination of smart-ass, jerk, comedian and confident swagger, and I was in full swoon,” shared Alex of BrightestYoungThings.
Katsuya Fukushima, MiniBar and ThinkFoodGroup. I’m going to throw one out for the dark horse here. Katsuya has been on his fair share of food shows (most recently spotted on No Reservations with Bourdain and backing Jose Andres on Iron Chef a few years back) but he comfortably takes the role of behind-the-scenes guy. Maybe its because of his (self-admitted but not apparent) fear of public speaking. Last summer he stepped down from his role leading Minibar to work on a range of concepts at the ThinkFoodGroup. Regardless, Katsuya’s Hawaii-rocker meets pirate-chef vibe is not to be overlooked. You may not expect a guy rocking hoop earrings and tats to be the master of salt foams and cirque-du-soliel culinary delights (although if you work in a kitchen, this wouldn’t look out of place either), but his presence at any meal adds to the presentation. And mostly he’s the kind of guy you want to have a beer with.
As I mentioned on Tuesday, Robert Weidmaier’s Brabo opens tonight at the Hotel Lorien on King Street in Alexandria and the main restaurant is accompanied by a Tasting Room that will offer a more casual dining experience.
Despite a shared name, the Tasting Room at Restaurant Eve takes diners in a completely different direction. The centerpiece of Cathal Armstrong’s growing Alexandria empire, Eve’s Tasting Room received the highest ranking for any restaurant outside the District in this year’s Washingtonian Top 100 Restaurants. Judging by our fellow patrons (an anniversary, two birthdays, and even a proposal), this is a site for special occasions. They know it, too: when you make your reservation, they ask if you’re celebrating anything.
Back in December, Elizabeth and I were celebrating something (her birthday), so we headed into Old Town to finally give Restaurant Eve a try. We had saved the best for last when it came to Armstrong properties, having already eaten at the Majestic and Eamonn’s and enjoying hand-crafted cocktails at PX on more than a few occasions. That night we were ready to go the Full Cathal with five courses and wine pairings in the Tasting Room.
Highlights (and there were plenty) after the jump. (more…)
There was a time in my not-so-distant past where any weekday lunch outings took place in the culinary dark ages: a food court. I worked in an office park in Tyson’s Corner and lunches out invariably ended up at (gulp) the mall. As you can imagine, I found this distressful.
Luckily in short order I was directed to Coastal Flats, a bright spot in a bleak food landscape. Coastal Flats is part of the Great American Restaurant Group which also brought us Carlyle, a neighborhood favorite in Shirlington. Like all restaurants in this group it has a gimmicky theme that informs its menu and general decor. In this case it is… the coast. Which coast isn’t made clear (at least not to me) but I get the feeling people who have OBX stickers on their car will feel very at home here.
One of the first things that impressed me about the restaurant was the bar. Cocktails here are suprisngly good and I’m especially fond of the mojitos . The standard flavor is listed on the menu but the ocassional friendly bartender will kick it up with pomegranate juice, adding a great punch to the flavor. Regardless of the flavor, all mojitos are served with strips of raw sugar cane which I chew shamelessly between sips. Food and “outdoor seating” after the jump. (more…)
Several of our fellow food writers have recently provided some anecdotal evidence that suggests that Washington’s dining scene hasn’t been hit by the tough economic times as hard as some had feared. If you remain unconvinced, this week should go a long way toward changing your mind.
After months of preparation, two of the most anticipated restaurant openings in Northern Virginia will take place almost back-to-back. This evening, Michael Landrum opens Ray’s the Steaks in its new location at 2300 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington (paving the way for a new seafood-themed restaurant called Ray’s The Catch later this month in its current location). On Thursday night, Robert Weidmaier opens his third establishment on King Street in Alexandria with Brabo (a laid-back ‘tasting room’ and a butcher shop will follow as part of Weidmaier’s relationship with Kimpton’s new Lorien Hotel and Spa).
If we’re living in a recession, maybe someone should mention it to these guys.
I stopped into Brabo this weekend to take a quick look around and snap some pictures. And although I didn’t have the same opportunity to do so at Ray’s, I did manage to get a few shots through the windows.
Like most of you, we’ve been looking forward to these two for a while now. After the jump, shots from the interiors of Brabo and Ray’s, along with information on hours and more details. (more…)
Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Tim Carman at Young & Hungry sums up my feelings on dining out on V-Day pretty well. Basically it’s amateur night and what is meant to be a romantic evening often becomes a rushed, tense affair with a disappointing pre-fixe menu and a staff trying to get you out the door. We really prefer to spend the evening in, cooking a nice meal and enjoying each other’s company. But you can still keep the spirit of the holiday alive all year with some relaxed, low-key dates. Here are three no-fail places with a permanent slot on our favorites list:
Busboys and Poets
Owner Anas “Andy” Shallal created Busboys and Poets with a grander intention than filling bellies. He has created a progressive, mixed-use space that combines a fully loaded restaurant and bar, coffeeshop, book store and performance space. Named for poet Langston Hughes, Busboys and Poets is unpretentious and relaxed (although it can get a little loud). Busboys & Poets has expanded from its original U St location to also include footprints in Shirlington, VA and 5th and K NW. You can have about 7 completely different dates here if you take advantage of everything the restaurant has to offer. You and your date can wander the shelves of the bookstore, which specializes in local authors and subjects, grab a latte and settle into one of their many couches for an evening of conversation. Or grab a beer in the bar and head into the open mic performance to hear some local poets. The line-up in the coming weeks is interesting, including Pulitzer-prize winner author and journalist Anthony Shadid and a filming of the Oscar winning documentary Born Into Brothels (which I highly recommend). The food in the restaurant is even ideal for dates – plenty of options for both vegetarians and the unadventurous. While I will admit the menu is sometimes a little less than inspiring, I’ve always enjoyed the food I ordered and the service is friendly and accomodating and the atmosphere is a unique experience in DC.
Busboys & Poets
2021 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
Two more great spots for a low key date after the jump.(more…)
Welcome to a gorgeous weekend! Here are a few bacon haikus to start you off right.
According to USA TODAY’s Ad Meter the Doritos Ad featuring a crystal ball crashing into a vending machine was the audience favorite. The ad by the way, was created by two guys from Indiana, not a slickster agency in New York. Take that, Don Draper.
An estimated 2 million diners took up Denny’s on their Grand Slam breakfast giveaway, which was advertised during the Super Bowl.
… In the meantime, the SOBE 3-D ad was generally considered a bust.
According to the Times, chefs in high-end Manhattan restaurants are going out of their way to attract diners. Young & Hungry says the DC restaurant economy is doing just fine, thank you very much. We tend to agree.
PQ Living spotted a new restaurant coming soon to Penn Quarter.
The Anchor Bar in New York names cocktails after celebrities. And yes, I would very much like to try a Murricane, a bourbon and basil drink named for Bill Murray.
New Columbia Heights reviews Coco Libre, a coffeehouse that just set up shop in the neighborhood.
The world’s best prosciutto? According to the New York Times it’s from Iowa.
…. Which is just as well considering the new tariff going up March 22nd on imported meats and cheeses, increasing their prices to American consumers by up to 300%. Head over to Cheesetique now and stock up.
Mike and I are taking a long weekend in Northern California next week and we need your help! Where should we eat? True blue food geeks can’t possibly visit this culinary mecca without a restaurant game plan. We already have a couple reservations but there are wide open spaces, too. I haven’t lived in the Bay Area since college and my expertise is limited to greasy not-so-great Chinese delivery (Hang Chow) and late night garlicky pizza (North Beach Pizza). What are some food can’t-miss opportunities we should definitely try?
We’ll be enjoying the good life in wine country (Healdsburg, specifically) for a few days. We already have reservations at Dry Creek Kitchen (lunch) and Cyrus (dinner). What else should we try? Any good breakfast places where we can lay down a nice pre-wine tasting base?
After wine country, we’re heading due south to Carmel (afternoon)and we’re staying in the Marina/Montery area. Suggestions?
After that, we have about two days in San Francisco. We have reservations at The Slanted Door (lunch) and plan to hit up the Ferry Building food stalls and Tartine. Other than that we’re wide open. I’d be especially interested in recommendations in the Mission and SoMa – two neighborhoods I don’t know very well and would like to explore. We’re staying in the Union Square area so any non-touristy, reasonably priced options in that neighborhood are also welcome.
We promise to write up our best experiences when we get back. Thanks in advance for your help.
With the opening of the combination Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli / Sisters Pizza & Mussels this week, ATF headquarters may very well secure the title of Best On-Site Dining Options for a federal office building in the District. The sandwich shop and pizza place join an already-open Five Guys and a Pound Coffee, giving the folks at Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms easy access to Burgers Pizza and Coffee at lunchtime.
If you haven’t seen the changes around the New York Avenue Metro stop lately (and I’m pretty sure most of you haven’t…it’s not that heavily trafficked), you’d barely recognize the place. Look beyond the construction – the site of a new Courtyard by Marriott – and you find yourself face to face with the most traditional office-building facade of the new ATF headquarters. A quick walk along 2nd Street toward Florida Avenue takes you past the new establishments, then Pound, and finally Five Guys on the corner.
I couldn’t help but be amused by the signs identifying this as government property and prohibiting smoking within 50 feet of the building…despite this being the home of the folks who regulate tobacco.
Perhaps the most important news for those of us in the neighborhood, Heidi’s and Sisters also deliver!
A look at their menus – and the details on delivery – after the jump. (more…)
There are few celebrity chefs who can compete with Bobby Flay for sheer star power. Whether he’s taking on a challenger on Iron Chef America, coming to town to challenge a local favorite in a Throwdown or simply serving upscale southwestern-influenced dishes at his restaurants across the country, he tends to command attention.
We arrived at the Monmouth Mall and made our way around to the Palace, one of several freestanding restaurants situated around the mall itself. I know, I know…we’re not really doing anything to combat Jersey stereotypes here, but what can you do? We walked up to the door in the freezing cold of the evening – and found ourselves facing a line that snaked out the door.
As 
Several of our fellow food writers have 
If we’re living in a recession, maybe someone should mention it to these guys.
With the opening of the combination 
