Capital Spice

As Elizabeth mentioned in her writeup of Dry Creek Kitchen, we took advantage of our recent trip to California Wine Country to enjoy some really wonderful meals.  What she didn’t mention is that we happened to be out there over Valentine’s Day weekend – and any foodie worth their salt will advise you to steer clear of restaurants on that particular evening.

Thankfully, we timed our trip so that we arrived in San Francisco early on Friday morning, so we were able to make our big celebratory dinner reservation for that night.  I did some looking around, eager to find the ‘best’ place to visit on our only night when we’d be dining out while in Healdsburg.  Of course I knew that the French Laundry, in not-so-nearby Yountville, is praised the world over as one of the best restaurants in the universe, never mind the area.  I even went so far as to read some of the French Laundry’s reviews on Yelp (hoping to get a more diverse range of opinions).

I’m glad I did.  Every so often within the reviews, I would come across references to a place called “Cyrus” – usually in (gasp!) direct comparison to the French Laundry.  Now I’ll admit it – I had never heard of Cyrus, but my interest was piqued.  I did a quick search and learned that Cyrus is actually in downtown Healdsburg – just a few short blocks from our bed & breakfast.  A little more searching turned up something else: Cyrus is the proud recipient of two Michelin stars.

We may not plan our destination dining around what the Michelin men have to say, but we really enjoyed ourselves at the Spotted Pig last year and that was our first introduction to a starred restaurant.  So I called up and secured a 5:30 reservation for Friday night.

How they blew our minds after the jump.

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H Street is getting plenty of publicity lately, with popular dining locations like Granville Moore’s and Sticky Rice and nightlife destinations such as the Rock n’ Roll Hotel and the Red & the Black.  And with Joe Englert’s next big project - the H Street Country Club – just a few weeks from opening, the eastern end of the street is about to get even hotter.

Unless you live in the neighborhood, though, it’s likely you’ve never heard of one of the real hot spots on H Street.  For a little over two years, Sidamo Coffee & Tea has been drawing in crowds with the smell of fresh-roasted coffee beans and a welcoming atmosphere.

Coffee connoisseurs may perk up at the name – Sidamo is a province in Ethiopia whose coffee beans are prized for their rich, spicy aroma and flavor.  And those Sidamo beans can definitely be found here, as can other Ethiopian varieties like Yergacheffe and Harrar.  Owners Kenfe Bellay and his wife, Mimi, are both from Addis Ababa, and their love for the coffee of their homeland shows through in every cup.  They also make it a point to buy fair-trade, shade-grown coffee beans; the former because those growers are “their family,” and the latter because Kenfe believes they just taste better.

More about this true neighborhood gem – including their cafe-style menu and some additional pictures - after the jump. (more…)

I’ve often said that I know just enough about web programming to be dangerous – and apparently I proved it again when I added that handy little “RSS Feed” button at the top of the right-hand column.

We got an email from Kate Thomas last night, alerting us to the fact that something wasn’t quite right with our feed.  Turns out I misspelled “capitalspice” as I was entering the code for the button.

I’m happy to say that the problem has been solved – with that little correction, you can now sign up to enjoy Capital Spice via your favorite web-based feed reader.  When you click on the “RSS Feed” button, it should take you to a screen that looks like this:

So what are you waiting for?  Sign up today, and we can be feeding you in no time!

With the weather as nice as it was last weekend, Elizabeth and I decided to head out to Great Falls Park on Saturday morning for a hike.  We’ve been fans of the park for a while, but there was a secondary motivation that made it our destination of choice: the Organic Butcher of McLean.

Since Elizabeth brought me there for my birthday last year, there have been a few things that I’ve made it a point to seek out from the Organic Butcher – our locally-raised Fakesgiving turkey, for example.  Around the end of January, I got a taste for wild boar, and I knew that this was another cut that called for their expertise.  A quick call on Friday confirmed that they would have some boar shoulder in stock on Saturday, though I ended up having to reserve the very last of what was coming in.  It was a good reminder - the Organic Butcher can stock a wide range of game, poultry, meats and seafood, but it’s smart to call a few days ahead to be sure that they’ll have exactly what you want when you get there.

Our cut of boneless shoulder meat ran a little over four pounds, giving us significantly more meat than we would need to make a variation on a ragu that we first tasted at a pasta-making party thrown by our friends Jason and Amy.  That overrun was intentional, as it would also allow me to try another preparation of the boar: smoked on the Big Green Egg.

More photos, some tasty ragu and a Big Green Egg learning experience after the jump.

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The Post’s Peeps Diorama contest is back! Hurry up and get your superglue and tiny decorations ready – photo submissions are due by midnight Sunday! 
 
DCist shares its favorite breakfast spots and gives a shout out to the best mac n’ cheese in town. 

Sean Combs debates the merits of Popeye’s vs KFC. I vote Popeye’s. Not only is the spicy crispy chicken better, their sides kick ass. Oh man. I could really tear up a red beans and rice cup right about now.  
 
The Bitten Word gets fancy with seared duck and risotto.  
 
Pizza Hut is no longer a pizza delivery chain. It is a “home meal replacement solution.” Too much marketing makes the baby Jesus cry.  
 
Some of the top-rated BBQ restaurants in Kansas City, the BBQ capital of America, share their tips.  
 
London Telegraph tips on finding the whisky that is right for you.  
 
Another report, this time from the WSJ, that Korean food is the next trendy food.  Bring on the bulgogi!
 
A big Chicago law firm has laid off 60 employees. But worse, they’ve cut off the free coffee! I’m amazed there isn’t rioting.  
 
What do you think of the Quaker Oats “Go Humans Go” campaign?  
 
The temperatures aren’t the only thing heating up: Ben & Jerry’s is criticizing competitor Haagen-Daz on shrinking its pint from 16 to 14oz.  
 
The Best Wine Blog Awards have been named by the people who name these things. 
 
Even British pubs are feeling the economic pinch. Many of these cultural touchstones are revamping to provide new services.  
 
A New England group works to raise awareness of heirloom vegetables.  
 
The International Cookbook Award finalists have been announced.  
 
Is the White House starving dinner guests? Doubtful.  
 
Beer might not be recession proof after all.  Does this mean I can get a freaking seat at Granville Moore’s again?
 
Shanty dives in Key West.  
 
Hotel Chatter has a sneak peak at Cha restaurant, Todd English’s latest effort in the District.  
 
The Tastings Journal is collaborating with Yaku restaurant in Arlington for a prix fixe tasting menu with wine and pisco for only $45. 

McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish campaign has had more than 30,000 views on YouTube.  
 
A statue of Col. Sanders, ripped from the front of a KFC in Japan in a fit of baseball hysteria in the 80s, has been recovered.  
 
Check out this delicious looking recipe for oatmeal pancakes from Houndstooth Gourmet!

And finally: Love beer, but hate chasing hard-to-find brews all over town?  Join forces with other suds-seekers through Orr Shtuhl’s new BeerSpotter Twitter Feed.

When it comes to speakeasy-chic, it’s way too easy to cross the line and come off as trying too hard.  The best way to avoid that pitfall?  Don’t try – just be. 

Once you’ve walked up the dimly lit stairs and settled in to the cozy dining room and bar that make up 1905, it’s understandable to lose yourself in the fantasy that you’re in some secret hideaway known to a chosen few.  The walls are decked out with ornate metalwork and wall sconces that look like lotus blossoms.  The ceiling is pressed tin.  The furniture is distressed just-so.  But the door is cleary marked with the address, and a sign hanging outside the entrance clearly displays the skeleton key that is the restaurant’s symbol.  This place just feels exclusive…and that’s a good thing.

We had heard about this newcomer to a block of 9th Street that was previously best known for Ethiopian must-try Etete when it first opened, and we were definitely interested.  Even so, we hadn’t gotten around to visiting before Monday, when Alex at Brightest Young Things invited us to attend a tasting event in honor of their new brunch, which will debut this Sunday, March 15th. 

Over the course of the evening, we got to enjoy a few of the dishes that will appear on the inaugural brunch menu, as well as a few additions to the dinner menu and a killer dessert.

More tasty bites (and even tastier photos by Dakota Fine) after the jump. (more…)

When wine tasting - which as we all know is yuppese for getting drunk outside during the day in a socially acceptable manner – it is important to lay down a base. Because there is tipsy in the wine cave and then there is puking in the parking lot. The latter will get you booted from the vineyards for life, doomed to limit your wine tasting to NASCAR events.

Needless to say, we made a point to eat well when wine tasting in Sonoma. We were traveling around the rolling, green hills of Healdsburg, CA and needed a lunch spot to fill up. And when seeking out the best under the radar wine Northern California has to offer, a Taco Bell nacho grande would not do. No sir, we were headed to the Dry Creek Kitchen for a heady lunch.

Dry Creek Kitchen is a Charlie Palmer property, fusing French and Italian sensibilities with a very Californian drive.  Although still officially based in Manhattan, Palmer’s family lives in the area and you can catch a glimpse of this mountain man working the dining room from time to time. How will you know its him? Just keep an eye out for a dude who looks like he just felled a redwood with his bare hands. That’s probably Palmer.

Most days, the restaurant is steered by the very capable hands of Chef de Cuisine Les Goodman, who has added several new items to the menu since his arrival at the Kitchen. We started our meal with an ahi tuna carpaccio, served with shaved fennel, local citrus and brioche croutons. The dish was bright and flavorful – an edible cure for any case of winter blues. If I could, I would have packed 5 more of these to go so I could break it out as a delicious snack over the next few days.

More dishes after the jump.

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When it comes to dining out in DC, we’re pretty damn lucky, and I’m not talking about the level of talent in the kitchens throughout the metro area.  Anecdotal evidence has shown that even in these tougher economic times, Washingtonians are still going out to eat on a pretty regular basis.  We may be skipping dessert, or making it a point to show up in time for a happy hour special, but most of us aren’t in any danger of canceling an OpenTable reservation – let alone missing a meal – anytime soon.

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation is a great way to acknowledge our good fortune while helping to support local charitable organizations who work to fight hunger in our area.  This year, the annual foodie-fest takes place on Monday, March 30th, and proceeds from the event benefit the Capital Area Food Bank, DC Hunger Solutions, and Mary’s Center.

For $85 (or $150 if you’d rather attend as a VIP), you’ll get the opportunity to sample food and beverages from more than 40 of the top local restaurants in the swanky Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue.  The event runs from 7 to 10 PM, giving you plenty of time to taste your way from Acadiana to the Westend Bistro and back again.  They’ve also added a Wine Bar that will feature wines from more than 20 vineyards.  VIPs get to start the party an hour early, mingle and enjoy cocktails made by top local and national mixologists, and indulge their sweet teeth at the VIP dessert den.

While you’re wining and dining your way around the room, you may also be tempted to bid on a few silent (and public) auction items, including a private mixology class with Tony Abou-Ganim and a multi-course traveling dinner for you and 10 friends on a DC50 party bus.

This year’s event will feature a handful of honored local chefs whose support for Share Our Strength and whose top-notch culinary skills have made them standouts on the DC dining scene for years.  Honorees include Jeffrey Buben, Bob Kinkead, Ris Lacoste, Jeff Tunks, Kaz Okochi, Robert Weidmaier, Roberto Donna, and Michel Richard.  All of them (with the exception of Richard) are expected to attend, and you can be sure they’ll be there to have a good time.

At the beginning of the month, organizers were able to reveal an extra draw to sweeten the deal further: Carla Hall, Top Chef finalist and owner of Alchemy Caterers, will also be participating in the evening’s festivities.  If you’re looking for a chance to tell Carla what a great job she did representing DC, this is a prime opportunity!

“But wait a minute,” you may be saying at this point.  “Even though I’m still going out to eat frequently, I am looking for ways to curb my spending a bit.  This seems a bit extravagant for a Monday night.”

When you think about the fact that you can enjoy tastes from 40 of the top-rated restauants in the area – including some from as far away as VOLT in Frederick – along with wine and an evening of entertainment for less than you’d spend at some of these participating restaurants for a meal, you realize just what a deal this represents.

And the chance to help end hunger in our own backyard certainly doesn’t hurt, either.

For tickets to the event or more information, visit the website.

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation
Monday, March 3oth, 2009
7-10 PM
Mellon Auditorium
1301 Constitution Ave., NW

Take it from someone who used to live there: Irish cuisine is not something you usually want to seek out. There is an abundance of fried food, great beer and good cheer and sure these things are great. But let’s not overlook a liberal lack of seasoning and propensity to boil everything. To an American palate, Irish food can taste pretty freaking bland. While living in Belfast, I would often escape with my American and Mexican friends to the nearest source of heat: a local Indian restaurant. We would load up on the spiciest dishes available, eat with tears streaming down our cheeks and walk home fortified for a week of mushy peas and asking a tablemate to pass the pepper.

Eamonn’s in Old Town is a powerful ambassador for Irish food. Eamonn’s is owned and operated by the Armstrongs, the  same good folks who brought food destinations like Restaurant Eve and the Majestic to the area. If the Armstrong restaurants were a family, Eamonn’s would be the relaxed uncle always ready with a dirty joke and a cigar. It is inexpensive and casual. A meal for one can easily be had for less than $15. On a crowded night, you’ll likely find yourself sharing a table with strangers.

Comfortable atmosphere aside, what makes Eamonn’s good is the fish. This is delicious, fresh fish  – not the type of seafood usually destined for a deep fryer. While the menu offers fish besides cod, such as grouper, ray and prawns, I recommend sticking with the headliner. The cod is crisp on the outside but moist, succulent and flavorful. Red meat is also available for the seafood-averse. On a recent visit, my friend Jeremy ordered the batter burgher – a deep fried hamburger, bun and all. Chicken bites and a batter sausage are also available.

More review and a shout out to the best dessert in DC after the jump. (more…)

Sorry this one is a little late – I’ve been caught up in the glorious weather.

U Street Girl takes a stab at making Ethiopian food at home.  
 
Check out this winter salad from the Bitten Word. 
 
This sweet onion and Roquefort tart looks so good I want to call in sick to work so I can make it for lunch. 
 
Skittles, which has never shied away from odd marketing, is adopting its Wikipedia page as its home page.  

Have you tried an Artini cocktail yet?  
 
The battle between food manufacturers and grocers continues to wage. Although the price of commodities used to make packaged food like ice cream and cereal has fallen, manufacturers are raising the wholesale prices to grocery stores which in turn means higher prices for consumers. 

Are casseroles making a comeback?  

New food safety regulations from China may not be enough. 
 
Jose Andres gets a write up in the Wall Street Journal. 
 
Attention book clubs: Ever tried to make a meal highlighted in classic literature?
If that isn’t historic enough for you, this article offers recipes on sponge cake from the 1700s and leg of lamb from the 1600s. 
 
Chicago chef Charlie Trotter pulls out of a Gold Coast restaurant four months before it opens.  
 
Soul food, a DC staple since the dawn of time, is growing in popularity in the Bay Area. 

New DC blog Gut Check highlights film’s best dining moments gone wrong. 
 
Snickers is launching a new campaign on the language of snacks or “Snacklish.” 
 
Food magazines that traditionally focused on high end dining are taking a renewed look at cooking at home with the cook’s budget in mind.  
 
Soul food: Could this Maryland priest be the next Emeril? 

More local and national news after the jump!

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