Sunday night marked the 33rd annual RAMMY Awards Gala and it was definitely a night to remember. Presented by The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), more than 2000 individuals dressed to the nines, which included media personalities, restaurateurs, chefs, winemakers, distillers and foodies, gathered at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to celebrate the best and the brightest of the D.C. restaurant community.
Spring has arrived in the Nation’s capital and that means happiness all around. People are cheery, there’s music playing in the streets and terraces are open for outside dining. Unlike Europe, there aren't too many options, but the few establishments that do have them, really stand out, like the Park Hyatt's Blue Duck Tavern. And guess what folks, their beautiful sunken patio that includes a blue mosaic fountain (where sometimes you'll see a duck sunning itself) is now open! (cheers all around.)
If you are not yet familiar with CRAVE, then you will want to be. Nestled in Westfield Montgomery, the upscale shopping center in Bethesda, MD, this American Kitchen & Sushi Bar restaurant is known for its fresh ingredients, a topnotch wine selection, creative sushi and innovative cuisine.
Dating back to 1978, Entertainment Cruises launched its inaugural ship, the Spirit of Norfolk, which cruised on the legendary Elizabeth River. Today, Entertainment Cruises has 30 vessels, a presence in nine U.S. cities ranging from Baltimore to Chicago to the Nation's Capital and hosts more than 1.5 million guests a year.
Last week, on a beautiful spring night, the recently renovated French Ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C. (which is resplendent) was the chic place to be. A coveted guest list that included D.C. socialites, media personalities, restaurateurs and fashionistas gathered to celebrate Pulitzer Prize Winning Author and Washington Post fashion critic, Robin Givhan and her debut novel, Battle of Versailles.
As I was perusing through my twitter feed one Sunday morning, a mouthwatering image of a runny egg on top of prosciutto and polenta caught my eye (and appetite) and that's how I ended up recently discovering the newest Italian/Pizzeria restaurant in the Ballston corridor - Pizza Vinoteca.
But in this post, I'll be focusing my sweet efforts on meringues. This airy dessert made of whipped egg whites and sugar, comes in many forms, such as a vacherin, 'île flottante and baked alaska because there are actually three different types of meringues - Swiss, Italian and French.
Et Voila! is a hidden gem nestled in the Palisades, a neighborhood in Washington, D.C. As you walk through the door into the long and narrow Belgian and French bistro, you are welcomed by vintage prints from The Adventures of Tintin, the famed comic book series created by Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi. The service is on point and the décor is fun.
The first time I had an artisanal avocado toast was at Slipstream on 14th Street in Washington, DC and immediately fell in love. It was simple yet delicious. Perfectly cut slices of avocado on wheat bread topped with whipped goat cheese (just pure decadence), salt, pepper, sprouts and then topped off with a drizzle of olive oil. A definite palate pleaser.
Kapnos Taverna, has more of a focus on seafood from the Greek islands, such as Paros, as opposed to its sister Grecian eatery, Kapnos on 14th Street in Washington, DC, which is more meat-centric. Don't fret, you will still find traditional Greek dishes on the menu, such as spit-roasted lamb, spreads like the taramosalta and mezzes like dolmades, which will no doubt whet your appetite as well.
La Galette des Rois is a way for people to fête L'Épiphanie (the Ephiphany), the arrival of the Three Kings. Some celebrate it on the first Sunday of January and some on January 6 but it is mostly considered ok to enjoy it throughout the entire month of January.
A few weeks ago, I, along with other bloggers, had the *sweet* opportunity to visit Dolci Gelati's newest and second retail shop - Dolci Gelati Cafe at City Market at O in Shaw. The first one is in Takoma Park, MD. The Shaw space is larger, with 1,200 square feet, and it exudes elegance. Dolci Gelati's signature green with accents of silver dominates the Cafe and vintage photos of Italy are interspersed throughout which brings a warmness to the store. Rounding out the store deco are two gorgeous antique chandeliers which renders the venue très chic.
As we arrived at Taste Gastropub, modeled after the "gastropub" movement (a concept that started in London, England which centers around a pub that specializes in high quality food).
When it was officially announced this past summer that renowned Michelin-starredChef Daniel Boulud had chosen to open his 16th eatery in the nation's capitol - DBGB Kitchen and Bar - foodies around the city (and surrounding areas) rejoiced.
Chef Tim Ma, the culinary genius behind Maple Ave Restaurant in Vienna, VA openedWater & Wall in Arlington, VA last year and has received much-deserved praise. A hardware engineer-turned-Chef who went to the French Culinary Institute to pursue a burgeoning passion for the culinary arts has helped make the Arlington area more of a foodie destination.
Bookalokal was founded in Brussels, Belgium in 2012 by Evelyne White (Co-Founder, CEO) and Frank Ramirez (Co-Founder, Product Manager). The capital of the European Union was chosen because of its large population of expats and food culture appreciation. In 2014, the founders of Booklokal, set their eyes on the U.S. market and chose Washington, D.C. as its first American city because it had many similarities to Brussels.
When I first saw the Maille Mustard Mobile up close, it immediately reminded me of my memorable visit to the Maille store in Paris last year located at Place de Madeleine
Well, I had been thinking for a while about how to combine my absolute favorite mushroom, morel, with scallops and with a little research and inspiration, I came up with this dish.
