A Hot Mexican Fiesta for a Cool Summer Night [DC Summer]

Everyone knows that when a visitor comes in for the weekend, it's necessary to take them out to your favorite restaurants and show them around to your favorite parts of town. This past weekend, Lizzie came to visit from Michigan and it was only appropriate that Jenna, Melissa and I showed her the best of DC (which meant lucky for us, we were able to be tourists all over again).

Located right outside of DC in Arlington is Guapo's which offers up fun, fresh Tex-Mex cuisine...and don't forget the homemade tortillas. These tortillas are the best tortillas you will ever eat - and there's no doubting that they're made fresh all night, just look at the tortilla oven when you walk into the restaurant. The theme of fresh, homemade food is present in all of Guapo's dishes, even the salsa and chips.

Since neither Jenna, Lizzie nor myself were that hungry because of our continuous eating adventures throughout the weekend, we decided to split two entrees and were more than satisfied with the amount of food we were served.

Here's what we got...

Chicken Fajitas

Served on a sizzling platter over a bed of sauteed peppers and onions 

Vegetable Fajitas

Combination of zucchini, mushroom, tomatoes, broccoli and carrots

Both fajitas were served with Mexican rice, a la charra beans, guacamole, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, Mexican butter and homemade tortillas on the side. The vegetable fajita was a great complement to the chicken fajita and provided a lighter fare to what I normally would consider a heavier dish.

Best dish? Since we only went for the fajitas, it's tough to judge how the other dishes at Guapo's would have matched up. That being said, they all looked incredible and I'd highly suggest getting any dish that comes with or is made with their homemade tortillas. Between the two fajitas, the chicken fajita's flavorful marinade and tender, juicy strips is what made this one the winner.

Cost? Most fajitas were between $13-17 dollars, though they're large enough to share. Other dishes ranged around the same price and for the amount of food you're given, this place is a great deal.

Atmosphere? Fun, young and lively - great for both large and small groups.

Here's their menu if you want to check it out before heading over.

Guapo's

4028 28th St South
Arlington, VA

Food on Wheels, Chapter 2 [DC Summer]

To continue this summer's Food Truck adventures, I met Julian, Faith and a few of Julian's co-workers for lunch last Friday and decided to try out the Kimchi-BBQ Taco truck. Although Kimchi had one of the longer lines in Franklin Square that afternoon, it was well worth the wait. 

Here's what I went for...

Spicy Chicken Kogi (BBQ) Box with white rice, salad and vegetable dumplings.

The rice and salad were nothing out of the ordinary - but it was KimchiBBQ's spicy chicken that made this meal particularly memorable. The chicken was packed with deep flavors, a mild spice and was extremely tender. Complimented by crisp, fresh dumplings, this BBQ box really hit the spot.

If you're not in the mood for one of their BBQ boxes, I'd suggest trying out one of their Burritos, filled with your choice of Kogi (Pork, Short Rib, Beef or Chicken), Kimchi and rice. Or opt for their three taco deal and choose between three of KimchiBBQ's delicious homemade tacos.

Most meals range between $8-10, an incredibly reasonable deal for the amount of and quality of food you're getting. Another great food truck to add to this growing list of DC eats.

 

Follow on KimchiBBQ on Twitter @KimchiBBQ to see where they are located today!

Easy Asian Cuisine from our DC Kitchen [DC Summer]

Now that the DC "summer" has officially started and consistent 100 degree days are in full-swing, the only suitable way to end a long work day is by relaxing in an air-conditioned apartment. Still determined to live on a college, working budget, Stef, Laura and I decided that even on the hottest of days it was necessary to cook in.

We came up with a quick and easy meal that helped to clear out our fridge and was one of our best meals yet. Although this Asian inspired meal was meatless, you can replace the main protein, tempeh, with chicken or beef and it will be equally as easy to prepare.

Here's the ingredients we used...

-Frozen vegetable dumplings (we liked Trader Joe's)

-Brown Rice Pad Thai Noodles

-Broccoli Stirfry Mix

-Pre-sliced baby bella mushrooms

-Soy Tempeh (tempeh will be packaged in a long strip)

-Soy Sauce

-Soy Ginger Sauce

And here's what we made...

Asian Noodle Stirfy

1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot. Add noodles.
2. While noodles are cooking, heat 1 tbsp. of canola or sesame oil in a large sauce pan. Add stirfry mix and mushrooms. When vegetables are almost cooked through (they will be soft and beginning to brown), add 2-3tbsp. soy sauce. Mix well.
3. ***Before draining the noodles, set aside 1/4 cup of pasta water*** After draining the noodles, add the pasta water back into the pot of noodles. The starch water will help to break up the noodles so they don't stick together of become gummy.
4. Add noodles into pan with vegetables and add 2 tbsp. of soy ginger sauce and 2 tbsp. of soy sauce. Stir until sauces, vegetables and noodles are mixed thoroughly.

Soy Tempeh

1. Slice tempeh into 1/2" wide cubes.
2. Add tempeh to frying pan with 2-3 tbsp. of soy sauce and allow to cook until tempeh has turned dark brown and is beginning to char. If tempeh is not cooked through, it will be flavorless.

Vegetable Dumplings

1. Place dumplings in frying pan with 5 tbsp. of water. Cover and allow to steam until heated through.

These recipes are quick, easy and will satisfy both your hunger and your budget. Enjoy!
 
What's tempeh? Tempeh is a fermented soybean cake used as a protein. A more flavorful and more filling alternative to tofu.... And this place prepares the best tempeh I've ever had.

Ready to Test Your Luck for Some Frozen Yo? [DC Summer]

Over the past five weeks that I've now been in DC, I've worked through my fair share of yogurt spots. While some offer up a tarter blend and others a sweeter, creamier yogurt - one has successfully set itself apart from the others for one reason: trivia. 

Mr. Yogato located at 1515 17th St NW takes frozen yogurt to a different level. Yogurt-goers have the option to answer up to 4 daily trivia questions and each question you answer right will snag you an additional 5% off your final bill. If the trivia isn't enough of a challenge for you, Mr. Yogato offers a more difficult challenge that's fit for only the most dedicated frozen yogurt eaters. Those who eat at Mr. Yogato for 30 consecutive days will have a new combination named after them - are you up for the challenge?

The atmosphere makes you feel like you're stuck in a 90's videogame - fitting for the Nintendo Entertainment System that's right next to the counter. While you're enjoying your soft or tart yogurt (or new flavor of the week) you can play a relaxing game of Candyland. As I was saying, this isn't your average frozen yogurt spot.

Overall, the yogurt was one of my favorite I've had since being in DC. As someone whose a huge fan of a more tart yogurt, Mr. Yogato's really hit the spot and the endless and creative topping options, such as junior mints, cocoa pebbles and yes, siracha, made it worth the trek up to DuPont. 


Cost? A small or "little" yogurt costs $3, and a huge costs $5, before your trivia discounts and without toppings. Toppings cost an additional $1-2 depending on how many you're in the mood for. 


If you want to check out their website before heading over: http://www.mryogato.com/


Mr. Yogato
1515 17th St NW, Washington DC

Food on Wheels, Chapter 1 [DC Summer]

A short lunch-hour break (or in my case half-hour) doesn't allow many Washingtonian's the opportunity to get a good sit down lunch. So what's the solution to satisfying an empty stomach and crammed lunch-break? Food Trucks.


Scattered all across DC are a variety of food trucks serving up cuisines ranging from Bibimbap to Mexican Tacos and homemade Mac and Cheese. Some trucks have their own take on some well-known classics (like the BLT mac and cheese) while other's stick with the traditions they know best - like homemade gyro in fresh pita. Regardless, any truck that you choose is guaranteed to fill you up with some delicious food without bursting your wallet.


Luckily, the food trucks found me - only a block away from my office (around K and 13th if you're living in DC) is a food truck mecca. Everyday at least 8 food trucks are present and the actual food trucks vary on a daily basis.


Throughout the summer, I'll blog about each "chapter" of this food truck experience and hopefully along the way find out which food truck wins the race.


June 14 2012 - Sate


Between trucks decorated with pictures of food that leaves you salivating and yearning for free samples is an unsuspecting red truck bearing only the words "Sate Indonesian Food" in white writing. So why did I go for this truck when the others were waiting to reel me in? Simplicity. Sate's food and menu is simple, serving only two options, with a combination platter as the third, leaving you less overwhelmed and more ready to eat.


Here's what I went for.....

Chicken Sate with Spicy Vegetable Stew, Rice and Peanut Sauce - $8

Julian and Faith went with different trucks - Julian went with the gyro and Faith the chicken bowl - and both looked equally as delicious. Look out for posts on these places in the coming weeks.

Looking to track where your favorite DC food trucks are today? follow @foodtruckfiesta or visit the Food Truck Fiesta website for an up-to-date track of the DC food trucks.

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A Fast Fajita Fit for a Large Crowd [DC Summer]

Entertaining a large crowd on a small budget and an even smaller kitchen always poses a challenge. To inaugurate our first Sunday in DC, our DC crew decided to that the only appropriate thing to do was to invite over friends - both new and old - and enjoy a home cooked meal. 

We settled on a cheap, quick and easy Mexican themed meal that consisted of ingredients you can find in any grocery store. Start with the basics - pre-cooked chicken, frozen peppers and onions, and tortillas - and add in any of your favorites - guac, fajita seasoning, and a variety of salsas - and you've got yourself a delicious meal ready for a crowd of any size. 

The ingredients and serving sizes are for a group of 10, so feel free to add more or less depending on the size of your group.

Here are the basics:

Quick and Easy Chicken Fajitas


Ingredients: 
-2 Bags of Frozen, Pre-Cooked Chicken Breasts
-Olive Oil
-1 Package of Fajita Seasoning (any brand works)


Preparation:
1. Defrost the chicken breasts in the microwave until soft, not hot. Slice chicken into 1/2" strips.
2. Heat 2 tbsp. (per batch) of olive oil in a large pan, add 1 tbsp. fajita seasoning per 2 tbsp. of olive oil.
3. Add chicken into pan with oil and seasoning and heat until chicken is hot. Set aside.


Peppers and Onions
Ingredients:
-1 bag of frozen peppers and onions
-1 Package of Fajita Seasoning (there will most likely be enough in one package for the chicken and peppers)
-Olive Oil

Preparation:
1. Heat 2 tbsp Olive oil and 1 tsbp. of fajita seasoning in large pan.
2. Add frozen peppers and onions. Drain halfway through cooking. Continue to cook until peppers and onions are lightly browned.Set aside.


To build your fajita, add some chicken, peppers and onions, and any topping of your choice (salsa, guac, lettuce, cheese or sour cream) to a warm flour tortilla.


For our sides we had fresh salsa, homemade guac, homemade mango salsa, and crispy corn tortilla chips and all together, the meal cost about $10/person when factoring in all of the additions and fresh side ingredients.

These easy chicken fajitas are a healthy, cheap, and fun way to get a group of friends (and strangers) together over a great meal. Enjoy!

Small-Bites and Big Flavors [DC Summer]

To continue this past weekend's eating and exploring adventures, Stef, Lauren and I decided to make a reservation at Ping Pong Dim Sum after stumbling upon it on our way to Dupont Circle. The restaurant's sleek and modern atmosphere is what instantly drew us in - not to mention all of the dim sum that was being served to the customers seated outside. 

Over the past few weeks I've featured several restaurants in DC that serve up small-bites. Bodega in Georgetown cooks traditional Spanish Tapas, while SEI in Penn Quarter offers small plates of Asian Fusion fare. What separates Ping Pong's cuisine from the others is the fact that it gives you the dim sum experience in a more American setting - and away from the traditional style of serving and eating dim sum.

With so many options to choose from, trust me you're best off going to Ping Ping with a big group so you can really sample the menu. If not though, don't worry...you'll be more than satisfied with any of these dim sum dishes.

Here's how we did Ping Pong Dim Sum:

chicken puff.

puff pastry filled with tender chicken breast, flavored with soy sauce, spring onion and topped with pineapple

beef and black bean puff.
thinly sliced beef with peppers, onions, and black bean sauce wrapped in puff pastry

seafood dumpling.

crab, shrimp and scallop, in a carrot pastry

king prawn and scallop sticky rice.

seafood and rice in a steamed lotus leaf

golden vegetable dumpling.

sauteed vegetables with olive oil, shallots and garlic and a touch of tumeric

in a golden color pastry 

vietnamese rice paper shrimp roll.

shrimp, rice noodles, vegetables served with fish sauce, lettuce and mint

steamed edamame.

spicy vegetable dumpling.

mixed vegetables, chili and garlic in a translucent pastry

Cost? Most dumplings (steamed and fried) were between $5-6 and were served in threes. On average, 3-4 orders would be enough for a complete dinner, though I would advise going with a large group so you can share and try out the entire menu.

Atmosphere? Hip and modern - a great weekend spot. This place is perfect for a date night or for large groups. Try to get a spot outside, its' location in Dupont is hard to beat.

Best dish? Difficult to say - each dish was extremely unique and brought a different flavor to the meal. I wouldn't be quick to get another chicken puff - the idea of sauteed chicken in a puff pastry wasn't particularly appealing, though the flavors were great. Of all the dim sum we ordered, my favorite would be the Vietnamese Rice Paper Shrimp Roll - fried just right (not too oily or too soggy), this roll was a great modern take on the traditional spring roll.

If you want to check out their menu before heading over:

http://pingpongdimsum.us/#eat-and-drink

Although the restaurant was not packed until around 9pm on the Saturday that we went, I suggest getting a reservation before heading over, especially as the summer goes on. 

Ping Pong Dim Sum

1 Dupont Circle NW, 20036

To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth [DC Summer]

Since starting my internship, I have come to realize that weekends have one purpose: to explore all of DC's incredible offerings (which can usually be narrowed down to food, monuments, and lots and lots of walking). This past weekend, Lauren, Stef and I covered a lot of ground in the NW quadrant of the city and came across some incredible restaurants and events that made this a truly unforgettable weekend.


Our unintentional discovery of The Taste of Georgetown is what led us to checking out Baked and Wired. Located at 1052 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Baked and Wired offers a decadent array of cookies, cupcakes, bars, pies and other baked goods that are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.


We were lucky (and hungry) enough to sample a few of Baked and Wired's treats. Here's how it went:

An assortment of Baked & Wired cookies

Strawberry Cupcake.
Vanilla cake with fresh strawberries folded in the batter finished with a swirl of pink buttercream.

O.M.G. 

A graham cracker crust is layered with homemade caramel, marshmallow and a bittersweet chocolate glaze. 

Blueberry Pie. 

Blueberries with a dash of cinnamon in a double crust.

Berthas. 

Soft oatmeal cookies filled with cream cheese frosting. 

Banana Nut Bread. 

Sweet and moist banana loaf with walnuts and mini chocolate chips.

Best bite? Without hesitation, the Strawberry Cupcake. Each bakery in Georgetown has it's own take on this classic dessert - but it is Baked and Wired's fresh, creamy frosting layered on top of a fluffy, sweet cake - that make this dessert a true winner.


Not in the mood for a cupcake? Try out the O.M.G. bar. With layers of gooey caramel, crunchy graham cracker, fluffy marshmallow and semisweet chocolate - this bar lives up to its' name...and then some.


If you want to check out a full list of their baked offerings before heading over, visit:
http://bakedandwired.com


Baked and Wired
1052 Thomas Jefferson Street NW
Washington, DC 20007

A Breakfast Fit for a Founding Father [DC Summer]

Since starting University Meets Food Diversity, I've made my breakfast and brunch restaurants frequent posts on this blog. While Angelo's and Broken Egg will remain my favorites from Ann Arbor, nothing quite compares to the brunch I had last week at Founding Farmer's in Washington D.C.


Although Founding Farmer's hasn't been in DC for more than a few years (yes, despite it's name it has not been around since Washington and Jefferson were alive...), it has become a staple in the DC food culture. The restaurant's menu consists almost entirely of locally-sourced and/or organically-grown ingredients, so the food is always guaranteed to be incredibly fresh. My dad, brother and I may have only had the opportunity to check out Founding Farmer's brunch selection, but rest assured, I'll be back sometime this summer to try out their dinner menu.


Here's how we did Founding Farmer's:

 

Bloody Mary. In-House Organic Infused Pepper Vodka, Founding Farmers Bloody Mary Blend

 

Drag Through the Garden. Pan Scrambled Egg Whites, Roasted Seasonal Vegetables, Spinach, White Cheddar Cheese. 

Pastrami Hash. Shredded Leek Hash Browns, Poached Eggs, Beef Pastrami, Creole Mustard Hollandaise.

Banana's Foster Buttermilk Pancakes. Golden Griddled Cakes, Whipped Farm Butter.

Artisan Thick Cut Bacon with Black Pepper Maple Glaze


Cost? Not the cheapest of fares. While most breakfast meals were between $8-12, you'll want to order plenty of sides and fresh made drinks and juices, which will tack on at least an additional $4-6 to your meal.


Atmosphere? New-age, eco-friendly...yet rustic feel. The pickled vegetables and fruits scattered around the restaurant add to it's organic ambiance.


Best dish? Impossible to give the award to one dish. The Banana's Foster pancakes were fluffy and full of flavor and the banana-rum syrup wasn't too overwhelming - if you're going to get the pancakes you have to get some sort of addition on top. When you go though, you have to get the bacon (preferably with the Black Pepper Maple Glaze). This is the best bacon I've ever had - take it from a girl who occasionally claims to be vegetarian and never eats bacon. This bacon - thick cut and griddled to perfection - is worth foregoing any dietary restrictions you may have.


If you want to check out their menu before heading over:
http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/washington-dc/ff_menus/menu-breakfast/


Founding Farmer's 
1924 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC