Food on Wheels, The Final Chapter [DC Summer]

My summer in DC and the food truck adventures that have come along with it have finally come to an end. To celebrate both my last day of work, and last day in DC, Stef, Laura and I met for a final food truck lunch break.

To get through all of DC's food trucks, I'd need 5 more summers down here (and a lot of dedication) - so I'll leave this food truck adventure and this summer saying that this is only the beginning. For my last food truck, I went for Korenergy - a Korean food truck serving up familiar classics like BiBimBap. And...even though it was a sweltering hot DC day, nothing satisfied my hunger better than a warm bowl of Spicy Chicken Bibimbap.

Here's how it looked: 

SPICY CHICKEN BIBIMBAP

[mushrooms, rice, sprouts, radish, carrot, broccoli, egg, sesame oil, pepper paste]

Cost? For $8 you'll get a bowl that's big enough to (happily) satisfy you through the rest of the workday.

The bowl was a perfect balance of spicy, tender chicken complimented by crisp, fresh vegetables and was a great way to end both the summer and my DC food truck adventures.

Putting to rest the [DC Summer] food adventures for now and continuing to blog as I head back to NJ and soon (but not soon enough...) Ann Arbor!

Small Plates and Big Appetites [DC Summer]

Fun.fresh.fast.delicious. These are the only words needed to describe the meal that we ate at Zaytinya last Saturday. Luckily, the benefit of going to eat at a "small plates" or "mezze" (for mediterranean food) style restaurant with 8 girls was that we were able to sample almost the entire menu. Each dish we tried was absolutely mouthwatering and flawless with its' balance of flavors and spices. 

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves - but if you're in DC for the weekend and only have one restaurant to try, this one is it. The price is right, the atmosphere is fun, and the food helps to bring the dining experience to another level. 

Here's how we ate our way through Zaytinya's menu:

HOMMUS

[puree of chickpeas, garlic, tahini]

BABA GHANNOUGE 

[fire-roasted eggplant, tahini, lemon, garlic]

TARAMOSALATA
[traditional spread of cured carp roe]

HTIPITI
[marinated roasted red peppers, feta, thyme]

CRISPY BRUSSELS AFELIA
[brussels sprouts, coriander seed, barberries, garlic yogurt]

SPANAKOPITA 

[house-made phyllo, spinach, feta cheese]

SEASONAL MUSHROOMS
[sautéed mushrooms, dates, toasted almonds]

BAMYA
[caramelized okra, fresh and crispy chickpeas, cardamom tomato stew]

GRAPE-LEAVES DOLMADES
[grape leaves with rice, tomato, fennel, pine nuts, golden raisins, served with labneh]

GARIDES ME ANITHO
[sautéed shrimp, dill, shallots, mustard, lemon juice]

SEA SCALLOPS

[seared scallops, yogurt-dill sauce]

BAKALIAROU MAVRO SKORDALIA
[ouzo battered black cod, orange, potato-garlic puree]

AGLAIA KREMEZI STYLE CRAB CAKES
[mini jumbo lump crab cakes, roasted garlic yogurt]

KOTOPOULO YOUVETSI
[chicken, orzo, tomato, kefalograviera cheese]

SPECIALS:

 DESSERT:

Cost? Most dishes are between $8-14 and 2-3 per person is more than enough for a complete dinner.

Atmosphere? High-ceilings, bright colors and modern decor make this a chic, fun atmosphere that's appropriate for dates, fun meals with friends, and family dinners. The bigger the group you go with, the better. Trust me, you'll be wanting to sample the whole menu.

 

 

If you want to check out the menu before heading over.

Zaytinya

701 9th St NW

Washington D.C.

Behind the Bookshelf [DC Summer]

There's no better way to finish off a jam-packed weekend of eating, exploring, and lots of walking than with a Sunday brunch. While I've covered most of Ann Arbor's brunch offerings (like Angelo's, Broken Egg and Afternoon Delight), I've only just grazed the surface of the hundreds of brunches scattered across DC and this weekend when my mom was in town, I had to try out one more.

Nearly every full-service restaurant here has their own take on a Sunday brunch - ranging from the classic eggs and pancakes, to the not-so-traditional crab cakes benedict or chicken and waffles. Knowing that my mom would probably choose a breakfast that falls somewhere in this range, I chose to take her to Kramerbooks and Afterwards Cafe in DuPont Circle. 

Kramer's is slightly deceptive - from outside it looks like any other bookstore in DuPont or nearby neighborhoods, but once you're inside and behind the books, you'll find yourself in food heaven. Kramer's unsuspecting appearance and incredible food is what makes it so great

Immediately after being seated, my mom and I were greeted with homemade breakfast breads and jam (such as buttermilk biscuits, coffee cake and sweet muffins), alongside fresh orange juice. As if this wasn't enough, the service was fast and friendly and we were served our main meals in under 10 minutes of ordering them. Everything on the menu is absolutely worth-getting and is more than enough food to fill you up for the afternoon.

Here's how my mom and I did Kramer books:

ORGANIC MUSHROOM OMELET

[portobello & organic mushrooms sautéed w/shallots in a 3-egg omlet w/Jarlsberg cheese]

SOUTHWESTERN OMELET

[sweet peppers, onions, mild green chilies, jack cheese, corn & scallions;folded in a three-egg omelet with guacamole & salsa; mini quesadilla]

Cost? Kramer's brunch runs a little bit higher than what I'm usually willing to spend for brunch (most dishes are between $15-17), however, you're paying for quality and great service.

Atmosphere? Go for the indoor/outdoor seating - you'll get all the sunshine of a DC summer morning in the comfort of an air-conditioned atrium.

Check out their Sunday brunch menu to try it out for yourself. Or, if you're not in the mood for brunch Kramer's also offers up an awesome dinner selection.

Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe

1517 Connecticut Ave. NW (Across from DuPont Circle Metro, Q St. exit)

Washington DC

When It's Acceptable (And Required) To Eat With Your Hands [DC Summer]

I think everyone can remember when they were younger how many times their parents told them not to eat with them hands or fingers (this was something I, unfortunately, heard too many times). So, when I suggested to my mom that we try Ethiopian - a cuisine that is eaten only with your hands, using the injera bread in place of utensils - I was surprised at how receptive she was.
 

When I visited DC with my family a few years ago, I was amazed at the amount of Ethiopian restaurants that were scattered around the city. I love the spices and flavors of Indian food, and eat Meidterranean and Asian foods regularly, but Ethiopian was something I had yet to try. This summer before I left DC I was determined to try Ethiopian food, which led both my mom and I to Das Ethiopian last Friday when she was here to visit. 

For most of my reviews, I focus solely on what was ordered and how the food looked. But with Ethiopian, it's truly about the experience of eating the food. Every dish or platter is served on top of injera bread, a bread made from .........., that has a spongy, light consistency.You're given additional bread that will take the place of your fork and knife for the meal. And, when you're done with the dishes that are served on top of the injera bread, you can finish off the now spice and marinade bread (making for a great end-of-meal treat).

So, to start we ordered...

MUSHROOM INGUDLAY TIBS

[Sautéed mushrooms, onions, special sauce with a touch of chili peppers] 

And for the main meal....

CUBED BEEF SPECIAL TIBS
[Extra lean cubes of beef marinated in our chef’s special sauce]

DAS COMBINATINO VEGETARIAN ENTREE SAMPLER
[Collard Greens Gomen, Red Lentil Miser Wot, Split Pea Kik Alicha, Ethiopian Harvest Vegetable Specialties, Cabbage with Carrots in Sauce Tikile Gome, Eggplant and Carrot Wot]

Cost? Most dishes range from $13-18 and for the amount of food given, this was a good deal. The abundance of injera helped to ward off any feelings of hunger we thought we might have afterwards when we first saw the size of the dishes. 

Atmosphere? Great for the pseudo authentic-Ethiopian food lover (someone looking for authentic Ethiopian cuisine in the comfort of an upscale restaurant). Excellent service.

Best dish? The vegetarian sampler - yes, the whole thing. While the meat dish and mushrooms were full of flavor, it was the depth and variation of spices in each small sampler on the vegetarian platter that made this dish truly enjoyable. If you go, my best suggestion is to order a single meat dish alongside the vegetarian platter so you have enough variation without overwhelming your palate (or your stomach). 

If it's your first time eating Ethiopian, do NOT be shy about asking the waiter or manager what kind of dishes you should be getting - in the end you'll be happy you did.

Here's their menu to check out before heading over.

Das Ethiopian
1201 28th St N.W. (Corner of M and 28th in Georgetown)
Washington DC

A Featured Post

collego my eggo has been featured on another great blog you have to check out, The Chic Classmate. See it at: http://www.thechicclassmate.com/2012/07/fields-of-green.html