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.

Crabs Done the Baltimore Way [DC Summer]

Last spring break, my brother and dad took a roadtrip down the East Coast and stopped in Baltimore along the way for a taste of some good Maryland crabs. For months they would obsess over these crabs  and tried countlessly (yet failed) to replicate their experience at local New Jersey crab shacks. So, it was only fitting that after a weekend back home we stopped in Baltimore on the drive back down to DC.


Although we were initially disappointed when our first stop told us that they were out of crabs until the evening, our moods were quickly lifted when we were redirected to Bo Brooks. Located right on the Canton Waterfront in Baltimore, Bo Brooks lives up to its' claim of serving Baltimore's best crabs. 


Spicy, salty and seasoned to perfection, you'll be licking the homemade Old Bay seasoning off your fingers in between bites of meaty crab pieces. Without a doubt these are the best crabs I've ever tasted:

Fresh, steamed Maryland Crabs coated in Bo Brook's Homemade Bay Seasoning and rock salt

(before)

Mission accomplished. 

(after)

Cost? The medium crabs we are ran about $3.5 per crab and 3-4 crabs was plenty for lunch. At dinner time, Bo Brooks serves their larger crabs which vary in price depending on the market price.


Atmosphere? Get ready to get your hands, face and clothes dirty - eating Baltimore crabs is a full-on contact sport, thus the brown-paper covered tables are only suiting. On a nice, warm summer day enjoy their outdoor seating and the great view you'll have looking over the Canton Waterfront.


If you're in the Baltimore area and want to check out their menu before heading over: http://www.bobrooks.com/menus/


Bo Brooks
2780 Lighthouse Point (in the 2700 block of Boston Street)
Baltimore, MD 

Not Your Average College Late Night

About a year ago I first visited Frita Batido’s and was instantly wowed by their amazing flavors and college-friendly prices. Although this Cuban-inspired restaurant is not located nearby other late-night hangouts on South U or State Street, this should not stop you from heading over to satisfy your need for some late-night munchies.

On top of the savory Fritas (Cuban for “burger”) and sweet churros, Frita Batidos has a new addition that makes this even more appealing to college students – an exciting and varied drink menu.  The drink menu is sure to quench any late-night thirsts. Customers can choose between locally brewed beers, wine, Mojitos and make-your-own style Mix and Match Tumblers. If you’re in the mood for a sweeter drink – ask for a Batido (Cuban for “milkshake) with a splash of rum

On Monday-Friday if you head in between 4-6pm, or the last hour of service nightly, each item on the drink menu is only $3.50 (a steal for the already very reasonably priced drinks).Of course, there’s no better way to complement your drinks than with the other latest addition to the menu – the Chicken Frita. Although my personal favorite is the Fish Frita, the Chicken Frita is a close competitor. Simple yet packed with tons of flavor, this burger will definitely be a great addition to the other inexpensive burgers and sandwiches that fill the menu.

Here’s a glance at the treats Frita Batido’s has to offer:

Ready to late night with a big group of friends? Chef and owner Eve Aronoff recently debuted the “LOVE FEST”. If you bring 20+ people to Frita Batidos any night after 10pm and your group will be greeted with lots of complimentary food and treats to supplement your meal!! You can reserve your LOVEFEST by emailing frita@fritabatidos.com

Prices? All drinks, burgers and side are well under $10.

Atmosphere? Hip, young, inviting and great for large groups.

Best dish? Close call – my favorite will always be the Fish frita with Cilantro Lime Salsa, however if you’re a meat lover, I’d highly advise the Pulled Pork Sandwich.

Location: 117 W. Washington St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104

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

Drink Menu: http://fritabatidos.com/drinks.pdf

Food Menu: http://fritabatidos.com/menu.pdf

THANK YOU FRITAS FOR THE LOVEFEST!! 

Asian Cuisine With a Flair

Sorority parent’s weekend means one thing: time to explore the best of Ann Arbor’s restaurants. Although I had been to Pacific Rim once before, my previous meal was so great that I knew it was worth sacrificing trying a new place. This article may be a month or two overdue, but my dining experience was too great to forego the opportunity to write about it.  

Located at 114 W. Liberty Street, Pacific Rim offers an exotic, yet appealing menu that combines Asian and American flavors. My favorite part about dining at Pacific Rim is the depth of knowledge the servers have about all the food. Nothing frustrates me more than asking a waiter for their opinion on a dish I’m interested in ordering, only to receive a very unhelpful “it’s good…from what I understand” response. Not only will the waiters provide you with their opinion on the dish, they will tell you how each component of the dish is prepared, where the ingredients are from and what drink is best to pair with the meal.

The only downside of eating there? There are too many great options to choose between. The first time I ate at Pacific Rim, I ordered the Japanese-Style Sablefish and while the dish was impeccably prepared, I knew that I needed to further explore the menu.

So here’s how we did Pacific Rim:

Appetizers:

Again, sadly no pictures were taken of the appetizers but of all that we ordered, I’d suggest getting the Pork Confit Mu Shu Tacos. The Mu Shu pancakes were thicker than what would usually be served at a regular Chinese restaurant, but they nicely complimented the very flavorful pork confit.

Entrées:

Seared Big Eye Tuna

Beautiful big eye tuna lightly seared, served with a ginger-miso sauce, wasabi oil, julienned jicama salad and crispy sushi rice.

 

Black Sesame-Crusted Rack of Lamb

Natural-fed Hannewald Farm rack of lamb with a spicy Thai peanut sauce, bok choy and a taro-polenta cake.

Korean Marinated Ribeye

Thin Slices of grilled certified angus ribeye, with sesame crispy rice, sautéed julienned vegetables, jicama kim chi, quail egg and a Korean chili sauce.

Best dish? Not being partial to my dish….but I’d have to say it takes the cake in both presentation and taste. If you’re a fish lover and want to know what tuna tastes like when it’s prepared correctly, I’d highly advise ordering the Seared Big Eye Tuna. The sauces were an excellent addition to the dish and were great with both the fish and side of crispy sushi rice.

Atmosphere? Dimly lit, relaxing and modern. Pacific Rim is a great place to go to with family or on a date – there’s also a full service bar. Large groups beware, the restaurant seems to have limited room to accommodate to groups of over 8.

Cost? Definitely not an everyday place, but great for a special occasion. Most appetizers are around $9 and entrées average $26-29.

If you want to check out the menu for yourself before heading over:

http://pacificrimbykana.com/menu/dinner-menu/