Another Year, Another Adventure

Between welcome week, classes starting, rush and adjusting to junior year, I'll admit I've been slow to writing a post.

In order to celebrate being back in Ann Arbor, Julie, Sam and I decided that Seva was appropriate for the occasion. Although I've written about Seva before, I knew that one post would not be enough to give this restaurant the much needed attention it deserves.

A vegan and vegetarian's delight, Seva's food is so good that it can convince any meat-eater to put aside their carnivorous cravings for the evening. Every time the three of us go, we always say that we'll venture outside of our regular orders and explore the other delicious looking options on the menu...and every time we give into old (but good) habits and order the classic dishes we love most.

Here's some of our favorites:

ENSALADA

[romaine, tempeh, corn-cilantro-lime salsa, cheddar jack cheese

guacamole, sour cream, pepitas, corn tortilla strips]

CILANTRO PEANUT STIR-FRY

[broccoli, red & yellow peppers, mushrooms, mung sprouts, green onions, carrots, brown rice, roasted peanuts, cilantro-peanut-ginger-lime sauce]

RENNIE'S PEANUT KALE SALAD

[hearty kale, carrots, butternut squash, red peppers, peanut-cider marinade]

Cost? Most dishes range between $10-15 dollars and are very filling - you won't be missing the meat. If you want a heartier meal, I'd suggest adding a tempeh patty for an additional $4, it's worth the cost.

Atmosphere? My true favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor - a hip, relaxed crowd that never falls short of any expectation.

Best dish? See our favorites above, I'll let you be the judge.

Seva
314 E. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor MI

And to top off our delicious and satisfying meal, we caught a ride home on The Conference Bike - a red circular apparatus that has seating for six and a round handlebar in the middle, with one man steering. The owner hangs out by the restaurant, Mani, right down the street from Seva. For $5 per rider, this bike is worth every penny - just make sure to have a camera on hand.

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

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

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 

When Dad Comes to Town Part II [DC Summer]

Nothing helps to ease the struggles of living on a college working budget than having a parent come visit and offer to take you and a friend out for a nice, fancy dinner. That being said, DC is full of so many cheap and delicious eats that the “college working budget” hasn’t seemed that daunting.

After researching the array of interesting restaurants scattered across DC, I booked a reservation for my dad, Pam, and myself for SEI. Located at 444 7^th ST NW in Penn Quarter, this Asian inspired tapas-style restaurant was exactly what I had in mind. The small-plates are inviting for both large and small groups and give you the opportunity to taste all of the flavors that SEI has to offer. If I haven’t convinced you yet, just ask Michelle Obama for her opinion – SEI’s gotten her seal of approval.

Here’s how we did SEI:

SOS Roll. Salmon, strawberries, avocado, miso orange sauce (left)

Kobe Tataki. Spicy crunch, watercress oil, red wine ponzu (right)

Wasabi Guacamole. Tofu, wonton chips.

Sashimi Pizza. Salmon, tuna, yellow tail, shrimp, salmon roe, wasabi aioli.

Deangaku Eggplant. Paneer, chat masala.

Sea Bass Sliders. Apricot chili glaze, havarti cheese, yuzu tartar.

Cost? Definitely a parent-in-town kind of meal, though if you’re looking for a lighter dinner the prices aren’t that outrageous. Small plates range from $5-10 while most sushi rolls are around $12.

Atmosphere? One of the coolest restaurants I’ve ever sat in – the restaurant is dimly lit with an intimate yet modern feel. Great for date night or fancy dinner out.

Best dish? Close call between the wasabi guacamole and the sea-bass slider. Although the other dishes that we ordered were good, I would highly advise either of these two when dining at SEI.

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

http://www.seirestaurant.com/

SEI

Location: 444 7^th St NW, Washington DC

A Taste of the Greek Life [DC Summer]

To continue the food adventures and our first week of being in DC, Pam and I decided that the extra few mile trek up to Dupont Circle was worth it for the meal we were about to have.

Located at 1612 20^th Street NW, Zorba’s Café serves up a delicious array of authentic Greek cuisine. From incredibly fresh hommus and tzatziki to handmade gyro and falafel, Zorba’s is cheap and casual enough for a quick bite to eat while enjoying a beautiful DC evening.

Before I go on to what we ate, I have to say what makes Zorba’s so special is it’s location in Dupont Circle. Although I’ll always call NYC my home city, the diversity of neighborhoods in DC is what really makes it so special – especially Dupont Circle’s hip, young, European feel.

We stuck with the basics, but in the end I think we made the right decision. Both dishes were filled with tons of flavor and cook to perfection.

Here’s how we did Zorba’s:

Hommus. A dip made of a perfect blend of chick peas, tahini, lemon juice and garlic.

Yero (also known as Gyro) Sliced yero (a blend of chicken OR marinated beef & lamb, herbs & spices, cooked on a vertical rotisserie), topped with lettuce, tomato, Feta, onion, and tzatziki (our own yogurt-cucumber sauce).

Chicken Yero

Beef Yero

Cost? The prices were perfect. All dips and appetizers were around $5, sandwiches around $8 and salads around $11. The sandwiches are more than enough food for 1 person – though I’d highly advise splitting one of their homemade dips if you’re dining with a friend.

Atmosphere? Don’t expect anything classy. You order your food at a register in back and when your number is called you can retrieve your food, but if you’re looking for a relaxing and extremely casual atmosphere, this is it.

Best dish? Since we only had the chicken and beef gyro’s and the hommus to judge from, I’d say both are winners in their own categories. That being said, I’ll definitely be going back to Zorba’s many times this summer.

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

http://zorbascafe.com/?page_id=697

Zorba’s Café

Location: 1612 20^th St NW, Washington DC 

To Share with Friends [DC Summer]

After a hectic week of starting work, settling in, and exploring the city I’ll call home for the summer, Pam, Josh and I decided to venture over to Georgetown for a relaxing and delicious meal.

Bodega, located at 3116 M St NW in Georgetown, was just what we were looking for. Bodega offers a Spanish tapas menu, so come prepared to try a lot of small plates and a variety of flavors. I’ve always been a fan of tapas-style restaurants and find that it’s the best kind of restaurant to go to with a group of friends because you get to try many different kinds of dishes.

Suitable for the pickiest and the most adventurous of eaters, Bodega is worth the trip into Georgetown (besides, who doesn’t love hanging out by the Georgetown Harbour on a warm summer night?)

Here’s how we did Bodega:

Pan con Tomate y Queso Manchego. Catalonian Tomato Bread with Manchego.

Calamares Frito con Ali-Oil. Fried Calamari with Ali-Oli

Brocheta de Pollo al Ajillo con Salsa Picante de Pimiento. Grilled Chicken Skewer Served with a Spicy Pepper Emuslion Sauce.

Pimientos del Piquillo Rellenos de Costilla de Buey. Piquillo Peppers Stuffed with Braised Beef Short Ribs & Served Au Jus.

Cost? Most tapas dishes range from $8-9 dollars. For a group of 3, I’d advise getting 4-5 tapas if you want a full dinner. Either way, Bodega is extremely reasonable for the quality of the food.

Atmosphere? Fun, laid-back and young. A great place to go with a large group or for a fun summer date night. If you can, try to go for their outdoor seating to enjoy the warm DC nights.

Best dish? A tie between the Piqiuillo Peppers and Fried Calamari. If you’re in the mood for a more classic dish, try the calamari. Light, crispy and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, these calamari are a great dish. If you want something that’s rich with flavor, go for the Piquillo Peppers. The acidity of the peppers contrasts perfectly with the layers of flavors in the braised short ribs. 

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

http://www.bodegadc.com/menus.asp

Feel Like an Iron Chef [NYC edition]

Despite a short two-week visit home in between Ann Arbor and my move to DC for the summer, I managed to find some time to make it into NYC to check out my favorite city's cuisines. 

Located at 35 W. 35th St., Madangsui was just the place I was looking for. My brother and dad had been there once before and sent me pictures of the amazing Korean BBQ that Madangsui has, but it was only necessary that I checked it out for myself. After a long day of trekking through Chinatown, Little Italy, and SoHo, my brother and I headed back to Midtown with eager appetites. 

Korean BBQ is an eating experience unlike any other. A few months ago I visited Maru in Ann Arbor and was greeted with a variety of traditional Korean dishes. Like Maru, Madangsui served up a variety of small appetizers, including kimchee and marinated seaweed; however, the best part about Madangsui was having our main dish cooked on the BBQ in the middle of our table. 

Here's how we did Madangusi:

Fresh Butterflied & Korean Style Marinated Short Rib

Blue Crab Soup in a Spicy Broth

Cost? Depends. Most of the BBQ entrees range from $26-32, however, this includes all of the appetizers and there's enough meat for two hungry diners. The entree soups are less steep in their prices and range from $11-15. Other noodle and rice entree dishes range from $12-18. 

Atmosphere? Inviting for both small and large groups - I'd highly encourage trying this place out with a group of adventurous eaters who are looking for a different kind of dining experience. The atmosphere is very casual and cozy - if you're looking for something more upscale however, this isn't your place.

Best dish? What would a Korean BBQ be if their best dish wasn't the BBQ itself? When you go,you MUST get the Marinated Short Rib - tender and full of flavor, this dish is an easy winner (not to mention what's better than having your food cooked right in front of you?)

If you want to check out their menu before heading over: http://www.Madangsui.com/Madangsui/Productlist.asp?CK=7857 (call ahead on weekends to make a reservation).

Location: 35 W. 35th Street, New York, NY 

Too Many Carts to Choose From...

Now that sophomore year has come to an end, I can reflect on the year and the amazing times I’ve had with friends and of course – the times spent exploring Ann Arbor’s restaurants. Before heading back to New Jersey for the summer, it was only appropriate that I tried one last restaurant.

Jordan, Staci, and I had heard about Mark’s Carts and unfortunately were unable to make it there before they closed for the season last fall. However, a spontaneous decision led us to Mark’s Carts and before we knew it, we were heading down to the Main Street area ready to check it out.  With an eager appetite and six open carts to choose from, we set out to find which cart would reign supreme:

The Contenders:

Cheese Dream. Serving artisan grilled cheese sandwiches and soup using local ingredients.

The Lunch Box. The mission of The Lunch Box is to provide high-quality, delicious, and nutritious vegan food that demonstrates the breadth and versatility of plant-based whole foods.

Hut-k Chaats. “Hut-K” means “non-mainstream,” and “chaats” are savory, flavorful Indian street food. Their health sauces are based around raw foods like spinach, cilantro, mint, dates, mangoes and lime and they’ve replaced sugar with dried fruits, and traditionally fried foods are baked when possible. It’s a culinary experience of flavors, nutrition and healing by food. (not pictured)

A2 Pizza Pi. Fresh, made to order wood-fired pizza.

  

Although Mark’s Cart was home to eight food carts (two of which were not open when we went), we decided these four were the best options and chose meals that we felt best represented these carts.

The Dishes:

Chili Grilled Cheese and the “Frenchi”. Baby swiss and caramelized onions between two slices of Zingermans bread from Cheese Dream.

Roasted Red Pepper and Spinach Wrap. Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Cucumber, Onion, Spinach and Tomato wrapped in a Whole Wheat Tortilla from The Lunch Box.

Masala Puri. A multilayered chaat generally sold in the streets of Bangalore. It is a mixture of potatoes, chickpeas and peas, layered on baked chips, onions and topped with chaat sauces and garnished with savories from Hut-k Chaats.

SPIN(ach) the Feta. Fresh local spinach, feta, mozzarella, oven roasted garlic, red sauce and caramelized onion from A2 Pizza Pi.

Best dish? Before disclosing what our favorite of the four was, I have to say that each of the carts were delicious and definitely worth checking out. However, in the end our favorite was the pizza from A2 Pizza Pi. An elegant twist on the traditional pizza, this wood-fired pie was loaded with flavor and had us yearning for seconds.

Cost? Mark’s Carts as a whole is full of cheap eats – food ranges from $4-$12 depending on the cart.

Atmosphere? Mark’s Carts is seasonal and only open from April-September. Additionally, not all of the carts are open everyday, so I advise checking out the Mark’s Carts website before heading over. The atmosphere is extremely relaxed and has plenty of seating room – perfect for a sunny Ann Arbor afternoon.

If you find out more about each of the carts, or more about Marks Cart’s check out this website:

http://markscartsannarbor.com/

Location: 211 W. Washington Street, Ann Arbor.

Thank you, Ann Arbor, for the food adventures this past year. See you again in August!

Next stop – Washington D.C. Keep following University Meets Food Diversity as I make the move to the capital for the summer!

A Locally-Grown and Locally-Sourced Breakfast

A little more than three years ago, a unique and sustainable way of serving food to local community members was conceived. Selma Café was “envisioned as a center, a hub, a heart of the many ongoing efforts to improve our lives through community building, free access to affordable, healthy foods, and to foster right-livelihood in vocations with meaning and purpose” (www.repastspresentandfuture.org). Each week, Selma Café features an array of locally grown breakfast dishes prepared by local chefs and volunteers. Although you won’t be met with a bill at the end of your meal, suggested donations are $10-15 for breakfast. Selma is an all-volunteer operation and all proceeds go directly to the local farmers and producers that supply the ingredients and to non-profit groups working to expand access to healthy, sustainable food resources.

In light of Selma Café’s recent showcase at the University of Michigan TEDx this April, Sam, Julie, Ben, Zack and I decided to visit Selma to find out for ourselves what all the talk was about.

What to know about Selma Café before heading over:

You won’t find Selma located on State Street, Main Street or near any of the other restaurants in the Ann Arbor area. This is because Selma Café is hosted at the home of Lisa Gottlieb and Jeff McCabe on 722 Soule Boulevard in Ann Arbor.  Also, be ready for an early breakfast. Selma Café is open from 6:30-10:00am every Friday, but I suggest getting there early because food runs out quick and every entrée is worth trying!

We managed to brave the dreaded early Friday morning wake up and got to Selma around 8:00am, just in time to beat the second wave of breakfast rush. Although we had to wait anxiously for 30 minutes for enough seats to clear, during our wait we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet Jeff and Lisa, and speak with them further about their experience at TEDx.

Once we were finally seated, we decided the only way to get the full Selma Café experience was by trying out all of the dishes on the menu that week:

Here’s how our Selma experience went:

If you're looking to support the local, sustainable food movement and you're craving something different than the usual breakfast places by U of M campus - I'd definitely advise checking out Selma Cafe, it's worth the early Friday wakeup.

Here's their website if you want to find out more about the mission of Selma and what's on the menu for this week: http://www.repastspresentandfuture.org/site/fmselma/

Not Your South U Sushi Place

I’ve always been a Sadako fan, minus the occasional trip to Ayaka, Totoro or Sushi.com when I’m craving something different. However, with sophomore year coming to a close, Sam, Julie and I thought it was time to step out of our sushi comfort-zone and venture down by Main Street with a mission of finding a great new sushi place.

Mission accomplished. Located at 106 S. 1st Street in Ann Arbor, Miki's enormous sushi menu has enough variety to satisfy all kinds of sushi-lovers and it's safe to say it has now become my favorite sushi place.  

Looking for something sweet? There's a roll for that.

Ever wish you could see a sushi roll lit on fire? There's a roll for that. 

Want something deep fried? There's a roll for that. 

Ordering enough sushi to fill a sushi boat - but want the boat to light up? ...Miki does that too. 

So here's how our Miki experience went:

(Pictured rolls: Mango Fiesta roll, Crazy Boy Roll, Caterpillar Roll, Pacific Roll and Kiss of Fire Roll)

And to top it off ... the Diablo roll... Shrimp tempura, crab, avocado and cucumber inside. Topped with spicy scallop. Baked in oven and drizzled with eel sauce. 

Cost? The quality of the sushi is reflected by the cost. While most specialty rolls more expensive - between $12-14 - classic rolls are between $4-6. If you're not into sushi, most kitchen entree's average $15.


Atmosphere? Relaxed, yet upscale. Not quite as fancy as the Main Street restaurants but definitely a few steps up from places on South U or State Street. Great service.


Best dish? Hands down the Diablo Roll. I have never been a fan of baked rolls - I believe sushi is best when served simple and raw; however, the Diablo Roll has made me reconsider these feelings. This roll is packed with tons of flavor and is perfect for any kind of sushi-lover.


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

Miki: 106 S. 1st Street, Ann Arbor, MI

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!!