I recently visited Jaleo (Crystal City), which is a short and beautiful walk from the metro, for restaurant week.
First off, I have to say that while the Crystal City Jaleo location is beautiful, the Downtown location has better food.
The classic red sangria. I would have loved to try the sparkling white Sangria with strawberries and mint, but it only comes in pitchers and I was dining alone.
Bread was served with high quality olive oil with rosemary and garlic – very good. I ordered spinach with pinenuts, raisins, and apples and pan con tomate (rustic bread topped with crushed fresh tomatoes and manchego cheese) – both were very good. The fried, bacon wrapped dates are my favorite thing ever (though they are better at the downtown location). On the menu it says “como hace todo el mundo” (that you will want to eat every day) and they are not lying! They are the perfect combo of salty and sweet. The calamari was decent but not outstanding.
Every year, Jasper attends a pair of conventions in Las Vegas and I like to tag along. He attends lectures while I lounge by the pool, indulge in a spa, or go shopping. Afterwards, we meet up and head out to eat at one of Vegas’s many excellent restaurants. I could write volumes about hotels and shows and sightseeing, but here it is all about the food.
I’ll begin with the casual restaurants inside Caesar’s Palace, where we stayed (and which I recommend – one of the best pools on the strip, the best spa, and some of the best shopping).
Payard Patisserie
Photo courtesy royallyflushed.com
This bakery and pastry shop was my first stop of the day, every day. With a design that looks like Willy Wonka’s factory and a clock that spits out free truffles every hour, this place is a chocolate lover’s dream.
Photo courtesy royallyflushed.com
The pastry case is magnificent and filled with artful delicacies that are almost too pretty to eat… almost. (more…)
Last week, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit my hometown – San Antonio, TX! I was able to see my family for the first time since January, and to have my Dad’s epic BBQ for the 4th of July.
My father and brother with some of the meat – mmm, cowboy burgers. There were also hot dogs, brisket, ribs, maple bacon, the list goes on.
My little brother, Bear, and I.
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Anyway, I also got to hit up all the restaurants I have been missing/craving since I moved away.
First off – a San Antonio staple – Taco Taco. I know, I know – stupid name, right? And you may be daunted by the way this tiny, one room taqueria looks like it’s about to fall apart. But Taco, Taco was named “The Best Tacos in America” by Bon Apetit magazine, and they were not kidding – the constant line out the door does not lie. My favorite thing to get is the breakfast tacos – served from open to close because the hours are 7-2, every day. They make their own tortillas fresh and they are huge and soft and pillowy and just perfect. Then they fill them with buttery eggs and potatoes (my favorite), bacon, or chorizo. For a full on breakfast extravaganza, make sure to get a side of their fantastic refried beans. Another favorite is the beef norteño – a flour tortilla filled to the max with refried beans, cheese, avocado, bell pepper, and tender fajita meat. You only need one to fill you up and oh my goodness, SO GOOD!
Another favorite – a Texas chain vs a San Antonio original – is Freebirds World Burrito. Don’t even talk to me about Chipotle or I will get really mad. Seriously, I wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. No, the only burritos for me are those rolled by my very own “roller” in the aluminum foil decorated haven that is Freebirds. What makes this chain so special? Four flavors of tortilla to start – including cayenne and, my favorite, spinach. How about choice of cheese, including queso fresco? Or an option for rice (Spanish) that doesn’t have cilantro but still has flavor? Or, most importantly, refried beans! How do you have a burrito without refried beans?! I’m talking to you, Chipotle. Then you have those special ingredient options, like roasted garlic or roasted limes, and a ton of salsas and sauces to choose from. Customers also get to participate in decorating the shop – by using the foil that wrapped their burrito to make figurines and daisy chains and whatever they can think of, then placing them wherever they want. A tear comes to my eye when I think that it might be months before I get to taste my beloved Freebirds again.
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Moving away from the Mexican food (which is hard to do in San Antonio – I mean, La Fonda on Main, La Fonda Sunset Ridge (not related), Tomatillos, Taco Cabana… where was I?), let’s hit up some other San Antonio favorites.
Paesanos is a San Antonio institution. This Italian restaurant has been around for 40 years, and was made famous by the signature dish – Shrimp Paesano.
(image taken from restaurant website) Floured shrimp is sauteed in oil and served with a lemon, butter, and egg yolk sauce that is TO DIE FOR. Twirling long strands of spaghetti through that decadent sauce is something akin to heaven. You can actually make this at home (recipe here), but it’s just oh-so-much better to get the real thing. While there is certainly lots of good food to be had at Paesanos, I can never pass this up. Neither can my family, apparently – we had a table of 6 people and everyone ordered it in some form or another – appetizer, main, add-on to steak. This San Antonio favorite is simply not to be missed.
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A family favorite, though not necessarily a local institution, is Tre Trattoria – an Italian restaurant located in the boardwalk area near the Zoo and overlooking the San Antonio River. The menu is small, but all of the dishes are very good.
Here, we have a selection of small plates: house pulled mozzarella with sea salt and olive oil on charred bread; white cannellini beans with gremolota; bruschetta with house made ricotta and cherry tomatoes; and farro salad. The goat cheese, pistachio, and balsamic cipollini onion pizza is quite good; and the pappardelle with bolognese is outstanding. Favorite desserts include the ricotta cake and the seasonal crostada (raspberry and mint this trip).
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Finally, on to the cream of the crop – Bohanan’s Steakhouse. You can’t visit Texas without getting some steak, and Bohanan’s is the place to get it in San Antonio. First of all, let’s talk about the FANTASTIC bar with a long list of incredibly creative cocktails with a classic flair. On this visit, I opted for the Rome with a View – an aperitif made with campari, sweet vermouth, lime juice, sugar, soda. When you are done sipping your excellently crafted cocktail, head up the elevator to the second floor for dinner. The service is impeccable and the food is even better.
I started with the Hudson Valley foie gras – seared and served over brioche with pears in a vanilla sauce. The dish comes with a glass of sauternes included – the ultimate pairing.
In between courses, a palate cleanser (grapefruit sorbet) is served.
Obviously the steaks here are wonderful – they use USDA Prime aged center cuts of Midwestern corn-fed beef. Off the menu they also have Akaushi beef from Japan, which is exclusive to Bohanan’s in the United States. It is much more expensive ($100 for a filet), but so worth it. The heavily marbled meat just melts in your mouth, and has so much more flavor than regular beef. The chef will not cook these steaks above Medium, so don’t even bother trying. Don’t get a sauce to accompany it either (even though we all love bearnaise), it doesn’t need it.
The sides are swoon-worthy as well: white truffle steak frites, goat cheese mashed potatoes, creamed spinach.
The seafood is also excellent, if that’s your thing.
Grilled crabcakes with remoulade.
Macadamia nut encrusted red snapper.
Mesquite-grilled red snapper topped with crabmeat in a cream sauce.
Lastly, the deserts. Along with the other selections – creme brulee, cheesecake, chocolate tart, etc… – are the “flaming specialties”. A cart is brought along, and the waiter prepares one of a number of flambeed desserts tableside – choose from Bananas Foster, Cherries Jubilee, Strawberries Imperial, or Crêpes Suzette – all served with ice cream.
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So there you have it – San Antonio favorites from me to you. If you ever get a chance to stop by my hometown, check out these places and raise a glass for me. <3
We were invited to preview a new restaurant in Tyson’s at a soft opening. Seasons 52 is an Orlando based chain dedicated to fresh, healthy, seasonal food. Their menu changes four times a year, and all of their dishes are under 475 calories. In addition to the regular menu lactose free, low sodium, gluten free, garlic free, vegetarian, and vegan menus are available. It is also a wine bar, run by a Master Sommelier George Miliotes (one of only 152 in the world). The bar section of the restaurant is huge, taking up half of the space, and featured live music the night that we were there. The decor is dark and modern, like an upscale steakhouse. The noise from the mall makes it a bit loud, but it still manages to be a cozy spot for a date. The servers were enthusiastic about the concept and knowledgeable about the dishes – they are tested on all menu items. The hostess replaced my white napkin with a black one when she saw that I was wearing dark clothes – that is one of the gestures that I really appreciate from a restaurant.
The cocktails are made with agave nectar (which is sweeter than sugar, with a lower glycemic index, and vegan friendly). I tried the strawberry basil martini, which was jammy and fresh – not watered down – and infused with basil. The server filled my martini glass, then left the extra in the shaker at the table with me.
One of the conditions of the free preview was that we each order a different appetizer, entree, and dessert – fine by me! The flatbreads are one of their specialties, so I ordered one from the daily specials. It was thin and crispy and the toppings of spinach, goat cheese, artichoke, balsamic onions, and red pepper were nicely balanced. Jasper ordered the chile rellano, which smelled fantastic but was too spicy for me to eat. Our guest had the sesame chicken skewers which were tangy and moist. For my entree, I ordered the BBQ chicken – which was juicy and flavorful, and served with green beans, mashed potatoes, and a delicious corn salad. Jasper said he was jealous of my dish, even though he ordered one of the specials – a t-bone lamb chop with demi glace, truffled mashed potatoes, and asparagus. The lamb was tender, and the potatoes had a good amount of truffle flavor. Our guest ordered the filet, served with mashed potatoes, mushrooms, carrots, and asparagus.
The desserts are called “mini indulgences” and are served in shotglasses (in keeping with the low calorie mission). The website claims that Seasons 52 originated this trend. I have tried this kind of mini dessert at other restaurants and not been impressed – in some cases I thought they were actually pretty gross. I was surprised by how good the ones at Seasons 52 were. We tried the blueberry cheesecake, chocolate peanut butter, and the cookies and cream. The after dinner coffee was of good quality, and the espresso had a nice crema on top.
All in all, I like the concept and the food was pretty good – not as good as Morton’s, but better than Chile’s or Olive Garden (for reference). The location would be really convenient for a dinner and movie date, and I would like to explore the wine bar more.
I stopped in at this Rockville Italian restaurant for lunch with a friend. Amici Miei debuted on the Washingtonian’s Top 100 list in 2007 at #65, in 2008 it fell to #85, then to #91 in 2009, by 2010 it was off the list. Falling rankings have a lot to do with new restaurants opening, so we decided to try it out despite indications that quality might be declining. We arrived around 1:00 for lunch, and were pretty much the only ones there (the deli next store was packed), so I was a little wary. We ended up having a lovely meal and lovely time, though, so I wonder why this place is not more popular. It is located in a strip mall that is a bit hidden, which might have something to do with it. There is patio seating next to a nice little fountain, but we decided to eat inside. The interior is fairly upscale and nicely designed.
The waiter brought us fresh bread and poured olive oil for us to dip it in. We had to ask for balsamic vinegar, but he brought it immediately. We walked past a wood burning pizza oven on our way to the table which made it hard not to order a Margherita pizza, but I wanted to try more of a variety. I ordered the Piatto Unico, a lunch sampler plate, which consisted of a caprese salad, gnocchi alla Bolognese, meat balls, and panna cotta (they also offer a vegetarian sampler). The caprese was good, but not outstanding. I prefer my Mozarella fresher and softer. The gnocchi were very good – soft and delicate and covered in a rich meat sauce. The meatballs were a little firm for my taste (I like them fluffy), but drowned in a lovely tomato sauce and topped with cheese. The panna cotta was unfortunately covered in a caramel sauce that tasted burnt, rendering it practically inedible. I tried to cut into the center of the custard to try some without the caramel, and what I managed to get was very nice. My friend is a vegan and the waiter was very helpful in suggesting a dish that would fit her diet. She ordered the fusilli all norma – fusilli pasta with roasted eggplant and tomato sauce. It normally comes topped with ricotta, but they left that off for her.
All in all, Amici Miei is an upscale casual restaurant with solid (but not fantastic) Italian food at very reasonable prices.
The other day I was on my way to lunch at Chef Geoff’s, when I saw a banner across the street saying “Now Open” at what looked like a Greek restaurant. I decided to try it out and changed course.
Nostos is an upscale Greek restaurant – something that is sorely lacking in the Tyson’s area. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Plaka, but it is not a good place for a nice dinner and drinks – Nostos definitely is. The interior is very modern with clean lines, stark white walls accented with dark furniture, and black and white photos. It is meant to look like the “sugar cube” houses of Greece with rounded, white washed walls and an exposed rafter effect. There is a main dining room lined with windows and a smaller room that could be used for private events. The large bar area is nicely separated from the main dining room, reducing noise interference. The bar is also well stocked with a wide selection in addition to Ouzo and Greek wines. The hostess told me that they are working on happy hour specials – I think that this may become a great place to hang out.
On to the food! The menu is clean and fresh, offering upscale (but still simple) versions of traditional food. There were a wide selection of mezze plates categorized as vegetarian, cheese, meat, or seafood in addition to several dips and salads. There were a few traditional entrees, and a wide selection of fish – prepared simply grilled with olive oil and lemon. I decided to order the “traditional sampler” entree in order to try a variety of dishes. The sampler came on a lovely, white, sectioned plate with moussaka, spanakopita, dolma, and arnaki fournou. The moussaka (layered casserole) was made the way that I prefer it – with potatoes in addition to the eggplant and ground beef, and topped with a nice layer of bechamel. The potatoes were very tender and the meat had a nice tomato-y flavor, though I would have preferred a touch more cinnamon. There was a nice bit of chewy, browned cheese on top. The spanakopita (spinach and cheese stuffed phyllo pastry) had a wonderfully herb-y flavor, though it was not terribly crisp. The dolma (stuffed grapeleaf) was tender and filled with a lovely mixture of ground beef, rice, and mint. It was topped with a delicious creamy egg yolk and lemon sauce that was like the Greek equivalent of Hollandaise. The arnaki fournou consisted of slices of slow roasted lamb in a gravy sauce. The lamb had a nice flavor, though it was not as tender as I would expect after “slow roasting”. The gravy was lighter than I expected it to be, with a hint of lemon flavor.
As it was lunch, I did not have dessert, though I would like to come back and try the galaktoboureko, baklava, or rizogalo. I would also like to make a meal out of several of the mezze plates. Nostos is definitely worth a return visit – several, in fact.
I had been wanting to explore Georgetown for quite some time when I saw I an article in the Washingtonian that inspired me to just go out and do it. The article was focused on Georgetown and highlighted several favorite spots – it even included a map! So on a GORGEOUS day, I hopped on the Metro to Rosslyn, map in hand, and walked across Key Bridge to begin my adventure.
Neapolitan style pizza is my favorite kind of pizza, but it is sometimes difficult to find. Pizzeria Paradiso was my go-to place in DC, but it is a 40 minute trip for me, and I needed to find something closer. I read about the opening of a Neapolitan pizzeria in Falls Church but never managed to make it over there, until recently. Thank goodness I did! Because Pizzeria Orso is every bit as delicious as Paradiso and much, much closer.
I tried the Margherita DOC (more information on DOC), and it took me right back to Italy – thin, tender crust that was perfectly charred and puffy at the edges; fresh, flavorful tomato; creamy fresh mozzarella; fresh basil; and olive oil. I also tried a seasonal pizza, the Molla, with ricotta, garlic, ramps, and an egg. The ricotta was creamy and sweetened by the garlic, the ramps were mild and a little charred, and the egg had a perfectly runny and oozing yolk. It was a perfect spring pizza.
The menu also features antipasti. I tried the arancini – crispy spheres of risotto with a mild tomato flavor. They were fun to munch on, but nothing special – I preferred the calamari, which were very tender, coated in a light batter, and served with a basil aioli that I found slightly addictive. The desserts are classic Italian – gelato, tiramisu, cannoli. I tried a seasonal special – polenta cake flavored with rosemary, filled with mascarpone, and served with blackberries and an orange mascarpone creamy – sunny and delicious, like summer.
I absolutely love Greek food, but I have been bad about exploring the local offerings (mostly because the husband is not overly enthusiastic). I kept hearing fantastic things about Vienna staple Plaka Grill, so I decided to try it out on my own. I was not disappointed! Plaka is in a tiny strip center location off of 123. One whole wall is painted with a mural that took me straight back to San Torini, Greece. The food was equally nostalgic for me.
Plaka is famous for their signature Gyro sandwich – spit grilled pork sliced and served in pita bread with tomatoes, onions, fries, and tzatziki (a yogurt and cucumber sauce). They also serve the more familiar “Chicago Gyro” – pressed lamb and beef that is grilled and sliced. I have tried both, and they are fantastic. Some may say that it is sacrilege, but I usually prefer the Chicago style. I like that the meat has a more uniform texture with just a bit of crunch on the outer edges. I have also tried the Tyropites – phyllo dough triangles stuffed with feta and herbs. They are amazing – creamy and tangy on the inside, crispy and buttery on the outside. I would love to try their spinach filled cousins – the Spanakopites. Plaka also serves one of my favorite Greek desserts, which is not Baklava (gasp! i know), but Galaktoboureko – phyllo dough filled with custard and soaked in an orange scented honey syrup.
I have also tried their Moussaka dinner plates (one of my favorite dishes, if you couldn’t tell from my post. It was very good – tender eggplant, rich tomato and meat ragu with lots of cinnamon flavor, creamy bechamel on top. It comes with a Greek salad, and some lovely roasted potatoes. It also comes with pita bread, which is nice except that there is really nothing to dip it in or eat it with. I had to order some tzatziki on the side.
**EDIT – How could I forget to mention the fries?! They are so good – hot and fresh and coated in salt, garlic powder (?), and herbs. They definitely do not need ketchup.**
For Valentine’s Day, we decided to try Art and Soul in DC. I have seen chef/owner Art Smith several times on TV and he seems like such a fun, sweet person. The restaurant is in the lobby of a hotel and is very modern and trendy with touches of Southern homeyness (like jars of pickled things). The restrooms are way on the other side of the lobby, though, which is kind of irritating.
We began with cocktails – Jasper had the “roll call” (ultimate vodka, pomegranate port reduction, blackberries, champagne), I had the “taft and chinda” (st. germaine, sour cherry, champagne). Then came the fantastic corn bread muffins. The menu started with an Amuse Bouche of duck rillette, foie gras, and truffle in a little empanada. Jasper chose the arugula salad with strawberries, cocoa dusted pine nuts and champagne vinaigrette to start with. I had the creamy parsnip soup with pumpkin seed oil and cranberry conserve. For the next course, Jasper had seared rare tuna with a spicy crust and beef tartare, served with winter radishes, micro celery, and a bresoala chip. I had a very creamy lobster risotto with chunks of lobster, caviar cream, crispy leeks, and tarragon oil. For the entree, Jasper had a grilled filet of beef and braised short rib with warm potato salad and port reduction. I had confit chicken with goat cheese polenta, garlic greens, and lemon-pomegranate jus. For desert, Jasper had a chocolate duet of dark chocolate malt, warm white chocolate cake, and raspberry. I had a fig tart with coriander cream and a vanilla port reduction.
Everything was good but not great. My favorite was probably the free cornbread muffins. I wouldn’t make the trip out that far except for the bar – the drinks were very good.
