TheWeekend Recap

     A great weekend consists of sunshine, good times, great people and delicious food!

 La Dolce Vita

   Caught Sunday brunch on the outdoor terrace on last Sunday...

Lox platter with bagel, cream cheese, tomato, capers and red onion

Stuffed French Toast with Marscapone cheese

Chef's Omelette: Filet mignon, caramelized onion and provolone cheese 

 We also enjoyed a live jazz performance for Sunday brunch and unlimited mimosas. Having had my 80 year old great aunt with us, I consumed a baker's dozen alone on that day. I'm sure they were just waiting to cut me off.  #teamnolimit



Bucharest Grill


  

Added chicken to the vegetarian for a fresher take on the shawarma

 Sunday evening I got caught up but lucky enough I was with cool friends who were hungry. This go 'round I switched up my usual chicken or Bucharest (fat gurgle) shawarma option. Started with the vegetarian which has cucumber, tomato, green peppers, onions, feta and fries :o)

Quick "beignets"

 

 

 On Sunday I happened to fall into a kickback session ending in a "faux" beignet to trick your taste buds until next Mardi Gras. Thanks to a rockstar I met through my awesome cousin :o)

Start with flaky type biscuits, cut to strips. Heat oil to med-low. Cook evenly on all sides, 15-30 seconds on all side. Dust with cinnamon and powdered sugars, enjoy :o)

   

  *** This is where I insert a picture of the final product. Unfortunately, I don't have one. Because as soon as those crispy, crispy delicious "biscuit fingers" were placed in front of many, I was no longer of the home sapiens species; I was a beast in the wild who had emerged from months of hibernation and saw its first plate of a deep fried dessert... but trust me, they were delicious ***

Couldn't Get It Up

     

(CGIU posts are designed for those establishments that failed to satisfy me during my visit, thus,

I think the title serves correct ;o)

    In stark contrast to my last post, this establishment got the game allll twisted up. It sucks my first post home is a CGIU but these guys dropped. the. ball. I'm not sure they ever had it to begin with. It was most disappointing since I had been there before for a showcase presented by some colleagues of mine, but remember seeing the establishment in a very different light. Last time, I had high hopes for the Black owned eatery located just outside of Detroit's historic Sherwood Forest neighborhood. This time, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.    

    To add to the list of conflicting signals, when I entered the steamy vestibule of the crowded interior, it was thumping! The dining room was packed with "mid-level bouge" Detroiters dining and vibing to the jazz band playing live in the front corner of the room. They were so overwhelmed with  management had placed additional seating in what was (probably) before, open walkway space for passers by. I'm looking around to see some notable city officials and socialites alike, the band is going in and I'm getting excited! It's about to be BANGING. Right?? Why else would all these people be will to wait so long in this hotbox of a vestibule for a seat? 

Chef/Owner Don Studvent (left) and his colleague 

         My second visit to 1917 was sponsored by my new job as a Christmas party. This came my second or third week working at my new job back home. After a wait of at LEAST an hour, including having had a reservation for our group set since the week before, we finally were seated in the brightly and messy attic space in what seemed to be their overflow seating area. There was a comfy living room space in the corner but there was no lighting there, making it just a dark corner in a cold, liquorless houseparty-- exactly, where's the fun in that?! To avoid getting in a pissy mood all over again, they took extra long to take our orders, many of the items listed on the menu were not in stock, when our food did arrive it came in pieces, sparsely (I ordered blackened tilapia with garlic mashed and sauteed spinach that was pretty much served as a three course meal).  My coworker (older, suave dude with his chest hairs out and a gold chain shining THAT night, lol) who is happily fond of steaks and cigars was outraged at the fact that the medium T-bone he had been craving was boldly delivered a full on well done...I'm sooo not making this up. I wanted to love it...I did! I fought with my bratty little sister to come out to an awkward Christmas party with co-workers I had only just met to get some quality time with the spot and I had only got a sample of before. I had high hopes. But just like that asshole ex-boyfriend, 1917 American Bistro just couldn't cut it *shrug*

1905 Bistro (DC)

       So.... while chatting with some film cohorts on set, I got wind that 1905, right off the famous U Street, had the "best burger in town". Now anyone who KNOWS me knoooooows that I had to look into this, I. LOVE. BURGERS. I mean, how can one not? They combine all the different food groups in one delicious (and might I add, portable) treat. So I had to go. One Friday evening, after a failed attempt at entering some Gentleman Jack event with Howard Alum extraordinaire, my 537 roomies Aminata, Jamie and I scooted on over to see what the rave was about. After finding super close parking and dodging running rats like Kenyans in an obstacle course, we settled down at the quaint spot at about 9:45pm. When you walk up to the entrance, the term "hole in the wall" couldn't be more fitting, setting them up to underpromise and overdeliver.



Interior at 1905, day

   We almost missed the little black awning over a flight of ascending stairs for the bright lights and tomfoolery happening at the venues next door. No trepidation from me, I usually find the best foods in spots like this so....I climbed those stairs! Like a fairytale, when we reached the top it was as if we were in another land. Very warmly lit (and I'm a sucker for lighting), linen tablecloths and gold/brass decor...I was in heaven. When you first walk in, the bar is situated to the far right and you are standing in the dining room which expands to the left. Another warm, romantic date spot for the lovers :o) The music was chill, hip hop (The Roots, Talib, Common) loud enough to enjoy but low enough to still enjoy your companion--- perfect. I knew I wanted to order the 1905 burger but we also ordered cottage fries, tuna tartare, beers and I ventured to order some drink made with several different absenthes ( at those prices, I wanted to order a drink that was a one hitter-quitter!).

Aminata and Jamie

1905 Burger Au Jus

       The appetizers were perfection-- the cottage fries were actually those crispy thin "fries" very much like homemade potato chips. The tartare was tasty with lemon zest and olive oil and also paired with the fries so the different taste and textures indeed explode on your tongue (Mouthgasm! :o) The burger was served juicy and full on a brioche buns with Brie cheese(can you say yummm?), charred with a pickled salad mix. NO mayo, ketchup, mustard or nothing and it was spectacular! The server also informed us that the burger could be served au jus (with its own juice), more American-ly familiarized with the French dip sandwich. While the pic of the original version is serving me "Hillbilly Eats for 500, Alex!"-realness, 1905 was gracious enough to place the warm broth in a holder on my plate so I could dip to taste, as I pleased. Needless to say, it was magically delicious. I'm willing to bet money Lucky the Leprechaun himself was back there sweating over a grill with a block of Brie, looking too grown to be still be dressed as a fucking leprechaun...

        

      Nostalgia aside, if you're looking for an intimate chill spot (friends OR the new boo! ;o) near U Street, check it out.

Beau Thai ( Washington, DC)

   



             Right around the corner from my last place was a trendy little restaurant called Beau Thai. The spot is handsome indeed with walls adorned with glamour shots of Thai women, beautiful Oriental flowers and cityscapes of an industrial-era Thailand but the food??? Oh my God, the food! My foodie friend Holtmeyer and I would frequent this place for a delicious bite whenever we wanted affordable but DELICIOUS food  (which is always :o) On an early evening you will find tea lamps lit at every table with flowers (not overcrowding) as well as patio seating outdoors. The place becomes very chic and romantic, perfect for a date. They have standard Thai treats like drunken chicken, pad thai, Thai Iced Tea (which is delicioso!) but they also have lunch specials and featured entrees for that evening for the adventurous gastronome. While I was there, I was so lucky to have ordered the duck eggroll which is sliced and grilled to perfection and wrapped in their warm, homemade eggroll. It has sliced cucumbers and carrots but the best part is the delectable sweet chili sauce they serve alongside.

     

       The eggroll by itself is just fine but when paired with the sweet chili sauce??? *insert clip from theTrojan His and Hers here* Yes...it's that good. Also, they don't skimp on the good stuff! The shrimp fried rice had shrimps-a-plenty, the crab fried the same and I did especially appreciate the ginger infused veggies they so delecately cured for a well balanced, Thai  meal. I don't know about you but there's something about special treatment that gets me all in a tizzy. Like, have you ever bit into a delicious, juicy burger that was seasoned to perfection all the right toppings and you sit back and notice....they grilled the bread too! THAT is my shit...nothing shows the love and care put into your food as well as little touches like that. As a self proclaimed gastronome and lover of all things delicious, it's the little things that mean the most :o)


Have a good one!

Lucky's Carry Out

     Ladies and gentleman, whores and whoremongers... I can confidently say I have found THE best steak and cheese eggroll in the city (well, the District that is). Now, as a DC resident of a combined 5 years now and the gastronome/fatass at heart that I am, I have had my share of steak and cheese eggrolls. Have you ever experienced love at first taste? Yes, TASTE. The minute you bite into these crispy, steamy pockets of deliciousness, you know better. Not only do they add the proper fixins of a steak and cheese (grilled onions and peppers), the eggroll wrap is flaky and crispy to perfection! A better grade of steak (not that gristly stuff), and cheesy, actually MELTY cheese (I loved Dandy's at HU but I'm pretty sure they used 'guvment' cheese in the steak and cheese eggrolls). They're simply delicious. Delicious pockets of hot heaven.

   For everyone that doesn't reside in the DMV (from a Michiganian POV), DC's carryouts are equivalent to Coney Islands in Detroit. They sell a little bit of everything and you have your favs but the carryout takes it a bit further and have the nerve to sell Chinese food, pizza, burgers, seafood and subs! Don't get me wrong, I'll order that lunch special steak and cheese, fries and a ginger ale in a MINUTE...it was just a little shocking to see when moved here back in 2006.

   My dear sweet mother came to visit me in DC and since I know she loves steak and cheeses AND all things crispy, I took her to try one. My mama took one bite and was like "this is best eggroll I've ever HAD!" I couldn't say anything but "Yes, Ma. Yes, it is" Lmao...this is the effect they have on people, I'm not even exaggerating. My kindred Jerell K. felt the same way, too bad we couldn't actually make it to Lucky's (amongst other things that Homecoming weekend lol)

***Note: After writing my post on Lucky's, I ran into a damned good steak and cheese eggroll from Panda Chinese Restaurant, somewehere in NE. I ain't mad at their Chinese food either. Their steak and cheese is GOOD but I think they remain a close second behind Lucky's because they put real peppers and onions in that joint!

   Also, if you're not near a carry out and you wanna try them, they're pretty easy to make on your own! I make them for the fam when I go home since my mom went raving. All you need is:

Steak Umms (or some other thinly sliced steak product)

Egg roll wrap

Your choice of shredded cheese (feel free to mix!)

An egg

Oil

Onions, Peppers, and/or mushrooms if you like

   Sautee the steak and accoutrements and scoop spoonsfuls into the wrap (follow directions on the package for proper wrappage). Deep fry those boys for 3 to 5 mins and enjoy! :D

Dangerously Delicious Pies (H Street Corridor)

Company logo

Interior of DC location

Menu

Andy trying to snap pics of Black women who notice

    Today, I finally got the opportunity to stop into Dangerously Delicious Pies on H Street. It's the expansion of a pie shop from Baltimore where they serve both sweet and savory pies, and quiche. I've been wanting to stop in out of curiosity for a minute but when my Supervisor brought them up at work it crept its way up to the top of my food sampling list. Since I had a little time, I pulled up the menu so I wouldn't seem like a newbie when I make my order. The mixed reviews online only piqued my interests and I couldn't help but to see a set few pies recurring in all the reviews. So, when I got there I ordered the SMOG pie (Steak, Mushrooms, Onions and Gruyere) with complimentary salad and a slice of the Baltimore Bomb pie for dessert.

       Now the SMOG delivered everything it promised (big chunks of steak and mushroom in cheesy goodness) and it was GOOD but The Baltimore Bomb??? YUM! Okay? It's a pie borrowed from the original store since it was such a popular seller (DC's local pie is the Marion Berry w/Marrionberries from the Pacific Northwest served with Rock Candy--Rude, right?!). The Baltimore Bomb is, per the menu, "loaded with Berger cookies [a B-more specialty] that melt down into a sweet vanilla chess filling" and that ish don't BEGIN to describe how delicious this damn pies is!  It's like a vanilla custard base on flacky pie crust and the cookies literally melt in! Like they were creme-brulee-ed on top...it was delicious!

  

Also, H Street Corridor is on its way to being the new U Street, Adams Morgan, Dupont type area. There's new bars and restaurants galore and they're building a trolley car route through it. There's even a spa for kids and toddlers which is absolutely RIDICULOUS but that's another issue. But of course there are "Others" in all the residential streets of the main street..and you KNOW they ain't settling for Popeye's and a Foot Locker.

Either way...enjoy!

Good Stuff Eatery

         All I have to say is that the entity that is Good Food Eatery is most definitely appropriately named....YUM.  Today I finally got to go to this new spot I'd been hearing about in DC called Good Stuff Eatery. Right next door is We, the Pizza, a pizzeria under the same owner. I had heard about these places from several different sources so being able to work that into today's schedule was a great treat for me.
  

                                                  
                                                   http://www.goodstuffeatery.com/

       My roommate Brittani and I walked in around 4pm with her young nephew visiting from Detroit. For the gastronome who loves homemade burgers and hand cut fries, THIS was the burger joint for ME! I. love. burgers. They also had decadently tasty milkshakes and I don't even MESS with shakes like that. Cookies and cream with an oreo and fresh made whipped cream hit the spot but next time I wanna try the d-lechable leche or toasted marshmellow shake-- it looks DE-licious. We even met the owner's old, Jewish father who was telling us how they're expanding and his son was soon to have his own show!

           I was especially excited about how fresh all the ingredients are, one can surely taste the difference in the food. My other roomie Jamie literally exclaimed "I don't wanna eat anymore, it's just so GOOD!" I didn't  check her seat or anything but I'm pretty sure her 'gasm (expanded) to regions far lower than her mouth. Lol.

         So...if you're near the Pennsylvania Ave/Eastern market area (and even if you're not!), do YOURself a favor and stop in :o)

(Maury voice) "Until next time, America"