Bitches Who Brunch

Irish Whiskey Public House Brunch

2012-02-03T10:21:07Z

When the folks at Irish Whiskey Public House invited us in for their first day of brunch, I knew exactly who I’d take as my date—none other than the whiskey-loving, Mighty Pint regular and gorgeous girl-around-town K Street Kate. I’d last seen Kate at the Irish Whiskey opening party the week beforehand—where she told me of her plan to work her way through the restaurant and bar’s whiskey club and snag a trip to Ireland. A go-getter, that one.

The space is decorated by Maggie O’Neill, the designer behind SAX, the burlesque nightclub, and Lincoln, my favorite Logan Circle locale. With plaid, brass, wooden bars and booths, the space is a modern, unique spin on a traditional Irish pub. Oh, and it’s three stories, too.

The boys behind the bar are the owners of neighboring Mighty Pint, a popular spot for Pennsylvania sports fans. Sean McIntosh, an authentically Irish chef with a heavy accent, swoon-worthy smile and a ponytail, is the wunderkind in the kitchen, whipping up pretzel bites and delicious arctic char among other dishes.

As I am the girl who loves both a $16 cocktail at an upscale hotel bar and a PBR at a dive bar, Irish Whiskey Public House is my new go-to, as it appeals to both relaxed and refined clientele with its upscale Irish pub vibe.

As it was the first day of brunch, Chef Sean was popping over to check in and asking for tips from Kate and I.

For starters, we began with strong Irish coffees, served in a glass mug rather than a coffee cup. “Best coffee I’ve had in a while … adding whiskey would have made it even better!” was Kate’s tip.

Then, never shy, we dove right in to the entrees.

Kate ordered the loaded baked potato hash with bacon, scallions, Cabot cheese, two poached eggs and country Irish gravy, which came served in a cast iron put. It was heavy, filled with eggs, cheese, potatoes and gravy—but not a lot of bacon. The dish was very hot, which served to cook the egg more thoroughly while it sat on the table.

For me, the “From the Coast,” two poached eggs on toasted Irish soda bread with smoked salmon and seared potato puffs. With regard to the potato puffs, they are gnocchi … only Irish. Chef Sean came out to inquire about the food, asking, “Aren’t the gnocchi delicious?”

“Don’t you mean the potato puffs?” I replied. “You’ve got to make them Irish somehow!”

For the record, the potato puffs were light, flavorful and delicious—yet different enough to be puffs, rather than gnocchi.

My dish was essentially a salmon benedict. The salmon was fresh, the Béarnaise perfection, and the eggs perfectly poached. However, the dish was served on Irish soda bread—traditional bread made with soda and raisins. I’d prefer it with different bread, and, according to my sources, the chef has made the menu adjustment, now serving it with brioche.

Along the way, I gave in and ordered the house-made Bloody Mary, topped with an onion, olive and shrimp. It was so spicy—I love spicy—not too thick, and packed with flavor. The shrimp, pepper and horseradish flavors were strong. It was by far the best Bloody Mary I’ve had in recent memory—this pub definitely knows its cocktails.

We ordered the Irish soda bread French toast, served with house-made Jameson whipped cream and syrup, as “dessert.” Oddly, the French toast came served with latkes, a strange combination. The thick, fluffy French toast could have been battered more heavily with eggs, and topped with more Jameson whipped cream.

The whipped cream was amazing—and I can certainly see it making me tipsy had there been more of it. This is a really unique dish—and worth going back for. Both Kate and I suggested they ditch the latkes, add fruit, and amplify the egginess (that is so a word) and whipped cream on the dish. Such food critics, we girls.

(For the record, you can substitute a side of fruit for anything on the menu).

A handsome gentlemen at the table beside us ordered the eggs veggie—sautéed vegetables and pasteurized eggs baked and served in a cast-iron pot. This looks like a great option for brunch, as it is lighter than what Kate and I ordered.

Additionally, I was drooling over my neighbor’s roasted beet salad, served with fried camembert cheese, shredded cabbage slaw and honey orange vinaigrette. Those of you who follow me on Twitter know I’m on a beet kick—I’ll definitely be back to try it for myself.

Because I was waxing poetic over the pretzel bites from the opening party, Chef Sean sent out a half-batch (in order to prevent Cori Sue and Kate over-carbo-loading). The pretzel bites are fluffy, salted and fried, arriving with a side of spicy honey mustard dipping sauce. This is the snack I would like to have appear in my home for late-night post-bar snacking, as I can literally imagine nothing better.

As for Kate, she says “There is no lighter option on the brunch menu—I know it’s Irish traditional—but for a gal looking to watch her weight, this place would be a tough sell.” Thankfully, neither of us are much for calorie-counting. But, health maniacs should take heed.

The Bitches say: A-. Irish Whiskey Public House has a great ambiance and talented chef that uses fresh ingredients and quality preparation. A few adjustments need to be made to improve their fledgling brunch menu—but we’re thinking they can only move up from there!

Irish Whiskey Public House
1207 19th St. N.W.
Washington, D.C.
(202) 463-3010

Warehouse Bar & Grill Brunch

2012-02-01T15:04:19Z

Brunch with my mother and my best friend goes something like this:

“I’m dating the man of my dreams. We’re going to get married and have lots of babies.”

“Ugh. I can’t even think about men. Who needs them?”

“I’m in a relationship with my kitchen. It’s quite a healthy one, actually.”

We were sitting in the back of the Warehouse Bar & Grill, an Old Town restaurant right on King Street that could easily be mistaken for a tourist trap from the outside. It was just the three of us, and we were quite cozy, sipping our delicious cappuccinos in the charming restaurant, and gossiping about life, love, and real estate.

It’s funny what happens when I put my mother with my girlfriends. There is no age—they are all my closest friends, the ones I share my deepest secrets with—when we’re around a table.

Warehouse is an older (“historic,” they say) restaurant, but it’s well kept. There are white linen table cloths and mahogany accents throughout. The walls in the entrance and along the stairs to the second floor are lined with original artwork—caricatures, faces of the local gentry, some three-dimensional, in squares.

The name doesn’t do the place justice. This is not a warehouse, nor is it a bar-and-grill-type pub. At first impression, it’s a café of sorts, with a long bar connecting two dining rooms.

The service was fantastic. Our waiter was exceptionally attentive and kind. In fact, the service was so good it made us overlook the flaws in the food. He just swept us off our feet with his charm. Our coffee was refilled without asking, our plates whisked away without us even noticing. It made the brunch flow smoothly—and it’s wonderful when you don’t have any interruptions to a meal, especially when you’re in the thick of some good gossip.

With your brunch order, you get a choice of champagne with strawberries, or strawberries and cream with powdered cinnamon on top. I got the champagne, which was warm and tasted a bit like the bottle had been open for a day or two. But, even though it was no ice cold Veuve Clicquot, it was still a nice complimentary touch to the meal.

The strawberries and cream dish was so simple and refreshing. This should be served before brunch everywhere. It refreshed the palette between multiple cups of coffee and our brunch entrees. Also, they do leave a basket of bread slices on the table, but the bread is a bit tough, and the butter hard to slice into. Perhaps that’s their unintentional nod to tough French bread.

Warehouse claims it is expert in aged steaks and seafood, but really the menu showed it to be a southern Louisiana-style French restaurant. There’s everything from Po’Boys to Creole Alligator Stew to Crawfish and Shrimp Beignets.

The best part of the brunch was that the dishes came with a side of steamed vegetables—instead of the normal greasy breakfast potatoes. It was a great surprise, and we ladies felt slightly more healthy because of it. The eggs Benny was standard—the egg properly poached, with a Tasso ham hollandaise.

The Eggs Hussarde was similar. The New Orleans specialty was simply Eggs Benedict with the addition of grilled sliced tomato and a red wine sauce. Though, the tomato wasn’t really grilled. And, also, we suspect, it might have made the Bitch who ate it a bit ill later that day. Oof.

The open-faced omelet came covered with ruffle chips. They weren’t particularly spicy or tasty, but added a nice texture to the dish once they were broken up. The omelet itself was covered with onions and andouille sausage.

For dessert, I really wanted chocolate beignets, or some kind of fluffy dessert beignets. Alas, they had none on the menu—a big disappointment considering the rest of their menu is so Cajun. Instead, we ordered the chocolate hazelnut crème brulee, which was a beautiful dish, very rich, and perfect to share between three gossiping girls.

The Bitches say: B+ Great service in a welcoming restaurant with personality, average food but with a few creative touches.

Warehouse Bar & Grill
214 King Street
Alexandria, V.A.
(703)683-6868

Warehouse Bar & Grill serves Saturday and Sunday brunch.

Bitches on Vacay: Brunch in Bogota

2012-01-31T15:29:52Z

“Summer lovin, had me a blast. Summer lovin, happened so fast. Met a boy, crazy for me,” I crooned, batting my eyelashes, flipping my hair, and envisioning myself a blonde in leather pants akin to Sandy in Grease.

“Met a girl, cute as can be,” replied my dance partner, in a Spanish accent so thick I’m not sure he even knew what he was singing.

“Summer days driftin’ away, to uh-oh those summer nights. Uh well-a well-a well-a huh,” we continued on emphatically. My hardly-21-year-old Colombian dance partner spun me around, dipping me as my costume crown falls to the ground.

I am sunburnt (from climbing a mountain), wearing a tiara and a sash, along with various other assorted props. I’m drunk off of bad oldies tunes and one far-too-strong-and-larger-than-life mojito. It’s New Year’s Eve. My teeny bopper dance moves are unstoppable.

Where the hell am I?

Andres Carne de Res, a five-floor amusement-style restaurant-turned-night-club that boasts a 15-page menu, overpriced and oversized tropical beverages and more steak and frivolity than even the most American of Americans could fathom. Waitresses wear an assortment of buttons. Other employees assault you with puppets. People put crowns and sashes on you. It’s like TGIFridays, or Fudruckers. But on steroids, and in Colombia.

In Colombia? You say. Like the country?

Yes, Colombia, that drug-invested dangerous country where you’re sure to get carried off by the FARC and held for ransom, according to my overly concerned relatives.

Why, you ask?

In another one of my hair-brained whirlwind plans, I’d dragged my god sister and oldest friend, Anna, off to Bogota for New Year’s holiday (much to my god-parents’ dismay). Because, it would be fun, and well, why not?

Why Colombia? (Everyone asked).

Well, allow me to elaborate … and then get to brunch. Here’s my short list on why—and what you should do—when you visit Colombia.

1.) Have fun. For starters, there are spectacular establishments like Arnes Carne de Res where you can stuff yourself with delicious cuisine, flamboyant cocktails and dance to Euro House music, Spanish salsa tunes and American pop all-at-once.

2.) Experience an amazing country. I’m not here to give you a geography or history lesson. But, Colombia is one of the most beautiful countries out there—there are mountains, jungles, tropical and Caribbean beaches. There are bustling and thriving cities—epicenters of culture for you to enjoy. You can climb a mountain in the jungle one day, relax on a Caribbean beach the next, and visit world-class museums another.

3.) Be cheap—and go shopping. The exchange rate of U.S. dollars to Colombian pesos two-to-one and everything is dirt cheap. Spirit Airlines and Jet Blue fly to three major Colombian cities—Bogota, Cartagena and Medellin—and you can snag a ticket for less money than it takes to get to California. Colombia is the emerald capital of the world. In addition to emeralds, there are all sorts of authentic, hand-made indigenous gold jewels and beaded baubles, Panama hats, tapestries, hammocks. You name it.

4.) Have an adventure. While in Colombia, we climbed a tropical mountain. We also took a bike tour through the very hilly and traffic filled downtown Bogota. Ecotourism, tropical wildlife, scenic hikes, hang gliding, scuba diving and whale watching—you can do all that and more in Colombia.

5.) Eat fresh. Colombia has an abundance of tropical fruit. Every morning, everywhere, you can drink fresh-squeezed mango, orange, lemon, pineapple or coconut juice. There are street stands selling fresh cups of mango, papaya and pineapple for two pesos, or less than a dollar, on every corner. On the weekend, there are markets filled with tropical fruits like you’ve never seen in your life.

6.) Drink beer. Like everything else, Colombian beer is cheap, and light. One of the nation’s signature beverages is a cerveza michelada, basically a beergarita—lime, salt, and beer. It’s delicious, trust me.

7.) See beauty—even in fat people. Bogota’s Museo de Oro, or museum of gold, has the world’s largest share of gold artifacts and is listed in the Thousand Places to See Before You Die. Additionally, Fernando Botero, the Colombian painter who paints morbidly fat people and somehow makes them cute, has his namesake museum around the corner.

8.) Brunch (or breakfast). One day, we hopped over to La Puerta Falsa, an adorable breakfast café hidden in la Candelaria, the historical part of town, that was founded in 1816. We climbed up the wooden stairs to a loft-style portion of the restaurant and ordered Colombia’s three traditional dishes.

First, huevos pericos, scrambled eggs with tomatos and onions and served in a cast iron skillet. No matter where you go in Colombia, huevos pericos are served the same way.

Then, a tamale, a combination of yellow cumin rice, chicken, onions, and peppers served inside a banana leaf. Warm, delicious and filling.

Saving the best for last, Colombians eat cheese dipped in hot chocolate for breakfast. Sounds bizarre, but it’s not. Rich, dark hot chocolate comes served with huge slices of fluffy buttered bread and a soft, mildly flavored cheese, which you dip into the hot chocolate.

Though at first hesitant, I can honestly say it was delicious. But, feeding me bread, cheese and chocolate in one meal is likely to garner positive reviews

La Puerta Falsa
Calle 11 No 6-50
Bogota, Colombia

Also, in Colombia, they have llamas, which is clear reason to buy your plane ticket.

This Week: Jan. 30 – Feb. 5

2012-01-30T15:21:15Z

Cori Sue is in Amsterdam this week, romping around canals and tulips, van Gogh paintings and windmills. You know. Dutch things.

Meanwhile, here in D.C., there’s plenty going on. Yours truly will be party-hopping all week long.

Monday

Tonight, Katherine Kennedy is hosting a happy hour to celebrate the launch of the Prevent Cancer Foundation Young Professionals Group. It’s a free event, and a cause that’s definitely worth getting involved in and supporting. Join her at Irish Whiskey Public House, 6 to 8 p.m. 1207 19th St. NW.

Tuesday

Chef Raynold Mendizabal is expanding the burger love by opening a second late-night burger joint, this time on the corner of 14th and U Street. This is fantastic news for those utterly sick of Jumbo Slice, as Black & Orange will be open until 5 a.m. I’ll be at the opening event Tuesday night. 1931 14th St. NW.

Black & Orange Burger, Photo Credit: REVAMP.com

Wednesday

Kickball leagues are so 2009. The sold-out 2012 District Karaoke is the newest way to be social in the district. If you were lucky enough to snag a spot in the winter 2012 season, you’ll be heading to Policy Wednesday night for the pre-season kickoff party. The first night of league play will be Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. If you’re not on a team, then stop by to rate each performer on how well they sing it, bring it, or schwing it. 1904 14th St. NW.

Or head to the W to meet Simon Doonan, creative ambassador at large for Barneys New York. He’ll be celebrating his new book “Gay Men Don’t Get Fat” with book signings, tres chic prizes, drink specials, and more. It will be his only D.C.-area appearance, so don’t miss it. 7 to 9 p.m. in the Altitude Rooftop Ballroom, 515 15th St. NW.

Simon Doonan at the W Hotel

Thursday

The first Thursday of the month means live music, gallery talks, modern art, food, and a cash bar at the Phillips Collection for its Phillips After 5. It also means you get to check out the latest exhibition while mingling with a hundred other young professionals. Not a bad night out. Tickets are $12, or free for members. 1600 21st St. NW.

Friday

Two great options for dinner tonight. First, Wolfgang Puck himself is coming to The Source for a special Chinese New Year dinner this Friday. The dinner will be five courses, with dishes like lobster dumplings and Peking duck, and even homemade fortune cookies, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. $125 per person, or $175 with wine pairings. 575 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.

If that price tag is a bit hefty, Cashion’s Eat Place is offering more fantastic food (a six-course tasting menu) for less. Two nights only, this Friday and Saturday, Chef John will be serving up his favorite dishes, plus a few surprises from the kitchen. Optional wine pairings with each course. Reservations suggested due to limited availability. $85 per person, or $105 with wine pairings. 1819 Columbia Road NW.

Port City Brewery is celebrating one year of business by releasing ONE, a Belgian Imperial Stout, simultaneously in various restaurants and bars at 6 p.m. on Friday night. They brewed only one batch, and it will be available on only one day, to celebrate the milestone for the craft brewery. The list of places that will be tapping their kegs will be posted on Port City’s Facebook and Twitter feeds this week.

Saturday

Luke’s Wings will host Fashion Takes Flight, a swank and high energy fashion show featuring designs by Walish Gooshe, Streets of Georgetown, Nam Nguyen, Donovan England and Ella Rue. This year, the show will be held at one of the most unique venues in Washington, the Stars and Stripes Club of Nationals Park. Get tickets here. Save 15 percent by using the discount code “lukeswings.”

A collection of hilarious and eclectic films from past DC Shorts Film Festivals will be shown Friday and Saturday at the Riot Act Comedy Theater as part of DC Shorts Laughs. The event will feature 38 of DC Shorts’s top laugh-out-loud comedies from previous festivals along with local comedians who will perform stand-up between the films. For a complete schedule and for more information on the comedians that will be performing, click here.

Sunday

After you’re done raiding Jason Wu for Target, of course, it will be time for brunch and then Super Bowl parties. We recommend you head to Hudson for its Super Bowl Owner’s Suite Party (perhaps even go there for brunch and stick around, as they’ll be serving the brunch menu until 4 p.m.). Beginning at 4:30, there will be drink specials, specialty cocktails for each of the quarters, plus $5 dishes such as sliders, wings, and more. The game will be on four large-screen TVs. 2030 M St. NW.

Have a fabulous week!

The Lust List: Spring Style, Jason Wu for Target

2012-01-27T14:29:33Z

Ladies, start your engines. Then mark your calendar for Sunday, February 5, when you will hop in your car and head to your nearest Target because the Jason Wu for Target collection has arrived.

While the Bitches’ excitement for capsule collections varies—we loved Rodarte for Target, waited in line for hours for Lanvin for H&M with no success, and skipped Versace for H&M all together—I am of the opinion that Jason Wu for Target is sure to be worth the trip.

Though, I can’t vouch for the quality of the clothing until I see it in person, I’ll surely be making a trip to Target-boutique, as my Mother calls it.

Jason Wu’s collection is ladylike, structured and clean. The looks are fun and playful without being ridiculous and over-the-top like some of the Lanvin frocks or the Versace prints.

It seems that Jason Wu played it fairly safe with this collection, which is not unlike him: most of his collections are no-frills investment pieces that are appropriate for the classic, responsible American woman. Most of the dresses in the Target collection you can wear for work and play, and no look is so extreme that it will go out of style next year.

With structured bodices and full skirts, lady-like top-handled bags and belted cardigans, Wu’s collection evokes a 1950s Mad Men style theme. Again, it’s clear that Wu played it safe, as Mad Men attire has been all-the-rage for two years now.

That being said, I’m lusting after a few of the pieces. As far as colors go, Wu has a lot of red, white and blue as well as white and black (again, two safe combos). Additionally, a few pieces are pastel, which is a big trend for spring.

Here are my picks from the collection.

A dress perfect for a spring day in the office or a summer Fourth of July BBQ.

A classic, lovely dress in a great cut. Wear with tights and black ballet flats now and with fun pumps later.

A sexy outfit to take from work to a dinner date with a handsome man. I love pairing silk long-sleeved blouses with pencil skirts.

Structured bags that are a nice addition to your handbag repository.

Check out the full collection, here.

The Passenger Brunch

2012-01-26T15:28:27Z

The Passenger is suffering from multiple personality disorder. But I think it’s comfortable with that—and its customers are, too.

When you walk in, you think, oh, laid-back hipster bar … let me saddle up in my skinny jeans and order myself a PBR. But then you scratch the surface a bit, or perhaps walk further back towards The Columbia Room, and you realize that there’s much, much more to the place than you originally thought.

The split might be because it’s owned and run by two brothers, who have each put their own very unique stamp on the place. Tom is at the front of the house, with its cracked old booths and refurbished wooden bar. Derek is the master of the back of the house, or The Columbia Room, an upscale 10-seat cocktail club in a dimly lit private room that requires reservations way in advance.

Together, the brothers have quietly turned the creation of ingenious cocktails into a science. And The Passenger is their laboratory, complete with self-made cordials and bitters, and hand-carved ice.

And then there’s the brunch, which isn’t served in The Columbia Room (c’mon Derek, give us a Columbia Room brunch and I might just die). Instead, it’s in the main part of the restaurant, and is a self-proclaimed “hangover brunch,” meaning they don’t even open their doors until 2 p.m. It also means the cocktails are strong enough to destroy even the worst of hangovers.

I should have been really, really hungover to properly experience this brunch. And Lord knows I usually am at brunches. The irony—I spent that morning sober, working out, doing laundry, and generally being rather productive. So I was surprisingly alive when downing these “Hair of the Dog” cocktails.

For nostalgic reasons, I ordered the Sherry Cobbler. My grandmother drinks sherry, and when I visit her in England, she urges me to have some, and serves it in tiny crystal sherry glasses. But when not appeasing grandma, I’ve generally avoided the stuff. It’s just not my favorite. But then the Passenger suggests it makes a good cocktail, and so I can’t resist. For this drink, they’ve made it like a sangria, with orange juice and fresh fruit bobbing about. It was completely refreshing, and didn’t taste of sherry much at all.

Cori Sue went for the most mimosa-like of the cocktails, the South 75. It was served in a champagne flute, but the bubbly was mixed with grapefruit juice and gin. It was slightly sweet and had a berry at the bottom. Delicious.

Being very manly, Saro ordered the Aperol Spritzer, which was a bit bitter, but the most mellow of the cocktails. In addition to those we tried, there’s also the Danish Mary, a Red-Eye (beer and spicy tomato juice), and the Corpse Reviver, which is reputed to rise the dead. And in addition to the actual brunch cocktails, there’s also the ever-revolving list of unique daily cocktails that are on the chalkboard by the bar.

The hangover brunch itself is tiny—only six things to choose from, one of which is vegetarian. We started off by sharing the biscuits and gravy, which was actually only one biscuit in a bowl of gravy. But our disappointment at the size of the dish was quickly replaced by satisfaction when we actually tasted the stuff.

That pork gravy was warm, tasty, and had big chunks of pork throughout. By far, it is one of the tastiest biscuits and gravy I’ve had in D.C.—I just wish they served this as a full dish with more biscuits.

The single vegetarian option was the Chilaquiles, or Javier’s hangover cure, as touted on the menu. Cori Sue, of course, went for that. It was crispy, spicy tortilla chips, served with avocado and a fried egg.

Cori Sue loves herself something spicy—take note, future Latin lovers—and really enjoyed the chili-dusted strips. However, the whole plate was a mess of chips with one meager egg and a few avocado slices. There just simply wasn’t enough avocado to go around—and soon enough she was left with a plate of spicy carbs and no real food.

Never fearful of carbs (or cheese), we then opted to dig in to the black-truffle mac and cheese, one of the finest in the city. Cori Sue has eaten a lot of mac-n-cheese, and even makes a dish that’s better than sex, but this truffle concoction is definitely one of the best.

It’s served in an iron skillet and baked so there’s a gorgeous layer of crusted cheese on top. It’s not on the brunch menu, but you can order plates from the bar menu during brunch if you’d like.

Angie’s Birthday was two pancakes, or bacon jacks (cooked in bacon grease, how pancakes should be), with an egg sunny side up. It had fresh berries on the side, as well. Saro ordered this, and was fine with it, though it wasn’t anything special.

The Waffle Sandwich (sounds amazing, doesn’t it?), was two waffle quarters with bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiched in between. Like the biscuit and gravy, this dish was so delicious I wanted more. Why can’t I have the whole damn waffle as a sandwich?

On the side, there were fresh berries, and of course a saucer of syrup to pour on the waffle sandwich. We didn’t try the Corned Beef Hash or the Pork Belly Bowl, as they were a bit too carnivorous for our liking that day.

The restaurant was just named one of the 50 Best Bars by Food & Wine magazine—and you can see why. If you’re too hungover to eat, I would suggest just sitting at the bar and nursing yourself with hair of the dog. It’s such a neighborhood joint, you wouldn’t even have to worry about being bothered by tourists.

In fact, the place is so very D.C., down to the three-starred flag weaved into its logo on the front windows. Great music is always pumping through the speakers, and there’s very little decoration besides some time-lapse photography of the city, and of course the beautiful curved wooden ceiling—made from reclaimed wood from the building—in the back room. It’s clearly the product of the Brown brothers, even if they have such different personalities.

The Bitches say: A. Amazing cocktails, great food (though we wish some of the best dishes were a little bigger), and a true D.C. neighborhood bar, with dual personalities that make it both upscale and down.

The Passenger
1021 7th Street Northwest
Washington D.C., DC 20001
(202) 393-0220

Recap: Brunch! New Year, Healthy Bitches

2012-02-01T05:25:16Z

My, my, what healthy Bitches we’ve become.

We hosted our second ever Bitches Who Brunch event this past Sunday in partnership with One Medical Group. More than one hundred women (and one very lucky Bro Who Brunches) enjoyed a yoga or pilates class taught by the skilled teachers at Mint Wellness in the beautiful, open and airy studios at the downtown location.

Following the toning and stretching, our guests, clad in colorful yoga gear, enjoyed a brunch catered by Spilled Milk. There were bite-sized quiches and mini grilled vegetable paninis with pesto mayonnaise passed among the crowds.

Keeping with the healthy theme, the buffet offered fresh fruit platters, fresh muffins (including a to-die-for pumpkin and walnut variation), caprese salad skewers and a Mediterranean platter complete with roasted red pepper hummus, tabbouleh, and tzatziki served with marinated olives and pita chips.

Because we were post-workout, the beverages at this brunch were non-alcoholic. Ladies sipped on mint-mango mojitos with fruit skewer garnishes, iced pomegranate juice, and hot and cold herbal teas.

However, because Cori Sue can’t live without dessert, heavenly key lime squares—tart, delicious with a crumbly graham cracker crust—were available for a bit of indulgence. A lime is a fruit, after all, isn’t it?

Following the brunch, guests received gift bags with a complimentary first-year membership to One Medical Group, and a few lucky ladies won spa and fitness packages to Mint through a raffle drawing.

As mentioned, our lovely little shindig occurred in partnership with One Medical Group, boutique, member-supported doctor’s offices launching in Washington, D.C. One Medical is revolutionizing healthcare and provides everything busy Bitches need—from same-day appointments to doctors who actually answer your e-mails the same day.

We believe health is of the utmost importance and thus, we’re happy we could introduce you to such a fabulous new service. (Those of you who attended—sign up for your free membership with the offer code before February 19. Those of you who didn’t, please e-mail us with One Medical inquiries.)

A big thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy the event! We always enjoy meeting our readers, especially if it involves brunch.

To see all the photos from the event, head to our Facebook page.

Until next time, kittens.

Bitches in the Kitchen: Mummy Love’s Winter Soup

2012-01-24T15:31:49Z

My very delightful, very British mother, Sylvia, came for a visit over the weekend. I think she was actually still a bit miffed that she had to miss last summer’s Summer Brunch Soiree, and so she absolutely had to be here for our second event, Sunday’s yoga brunch.

She illustrated the invitations’ artwork, featuring me and Cori Sue doing yoga poses—along with our Bitches Who Brunch logo over to the left of this—and so she wanted to offer her adorable yoga greeting cards to our guests (they’re available online here, too).

But, besides the event, we were entirely unmotivated to do much in D.C. due to the nasty freezing weather. And so we set about reading, watching movies, and just generally relaxing in my cozy apartment with tea and yummy food.

Last night, I came home from work soggy and frozen—it was not rain, not snow, but freezing mist—so she quickly whipped up some soup. And when I say quickly, I mean quickly. I had always thought that homemade soup requires food processors, hard-to-find vegetables, and hours simmering in a pot. Apparently, it simply requires some chicken, veggies, and stock.

Mummy Love’s Easy Peasy Winter Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

Three boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Chicken stock, 32 ounces
Bowtie Egg Noodles, 6 ounce box (or, half a 12 ounce box)
Olive oil
½ a stick of butter
1 bag of carrots, peeled and sliced
1 big white onion, chopped
1 bag of celery, chopped
Salt and pepper
Oregano
Basil
Cumin

Chop the chicken breasts into cubes and cook on the stove top in a bit of olive oil. From Mummy Love: “Just seal the chicken, they don’t need to be cooked through, the soup itself will cook them through.” Put them on a plate to the side.

Butter the bottom of a big soup pot that’s on medium heat, then put the chopped vegetables in to sauté them. Top them with salt and pepper and cook until the onions are transparent.

Pour a carton of chicken broth in. “Yes, the whole 32 ounces. Yes, you can do it the hard way and cook the chicken and use the chicken juices. Or you can do it the easy way and just buy chicken broth.”

Put the chicken in; add oregano and basil, and “just a pinch of cumin for a kick.” Put a lid on the pot and let that cook on medium for about 30 minutes. Make sure it doesn’t boil.

Add a cup of water to the soup mixture, and then put egg noodles, uncooked, into the pot 15 minutes before you want to eat it. With this soup, you don’t boil the pasta, you just keep it at its steady medium, and so the pasta is al dente, and not soggy. Done!

This Week: Jan 23-29

2012-01-23T14:36:15Z

We’re still reeling from yesterday’s fabulous yoga brunch. Hopefully that bit of zen will continue through this week …

Monday

Celebrate the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon by stuffing your face with—what else—amazing Chinese food. We suggest The Source for their phenomenal dim sum. Or if you want to go more traditional, head south to Fortune out in Falls Church. This week only, Zentan in the Donovan House is offering a four-course prix fixe of authentic Chinese dishes.

Tuesday

Lots of State of the Union parties happening in our nation’s capitol. If you want to be serious about politics, head to any of the area Busboys & Poets for a watch party and panel discussions. If you want to get silly, try Ventnor Sports Café in Adams Morgan, which is hosting a massive viewing party drinking game. Simply choose a word (like healthcare or Democrat) and every time the president says it, you get a $1 Jello shot.

Wednesday

Red Rocks in Columbia Heights and Siema Wines is hosting a five-course dinner paired with Italian wines Wednesday evening. Everything from wild boar meatballs to poached pears to their infamous pizza will be served. Reception and apps start at 6:30. $50 per person. Email info@redrocksdc.com to make your reservation.

Thursday

Surely a party called “Apocalyptoon” is bound to be a blast. Artisphere’s newest exhibit opens Thursday night with an Art Soiree featuring live music from Suspicious Package and DJ Neekola. The exhibit itself features editorial and political cartoons from newspapers around the world. Tickets are $25 online and $30 at the door. 1101 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA.

Friday

I am kind of ridiculously excited about the new Society Fair in Old Town. It’s from the makers of Virtue Feed & Grain, which has lately become my go-to Alexandria dinner spot. Society Fair is a wine bar (serving some food), coffee bar, and market. It’s the best of Restaurant Eve, PX, the Majestic, and Virtue, all in one place—and for sale to take home.

Saturday

Help A.M. Wine Shoppe celebrate its second anniversary with a party this Saturday. Free tastings, demonstrations, and special deals from 1 to 7 p.m. Cocktail sensation Adam Bernbach of Proof and Estadio will be on hand to pour sips of his latest favorite drink, along with Cashion’s sous chef Sarah Smith and a few favorite distributors and purveyors. The event will raise money for Food & Friends, a local non-profit that delivers meals to people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses. Get tickets and info here.

Sunday

Eatonville restaurant is hosting a Hats & Fans brunch this weekend. Wear your best hat or bring a fancy fan and get a complimentary champagne punch. How fabulous!

Bitches on Vacay: Brunch at La Crêperie in Key West

2012-01-20T16:34:34Z

Over the weekend I flew south to defrost. I hadn’t been to Key West since my 21st birthday, during which I got sloppy at Sloppy Joe’s and did other things that were equally as cliché. I thought the little island would be worth a second visit now that I’m slightly older and wiser and not as much of a lush (OK, I’m still a lush, but that’s beside the point).

I needed a weekend to decompress and unwind—because clearly seven days in the Caribbean was just not enough—and I was lucky enough to be treated to a weekend at the Waldorf Astoria’s Casa Marina resort, which provided that relaxation to the extreme.

The resort is stunning—worthy of expensive weddings and resortwear fashion shoots. The lobby opens up to a grand promenade leading down to a pristine private beach. Hammocks swing from slender palm trees, waiters scuttle about answering to your every whim, and two pools mirror each other, serenely inviting you for a dip.

My whim, for practically the entire weekend, was to lounge in a hammock. In fact, on Saturday, my entire day consisted of getting out of bed, getting in a hammock, ordering brunch from said hammock, and then slipping in and out of consciousness until it was dinner time, which was again ordered from the hammock while watching the most beautiful sun sink below the horizon.

It was bliss. That’s not all I did, though. I was a rebel. I looked up the top things to do in Key West, per various travel blogs and magazines, and I completely blew off all the suggestions, which included such things as the Hemingway house (nope, not with that line), the lighthouse (meh), the Southernmost point (zzzzzzzzzzz), and touristy Mallory square (I think I’ve seen enough cruise ship passengers this month).

Instead, I give you …

The top five things to do in Key West, if you’re a Bitch:

1. Spend at least 12 hours in a hammock at Casa Marina (see above).

2. Giggle in delight over the ridiculously naughty dessert menu at Better Than Sex. All the cocktails have rim jobs (read: dipped in dark Belgian chocolate), and all the desserts are extravagantly rich and decadent. We had the namesake Better Than Sex, a cake baked in a “ménage a trois” of chocolates. There are even books full of dirty questions on the tables as conversation starters.

3. Have a fancy-pants seafood dinner. It’s fresh as can be, and island chefs know how to prepare fish right. We went to Hot Tin Roof, right on the water in the Ocean Key Resort. The service was excellent, the lighting perfect (the menus lit up when you opened them), and the food fresh.

4. Get up early to brunch at Blue Heaven. The place is known for its eclectic character and charm, with chickens wandering around at your feet, and a reggae musician hitting the metal drums from a stage. You eat in a rustic back garden, and the food is supposed to be superb. There is reportedly a lobster Benedict with key lime hollandaise sauce that is to die for. Alas, we got there at 1 p.m., and so the wait was an hour and a half. We were starved, so we waddled across the street to …

5. Brunch at La Creperie. Sit at the bar, which gives you direct view of the most hardworking couple of French women I’ve ever seen slap crepes around. It was mesmerizing watching Yolande Findlay and Sylvie Le Nouail spread the gooey buckwheat mixture on three crepe makers, and pile up the fresh sliced strawberries, pears, apples, Brie, goat cheese … you name it.

The breakfast crepes were phenom. We tried La Complète, which was filled with egg, Swiss cheese, and sausage (though you could have bacon or ham, if you prefer). The lunch crepes were even better. I had one with Brie, bacon, and chopped Granny Smith apple, which came with an apple slice on top. It sounds like an odd combination, but it was extraordinarily delicious.

We were so impressed—and mesmerized by Yolande and Sylvie in action—we went for a dessert crepe, the special, which is filled with homemade chocolate ganache, fresh strawberries, almonds, and raspberry coulis. And on top? Whipped cream, a big scoop of ice cream, sliced bananas and strawberries, and all of this topped with chocolate syrup, powdered sugar, and almond shavings. Out of control.

So there you have it. While you’re in Key West, I recommend you do nothing but stuff yourself with the island’s food. Because nothing makes a better vacation than that.

La Creperie
300 Petronia St.
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 517-6799