Washington DC Metro Restaurant Reviews and Food Talk

Rasika West End Exemplifies in Service

2012-05-26T10:44:00.001-07:00

The vibe was very positive as I entered the new Rasika West End on 22nd and M to meet a friend Rozanne Weissman a award winning communicator and connector in the DC area. The first person I met was a well dressed gentleman on the phone, who opened the door for me and flashed a welcome smile. He later introduced himself to me as Ashok Bajaj the savvy DC restaurateur who opened Bombay Club 20 years ago close to the White House. I was early and as I took a seat at the bar, a glass of water appeared magically. Every one who entered was greeted with a passion and all employees made eye contact with customers and greeted them pleasantly almost like they were trained by the same trainer as the Ritz Carlton. The standard of service and the orchestration of the restaurant really impressed me. Water glasses were magically filled. You just had to look like you wanted to ask a question and someone would appear to answer your question.
Food was nice, we decided to order 3 appetizers : a Mango Shrimp, Tawa Fish , Palak chaat accompanied by a Chive and Olive Nan and a Malabari Paratha. The entrée Kolhapuri chicken with rice was excellent.

Palak Chat

From Rasika West End

Malabari Paratha

From Rasika West End

Mango Shrimp

From Rasika West End

I would rate this restaurant very high not only on the food experience but for being on of the best examples of restaurant serving standards. The operations run like an orchestra with General Manager Atul managing this operation.I was impressed by Ashok Bajaj being at the restaurant frontlines himself. I would definitely recommend a visit.
I parked on the street at a 2 hour parking spot that cost me about $4. The Ritz Carlton is right opposite the Rasika – West End.

You, Too, Can Dine Like ‘Superstar' at Al Tiramisu; Media Followed George Clooney Everywhere in DC— Except for Dinner at Al Tiramisu

2012-05-23T04:30:00.000-07:00

Responding to increased customer interest in Al Tiramisu's updated celebrity photo wall and web gallery and intense media focus on celebrities at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner and pre-and post-parties, Chef-Owner Luigi Diotaiuti debuts a "Superstar Dinner" to mark the restaurant's 16th year in business.

For the first anniversary of Al Tiramisu, the most authentic Italian restaurant in the nation's capital, Chef Luigi created a popular "Big Night" feast from the Italian film by the same name,and long-term patrons have been urging the chef to create other special dinners.

"So," relates Chef Luigi, "I thought about customer questions, like: 'What did the Prime Minister of Italy eat?' 'What did various celebrities eat?' 'Can we have a similar dinner for special occasions?' and 'My girlfriend is such a fan of George Clooney. She would be so impressed if I proposed to her over a dinner he ate here.' "And, I realize everyone wants the opportunity to dine like a superstar," concludes the gregarious Italian chef who talks with his hands.

Actually, "Clooney-mania" was the impetus for increased customer questions which spurred the idea for the new dinner offering. Media went into overdrive with two spring visits to DC by handsome actor director George Clooney for the late April black-tie White House Correspondents' Association Dinner and multiple March commitments.

Paparazzi and media covered his every March move—testifying before Congress on a humanitarian crisis, dining next to First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House official dinner for British Prime Minister David Cameron, and getting handcuffed and arrested by the Secret Service for protesting at the Sudanese embassy. Covering his arrest, media even reported that notorious prankster Clooney identified himself as “Brad Pitt."

Clooney did give media the slip for dinner at Al Tiramisu, the cozy, joyful Dupont Circle establishment. Dinner for seven included his parents, journalist father Nick Clooney who got arrested with his son, mom Nina Clooney, and four others.

Having dined at Al Tiramisu about 20 times—three times with his parents—Clooney is ensured privacy from patrons though tables are close. He leaves the food and wine selection to chef/ owner Luigi Diotaiuti who describes the superstar as "fun, energetic, and real." The two men share a sense of playfulness and charm. Chef Luigi's guiding philosophy for Al Tiramisu: "I want people to have great food AND a great time."

Proclaims Chef Luigi, "Now you, too, can dine like a Superstar at Al Tiramisu." That doesn't mean that you will have the exact same morsel-for-morsel meal as any single celebrity. It means that like them you put yourself in the talented hands of Chef Luigi to devise a menu for you based on the season and availability that day, including “insider” signature dishes which are not on the menu. Here is a sampling of what that might be:

Antipasti: Sampler of 4-5 seasonal Al Tiramisu signature appetizers Grilled Portobello mushroom, roasted stuffed pepper, Buffalo mozzarella. May also include Grilled baby octopus, breaded grilled calamari
Le paste: Homemade Taglierine pasta, shaved fresh white truffles or Arborio rice Risotto with Porcini mushrooms
I secondi: Grilled Branzino Mediterranean Sea bass, extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice
Dolce: Tiramisu Classico (Additional dessert sampling depending on numbers of people

Prix fixe menu per person PLUS tax and gratuity: food only $75; with paired Italian wines to match the food selections, $95—priced in case your earnings don't yet match that of a superstar. A certified Sommelier, Chef Luigi could also recommend exceptional wines of rare vintage ordered by wine connoisseurs and superstars. Phone for "Superstar Dinner" reservations: 202-467-4466.

Clooney's March 15 visit to Al Tiramisu wrapped up the end of the restaurant's year-long dual anniversary celebrations for its 15th year and Italy's 150th year as a republic—with cooking classes from the 20 regions of Italy. How appropriate to mark these milestones since Clooney—with his vacation home, Villa Oleandra in Laglio, on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy—calls Italy his second home.

Al Tiramisu, 2014 P St. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Reservations: 202-467-4466. Valet parking seven nights a week 6-10 PM.

Guest Author: Rozanne Weissman Award-Winning Marketing Communications Consultant and a good friend of mine

Taco Lu in Jacksonville FL

2012-05-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

View the story "Dinner at Taco Lu in Jacksonville FL" on StorifyDinner at Taco Lu in Jacksonville FLI was in JAX and DUncan Alney had some to town as well. I connected with Nick CIcero and we asked for recommendations on Twitter for " Beach, Mexican and Tequila" and Taco Lu was the favoriteStorified by Shashi Bellamkonda · Tue, May 08 2012 23:03:27ShashiBellamkondaShashiBellamkondaShashiBellamkondaShashiBellamkondaShashiBellamkondaJacksonville Beach & Taco LuShashiBellamkondaThis was a Joe's Crab Shack down the road at the beach@shashib glad you enjoyed it! @JaxFoodCritic @MusesFled @monicaearle @TacoLu @firebelly @nickciceroTim M.Thanks @JaxFoodCritic @musesfled @monicaearle @tdjaxtim great recommendation -@tacolu cc @firebelly @nickciceroShashi BellamkondaRT @shashib: With @firebelly @nickcicero at @tacolu Nice food http://ow.ly/i/C8h8Nick CiceroPhoto: Tacolu in Jacksonville FL (Taken with instagram) http://tmblr.co/Z4iXbyL7yOoSShashi Bellamkondajax rocks! New friends already!! @JaxFoodCritic @musesfled @nickcicero @monicaearle @tacolu @tdjaxtim @shashibDuncan AlneyI'm at TacoLu (Jax Beach, FL) w/ 5 others http://4sq.com/K0sAayNick Cicero@MusesFled @nickcicero @tacolu @tdjaxtim @firebelly @shashib I'm with themHit up TacoLu and get a Bangin' Shrimp taco. It's made by unicornsJaxFoodCritic@monicaearle @nickcicero @musesfled @tacolu @tdjaxtim @firebelly @shashib here is my reviews of them. http://jaxfoodcritic.com/tacolu-restaurant-review/JaxFoodCritic@nickcicero @MusesFled @tacolu @tdjaxtim @firebelly @shashib you have to do a shotski while you're there! & the verde taco is the best.Monica Earle@TacoLu would be my recommendation as well, @TDJaxTim @nickcicero @firebelly @shashibAliera Peterson

Bethesda's Panasgourmet.com

2012-05-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

Panas Gourmet Empanadas

4731 Elm Street
Bethesda, MD
(301) 657-7371

It is fast food " Latin fusion gourmet empanadas" and very different from the food I usually eat. I have seen many vans drive selling empanadas but had not ventured to try them because I was scare of looking foolish not knowing what to ask for. I took the lunch special and a combo of Chicken Pesto, Chicken Melodia and Samba Shrimp. See the picture below and you will see the letters of the dish embossed on the Empanadas. Very delicious and nice with the spicy dipping sauces. Definitely worth a visit and have assortment of Latin American beers including Cusquena.

From Panasgourmet.com

April 13 Whole Foods Market’s “Fishmonger Face-Off” at Whole Foods Market Rockville @ 1 PM.

2012-04-10T11:25:00.001-07:00

On April 13 Whole Foods Market’s expert fishmongers will go head-to-head in our first ever “Fishmonger Face-Off” at Whole Foods Market Rockville @ 1 PM.

Beyond the Red Sauce Matt Fineralli at the One Page Books Arlington on April 4th

2012-04-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

Food fans in the DC?MD/VA area on Wed, April 4, 7 pm: Chef Matt Finarelli talks about Beyond the Red Sauce: Italian Cooking Without Tomatoes

Address:

One More Page2200 N. Westmoreland Street, #101
Arlington, VA 22213
703-300-9746

Please see here for directions to One More Page

More about beyond the Red Sauce : http://www.finarelli.com/beyond_the_red_sauce.html?de

Begin smacking your lips! Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day Tuesday, April 3, 2012

2012-03-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday April 3rd from 12 to 8 p.m Ben and Jerry's is celebrating 34 years with a Free Cone Day and giving away free ice cream.

Here is what they say on the Ben and Jerry's website

Of course this year we’re also giving away plenty of our new Greek Frozen Yogurt. If you haven’t tried it yet, this is a great opportunity to give it a lick! Of course you can always enjoy an old favorite and savor in the deliciousness that is free ice cream! Hey, either way it’s time for you to come on in!

Around the world, Scoop Shops are opening their doors from noon to 8:00 pm, to serve up a free scoop of your favorite flavor. Please check with your local Scoop Shop for more info!

Planning on going? Image Credit : Flickr

What Curry is to the UK, Mexican is to the US

2012-03-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal published a very good article As American as Fajita Pie -From Chicago to Disneyland, Mexican food has taken a surprising path to U.S. dominance .This week to celebrate it's 50th anniversasy Taco Bell introduced - Doritos Locos Taco, a taco shell made from nacho cheese Doritos.

According to Taco Bell press release - “Taco Bell founder Glen Bell has been recognized for his ‘Recipes for Success.’ At the top of that list:the best ideas often are the most simple,” said Greg Creed, CEO, Taco Bell Corp. Creed went on to discuss the genesis of this idea between Taco Bell and Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo. Creed tasked his team and Taco Bell’s partners with coming up with the industry’s next big thing. Through deliberate and collaborative efforts, Taco Bell and Frito-Lay developed the Doritos Locos Tacos. An idea so simple and brilliant, says Creed, “it was a flavor pairing just waiting to happen.”

Back to the WSJ article which has some interesting facts.

The first Americans to praise Mexican food were military brass as early as 1879
1893 : " Tamale men from San Francisco roamed the city [Chicago] selling their wares from steam buckets"
Doritos were invented at Disneyland in the early 1960s
1971 Margaritas were invented in Dallas
Nachos invented in 1943
Fajitas in the 1980's in Houston
First tic-taco truck in the 60's in NY

Want to learn more about Tacos - read Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America by Gustavo Arellano.

Taco Bell has this video advertising the Doritos Loco Tacos

2012-03-10T10:57:00.001-08:00

Are you attending the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Expo March 15th

2012-03-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

GWHCC Business Expo

Date: March 15, 2012
Time: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Location: Show map
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place NW - Ballrooms A&B
Washington, DC 20001

Contact: Magda Cardenas
Phone: 2027280352
Email: mcardenas@gwhcc.org
Admission is free for attendees, but registration is required. Please click here to register.
If you would like to be an exhibitor, please click here to download the form.

I will be on a panel Panel - Technology & Social Media Strategies for Small Businesses- The purpose of the panel is to share with business owners best practices, trends and success stories in howsmall business are utilizing social media and technology to grow.

I am very passionate about this subject and thrilled that my friend Julie Diaz-Asper, President & CEO, GigCoin is the moderator. Hope to see you there.

Order the food you grew up with with Gourmair #sxsw

2012-03-08T18:36:00.003-08:00

Even before the SXSW festival in Austin several entrepreneurs are on a Startup Bus creating new companies and concepts on the road trip to SXSW. Once such concept is Gourmair.

What is GourmAir?

Check out the blog post

"People love the food they grew up with – whether it’s a favorite pizza joint where they grew up, or that awesome BBQ place down the road from their parent’s house. There is no easy or integrated directory to help people find all of their options for having this great food shipped right to their door, and to discover which vendors have the best reputation among their friends.

Gourmair will be the solution. Our platform will provide a directory of fresh food from everywhere that can be shipped to order. Site users will submit their favorite vendors, who can then be reviewed by their peers or friends. This will build an element of trust between vendors and customers. With Facebook integration, users will be able to share great food experiences with friends.

When users visit the site they will be able to search by region, types of food, or “experience”. Gourmair will offer a selection of exciting meal experience suggestions, such as a BBQ challenge between Kansas City and Texas BBQ, an elegant dinner party with food from five different regions, or a romantic lobster dinner for two."

Good Luck folks! We will be rooting for your success.

Cava Mezze in Rockville

2012-02-27T16:59:00.000-08:00

Cava Mezze
9713 Traville Gateway Drive Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 309-9090

Great place to have lunch or dinner. Excellent service and they take hour order on iPhones ;) so cool. Have only heard positive reviews. Be prepared to have the experience of watching flambe dishes set alight in front of you ;)

National Pancake Day: Free PanCakes from IHOP February 28, 2012

2012-02-27T16:06:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is a good day to visit your local iHOP (could not resist making the "i" small like the "i" in Apple products). Reason 1, it is National Pancake Day

On February 28, 2012, customers of IHOP can celebrate National Pancake Day at IHOP and enjoy a free short stack of Buttermilk pancakes. Offer at participating locations - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m Tuesday, February 28 and one order per customer.

In return for the free pancakes, guests are asked to consider leaving a donation for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals© and other designated local charities.

Thai Pavilion. Rockville Town Center

2012-02-27T14:53:00.000-08:00

Lunch menu has a combo with a soup and spring roll. I had the Chicken Kapow Sub. Not sure what the sub stands for. It was very tasty and the right spices.

Italian Cooking class from Al Tiramisu : Emilia Romagna Region

2012-02-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Luigi Diotaiuti Chef and Owner of Al Tiramisu chef will be demonstrating the cooking from Emilia-Romagna on Saturday on March 3, 2012

Al Tiramisu is located at 2014 P St. NW From 11 am to 2.30 PM. The cost is $ 75.00 and includes a cooking demonstration with hands on participation, then sit down lunch with three courses and wines.

For reservations at (202) 467 4466

[VIDEO] Unique Indian Food at Indique with Chef Vinod

2012-02-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago when I went to Indique restaurant (Cleveland Park Metro, Washington DC) I tasted a new addition to the Indique menu " Spiced Pork Belly". Chef Vinod and his team innovate a lot along with introducing some very authentic but rare dishes like "Chicken Chettinad'. In this video Chef Vinod describes his latest innovation Achari Chicken (Pickled Chicken ) wrapped in Makki Ki Roti ( like a Taco) 512-14 Connecticut Avenue Northwest Washington D.C., DC 20008-2401 (202) 244-6600 Website : http://www.indique.com/

Win Tickets to the 2012 Embassy Chef Challenge! from Zagat

2012-02-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

DC/Baltimore folks, Zagat is offering two winners a pair of tickets to the 2012 Embassy Chef Challenge Thursday, March 8th. To win you should vote for your favorite restaurants in the Zagat DC/Baltimore Restaurants Survey by by March 4th, 2012.

More details at https://sites.google.com/site/zagatembassychef/ and official contest rules here.

Northern Virginia Magazine Gut Check and Free Food

2012-02-20T06:16:00.004-08:00

The Gut Check Column in the Northern Virginia Magazine is inviting folks to do restaurant reviews. Good reviews may get featured in the Northern Virginia Magazine's print edition's "Second opinion" and also a chance to get a free gift card to a area restaurant.

Details of the opportunity read Stefanie Gans post in the Northern Virginia Magazine.

Project #WholeHeart2012

2012-02-03T08:50:00.000-08:00

My students at Georgetown are doing a class project called #wholeheart2012.

How to participate?
Excited about all things Valentine's Day? Tell us your love stories with #WholeHeart2012. Lovelorn, or just over it? Share with #HalfHeart2012.

**SPECIAL TREAT FOR #WHOLEHEART2012 PARTICIPANTS**

Share your #WholeHeart2012 or #HalfHeart2012 stories with us and we will wine & dine you! Join us @WFMFoggyBottom from 5-7pm on 2/12/12 for the Wine & Dine event.

Tweet @WholeHeart2012 when you arrive @WFMFoggyBottom for Wine & Dine, show our #wholeheart2012 reps & get a specialized wine glass for FREE

A Sweet Affair : 11th Annual Sugar & Champagne Affair

2012-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

It was very welcome invitation from Google DC to go as their guest to the 11th Annual Sugar & Champagne Affair. Over 600 people accompanied by several well behaved guests ( Human's best friends) attended this event held at the Ronald Reagan Building and
International Trade Center. I can safely say that I did not see the first dog "buddy".

The event started with a VIP Chefs' Tasting Room and followed by a general reception. The event was hosted by Chef Todd and Ellen Gray of Equinox & Watershed Restaurants andMuse at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

The Washington Humane Society honored the Washington Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement Officers, Animal Control Officers, and Humane Educators. If you would like to to make a donation to the Washington Humane Society, please click here.

In the VIP tasting room several chefs displayed great talent in food and small bites. Andrew Markert Chef De Cuisine of PS 7's Restaurant shows off his beet tartare. I had 2 helpings of this. The dish was trendy and I love imitation food that is vegetarian.

and Harper MCClure of the Federalist Restaurant was dishing out great consomme. It was very tasty with a Chicken meatball in it and very clear and well bodied. it is difficult to maintain a clear consomme and from my days as a chef I was always terrified of the consomme clouding and was so happy to taste this here.

So happy to meet Trisha Barba @soooDC one of my students at Georgetown University (http://bit.ly/xcpd732). She has been busy with Chef Art Smith's acclaimed Capitol Hill restaurant, featuring modern regional cuisine and also blogs for http://welovedc.com/
I also ran into my friend Kathleen Smith of ClearedJobs.net
This is one my good pics taken at the event.For others please see my Flickr feed

Saveur.com Features An Easy to Make Indian Dinner ( Includes Gin)

2012-02-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

Source: saveur.com via Shashi on Pinterest

Sushi Oishii in Rockville

2012-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Sushi Oishii
9706 Traville Gateway Drive Rockville, MD 20850

(301) 251-1177

The lunch special at $8.95 which includes a soup, salad and two Sushi rolls , see above is a great bargain. If you are going to Fallsgrove for lunch you should consider changing and going to Sushi Oiishi instead

Bageltowne Deli Rockville

2012-01-08T18:33:00.001-08:00

If there is a reason that small business do extremely well in customer service then Bageltowne Deli is an excellent example.

Located at 9749 Traville Gateway Dr, Rockville 20850 the y have great coffee and excellent NY style deli sandwiches.

They have been successful in this Traville Gateway Mall where other eateries have not fared well. Of Cava us another example of success a well.

I am giving this place a ranking of must visit for coffee

Dreaming of Pork Belly Appetizer at Indique

2011-12-26T06:36:00.001-08:00

I never thought I would wake up with the thought of the Spiced Pork Belly appetizer I ate last night at Indique. We had gone on a sightseeing visit to Washington DC with family visiting us and decided to go to Indique for an early dinner ( Even at 5.30 p.m they were open)

I think you can have a whole meal with the appetizer menu. Along with the other appetizers - belpuri, papadi chat and Samosa chat that we usually order I wanted to try the Spiced Pork ever since I read about on Monica Bhide's Blog.

Kudos to Chef Vinod for yet another innovative dish, the flavor of the spices with the softness of the Pork Belly made the dish memorable especially to me as I do not eat pork frequently. My foodie friend from Coorg, Deviah would have enjoyed it a lot as I did.

The last chance to see Bon Appétit! Julia Child’s Kitchen at the Smithsonian

2011-12-12T13:10:00.001-08:00

Exhibition Closing

Bon Appétit! Julia Child’s Kitchen at the Smithsonian

National Museum of American History

Last Day to See: Jan. 8, 2012

The last chance to see Bon Appétit! Julia Child’s Kitchen at the Smithsonian, the exhibition that allows a peek into Julia Child’s legendary Cambridge, Mass., kitchen, is Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012.

When Child moved back to her home state of California in 2001, she donated the contents of her 14-foot by 20-foot home kitchen, including small utensils, personal cookbooks, the stainless steel kitchen sink and her six-burner Garland commercial range. The kitchen, which Child used as the set of three television shows and as the testing ground for many recipes featured in her cookbooks, is composed of more than 1,200 individual pieces. The museum staff packed and catalogued the entire kitchen, then reassembled it in the museum exactly as it was in Child’s home.

The museum will reopen the kitchen within a new exhibition focusing on food and wine in America. This exhibition is scheduled to open late summer 2012. The museum must move the kitchen to prepare for upcoming renovations to its west exhibition wing. Visit the online exhibition at http://americanhistory.si.edu/juliachild.

About the Museum

The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. To learn more about the museum, check http://americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000, (202) 633-5285 (TTY).

Washington DC Metro Restaurant Reviews and Food Talk

Rasika West End Exemplifies in Service

You, Too, Can Dine Like ‘Superstar' at Al Tiramisu; Media Followed George Clooney Everywhere in DC— Except for Dinner at Al Tiramisu

Taco Lu in Jacksonville FL

Bethesda's Panasgourmet.com

April 13 Whole Foods Market’s “Fishmonger Face-Off” at Whole Foods Market Rockville @ 1 PM.

Beyond the Red Sauce Matt Fineralli at the One Page Books Arlington on April 4th

Begin smacking your lips! Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day Tuesday, April 3, 2012

What Curry is to the UK, Mexican is to the US

Are you attending the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Expo March 15th

Order the food you grew up with with Gourmair #sxsw

Cava Mezze in Rockville

National Pancake Day: Free PanCakes from IHOP February 28, 2012

Thai Pavilion. Rockville Town Center

Italian Cooking class from Al Tiramisu : Emilia Romagna Region

[VIDEO] Unique Indian Food at Indique with Chef Vinod

Win Tickets to the 2012 Embassy Chef Challenge! from Zagat

Northern Virginia Magazine Gut Check and Free Food

Project #WholeHeart2012

A Sweet Affair : 11th Annual Sugar & Champagne Affair

Saveur.com Features An Easy to Make Indian Dinner ( Includes Gin)

Sushi Oishii in Rockville

Sushi Oishii9706 Traville Gateway Drive Rockville, MD 20850

Bageltowne Deli Rockville

Dreaming of Pork Belly Appetizer at Indique

The last chance to see Bon Appétit! Julia Child’s Kitchen at the Smithsonian

Sushi Oishii
9706 Traville Gateway Drive Rockville, MD 20850