What Micky Eats...

G Street Food

2012-05-15T12:48:00.000+01:00

***Special Post by Keith***

G Street Food offers foods from around the globe: breakfasts, lunches, desserts and breads inspired by the food found at carts, stands and stalls lining the streets and tucked into the corners of cities and towns worldwide. Montreal-style bagels, Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches, noodle soups from Southeast Asia and flat breads and salads from the Middle East are just some examples of the world's street fare that are featured on the G Street Food menu. Closest Metro is Foggy Bottom.

If you pay any attention to this blog you may have noticed that the majority of the time I write a guest post it’s focused on some hole in the wall in northern Virginia, but no more. My daytime activities are now located in downtown DC. I had no idea how hard it would be to find a decent lunch around here. When I’m not chasing a food truck, G Street Food has been my savior. This lunch spot that focuses on international street food holds its own against the best sandwiches in the area. Though the bahn mi may not be as good as you get out in Falls Church and the Italian sandwich is not quite up to par with Mangialardo’s or the Italian Store, to have both conveniently located in the same downtown location is definitely welcome. I’ve also had the delicious Cuban sandwich. It’s not exactly traditional either, but this version was a salty, spicy treat. Most of their sandwiches are served on their signature baguette which is the real MVP. Crisp on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, the bread can make or break a sandwich and G Street Food does it right. In fact all of their ingredients are high quality, even the fries which remind me of All American Burger back home on LI and are kinda like a crispier version of Five Guys fries. The ordering process can be a bit confusing and typically causes a backup around the counter while people anxiously wait for their name to be called. Listen closely, grab your food, and then head to the cashiers where you can choose from a plethora of gourmet and international sodas and chips. There is a decent amount of seating inside and out; so far I have not had an issue finding a table. I’m anxious to try their breakfast too, but have not had the opportunity yet.

Total Rating: 4.15
Food: 4, Price: 5, Service: 4, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

What Keith ate:

Banh Mi

roasted pork, prosciutto, pickled vegetables, cilantro,
fresh jalapenos & mayo. Served on a baguette.

Cubano

roasted pork and prosciutto with pickled jalapeno peppers,

Dijon-lime marinade and Swiss cheese. Served on a baguette.

Italian Sub

Capicola, prosciutto, salami, pickled jalapenos, tomatoes,

Italian dressing and provolone cheese. Served with iceberg lettuce on a baguette.

2941 Restaurant

2012-05-14T11:55:00.000+01:00

2941 Restaurant is a visual and culinary adventure. Every dish is a work of art at this marvelous inside the beltway oasis. Set in among luxuriously landscaped woods in a remote area of Falls Church, VA, the restaurant features elaborately designed waterfalls, Koi ponds, and fountains that one can enjoy from any seat. In January 2012, the restaurant underwent an extensive kitchen renovation and dining room refresh, the results of which are sure to appeal to guests in search of a distinctive dining retreat any night of the week. While the unparalleled water views, floor-to-ceiling windows and contemporary feel remain, the new menu features Modern American French with Mediterranean influences that still provides a wonderful gastronomical experience in a fun and approachable way.

original interior, until 2011

November 2009: Keith and I had a meeting here and stayed for dinner. The restaurant is just lovely and although in a commercial/business building space (8 floors on top are owned by and offices for a large company), the spectacular decor and grounds outside transport you to an elegant place. We each tried the 4 course price fixed tasting menu, and the chef was flexible enough to make one adjustment for me since I do not eat red meat. We were also greeted with a lovely fresh amuse buche of baby scallop with a blood orange sauce, followed by a plate of freshly baked breads. The service was spectacular, very attentive, and really appreciative of the patrons. I really enjoyed my meal - it was beautiful, the right size, timed perfectly, and very satisfying. To close, we had a complimentary dessert of fresh citrus beignets, chocolate cookies, and green apple jelly candies. 2941 is a special place and I would recommend it to those looking for a unique place to celebrate an occasion or enjoy a cozy romantic dinner.

March 2011: We returned for the Spring 2011 menu tasting. Boy - what an experience. We sampled 20 different hors d'oeuvres, 3 salads, 4 appetizers, and 7 entrees. Each dish was made fresh to order and we left overly satisfied. I highly recommend the seafood options and Keith's favorite by far was the grilled rib eye - cooked to perfection. For all these reasons, 2941 ranks high and remains one of my Top 10 restaurants of all time.

new interior, 2012

May 2012: A year later, we returned to 2941 and I must admit I was a bit skeptical when I heard the restaurant had undergone a complete face lift and menu redesign. A little secret is that Keith and I got married at 2941 in May of last year, so this restaurant has a special place in my heart. With a new menu that features "small bites", I was curious if the elegance factor for hosting special occasion events would hold at 2941. Nevertheless, being it was our first anniversary, I thought it was only appropriate for Keith and I to return for dinner. With it also being Mother's Day weekend, I invited my parents to join us. Upon our arrival, I immediately noticed the missing warm tones and "glass jellyfish" sculpture at the entrance - now more blue tones and spikey glass orbs adorn the walls and ceilings. The ambience was not incredibly different, as the main focal point is still the large wall of windows overlooking the lake. I remembered our wedding day all over again and could picture many other weddings in this newly decorated space.

Our server, Alex, greeted us and took our drink orders as we perused the menu. We decided to start with a few items to share: warm ricotta served with an olive tapenade that gave a nice salty tang and grilled sourdough bread; a delightful tuna tartare with guacamole, jalapeño, crispy shallots and taro root on top for a nice crunch; and a half portion of the asparagus agnolotti filled with a creamy blend of ricotta and asparagus topped with a tarragon and lemon thyme butter sauce and crunchy warm romaine hearts. The pasta dish was a bit salty at first, but was delicious and one of my favorites of the meal. For my main dish I chose the Alaskan halibut served with a tomato risotto and more of the seasonal asparagus shaved on top. The fish was buttery and perfectly cooked, and a crowd favorite as everyone had a bite of mine. Keith ordered the roasted duck breast served over duck confit "croquettes" with caramelized endive and a rhubarb chutney that was a tad too sweet for his liking. Although the meat had great flavor, it was slightly overcooked than the preferred medium-rare.

My father ordered the veal tenderloin served with Oregon morels, fiddlehead ferns, and Vidalia onion. A nice portion of 3 pieces were perfectly cooked and my father devoured it all.

My mother ordered the Peruvian bass served with saffron mussel velouté, red mustard leaves and baby potatoes. She enjoyed it and found the broth to be very light, but the fish in my opinion was slightly "fishier" than mine. All of the main dishes were the perfect portion size and just as elegantly presented as the original 2941 menu.

Finally, for dessert we decided on two items from the "Never Say Never" menu. The strawberry shortcake was Keith's choice as strawberry is one of his favorites. It came with super tart Chandler strawberries, lime curd, whipped cream, and chopped basil on top providing an almost savory dessert. Highly recommended by our server was the super sweet-upon-sweet pineapple-caramel eclair. It came beautifully plated with rosemary cream, roasted pineapple, candied cashews, and vanilla ice cream. While I loved the pineapple in this dessert, the caramel was cloyingly sweet and overpowering. Then, to celebrate our first anniversary, our server brought out complimentary glasses of sparkling wine and the carrot cake entremet. My eyes opened wide in excitement as I secretly wanted to order this dessert since carrot cake is my absolute favorite (next to red velvet). It, too, was artfully presented with a cream cheese mousse, marmalade, pineapple sherbet, and carrot confit. There was a fun surprise of more carrot cake inside the cream cheese mousse. Now we were completely stuffed, but the chef sent out a plate of his housemade donuts, which were warm and had slight citrus flavor from the glaze and reminded my parents of malasadas. For those who remember the original 2941 and have not returned yet - I say go! You won't miss a thing except needing your tie! Even though they advertise a more laid back atmosphere, I would still consider 2941 more of a destination restaurant than an every day/happy hour spot. Surprisingly the dining room was pretty packed with patrons while we were there, creating much more buzz than our initial visit. Overall, the exceptional service, attention to detail, and classy cuisine remain well above par at the new 2941 and provide a wonderful meal. *New menu items eaten listed below the dashed line below.

Total Rating: 4.7
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 5, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 3

What I ate:

Wedge Salad

Boston lettuce, bacon vinaigrette, cherry tomato, blue cheese

Local Harvest Salad

shaved hearts of palm, fennel, carrots, cucumber, blood orange vinaigrette

Caesar Salad

romaine lettuce, Parmesan dressing, brioche croutons

Warm Tomato Soup

basil, brioche-egg crouton, sage

Mushroom Ravioli

tomato coulis, Parmesan cheese, fine herbs

Grilled Shrimp

avocado, mango, celery, Thai basil, citrus vinaigrette

Crab Salad

cucumber, pineapple, cilantro, lime, avocado, candied beets

Sherry Glazed Eggplant

with baby bok choy, asparagus

Chilean Sea Bass

crispy rice, scallion salad, lemongrass-ginger sauce

Grilled Atlantic Salmon

red peppers, asparagus, Thai basil, eggplant, turmeric jus

Roasted Chicken

lemon sabayon, haricots vert, fingerling potatoes, shiitake mushrooms

Moonfish Tartare

moonfish with citrus compote and yuzu sauce

Chestnut Raviolini

Burgundy truffle, Parmesan cheese, pancetta

Grilled Mahi Mahi

littleneck clam, rapini, shiitake mushroom

German Chocolate Cake

coconut milk jam, frozen pecan parfait, flourless chocolate biscuit
-------------------------

Warm Ricotta
artichoke-olive tapenade, grilled bread

Tuna Tartare
guacamole, jalapeño, crispy shallots & taro root

Asparagus Agnolotti
tarragon, lemon thyme, romaine hearts

Alaskan Halibut
tomato risotto, shaved asparagus salad, basil

Strawberry Shortcake
Chandler strawberries, lime curd, whipped cream, basil

Pineapple-Caramel Éclair
rosemary cream, roasted pineapple, candied cashews, vanilla ice cream

Carrot Cake Entremet
cream cheese mousse, marmalade, pineapple sherbet, carrot confit

Housemade Donuts

Plus Keith ate:

Grilled Rib Eye

maitake mushroom, balsamic glazed radicchio, fried polenta, beef prosciutto, arugula

Slow Braised Short Ribs

basil pomme puree, caramelized pearl onions, spring beet salad

Filet Mignon and Crab Cake

potato mille feuille, roasted aspargus, bearnaise sauce

Braised Oxtail

braised oxtail with parsley root purée

Veal Cheek

braised veal, fontina spaetzle, Guinness jus

Warm Chocolate S'more

chocolate-earl grey ice cream, crispy graham cracker, gooey toasted marshmallow

-------------------------

Roasted Duck Breast
crispy duck, caramelized endive, rhubarb chutney

At Home: Pink Heart Sugar Cookies

2012-05-11T11:56:00.000+01:00

This next installment of What Micky Eats...At Home features a simple dessert that I made to bring to work for a bake sale in honor of a coworker who is battling cancer. She has exhausted all her time off from work and with the combined costs of medical and house bills, we thought we could raise a little money to help her out. I wanted something easy to transport, easy to pack up individually, appealing to a wide range, and with the color pink. So I decided on Mini Pink Heart Sugar Cookies.

There are many different sugar cookies recipes out there - ranging from soft and chewy to crisp and biscuity. I used a combined adaptation from i am baker and Alton Brown; yields 2 dozen regular size cookies and about 100 mini cookies.

Sugar Cookies
3/4 cups butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 Tbsp milk
1 teasp vanilla
2 cups flour
½ teasp salt
½ teasp baking powder
powdered sugar for rolling (optional)
colored sugar crystals or icing for decorating (optional)

- Beat together butter and sugar for about 2 minutes.

- Add the egg and milk until smooth, and then add vanilla.

- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder, and then add the dry mix slowly to the wet until well combined.

- Wrap dough in saran wrap and chill in the fridge for an hour (or more).

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

- Roll out dough until about 1/4 inch thick and cut desired shapes, placing them about 1 inch apart on a cookie sheet. (I used a mini heart cutter.) If dough sticks, use powdered sugar on surface and on rolling pin while rolling.

- Optional: Sprinkle with colored sugar crystals. (I used pink.)

- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on how chewy you like your sugar cookies. Rotate after 4 minutes.

- Transfer to a wire wrack and allow cookies to completely cool.

- Can be stored in airtight container, up to one week.

Another easy decorative option besides colored sugar crystals is cinnamon. Or, allow the cookies to completely cool before using Royal Icing to add your own creative touches. I thought the mini pink hearts would be perfect for Mother's Day as well as be a great nod to support my coworker battling cancer. I made a whole platter to bring to work for the bake sale and we packaged them up individually there. Since they were mini cookies, I put 7 pieces in each baggie. I saved a few to give to my mother this weekend and for Keith to snack on as well. These cookies came out great and I look forward to using this recipe again for upcoming holidays.

Mother's Day Brunch & Dinner Specials

2012-05-07T13:07:00.000+01:00

This Mother's Day, whether your mom prefers a champagne brunch or a swanky dinner, DC restaurants are ready to roll out the red carpet. Many restaurants are offering complimentary mimosas, Bloody Marys, and champagne for moms on Sunday, May 13th to celebrate Mother's Day. Browse the list for a selection of menu details for a delicious Mother's Day brunch or Mother's Day dinner.

Some stand outs include:

701: 701 is offering our annual Mothers' Day live jazz brunch, with 3 course prix fixe menus at $50/person. Valet parking available.

B. Smith's: Great Mothers Day Brunch at B. Smith's- Waffle,Omelet,Pasta,Carving,Salad,Fruit,Seafood and Dessert Stations with Chocolate Fountain. Great Cajun Southern Creole options. Price$65.00 Adults $25.00 Children 12 and under. Hours 11

Sonoma: Chef Bonk's Mother's Day Brunch menu features items such as house-made doughnuts, his take on Steak and egg, and a duck hash. It's sure to be a treat for Mom.

Sushi Ko: In celebration of Mother's Day Sushiko Chevy Chase will be offering Complimentary Mimosa's during lunch to all the mothers.

C'mon - treat your mother! Give her a special day. You know she deserves it!

Traveling for Mother's Day? Celebrate across the country at these participating locations.

DC Empanadas

2012-05-06T18:06:00.000+01:00

DC Empanadas is proud to serve DC’s only mobile gourmet empanadas. Their empanadas are made only with the freshest, local and top quality ingredients. Each one is hand-made and filled with a world of flavors. Look out for this food truck and you won't be sorry!

This was the first truck I wanted to hit up at Trucko de Mayo and for empanadas at $3.50 each, was not a bad deal to begin with. The empanadas were piping hot and the "wrapper" was deep fried that it looked like a thick wonton. The filling was plentiful and full of flavor compared to other empanadas I have had. The Cubanito had nice sweet heat from the spicy guava sauce and the El Greco had nice tang from the Feta cheese. I really enjoyed these and would love to try the other flavor combinations, as they had many non-traditional options.

Total Rating: 3.85
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 3, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

What I ate:

Cubanito

slow roasted Cuban style pork, tossed with onions and a spicy guava sauce

El Greco

Spinach, Feta Cheese and Onions

left: El Greco, right: Cubanito

The Orange Cow

2012-05-06T17:30:00.001+01:00

The Orange Cow food truck serves super premium homemade ice cream, hand-dipped from the truck available in 2 oz and 5 oz servings (double, triples, quads) as well as sundaes and pints to go. Milkshakes and floats are also available. They offer incredibly low prices for the quality and serving size (all natural ingredients). During the Fall, they feature warm toppings for the ice cream so as to not be a “summer only” truck. They are available for office, birthday and other private parties.

On this muggy day at Trucko de Mayo, after we had sampled enough savory items, we wanted dessert. The only options were popsicles, cupcakes, or ice cream. The line at the Orange Cow truck was moderate compared to others when we arrived. We saw the large portions and fun sundaes that came away, so we chose to wait here. And wait we did. Almost 40 minutes later...the line moved sooo slow. By the time we got to the window they had run out of about 4 flavors as well as all milkshakes! We were a little disappointed to say the least. These food truck rookies only had 2 people working the truck - but it is ice cream, you don't really have to cook anything. How hard is it to scoop ice cream into a cup?! C'mon! Poor planning on their part, especially for a festival event such as this. We opted for a double scoop ($4) and it was plenty for the both of us to share. The flavor of the strawberry and cream was very natural and premium as advertised. But I rate them low on the service scale for the rookie mistakes mentioned above.

Total Rating: 2.9
Food: 3, Price: 3, Service: 2, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 3

What I ate:

Strawberry Ice Cream

PEPE

2012-05-06T17:30:00.000+01:00

PEPE is José Andrés’ first food truck! The truck serves Spanish cuisine at the moment, but there is a thought that Andrés may change the menu (and even the truck name) at a moment’s notice! Current menu items are sandwiches ranging in price from $8 – $20 (most are $10). This truck does not drive around as often as other DC Food Trucks, but they did make an appearance at Trucko de Mayo and I was happy to try them out.

Their menu was very limited for this event, and did not feature the coveted $20 Iberico ham sandwich. They did however have the Serrano ham sandwich, normally $9, but today it was $10. The line was shortest at the PEPE truck - not sure if the higher prices kept patrons away or the stand-offish attitude of the truck staff. Regardless, those who were familiar with the Andrés name did not hesitate to step up and place an order. We chose the Jamon Serrano y Queso Manchego Flauta, and it was traditionally presented wrapped in paper but was TINY! Much smaller than you can get at any cafe in Spain and also twice the price! However, the quality of the ingredients was very high and shined through. The brush of olive oil on the bread gave an extra layer of richness to the ham. Overall, this was a decent sandwich but I am curious to see how long they will last in competition to other down-to-earth food trucks in the area.

Total Rating: 3.6
Food: 4, Price: 3, Service: 3, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 4

What I ate:

Jamón Serrano y Queso Manchego

Serrano ham, Manchego and olive oil

PORC

2012-05-05T17:53:00.000+01:00

Purveyors of Rolling Cuisine (PORC) is a mobile food truck popular for its pulled barbeque sandwiches. Keith has tried them for lunch once and I had a recent opportunity to check them out at Trucko de Mayo sponsored by Curbside Cookoff.

Personality of the staff on this truck is one of the best - friendly and down-to-earth. While I waited for my sandwich, I was offered a sampling of a dessert, mini chocolate pecan pie, they plan to feature in their new brick-and-mortar restaurant set to open this Summer in Columbia Heights. It was pretty tasty! The meat on the sandwiches are plentiful and delicious. However the bread would be better toasted and we did not really care for the vinegary cole slaw. Sandwiches range from $7 - 10 or so, a little higher than other trucks. Overall, the decent portion sizes and good flavors stand out. Keith would look out for this truck again.

Total Rating: 3.75
Food: 4, Price: 3.5, Service: 3, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

What I ate:

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

pulled chicken breast in a spicy and tangy buffalo sauce

topped with bleu cheese crumbles and celery on a bun

served with cole slaw

Plus Keith ate:

Reuben Sandwich

pastrami, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing

on rye bread

La Lomita

2012-05-04T21:44:00.000+01:00

This casual Mexican Restaurant is a local favorite is situated right along the busy Pennsylvania Avenue, only a block away from the Metro station. Serving authentic Mexican cuisine in a laid back environment, La Lomita's should not be overlooked. Closest Metro is Potomac Avenue.

September 2010: After living on the Hill for over 3 years, Keith and I have always walked past La Lomita's and never have gone in. Boy, were we missing out. Although the decor is nothing to write about, the staff is incredibly friendly and prompt with service. Also, the outdoor patio is always nice to sit and eat your meal (although be prepared for mosquitoes on those warm summer nights). We went fairly early and the place quickly filled up with regular diners. There were many typical items on the menu such as various tacos, burritos, and enchiladas in addition to house specialties such as trio of grilled meats served with black beans and rice. The complimentary chips and salsa were freshly homemade and tasty. Although I found my tacos to be mediocre, Keith thought his meats were very tender and cooked just right. With the location so close to our house, we will definitely be going back again.

May 2012: We have returned to La Lomita's a couple times since my last write up, but felt I should give an update this time since the food seemed to be much better! The complimentary chips and salsa were so fresh, warm, and lightly salted - I practically ate the whole basket before placing my order. I was totally in the mood with Cinco de Mayo coming up, so we also ordered a pitcher of margaritas. I had not noticed quesadillas on the menu before, and since they are one of my favorite dishes, I decided to give it a try. They are also available in a smaller portion size if you wanted to sample as an appetizer. The chicken was tender, super flavorful, and had great char from the grill. I absolutely loved it. You can also get them with shrimp or beef. Keith ordered his favorite of the house grilled meats and he, too, found the meat to be even more tender and flavorful than he remembered. It is also a large serving, so he was quite stuffed. Overall, our meal was super delicious and totally hit the spot to satisfy our Mexican craving.

Total Rating: 3.85

Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 3, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

What I ate:

♥Mexican Quesadilla♥

grilled chicken, cheese, in a tortilla served with

sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo

Chicken Enchiladas

served with refried beans, yellow rice, sour cream, and guacamole

Chicken Tacos

served with refried beans, yellow rice, sour cream, and guacamole

Plus Keith ate:

♥Parrillada La Lomita♥

a combination of grilled steak, pork rib, and chicken breast

served with black beans, white rice, sour cream, and guacamole

pork ribs from the parrillada

Al Dente Italian Trattoria

2012-04-27T21:02:00.000+01:00

Al Dente Italian Trattoria located in Harrison, NY is the "one dining experience that has all the right ingredients, where everything comes together for the perfect and memorable meal served family style or one dish at a time". Perfect place for celebrating one of life's momentous occasions, I recently ate here with family and friends for a rehearsal dinner.

We were a group of about 30 and were seated in a private area towards the back right of the restaurant. First we were served any drink of our choice while everyone arrived and greeted each other. We were all excited for the festivities of this special weekend to begin. We sat at our tables and started off with shared antipasti appetizers of calamari fritti and eggplant rollatini - both of which were classically made and tasted great. Next the pasta course, a small sampling of penne alla vodka which is one of my favorite sauces. It was creamy and the pasta was cooked just as the restaurant's name sake - al dente. Then we noshed on a simple mixed green salad with a balsamic dressing. By this time, we were already full but the conversation in our room was flowing and the soon-to-be-bride and groom were anxious to welcome everyone and pass out small gifts to the parents and bridal party. The server came around the room to take everyone's choice for the main course: chicken, shrimp, or steak. I chose the shrimp which were stuffed with crab meat, while Keith chose the breaded chicken with tomato and mozzarella. Overall, the main dishes were tasty but the vegetable sides were a little hit and miss. The potatoes were overcooked and dry, and the broccoli was overly salty with large garlic chunks. But they evened out when eaten together. Finally, we sampled a variety of desserts from chocolate mousse to cannolis to cookie-stuffed cakes. Bottom line, the food at Al Dente was well above average and more than enough for our party, the service was attentive, and the location was convenient. They did a great job hosting the rehearsal dinner and everyone left full and happy.

Total Rating: 3.9
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 4

What I ate:

Calamari Fritti

Eggplant Rollatini

Penne Alla Vodka

Mixed Green Salad

Shrimp Stuffed with Crab Meat

served with potatoes and broccoli

Dessert Platter

Plus Keith ate:

Breaded Chicken with Tomato and Mozzarella

over roasted peppers and spinach

Restaurant Gift Certificates

2012-04-24T08:00:00.000+01:00

Celebrate National Dine Out Week (April 23 - 29, 2012) and make a difference in YOUR community by supporting local restaurants and save a life while you’re at it. When you dine local during National Dine Out Week Restaurant.com will make a donation to the American Red Cross to help save lives through local blood drives in your community. Before heading out to eat at your favorite restaurant, check out if they have any gift certificates listed on Restaurant.com. With over 18,000 restaurants nationwide, you're sure to find a deal!

Every time you…
- Purchase a Restaurant.com Gift Certificate
- Share National Dine Out Week on Facebook
- Tweet about National Dine Out Week using #DineLocal
- Text DINELOCAL to 78166 …

Restaurant.com will add to the donation. How much they give is up to you! Celebrate National Dine Out Week and help save lives! Here are just a few places with gift certificates listed that you can simply print out for yourself, or email to a friend as a gift:

B. Smith's Restaurant
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
Cuisine: Creole/Cajun/Southern

Cafe Berlin
322 Massachusetts Avenue NE
Washington , DC 20002
Cuisine: German

Paper Moon
1073 31st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Cuisine: Italian

McFadden's Restaurant & Saloon
2401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Cuisine: American

PS 7's Restaurant
777 I St, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Cuisine: American, Contemporary

The Ugly Mug
723 8th St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Cuisine: American

Plus, for a limited time only - $10 for most $25 Restaurant.com Gift Certificates!

Check it out today!

Matchbox

2012-04-22T19:02:00.000+01:00

This vintage wood-fire pizza bistro is conveniently located in Chinatown and features trendy appetizers and cocktails. The restaurant tends to get super busy, so I recommend putting your name on the list and grabbing a drink at the bar while you wait. A second location along Barracks Row in Capitol Hill location seems much larger than the Chinatown spot with two dining levels, plus a larger bar area. In the summer months, outdoor dining is available under umbrellas along the sidewalk in front. Closest Metro is Chinatown/Gallery Place or Eastern Market.

April 2009: Although the restaurant tries to be a little fancier by serving steak and scallops, the pizza is classically well seasoned and averagely priced – about $15 for 10” - six slices and $20 for 14” - eight slices. I gave average marks for service since the waiters tend to disappear on busy nights. However, my food was always hot and tasty! Great spot for larger groups - I have gone with a party of 6 and we were served without a problem.

February 2010: Went for Sunday Brunch at the Capitol Hill location and although we had to wait for a table for the 4 of us, we got a nice table outside to enjoy the weather. The food was pretty good and there were several other items on the Brunch menu that looked interesting. You can also order any of their pizzas through out the day.

August 2011: Returned to the Capitol Hill location with seven of my co-workers and although it was already packed with patrons, we only waited a couple minutes for a large table to be cleared. Oddly, reservations are not taken before 11am. Our server was very friendly, pushing the wine list and offering lunch specials. Menu items chosen among the group included pizzas, sliders, sandwiches, and one nicely portioned scallop entree. Everyone was very satisfied with the quality of their food and the overall meal. When it came time to pay the bill, we asked for separate checks - to which they obliged - however, this was more time consuming as our lunch break was already running long. Nevertheless, Matchbox Capitol Hill is a great location for the "destination" office lunch - just be cautioned to buffer extra time for the metro ride, waiting for a table, and then paying your bill. Make easy reservations to Matchbox on CityEats.

April 2012: Returned to Capitol Hill's Matchbox for brunch on this raining morning. It was packed inside, just as suspected. But we were seated after waiting about 20 minutes. We ordered the cinnamon rolls to share, but I found them to be slightly under cooked. My fruit waffle was delicious though - a great portion and not overly sweet. Keith's steak and eggs were cooked well and overall satisfying. Service is still lacking - I understand it is busy, but the staff should accommodate by picking it up a bit: bring water and refill often; check in on the table every now and then; bring the check quickly in order to keep the turnovers high.

Total Rating: 3.9
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 3, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 4

What I ate:

Cast Iron Baked Cinnamon Rolls
with cream cheese icing

Fresh Fruit Waffle

blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, bananas,

with warm berry sauce and maple syrup

Marinated Chicken Muffaletta Sandwich

olive tapenade, provolone, spinach, serrano,

sundried tomato spread served with bistro chips

Cream of Crab Soup

with jumbo lump crab and sherry

Beet Salad

with arugula, goat cheese, candied walnuts and grilled ciabatta

Stuffed French Toast

cinnamon french toast stuffed with honey cream cheese

served with maple butter and fruit salad

Sweet & Tangy Calamari Salad

crispy calamari, field greens, banana peppers, roasted red peppers,

kalamata olives, balsamic vinaigrette

Mini Trio

2 pan seared scallops, 2 mini crabcakes, 2 mini burgers

Prosciutto White Pizza

prosciutto, kalamata olives, fresh garlic, ricotta cheese,

extra virgin olive oil, mozzarella

Sausage and Onion Pizza

sweet Italian sausage, sweet onion, roasted red pepper,

zesty tomato sauce, mozzarella

Serrano Spanish Ham and Pecorino Romano Pizza

with roasted garlic, ricotta, buffalo mozzarella, oven dried tomatoes

Q Special Pizza

grilled herb marinated chicken, portabella mushrooms,

roasted red peppers, zesty tomato sauce, mozzarella

Plus Keith ate:

Cast Iron Steak and Eggs
brunch potatoes, fresh herbs, grilled ciabatta with garlic butter

Braised Steak Omelette Special

omelette with braised steak, spinach, cremini mushrooms, and a cheese sauce.

Served with home fries.

3.6.9 Mini Burgers

hand-pattied angus beef, toasted brioche, pickles,

onion straws, with gorganzola cheese (extra)

Spicy Meatball Pizza

house-made spicy meatballs, crispy bacon, crushed red pepper

fresh garlic, zesty tomato sauce, mozzarella

Sweet Sopresatta and Wild Mushroom Pizza

with fresh herbs, mozzarella and zesty tomato sauce

Biergarten Haus

2012-04-22T00:53:00.000+01:00

One of the most popular restaurants to open in the Atlas District, Biergarten Haus brings the feel of a traditional German beer garden - complete with Masse litres of beer, brezels, sausage and live German folk music. The place is set up with different sections - the front entrance area is decorated as a typical hunting lodge with an all wood bar and buck head on the wall. From here you can head upstairs to more regular seating area, or out back where large wooden bench seating is bountiful. The middle area is situated against the large wall where the projection screens are and flanked by the outside carriage house turned into the outside bar area. The back has the more open garden feel with large Franzikaner umbrellas for shading. Closest Metro is Union Station.

June 2010: World Cup fever is at its peak, so it was only fitting that the Biergarten Haus play all the games on their multiple flat screen tvs and projection screens. We arrived around 5:30pm - the big England v. Algeria match had just ended and we thought we'd beat the main after work crowd. We were right - and were able to find our own table in the back garden area without a hitch. Unfortunately, the kitchen was closed and not set to reopen until 6pm (even though their website advertises that it would open at 5:30pm) - so we ordered a Masse litre each as we waited. We had read other reviews about the slow service and it was a little apparent that the staff was all brand new and still a little disorganized. They even asked us to move at one point to accommodate a large party of 15 (who would not all fit at our table anyways) - so I rated the overall service a 3. But give them time and I think they will get the swing of things. Our beer was very tasty, yet it seemed they still did not have the outside coolers working properly because the beer was still a little foamy and warm. After a short while it got very crowded and loud, others joined our table and then our food arrived. The portions were pretty decent, but the flavors were not all there. We have had authentic German food several times before and found this to be quite average. The sausage was surprisingly bland, the schnitzel was not prepared correctly, and the spaetzle appeared to be from out of a box a la Mac N' Cheese. Eventually they turned on the outside tvs to show the Nats game and we were happy to stay for another beer. All in all, the Biergarten Haus is a cool new edition to the area, offering a nice area to hang out for the summer and watch the games but be prepared for the crowd and possible long lines while the place is still abuzz.

June 2011: A year later, we returned and Biergarten Haus was still buzzing as ever. A Spain vs USA soccer exhibition match was playing, so it was very crowded out back. We waited less than 10 minutes to be seated at our own little barrel. The organization was much better with more servers and busboys to keep turnaround and service flowing. The menu featured more German specials, which we were happy to see. Our food came out relatively quick and were left very happy and full. The beer prices appeared to have increased, but still reasonable for the specialty selections. Overall, Biergarten Haus is still a popular place for large groups and the loud beer hall atmosphere.

April 2012: It was a super sunny day, so we headed over to Biergarten Haus after watching a Nationals game and it was pretty crowded already with Caps fans. We put our name on the list, and after 10 minutes were called back. We were seated outside, on the upper roof deck area that we were totally unaware of. Although flat screen tvs are along the wall, they only had 3 out of 5 on the wall, because earlier forecast called for rain. But with the larger crowds piling in, and with our specific request to see the Yankees vs Red Sox game, the staff happily obliged to bring out the other tvs. Our drinks and food also came out super fast. I ordered the spaetzle again, and it was much more tasty than I remember. Keith ordered the wienerschnitzel since they were out of the pig knuckle again. There was such a big change from two years ago - much friendlier and accommodating staff; more seating options; and the food is still good. There, I increased the rating score just a bit. The only downside is the huge crowds, so be prepared to wait for a table or squeeze in at the bar.

Total Rating: 4.1
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 4

What I ate:

Laugenbrezel

Traditional Bavarian pretzel Rolls

Served warm with a traditional bier cheese and mustard

Jägerschnitzel

Lightly breaded and fried pork cutlet served with “Hunter sauce”

made of mushrooms, bacon, onions, and red wine.

Served with spaetzle and asparagus

Spaetzle mit Ziegenkase

in a goat cheese sauce sprinkled with toasted pretzel bits

Plus Keith ate:

Three Wurst Platter

Bratwurst (pork sausage, caraway, garlic), Knackwurst (pork and beef),

Weisswurst (white pork and veal) served with warm potato salad

or potato pancake and sauerkraut

Wienerschnitzel

lightly breaded and pan fried veal cutlet served with lemon and parsley

with potato salad and sauerkraut

Box Frites

2012-04-21T15:31:00.000+01:00

Box Frites is a Belgian-style frites stand with a menu of delicious and fun game-day indulgences. What began as a stand devoted to thick-cut Idaho fries paired with tasty dipping sauces, has evolved to include sweet potato fries, gourmet hot dogs, individual fried pies and more. Located in Nationals Park.

The line at Box Frites was much shorter than the other stands. I chose the large box of regular Belgian-style frites as opposed to the garlic and Parmesan coated frites. They were large golden-brown fries that are crisp on the outside and pillowy-soft inside. With just a hint of salt, they are good on their own but much better with one of the dipping sauces. Choose from chipotle ketchup, ballpark mayo, smoke bacon aioli, blue cheese, or rosemary ranch. I went with the bacon aioli and bacony it was. The portion was generous and worth the $8, with plenty for three people to share. Keith ordered the Box Frites Dog - a fresh to order regular beef hot dog to which he added mustard. Overall, the food was better than average ballpark food and the staff at Box Frites were extremely friendly and polite. Next time I might try one of the fruit hand pies.

Total Rating: 3.8
Food: 4, Price: 3, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 4

What I ate:

Box Frites

with bacon aioli

Plus Keith ate:

Box Frites Dog

beef hot dog

Levi's Port Café

2012-04-19T12:03:00.001+01:00

Levi's Port Café is a nautically-themed hole-in-the-wall south of the main Barracks Row strip, just up from the Navy Yard. Serving Southern style dinners and North Carolina BBQ that taste like they came out of a country kitchen, Levi's should not be overlooked. The Washington Post states: "This Navy Yard-area treasure offers sweet tea and red velvet cake in addition to quality barbecue in a setting that feels as familiar as a favorite pair of jeans." Closest Metro is Eastern Market or Navy Yard.

Keith and I first went to Levi's about 5 years ago and I remember it being very casual inside and the food being decent, but nothing outstanding that beckoned our frequent visit like other restaurants along Barracks Row. I think it is only fair to give this reputed oldie-but-goodie a second chance. I recently purchased a Groupon that inspired me to return to Levi's again for the prix fixe "soul-food meal for two": 2 entrées, 4 sides, 2 jumbo drinks, and one dessert. We were the only patrons in the restaurant at the time, so our server was very friendly and welcoming. He let us choose whatever table we wanted and recited our options for the evening. The entrée choices available included: baked/fried/barbequed chicken, baked/fried fish, or meatloaf. Side choices included: collard greens, mac 'n' cheese, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, string beans, potato salad, yams, corn, or cabbage. Dessert choice from: banana pudding, peach cobbler, or sweet potato pie. (I was disappointed that red velvet cake was not available for this deal.) A hot buffet with all the food is displayed on the side of the room and that is where the servers go to plate your food.

First for drinks, I chose the lemonade while Keith had the sweet tea. And sweet it was! I think mixing the two Arnold Palmer-style would have been great to cut down the sugar high. For my meal I settled on the fried chicken with a side of mac 'n' cheese and corn. I asked for white meat and received a large breast and wing. The chicken was simply seasoned with salt and pepper, crispy outside and moist inside. The macaroni and cheese was delicious! Very Southern - big elbow pasta with lots of cheese baked together. Since the ribs, which are cooked in a sweet and smoky vinegar-based sauce, were not available as part of the deal Keith chose fried chicken as well, but asked for dark meat and received two drumsticks and a wing. He got mashed potatoes with gravy and collard greens on the side. I tasted his sides and the mashed potatoes were good - buttery with nice extra flavor from the chicken gravy. The greens were cooked well, but still a little too bitter for my taste. Our server also brought over a couple pieces of the most wonderful corn bread I have ever had. It was sweet and not too dry or crumbly as other corn breads are. Overall, the food was much better than we remembered and we devoured it all. For dessert we shared their peach cobbler, which was super sweet heightened by the syrupy canned peaches I think they used. Not my favorite rendition; I would order the sweet potato pie next time.

By the time we were finished with our meal, the restaurant had filled up with dinner patrons. I must point out that the table next to us were "first timers" and felt out of place, as they were just unfamiliar with how the service worked. They were one of the few who left negative remarks on one of the popular review sites (we overheard them doing it on their phone right at the table.) I agree, Levi's can be hit or miss with the service - but you must understand that local hole-in-the-wall type places have their own personality and nuances. First timers must go with an open mind and lower your expectations until you get the hang of it. Be nice, ask questions - the staff is more than happy to answer. They want your business, so give them a chance. It is not the most refined service at Levi's, but the food is comforting and available at a great price (choice of meat with 2 sides for only $10). Hours are limited to Monday through Friday 3 pm to 7 pm and Saturday from 12 pm to 6 pm, and be warned - they are known to close early randomly depending on how busy they are. So try to go for an early dinner before heading to Nationals Park this season - or better yet, get your food to go. Fill up your #Natitude with some real Southern soul food.

Total Rating: 3.9
Food: 4, Price: 5, Service: 3, Ambience: 2, Accessibility: 4

What I ate:

Fried Chicken (white)

with mac 'n' cheese and corn

Peach Cobbler

Plus Keith ate:

Fried Chicken (dark)

with collard greens and mashed potatoes with gravy

Taste of 8th

2012-04-18T16:15:00.000+01:00

Barracks Row is a popular Spring/Summertime hangout spot on Capitol Hill. It's a great place to eat, sip, chill, dog-walk and people-watch. This year's Taste of 8th -- an annual event where nearly twenty restaurants present their tasty treats, cool sips and signature dishes -- is being held on Saturday, April 28th (1pm-4pm).

Cost: $5/single tasting; $20/five tastings. Tickets can be purchased online or during the event (8th & G Street, SE). Ticket sales benefit Barracks Row - Main Street's year-round work to maintain a clean, safe and beautiful community for residents and businesses in the surrounding Capitol Hill community.

Here's the confirmed lineup:

Events like these are certainly "foodie heaven", because you get a little of this (burgers, hot dogs), a little of that (cupcakes, spirits), and some more of that (Mexican, Asian Fusion) all for a low price. Check here for updates.

PS: Volunteers wanted!
Volunteers are assigned to restaurants to help and collect tickets for a shift of two hours. We need volunteers for two shifts, the first starting at 12:30 pm and ending at 2:30pm and the second shift starting at 2pm and ending at 4pm. We are also looking for a few volunteers to help with set up starting at 11:30am.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Haley Harter at volunteertasteof8th@gmail.com and include your name, contact information, t-shirt size (S, M, L, or XL) and preferred shift time. If you already have a Barracks Row Volunteer t-shirt, it would be much appreciated if you wear it to this event so we have enough t-shirts for everyone. Volunteer shift times requests are not guaranteed, but we will do our best to schedule everyone the shift they want. If you are flexible, can work both shifts, already have a T-shirt or are volunteering with a group, please include that in the email.

Boundary Road

2012-04-13T20:00:00.000+01:00

Boundary Road, along H St NE, has garnered a lot of attention recently with a visit by POTUS in early March 2012. Serving seasonal American cuisine, Boundary Road's Chef/Owner, Brad Walker, is a veteran of Central Michel Richard, Proof, Cashion's Eat Place, and Fiola. His experience shines through in the menu and influx of happy customers. Closest Metro is Union Station.

Online reservations are only offered via Urbanspoon and is necessary if you don't want to wait long for a table. Otherwise there is a nice expansive bar in the middle of the room that is a great alternative to meet up with friends for drinks before eating dinner. The soaring brick walls of a long-ago barber shop and a repurposed box spring for a steely chandelier are unique aspects of the interior. In the back of the long dining room, a big exposed window shows the workings of the kitchen.

Our server, Jason, was relaxed and gave us the appropriate amount of time to peruse the menu. Keith ordered a beer to start, while I ordered I'm Thinking About Getting a Vespa. True to its Italophile name, it is a glamorous drink featuring Italian aperitifs (Cocchi Americano and Aperol), blood orange juice and sparkling wine. It was very bright and reminded me more of a brunch beverage, but would also be perfect for the approaching warmer months. For starters, we shared the small portion of the pierogis. Chef Walker got the idea from his mother-in-law in Pennsylvania, lightening her tradition by using quark (curd cheese) instead of sour cream inside the boiled dumplings, which are served over heat-softened onions. Being very familiar with these Polish treats, our expectations were slightly higher than average. Although they had great flavor, like other reviewers, we also felt the pierogis were more like a savory ravioli. The wrappers were just way too thin than traditional pierogis. Nevertheless, we easily polished them off while waiting for our main courses to arrive. And wait we did - enough for me to notice, but not enough of a bother to flag down our server or anything, since we were not in a rush and were enjoying our own conversation.

I ordered the halibut, which was served over a Spanish stew that featured octopus, mussels, and one lonely clam. The sauce was more watery than I expected, yet had flavor and substance from the potatoes and celery. Two pieces of charred bread came with and I messily soaked up the broth with the bread. Our server noticed and offered to bring a few more pieces of bread, which I happily accepted. For some reason the char and the slight salty butter on the bread gave that extra needed seasoning to the stew. Keith ordered the same main dish as Mr. & Mrs. Obama and found the meat to be cooked at a nice medium-rare temp with interesting flavor from the chestnut and the charon sauce. Even though I ate all the bread with my meal, I was still wanting of something more so we ordered the house made zeppoles for dessert along with a side of one of their gelatos. The little donuts were so light and airy. The cinnamon sugar coating gave just the right amount of sweetness to end the meal. The vanilla bourbon gelato was sinfully creamy and flavorful - Keith practically licked the bowl clean - and was the perfect compliment to the warm donuts. Overall, the service at Boundary Road is attentive but still laid back and unobtrusive. The food is slightly rustic with quality seasonal ingredients. I look forward to seeing new items on the menu and would come back in the future to try them.

Total Rating: 3.95
Food: 4, Price: 3.5, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

What I ate:

Quark and Black Pepper Pierogi

Paprika Dusted Flounder

over a Spanish fishermen's stew

Zeppoles

with Vanilla Bourbon Gelato

Plus Keith ate:

Grilled Hanger Steak

with chestnut puree, served over spicy kale,

with a "sauce charon," similar to a Bearnaise

At Home: Crab Stuffed Artichokes

2012-04-12T14:33:00.003+01:00

This next installment of What Micky Eats...At Home features a quicker version to the elegant dish of stuffed artichokes. Instead of braising for an hour in a Dutch oven, use the microwave to help cut down time. Also, we added some crab meat as an extra surprise to the regular Italian bread crumb stuffing. Enjoy these crab stuffed artichokes as a companion to your dinner entree.

Crab Stuffed Artichokes
4 whole artichokes
2 cups Panko bread crumbs
2 cans crab meat, drained
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup onion, diced
¼ cup grated Parmesan
½ teasp dried oregano
¼ cup olive oil
2 Tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste

Braising liquid:
½ cups water
1 Tbsp lemon juice

- Snip the pointed tips of artichoke leaves, and cut off the stems. Wash and drain.
- Pull out the purple furry choke from the middle. Use a spoon to scrape out the extra furs. (Check out this helpful step-by-step on how to properly clean an artichoke).
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a microwave-safe glass dish arrange artichokes, bottoms up, and add water to reach half way up artichokes.
- Microwave at high power (100%), covered, 10 minutes, or until bases are tender, and let stand, covered, 5 minutes.
- In a medium bowl combine bread crumbs, garlic, Parmesan, oregano, olive oil, salt and pepper; mix well. Set aside.
- In a medium pan, melt the butter to saute the onions and garlic.
- Add crab meat to heat through.
- Add the bread crumb mixture to heat through. Add water as needed, to make sure the mixture is moist.
- Press about ½ cup of stuffing into each artichoke; be sure to get in all the nooks and crannies.
- Place each artichoke, bottoms down, back in the glass dish.
- Add braising liquid to cover the bottom of the artichokes.
- Sprinkle tops of artichokes with more cheese and drizzle tops with olive oil.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until leaves pull out easily.
- Optional: For extra crispy tops, you can switch to the broiler for the last 5 minutes.

By using the microwave to soften the artichokes and the oven to continue cooking, the normal braising time of 1 hour is cut down to less than 30 minutes total. Also, I want to point out if you do not eat crab meat, you can easily remove that step from this recipe and just use the Italian bread crumb stuffing. If you have lemons left over, squeeze some juice over just before serving. These artichokes are hearty and satisfying. The best part is the heart. Once you scrape through all the leaves, the soft heart is exposed on the bottom and is just delicious! A great companion to your steak or lamb dinner.

Dining Out For Life

2012-04-11T13:42:00.000+01:00

In 1991, Dining Out For Life was created by an ActionAIDS volunteer in Philadelphia and is now an annual dining fundraising event raising money for AIDS service organizations. Dining Out For Life is produced in 60 cities throughout the United States and Canada. More than 3,000 restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds from this one special day of dining to the licensed AIDS service agency in their city. Make a reservation for Thursday, April 26th and make a difference!

Don't miss Food & Friends' 16th annual Dining Out For Life DC! On Thursday, April 26th, more than 150 participating restaurants in DC, MD and VA will donate 25-100% of sales to Food & Friends' life-saving services. Grab your family and friends and make plans to dine out for lunch and dinner at participating locations on April 26th. More than $3 million dollars a year is raised to support the missions of 60 outstanding HIV/AIDS service organizations throughout North America. With the exception of the annual licensing fee of $1,150, all money raised in these cities stays locally.

Food & Friends is the only nonprofit organization in the Washington, DC area providing daily, home-delivered, specialized meals, groceries and nutrition counseling to individuals who are battling HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses. The funds raised through Dining Out For Life allow Food & Friends to continue to provide these critical services at NO COST to clients.

Thank you for dining out on this day!

At Home: Mini Western Omelettes

2012-04-08T17:26:00.000+01:00

Happy Easter! On this gorgeous Spring morning, I decided to let Keith sleep in and make a nice breakfast for my next installment of What Micky Eats...At Home. With a menu consisting of savory mini omelettes, sweet cinnamon rolls, fruit salad, and tropical mimosas, I'm sure you'll want to start out every morning this way!

I was pinspired by a few different recipes for mini omelettes and since Keith requested bacon, I decided to make a "western" version. I thought the mini presentation using a cupcake pan was cute and an easy way to divvy out portions, since we wanted other items to compliment the meal.

Mini Western Omelettes

8 large eggs
¼ cup milk

½ cup bacon, chopped

¼ cup onion, diced

¼ cup green pepper, diced

½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
salt & pepper to taste

cooking spray

- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large saute pan, over medium high heat, brown bacon pieces for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and drain bacon pieces on a paper towel lined plate.
- Add vegetables to the hot pan to heat through.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper.
- Lightly spray a 12-cupcake pan with cooking spray.

- Spoon out the bacon and veggie mixture evenly into each cupcake. Top with grated cheese.
- Pour the eggs over mixture until a little more than ¾ full.

- Sprinkle with remainder cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes.

- Serve immediately. Wrap any leftovers in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator to enjoy during the week.

Try this recipe substituting your favorite ingredients: broccoli and cheese; spinach and mushroom; or sausage, etc. Twelve mini omelettes were more than enough for the two of us. I will definitely make this again and love how easy it is to take a left over mini with me to work. To go along with the mini omelettes, I also made cinnamon rolls (full disclosure: I bought the tube can version from the store. Maybe next time I will be more ambitious and make them from scratch.) and a simple fruit salad using apples, oranges, and strawberries. Just slice up any fruit you have on hand, and squeeze a bit of the orange juice over it to keep the fruit bright. You can prepare this ahead of time and keep cool in the refrigerator. To drink, I made tropical mimosas using pineapple-passion fruit juice and some champagne. An exotic twist on the regular orange and bubbly drink. Keith was happy to sleep in while I "slaved away" in the kitchen. We both enjoyed this wonderful Easter breakfast...At Home.

Giorgio's

2012-04-06T20:00:00.000+01:00

With over 50 years of combined experience, the Lampros family has spent a lifetime in the restaurant business. From the dining rooms of the most elegant luxury cruise ships to the simplest and most down-to-earth family restaurants, the Lampros family has honed and practiced their profession around the globe. Serving Greek and Italian cuisine, Giorgio's goal is that you don't have to travel (and fight traffic) into the city to experience high quality, freshly prepared, gourmet meals.

Since opening their doors in January of 1999, Giorgio's has grown from a 12 seat deli to a 130 seat full-service restaurant with banquet facilities and catering. They pride themselves on their personal service and friendly family atmosphere. Giorgio's makes special efforts to keep their dishes consistent and the "Specials" just that....special. Keith and I met up with my family for dinner in Montclair, VA who were driving through on their way to Myrtle Beach. I chose this spot due to it's casual atmosphere, high reviews and convenient location for my family. We were a group of 8 and were seated in the main dining area, which was already packed with diners. Connected next door is their large wine bar area called Winestyles.

Our server was great - super attentive all night and patient with our large group. I did not catch his name, but my family thought he looked like Josh Groban. We started off ordering drinks - beer for the guys and wine for the ladies. Keith was happy to see the Greek beer, Mythos, on the menu so he and my cousin ordered that while my dad and uncle stuck to an American IPA called Tommy Knocker. The menu is quite expansive with pastas, pizza, salads, meats, and seafood. Keith took the lead and ordered a few appetizers for the table to share choosing some Greek classics that we love. The fried calamari was light and delicate and not overly cooked at all. The Greek Sampler consisted of a platter of feta cheese, Kalamata olives, pita bread and tzatziki sauce. Next, a fresh and piping hot slice of traditional spanakopita stuffed with plenty of spinach. But the highlight of the starters was the popular "flaming cheese", saganaki. Keith and I first had this on our honeymoon in Greece. While the spectacle might be cheesy (pun-intended), the dish is nevertheless fun and tasty and our server did a great fire show table side.

By now we were already filling up but still had either a small salad or soup to tackle before our main entrees came. The portions of the salads and soups could have been a meal in itself. Still, the portions of the entrees were more grand and frankly overwhelming. I ordered one of the specials of the night, chicken breast topped with a grilled portabella mushroom cap and a crab cake. The crab cake had nice lumps of crab meat and the portabella was delicious, yet the chicken was a tad under lukewarm. I also was not crazy about the thick white sauce drowning the chicken. Others in the group enjoyed chicken or veal savoia topped with ham and mozzarella cheese; a spicy and garlicky seafood linguine; another special of the night seafood crepes; and a monstrous portion of grilled Greek pork chops. Most of us barely ate half before surrendering and asking our server to wrap up the rest for us to take home. All in all, the food and service were decent and the high overturn of tables in the dining room only testified to the great value of Giorgio's. With the close location to my parents' house, I suspect they will return again to try some of the other great items on the menu such as Veal Parmesan and New Zealand Rack of Lamb.

Total Rating: 3.575
Food: 3.5, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 3

What I ate:

Fried Calamari

served with marinara sauce

Greek Sampler

feta cheese, Kalamata olives, pita bread and tzatziki sauce

Spanakopita

spinach and feta pie wrapped in phyllo pastry

Saganaki

flaming Kaseri cheese

Greek Salad
with cucumber, tomato, Kalamata olives, feta cheese

Chicken with Portabella and Crab Cake

covered with a creamy white sauce and served with rice

Plus others ate:

New England Clam Chowder

Chicken or Veal Savoia

topped with ham and mozzarella cheese

in a light white wine butter sauce

Seafood Linguine

with sauteed shrimp, scallops, clams and calamari

in a white sauce served with garlic bread

Seafood Crepes

with sauteed shrimp, scallops, clams and calamari

in a white sauce served with rice

Greek Pork Chops
grilled and topped with a Greek style sauce made with white wine,

lemon, garlic, oregano, and black pepper

served with potatoes and vegetables

At Home: Lemon Bars

2012-04-04T11:54:00.001+01:00

With Easter approaching, I was thinking of an easy "Spring-time" dessert to make. Looking at the ingredients I had on had, I thought I would make Lemon Bars as my next feature of What Micky Eats...At Home. I have made these a couple times before and most recently for a charity bake sale at work. They were a huge hit and several people came up to me afterwards commenting on how much they loved my interpretation.

Micky's Lemon Bars
1 cup melted butter
5/8 cup lemon juice
4 eggs
¼ cup flour
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup confectioner sugar
1 teasp baking powder

- Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9 x 13" pan.
- In a medium bowl, stir 2 cups flour and confectioner sugar.
- Blend in melted butter. Press mixture into bottom of pan.
- Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. Let rest.
- In large bowl, beat eggs until light. Combine sugar, baking powder, ¼ cup flour.
- Stir mixture into eggs. Stir until NO lumps. Stir in lemon juice. Mixture should be frothy.
- Pour all over crust and return to oven.
- Bake for 30 minutes until set. Cool completely before cutting into bars.
- Dust with confectioner sugar. (makes about 16 bars)

This is such an easy dessert to make and the bright, tart, citrus flavor of the lemon reminds me of Spring. Substitute with lime juice or combine the two for a nice twist (which is the secret trick I did for my recent work bake sale that had everyone raving!). If I don't have any fresh lemons, I have even used lemonade for a softer, sweeter lemony flavor - just add less sugar to the filling. Great dessert for Easter, potlucks, and bake sales. Enjoy!

Al's Steak House

2012-04-03T12:05:00.000+01:00

***Special Post by Keith***

Looking for a piece of South Philly in the DMV? You have got to get to Al's Steak House in Alexandria. This place has been going strong since the 1950's and is the most authentic cheesesteak I have had outside of Philadelphia. Al's Steak House also makes great hot and cold subs, along with delicious dinner boxes. Located on Mount Vernon Avenue, make Al's your next lunch or dinner stop and join the legions of loyal customers who judge quality with their taste buds. Closest Metro is Braddock Road.

Inside is definitely old school and kinda reminds me of a mini elks lodge or something. The fake wood paneling on the walls are covered with signed pics of pseudo local celebs, high school superstars and softball trophies. It can get packed though, so be prepared to take your sandwich to go. There are a few different varieties of cheesesteak available, including chicken and turkey. I usually stick to the Roman Steak, which comes with provolone cheese and, to me, is the classic cheesesteak. If you are more of a "whiz" fan, the closest thing you are going to get at Al's is the Steak & American Cheese. I recommend ordering it with everything. This gets you what they call in Philly a cheesesteak hoagie and comes with lettuce and tomato in addition to your cheese and grilled onions.

One of the best features of Al's is the free cherry peppers. Need a little more heat with your sandwich? Grab the tongs and dig into the giant jar of peppers on the counter. This adds the perfect complement to the meal and a visit to Al's would not be complete without it. There are lots of other choices on the menu, but honestly why bother? You can get a burger anywhere. The side dishes seem mostly non-descript but I do recommend the cheeseballs. These area actually small fried squares of what tastes like Monterey Jack. Pretty unique and definitely different than your typical mozzarella sticks (rounded cheese sticks always freaked me out a little; looks so unnatural). Al's is a little out of the way for me but it is worth the trip for these delicious cheesesteaks. You too will proclaim Al's Steak House "King of the Steak Subs."

Total Rating: 4.325
Food: 4.5, Price: 5, Service: 3, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 3

At Home: Ahi Tuna Two Ways

2012-03-30T11:34:00.000+01:00

To go along with the grilled clams we made, Keith also picked up a nice piece of fresh Ahi tuna. Also known as yellowfin tuna, this fish is a premiere choice for sushi lovers as it has great flavor eaten raw. Ahi tuna is great when seared or grilled, thus we present Ahi tuna two ways in this next installment of What Micky Eats...At Home.

First, we made tartare - a preparation of finely chopped raw meat or fish optionally with seasonings and sauces, usually served as a spread with toast. Since we did not have wasabi, as is a common ingredient at restaurants, we substituted with an Asian red pepper sauce. Be careful as a little goes a long way and gives the tartare an extra kick!

Ahi Tuna Tartare
3/4 lb fresh Ahi tuna
3 teasp soy sauce
1 teasp teriyaki
2 teasp lemon juice
2 teasp olive oil
1 teasp Sriracha, optional
salt & pepper to taste

- Using a sharp knife, finely chop tuna.
- In a bowl, mix tuna with lemon juice, soy sauce, teriyaki, Sriracha, salt & pepper. Finish with olive oil.
- Serve chilled with pita chips or toast points.

Second, we grilled the rest of the fish outside. Ahi tuna is solid enough to handle heat and not flake apart, so is often prepared with a sear on the outside and rare on the inside. On the grill, the tuna steaks are great plain, just seasoned with salt and pepper, or enhanced with full flavored marinades of your choosing. Again, the flavor of the fish is so mild and takes on whatever seasoning you add. Eat it as the main protein with rice and vegetables, or serve over a crisp salad.

Grilled Ahi Tuna

½ lb fresh Ahi tuna steaks, per person

1 teasp soy sauce

salt & pepper to taste

- Coat the tuna steak with soy sauce and salt & pepper.
- Grill on each side for 3 minutes to get a nice sear.
- Slice and serve.

Lavagna

2012-03-28T19:00:00.000+01:00

Each and every Lavagna pasta dish is prepared with house made pasta which is a true highlight of Lavagna's philosophy. Carrying this philosophy forward, each table will feature the exclusive Lavagna Virgin Olive Oil, fresh made focaccia bread and handwritten chalkboard menus. Owner Stephen Cheung designed these concepts based on the principle he believes of what food should be: "simple, fresh and changed often-just like a chalkboard." A familiar and affordable concept of delicious, traditional, regional Italian food, a lighthearted and brilliantly inexpensive wine list, and a distinctive list of craft cocktails all designed with the ingredients of love await you at Lavagna on Barracks Row. Closest Metro is Eastern Market.

This new Italian restaurant has been open for over a year now and Keith and I have tried to stop by for brunch or lunch, but never really made it in. So this time, we decided to go for a mid-week dinner and use a recent Living Social coupon I acquired. I heard mixed reviews about this place, but kept an open mind as I perused the menu. A few appetizers and entrées caught my eye, but our server forgot to mention to us about mix and matching pastas (order half portions of several pasta to sample) or the pre-set dinner option (an appetizer, pasta, dessert, and glass of wine for $35) until after we made our choices. Had he mentioned it right away, I might have gone a different route. Regardless, the server did peak my interest in the wine flight - a sample of three white or red for $10. I chose the white and although I am no connoisseur, they all looked and tasted exactly the same to me. I usually can tell the difference between different varieties, so I was a little disappointed.

Our appetizers soon arrived and we were taken aback. First, we thought the artichoke would be just that - a full artichoke. Rather, it was a few pieces of lackluster artichoke hearts on a bed of lightly dressed arugula. A large, hard, and stale piece of crostini was buried underneath that was spread with goat cheese, yet added no additional flavor. Next, the prosciutto arancini was a single ball in a sorry, cold, and tin can flavored sauce akin to Spaghetti-O's. At least two arancini should have been provided and although I could see pieces of the prosciutto inside, I could not really taste it. So far, we were not impressed. Our main dishes soon arrived and I was happy to see the portion size. My radiatorre pasta, however, was way overcooked and too soft. The cauliflower and pine nuts had solid flavor and kept the dish light. There was a nice extra kick of red pepper that I also did not mind. Keith's risotto, though ugly to look at, had great seafood flavor. The squid ink and shrimp provided just the right amount of salt and the rice was nice and creamy. All in all, Lavagna had hits and misses. I appreciate the attempt to bring fresh pasta and Italian fare to the south end of Barracks Row, but the food is still overshadowed by other better places on the block.

Total Rating: 3.25

Food: 3, Price: 3, Service: 3.5, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

What I ate:

Artichoke

artichoke hearts on a bed of arugula

with a goat cheese crostini

Prosciutto Arancini

deep fried rice ball with prosciutto

Radiatorre

with cauliflower and pine nuts

Plus Keith ate:

Squid Ink Risotto

with shrimp