by Jenna on September 21, 2010
As most Washingtonians have noticed, salad places keep popping up all over town and they all claim to have the best ingredients, but in my opinion Sweetgreen wins the salad war hands down. I am lucky enough to live above the Sweetgreen in Logan Circle and I am a regular as I like to go and snag a salad for dinner on my way home from the gym. I think Sweetgreen really takes the cake because the ingredients are incredibly unique, always uber fresh, and they are constantly changing the menu to keep things new and exciting. Also, Sweetgreen brings in organic foods from local farms and also compliments their great salad options with the delicious Sweetflow which is their tart frozen yogurt.
I am a huge fan of the Chic P salad which consists of mesclun & baby spinach with baked falafel, chickpeas, cucumbers, roasted peppers, garlic pita chips and then topped with a lemon hummus tahini dressing. The Mediterranean flavor profile of this salad is sophisticated and scrumptious, and I really cannot get enough of that baked falafel. I have contemplated going in there and just getting the falafel on its own to put on other concoctions I make at home. It’s the perfect protein addition to any salad—especially for those vegetarians out there. Also I know many people enjoy the Guacamole Greens which is essentially a deconstructed guacamole presented in a salad format. How could that be bad? Finally, one of the best options at Sweetgreen is to wrap up your salad in a toasted wheat tortilla if you are in the mood for a little more heft, but not to worry, it’s still a great healthy option.
While I love the salad options on the menu, I am a die hard fan of my custom salad that I think is brilliantly built (I spent most of last weekend at the beach complaining that there was no Sweetgreen and telling my friends how I had created the perfect make your own salad). So here goes: romaine, red tomatoes, white beans, quinoa (great unique offering at Sweetgreen that you can’t find elsewhere), slivered almonds, goat cheese, baked falafel and balsamic vinaigrette. I honestly feel ultra proud of this creation as it takes a lot of trial and error to find the perfect mix, but I know that I have hit a home run with this one. If by some chance Sweetgreen is reading this and wants to add it to their menu, I say we call it the Eastern Shore. I dream about this salad while I am at a work, and then have my eyes on the prize the entire time I am exercising at VIDA. This is my reward after a long hard day and a great workout. And then sometimes a few hours later in the evening I pop back in for a frozen yogurt with granola, chocolate chips, and strawberries (three toppings are included).
Okay, okay… so you know I love Sweetgreen. This leads me to why the other options like Chop’t and Mixt Greens seem to fall a little short. I am often perplexed by the long lines outside of Chop’t by my office in Metro Center around lunchtime. I find that while there are a lot of choices on the menu, none of them are all that exciting. Also, the dressings are underwhelming and often soak the salads leaving the lettuce quite soggy. I also find the entire experience to be assembly line “esque” and if I am going to wait in line for 20 minutes, I want to be wowed.
I really like Mixt Greens. I think their choices are different and I have greatly enjoyed the Madison which includes mixt greens, herb marinated grilled chicken, asparagus, roasted white-truffle potatoes, shaved parmesan, toasted pine nuts and whole grain mustard vinaigrette (which I substitute for balsamic). However, my biggest complaint about Mixt Greens is that they have picked very businessy locations that are not in places that anyone would frequent over the weekend. There is no neighborhood feel to their establishments and of course there is no frozen yogurt here or at Chop’t.
I think the most compelling difference between Sweetgreen and the others is that it was created by three local Georgetown students and is a homegrown business here in the DC area while the others are national chains. There is something special about the story and that it has roots here in Washington even as it continues to grow. So I know this is not a very scientific approach to weighing the pros and cons of the salad options in DC, but I have to say that Sweetgreen is my favorite and the winner in my book. Now I just need to figure out how to get my salad creation on the menu…
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Sweetgreen
Logan Circle- 1471 P Street NW
Georgetown- 3333 M Street NW
Capitol Hill- 221 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Dupont- 1512 Connecticut Ave. NW
Bethesda- 3841 Bethesda Ave.
http://www.sweetgreen.com
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Mixt Greens
Dupont- 1200 19th Street NW
Metro Center- 1311 F Street NW
Farragut North- 1700 K Street NW
http://www.mixtgreens.com
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Chop’t
Chinatown- 730 7th Street NW
Metro Center- 618 12th Street NW
Dupont- 1300 Connecticut Avenue NW
19th and L- 1105 1/2 19th Street NW
Rosslyn- 1735 North Lynn Street
http://www.choptsalad.com
by Britt on July 29, 2010
I have wanted to go to Founding Farmers since it opened almost two years ago but as it always happens, other things came up. Needless to say I finally made the trek and am glad I did. For those of you who aren’t familiar, FF bills itself as a restaurant dedicated to using local and sustainable food sources. They also have a rather extensive and rather complicated cocktail menu.
As first impressions go, I really liked the décor and design of dark wood, smoked glass and great lighting pieces. In keeping with their overall philosophy, they are also LEED (gold) certified. I was a bit wary about the service after having read quite a few reviews complaining about the slow pace. After an initial lull prior to ordering, the rest of the service went off without a hitch and at the perfect pace.
I was there for dinner with my husband so we decided to share a salad and two entrées. I also meant to order the fried green tomato appetizer and totally forgot. Next time. Next time.
For the salad, we shared the small portion Late Harvest. It was delicious with spinach, blue cheese, egg, hunks of bacon and fried onions tossed in vinaigrette. I have to take a moment to talk about the bacon. This isn’t your standard crumbled bacon. Bacon lovers delight, these are actual thick chunks of chopped bacon. They made the salad. Can’t wait to have it again!
For our entrées we shared the short ribs with mashed potatoes and steamed kale. This was also very good although the actual meat portion was on the smaller side. Perhaps I’m just imagining that considering I think we would have easily put away several pounds of it given the chance! The meat was incredibly tender and the bbq sauce was sweet and smoky. The perfect combination. The mashed potatoes were decent but the kale was off the charts. I really love kale so maybe I am once again exaggerating but it was light, lemony and very fresh.
For our past dish we had the Straw and Hay. They make all of their own noodles in house and I think that was the stand out of the dish. My husband didn’t love it (he claims it never had a chance following up the short rib dish) but I thought it was really nice. Perhaps the cream sauce was just a little too heavy for me. Otherwise, the thick ribbon pasta tossed with asparagus, baby peas, mushrooms and hunks of bacon worked for me.
I did also end up ordering a cocktail from the “Recession Proof” section of the cocktail menu called the Rio 16. It was only ok. Perhaps if I would have splurged for one of the pricier options, it would have been more interesting. It was tiny and a lot like drinking limeade. As for dessert we were way too stuffed to try anything.
Overall it was a great dinner and I’m looking forward to going again. There were so many things I wanted to try on the menu I’m sure I’ll need a few more visits. In the end, our bill came to only $60.00 which is a pretty good deal these days. So if you’re looking for a nice atmosphere and a wide range of options at a decent price, head over to Founding Farmers.
Founding Farmers
1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20006
www.wearefoundingfarmers.com
by Jenna on July 16, 2010
Faithful readers of EatMore DrinkMore (we know you are out there!) recently read about my love for Oya. Therefore, it is only natural that I also love the sister restaurant Sei which is located at 7th and E in the Chinatown area. The restaurant is white and sleek and the food is nothing short of fantastic. Last night I shared a delicious meal with my friend Katie and I documented our feast as I always like to share my culinary enthusiasm with others.
We started the meal with the fish and chips sushi roll as our appetizer. The roll consists of flounder, malt vinegar, potato crips, and wasabi tartar. Each piece of the roll is such a delicious bite that has the flavor of Irish pub food with a sophisticated asian flare. Also, the roll is light and just enough to satisfy the craving… but I always find myself still wanting more!
The Fish and Chips sushi roll at Sei
For our meal we shared the sea bass sliders and the short ribs. The fish in the sliders was fried and covered in melted cheese with an apricot chutney and a cucumber mayo spread. The dish was unique and provided a modern twist on the otherwise simple concept of a slider. Sei also makes baby sized homemade potato chips that they serve as an accompaniment on the plate. The dish was presented beautifully and provided such a nice balance of flavors between the salty fried fish and the sweet chutney.
Sea Bass Sliders
Finally, we dug into the short ribs which came with wasabi potatoes, asparagus, carrots, and a miso demi. The meat was tender however I would have appreciated a tad more of the miso glaze as I like my short ribs well sauced, nonetheless they were still delicious and the potatoes were smooth and creamy. I knew this dish would be good as my absolute favorite thing on the menu at Oya is the short rib tempura roll. These guys know how to do short ribs, that is for sure.
Tender Short Ribs at Sei
Sei generously offers a three course dinner prix fixe for $29.00 total which cannot be beat. There are multiple sushi rolls as options for the first course, the second course choices include salmon, short ribs, and other staples, and finally there are three delicious dessert choices. Sei provides a trendy and upscale vibe and is able to match its impressive look and feel with really delicious food. Thats a hard combination to come by, and I hope that those who have not yet had a chance to experience Sei will head over soon to enjoy all that they have to offer.
Sei
444 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
http://www.seirestaurant.com
by Missy on July 15, 2010
I subscribe to Gwyneth Paltrow’s blog GOOP. This morning -to my delight- I saw she is featuring San Francisco in her GO section. In terms of restaurants, Gwen, her friends, and I have the same taste (Gwen, let’s hang out!) including the Ferry Building, Slanted Door, SPQR, Tartine, and more. She also details the best places to stay and shop in the city by the bay. A great follow up to the first installment of Travel Tuesday’s.
Happy reading!
The Foster Harris House is a little Bed & Breakfast in Washington, Virginia. It holds a special place in the hearts of EatMore DrinkMore bloggers, I am an avid user of their cookbook, the Foster Harris House Cookbook; and Missy has stayed at the Foster Harris House a couple times and is even featured in their cookbook! (In case you missed, Missy’s earlier post on the Foster Harris House, you can check it out here)
The next time you want to get a weekend away from the big city, visit Virginia Wine Country, and perhaps enjoy a meal at the world famous Inn at Little Washington, check out the Foster Harris House. (Fun fact about your EatMore DrinkMore Bloggers, both Missy and Lindsey ate at the Inn at Little Washington, the night they got engaged.) How could you not like a B&B that serves a four course breakfast?
I borrowed a copy of the Foster Harris House Cookbook from Missy (you can buy yours here), and I have been reluctant to give it back. The recipes are simple, delicious, and elegantly photographed. I highly recommend the Cilantro Garlic Shrimp recipe, and their cornbread, is simply the best cornbread, I have ever had. Also included in the cookbook is paradise bacon, which is bacon covered in a chipolte raspberry glaze. Mmmmm glazed bacon…………
Recipe after the jump
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by Britt on July 15, 2010
Seared Ahi Tuna Tacos- perfect for a summer dinner
There is nothing more I love in the summer than grilled fish tacos. I found a few recipes for ahi tuna tacos online and modified them for my own preferences. I REALLY recommend buying good ahi. My favorite place (and one of the cheapest) to get ahi is the fish market on the SW waterfront. If you live in Arlington it is just a quick drive into the city. Totally worth it to avoid being completely ripped off by Whole Foods. I served this along with a shaved corn and tomato salad with smoked paprika. Recipe after the jump.
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Pat yourselves on the back everyone, The PETA files, a blog put out by PETA, just named us one of the most vegetarian friendly cities! Here’s what they had to say:
Washington, D.C.
Although Congress may be populated by purveyors of “pork,” Washington is making a bid to become the nation’s capital of veggie dining. Folks on both sides of the aisle could surely reach a bipartisan consensus on the faux turkey club sandwich from Java Green, ratify the vegan pepperoni and mozzarella pizza at Busboys and Poets, and put an end to the gridlock for a trip to Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant in nearby Falls Church, Virginia, to enjoy Popeye’s Favorite—a potato pie mixed with spinach, soy protein, and veggie bacon in a black-pepper sauce—followed by egg-free and milk-free organic pumpkin pie or almond-blueberry pie.
I’m not surprised by PETA’s ranking though, even as a non-veggetarian (sorry! I just love steak too much to go veg…) I’ve noticed how our great city has opened up and widen its food horizons in recent years. I mean, even our drunk food is vegetarian (helloo 3am falafel and Jumbo Slice…)
We sure made this guy happy...
So give yourselves a pat on the back, and go grab some crudités to celebrate. We’ve earned those celery sticks!
by Jenna on July 14, 2010
Last night I was able to snag a spot at the bar for opening night of the long awaited Estadio, brought to us by the owners of Proof. I normally like to withhold judgement on new restaurants until they are able to work out the expected kinks, but I was impressed to see that Estadio was operating at full speed and my experience included good service and high quality food.
Delicious cocktails at Estadio
Pouring a Porron
Spanish country style seating
Open air bar with cheese selection on display
Estadio boasts a traditional spanish menu that includes an array of cheeses, meats, tapas, seafood, and even some delicious dessert options. The restaurant is warm and inviting with brick and stone walls, ornate tilework on the walls and along the bar area, warm earth tones such as terra cotta and marigold, and a spanish country feel with large wooden slab communal tables and high backed chairs with wrought iron detailing. The bar area is quite large, and there is also an open kitchen towards the back of the restaurant with seating for those who are interested in watching the chefs create their masterpieces. We started with interesting cocktails which included the Salty Limey Ginny Ting-Gin which got rave reviews from my fellow diner Rebecca. We learned from the bar manager that the limes are cured in salt for at least one week and then turned into a syrup with charred star anise, salt, and basil. We were also intrigued to see “slushitos” on the menu (which is clearly a fancy term for slushees) and to prove that they have fully embraced the concept, Estadio has 7-11 esque slushee machines at the bar. Finally, they offer wine from a Porron, which is a carafe of sorts with a fair warning on the menu to “drink at your own risk”.
For our feast we ordered a approximately eight dishes and the dishes came out as they were ready allowing us to eat slowly and to take our time enjoying each bite. The small bite of chorizo, manchego and quince paste was to die for. We also enjoyed the smoked salmon, yogurt, and honey open faced tartine as well as the chicken skewer with Spanish and Indian flavors including curry, mint, and a crisp vinegary slaw. However there were a few favorites at the table that each deserve their own description. The tortilla espanola was my absolute favorite thing on the menu. The dish had the perfect combination of flavors with the egg and potato as well as the peppers on top which provided some spice to the heaviness of the dish. The Marcilla blood sausage was also on the top of the list as it came on a perfectly toasted petite bun with pungent bleu cheese which created a fabulous bite that was hearty but not overwhelming by any means. I could have easily eaten another one of these. Finally, we also tried the halibut with chickpeas and spinach in a romesco sauce and the hen of the woods mushrooms which were salty but crispy adding a nice addition to the meal.
Marcilla blood sausage with blue cheese
Tortilla Espanola
Last but not least it was time for dessert. After much debate with many of the waiters and bartenders we decided to spring for the Creme Catalana and the Chocolate Cherry Bread Pudding. The Creme Catalana is a Spanish creme brulee with raspberries on top but this version was much more enjoyable than your average creme brulee. It had an airy and light texture to it making it a perfect ending to a great meal. The bread pudding was also a great choice as it was warm and spongy with a spicy Mexican chocolate undertone making it extremely delectable.
Creme Catalana and Chocolate Cherry Bread Pudding at Estadio
Ultimately, Estadio operated on night one as many restaurants should operate years into their service. The staff was friendly, helpful, polite, and pleasant and the service was fast and the dishes were delivered at a nice pace. The place was packed with Logan Circle locals and for a first night in the midst of a thunderstorm, I’d say Estadio was looking pretty hot. I’d like to personally welcome Estadio to the neighborhood. We are happpy to have you.
Estadio
1520 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
http://www.estadio-dc.com
*Thanks to Rebecca for helping with photography duties last night.
by Lindsey on July 13, 2010
When Chad asked me to write an “about me” post, I felt like someone was asking me to update my resume. However, I don’t want to disappoint the readers, so here are a few things about me. (Items in italics are Eric’s suggested changes).
Things you may have learned from my posts:
- I have a husband named Eric who likes to contribute to my posts and thinks knows he’s funnier than me
- The granite in my kitchen is Uba Tuba
- I am a terrible photographer but like to blame my camera and the lighting
- Friday after work, I’m usually on my balcony with a drink, deciding where to have dinner
Things you probably didn’t know about me:
- I will try just about anything but hate mushrooms. Food is digital … You either “try anything” or you don’t. There is no “just about”. Especially for delicious mushrooms
- I went over a year without eating chicken but ate beef without a problem
- Sometimes, I just want cereal for dinner. I think she empathizes with the homeless
- I like my meat rare but my vegetables almost burnt
- I prefer an appetizer to a dessert but wouldn’t turn down something sweet at the end of a meal
by Britt on July 13, 2010
Get sweaty and a little tipsy at the W
Now here is a concept I can get behind! Beach Bums & Bellinis manages to combine two of my favorite things, working out and brunch.
The W Hotel has partnered with Lululemon to bring you 1 hour workout sessions ranging from yoga to pilates followed by a healthy bellini brunch on their rooftop deck. Each session is $39 (excludes tax and tip) which isn’t a bad deal considering it is a two for one deal. For a complete listing of classes you can visit their facebook page here. I’ll be sure to check out at least one of the sessions.
