well, it was another Friday in DC - this time lunch at casa blanca - a self-described mexican/peruvian place - a little bit of a hole-in-the-wall kind of feel. they have table service as well as carry-out and two tables on their "patio" - but they don't have much of a shade blocker - so i would recommend sitting inside. that and they added two tvs so you can watch spanish soaps whilst you dine! :)
i've only gotten the table service and it's really slow - i recommend patience and getting some appetizers! but nothing too big since their portions are quite large. we liked the pupusas and i like that they have a pollo saltado (chicken) - usually i can only find lomo saltado (beef), but i'm not always in the mood for red meat. also, their water cups are kind of teeny, requiring lots of refills - sometimes they are good about coming around, other times, not so much ... it's funny, i can't handle slow service (since i'm usually hungry when i go out to eat), but when i know that the food is good and i know what to expect, i'm not upset when they're slow or they don't refill my water, i just accept it and order an appetizer :)
ask for the green sauce - it adds a nice kick to the meal
after this trip, i am looking forward to returning to el chalan for a comparison - i haven't been to el chalan in such a long time i can't remember what their lomo saltado's like - i vaguely remember their presentation being a little different - i think it's the fries, i do not think they are mixed in with everything like at casa blanca ...
Stats:
Casa Blanca (closest metro McPherson Square)
Cash Only
there are restrooms, but it's behind the counter ... don't know from personal use, just saw someone ask and go back there ...
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Foodie Log 13, date July 28, 2010
sometimes the snack monster attacks you and you have no option but to feed it and hope it stops being such a meanie. tonight's attack was sponsored by chick-fil-a waffle fries and a strawberry milkshake ... it was salty-sweet-heavenly goodness! (that was almost side-swiped by some oldie - but i won, of course - nobody keeps me from my snacks! nobody!)
so, now i'm in a bit of a happy fat cat coma ... mmmmmmm ... mmmmmmm ... mmmmmmmmmmmmm
Stats:
Chick-Fil-A Center
so, now i'm in a bit of a happy fat cat coma ... mmmmmmm ... mmmmmmm ... mmmmmmmmmmmmm
Stats:
Chick-Fil-A Center
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Foodie Log 12, date July 25, 2010
apparently this was the weekend for crossing the river - thankfully the experiences did not disappoint (well, there was one thing, but I will get to that). I must say though, of the two choices, I much prefer DC - stupid MD drivers ... enough said.
anyway, we set out on the word of a friend who used to live in MD (yes, we made friends with a MDer ... miracles do happen) and, really, I do enjoy trying new places even if they are in MD.
so, this time it was thai and a second visit to the dutch market.
Old Siam eats -
satay - okay-average
larb gai - ehhh-average
pad thai with shrimp - mmmmmm i like thin rice noodles, but it also had small shrimp
gaeng massaman (coconut curry beef & potatoes) - i'm not a huge curry fan, but hubs seemed to really enjoy this one - unfortunately, we left the leftovers in the restaurant - D'OH!
gai pad kaprow - my friend got this one and it looked absolutely scrumptious - it had very fresh and crunchy peppers
Dutch Market heart break-
our first visit yielded a rich loot of baked goods - our greatest prize was the key lime pie - but, here is the previously-mentioned minor disappointment - apparently, the dutch market closes at 3pm on Saturdays, so by the time we got there after 1pm the bakery was practically emptied out - noooooooooooo!!!!!! :(
i hate lessons learned the hard way - especially when it comes to food!
anyway, we made it out with an apple crisp and some donuts. their chocolate donut is a chocolate covered yellow cakey donut - that was also slightly disappointing for this chocoholic, but the chocolate covering was decadent enough that i did not cry all the way home. we also tried the pretzels - yum-o-my-tum-o!! they make it right - lots of butter and lots of cinnamon-sugar. hubs thoroughly enjoyed his butter-drenched pepperoni and cheese pretzel - very cheesy.
Stats:
Old Siam Thai
next to the train tracks
Lancaster County Dutch Market
in the corner of the strip mall - parking's a little tight
anyway, we set out on the word of a friend who used to live in MD (yes, we made friends with a MDer ... miracles do happen) and, really, I do enjoy trying new places even if they are in MD.
so, this time it was thai and a second visit to the dutch market.
Old Siam eats -
satay - okay-average
larb gai - ehhh-average
pad thai with shrimp - mmmmmm i like thin rice noodles, but it also had small shrimp
gaeng massaman (coconut curry beef & potatoes) - i'm not a huge curry fan, but hubs seemed to really enjoy this one - unfortunately, we left the leftovers in the restaurant - D'OH!
gai pad kaprow - my friend got this one and it looked absolutely scrumptious - it had very fresh and crunchy peppers
Dutch Market heart break-
our first visit yielded a rich loot of baked goods - our greatest prize was the key lime pie - but, here is the previously-mentioned minor disappointment - apparently, the dutch market closes at 3pm on Saturdays, so by the time we got there after 1pm the bakery was practically emptied out - noooooooooooo!!!!!! :(
i hate lessons learned the hard way - especially when it comes to food!
anyway, we made it out with an apple crisp and some donuts. their chocolate donut is a chocolate covered yellow cakey donut - that was also slightly disappointing for this chocoholic, but the chocolate covering was decadent enough that i did not cry all the way home. we also tried the pretzels - yum-o-my-tum-o!! they make it right - lots of butter and lots of cinnamon-sugar. hubs thoroughly enjoyed his butter-drenched pepperoni and cheese pretzel - very cheesy.
Stats:
Old Siam Thai
next to the train tracks
Lancaster County Dutch Market
in the corner of the strip mall - parking's a little tight
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Foodie Log 11, date July 24, 2010
In case anyone was confused, I'm a VA girl, I don't like to cross the river unless it's for work or really good food. now, I have not tried all of Jose Andres Think Food Group restaurants, but I had experienced enough of them to know Oyamel was worth crossing that river during rush hour. there is no "reverse" commute in this area and you know it! anywho - it wasn't that bad getting in and the food was yummy in my belly!
However, not a fan of the waitress - I understand the chips and salsa are quite scarce at a Mexican restaurant - here, it costs you $4 for the SECOND batch, we didn't even get the first batch and when we asked twice for them, she said, "oh, you want more chips?" and flitted away - more chips? yeah, more than the none we had! argh!
now, the food:
warm chips & delectable salsa - drooool!
seared scallops - two scallops per dish, who knew pumpkin and scallops made such a scrumptious pair?
sauteed shrimp - 6-7 warm shrimp, nothing like a little sweet black garlic!
tacos are the way to go, but it's just one taco per order so keep that in mind
papas al mole - what girl can resist french fries???
Stat:
Oyamel, Mexican
Penn Quarter
Single bathroom upstairs, but more downstairs - I think the bathroom downstairs is nicer
However, not a fan of the waitress - I understand the chips and salsa are quite scarce at a Mexican restaurant - here, it costs you $4 for the SECOND batch, we didn't even get the first batch and when we asked twice for them, she said, "oh, you want more chips?" and flitted away - more chips? yeah, more than the none we had! argh!
now, the food:
warm chips & delectable salsa - drooool!
seared scallops - two scallops per dish, who knew pumpkin and scallops made such a scrumptious pair?
sauteed shrimp - 6-7 warm shrimp, nothing like a little sweet black garlic!
tacos are the way to go, but it's just one taco per order so keep that in mind
papas al mole - what girl can resist french fries???
Stat:
Oyamel, Mexican
Penn Quarter
Single bathroom upstairs, but more downstairs - I think the bathroom downstairs is nicer
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Foodie Log 10, date July 22, 2010
First Annual Crab Feast (the restaurant's and mine for 2010) - held outdoors, thankfully it wasn't too terribly hot and it did not rain. there were some tables out in the sun, but the sun was setting so that didn't last long either.
Tables of 8 - so you got to sit with strangers. Dining with strangers is always an interesting experience. The ladies we sat next to were quite nice and rather lively - one of them kept squirting the other one with crab debris - hilarious for us, probably not so much for the one being showered in crab ...
it was pretty obvious early on that the restaurant had no prior experience in crab feasts - there weren't enough tools for each person (also a lesson in sharing) and the crab took forever to come out AND, worst of all, they ran out of crab!!! thankfully, my friends and i arrived right at the start of the feast and got our fill by badgering the waiter to keep bringing us more crab - but the table on the other side of the fence was fairly angry - rightfully so. how do you run out of crab at a crab feast??? and it only took 2 hours for them to run out of crab for about 80-90 people - so unacceptable!
I really wish someone would come up with a better method of getting rid of the crabby smell situation after the chow-down. I would say that's what keeps me from enjoying more crab more often. I could smell it well into the next day and the day after that - blah! another downside is that the crabby aroma made me wish i had consumed even more crab! hahahaha mmmmm crab ...
Stats:
Mon Ami Gabi/Community Canteen, French Bistro/Market
Reston Town Center
nice bathroom, good trash can placement (right next to the door), 3 stalls, the faucets are really tall - lends itself to messy hand-washing, the paper towels were the thick/expensive kind ... can't imagine that lasting for forever. seems to me that many budget cuts start with a downgrade in the quality of the bathroom paper towels, but maybe that's just me ...
Tables of 8 - so you got to sit with strangers. Dining with strangers is always an interesting experience. The ladies we sat next to were quite nice and rather lively - one of them kept squirting the other one with crab debris - hilarious for us, probably not so much for the one being showered in crab ...
it was pretty obvious early on that the restaurant had no prior experience in crab feasts - there weren't enough tools for each person (also a lesson in sharing) and the crab took forever to come out AND, worst of all, they ran out of crab!!! thankfully, my friends and i arrived right at the start of the feast and got our fill by badgering the waiter to keep bringing us more crab - but the table on the other side of the fence was fairly angry - rightfully so. how do you run out of crab at a crab feast??? and it only took 2 hours for them to run out of crab for about 80-90 people - so unacceptable!
I really wish someone would come up with a better method of getting rid of the crabby smell situation after the chow-down. I would say that's what keeps me from enjoying more crab more often. I could smell it well into the next day and the day after that - blah! another downside is that the crabby aroma made me wish i had consumed even more crab! hahahaha mmmmm crab ...
Stats:
Mon Ami Gabi/Community Canteen, French Bistro/Market
Reston Town Center
nice bathroom, good trash can placement (right next to the door), 3 stalls, the faucets are really tall - lends itself to messy hand-washing, the paper towels were the thick/expensive kind ... can't imagine that lasting for forever. seems to me that many budget cuts start with a downgrade in the quality of the bathroom paper towels, but maybe that's just me ...
Friday, July 16, 2010
Foodie Log 9, date July 17, 2010
well, so much for keeping up with blogging frequently ... anyway, that was a BBQ-hangover-work-induced break, for which I apologize. let's see if we can return to the regularly scheduled yakking! :)
we went to Kansas City, MO for a personalized BBQ "tour" - it was pretty much BBQ all weekend long, multiple times a day ... I think my heart was trying to run away ...
First stop, Smokehouse BBQ - they were unloading the wood outside as I was driving up, which I took as a good sign. it was certainly smoky inside, so I guess the restaurant name is reflective of the restaurant atmosphere. I am not a huge fan of smelling like a place after I leave the place (e.g., 7-11, subway, starbucks), so I was not a fan of the smokiness - however perfect the atmosphere for BBQ. I ordered the pulled pork with coleslaw and fries on the side with a sweet tea. apparently, the Midwest does not do sweet tea (they had it, but it just wasn't proper sweet tea - how disappointing!)
Dinner that day was at Jack Stack (Freight House), which we were able to walk to from our hotel. It was indeed right by the train tracks, though you wouldn't really notice it from inside. Some brave souls were dining outside, but the walk and my relationship with bugs kept us inside - which was quite nice and cool :)
If you go, you must get the crown prime beef ribs ($27.95 for 3, but when we were there, they had a special with one rib and burnt ends and a side for $24 - these ribs are HUGE! so one is plenty). also, make sure to get the cheesy corn bake - we got the small, but these are so good you should really get the large regardless of what else you order. the coleslaw was a good palate cleanser (as coleslaw tends to be!) and the sweet tea was once again mediocre (I can hope!) as was the regular pork ribs - so I would skip those. The service was super fast (then again, it's BBQ right? they better be cooking all day long to get it right!) and our waiter was a good, fun chatty. we are usually not fans of chatty waiters, but the dude we had played it just right - didn't overstay, but had a good laughs and left the check (LOVE that! foodie pet peeve #101 - waiters that disappear when you want the check).
As good as Jack Stack's was, the best BBQ we had in Kansas City was on the KS-side at a gas station, natch! we had read high praise of Oklahoma Joe's and they were all pretty much on the spot - especially about getting there when they open at 11am. we arrived around 11:15am and the seating area was already full and by the time we left at 11:45am, there was a huge line and the lot was full! they had decadent ribs (it's hard to pick between these ribs and Jack Stack's crown ribs - but those crown ribs were a different category of ribs - I had never seen such before - whereas Oklahoma Joe's had your classic ribs done to yummy perfection!) I got the zesty rice & beans (also yum), but I was eyeing the french fries - "KC's best" they said - and the chicken gumbo - there will certainly be a next time! the creamy coleslaw was another hit. I kind of wished we had gone to this place the day before so we could have it twice!
the last one we hit was Arthur Bryant's and, I hate to say it, but I may have had a little too much BBQ over a 3-day period because I just wasn't that into it ... hubs said that the burnt ends were the best of the weekend though (I'm not a burnt ends kind of girl, so I skipped it), the short ribs (recommended by the yelp crowd) as med-kay, but again, I was pretty BBQ'd out, so don't hold me to that! btw, the "large" drink is GInormous, so order if barney the purple dinosaur is dining with you and is crazy thirsty! eee-gad!!
anyway, after a week away from BBQ and thinking I could do without BBQ for a while, I am craving it again ... I wish I could have brought those crown ribs and Oklahoma Joe's ribs home with me ... mmmmmmm riiiiiibs ... droooooool
Stats (in order of attendance):
Smokehouse BBQ, Zona Rosa
Jack Stack, Freight House (*crown ribs and cheesy corn*)
Oklahoma Joe's, 47th and Mission Rd (*ribs, rice & beans, everything else probably!*)
Arthur Bryant's, The Original
we went to Kansas City, MO for a personalized BBQ "tour" - it was pretty much BBQ all weekend long, multiple times a day ... I think my heart was trying to run away ...
First stop, Smokehouse BBQ - they were unloading the wood outside as I was driving up, which I took as a good sign. it was certainly smoky inside, so I guess the restaurant name is reflective of the restaurant atmosphere. I am not a huge fan of smelling like a place after I leave the place (e.g., 7-11, subway, starbucks), so I was not a fan of the smokiness - however perfect the atmosphere for BBQ. I ordered the pulled pork with coleslaw and fries on the side with a sweet tea. apparently, the Midwest does not do sweet tea (they had it, but it just wasn't proper sweet tea - how disappointing!)
Dinner that day was at Jack Stack (Freight House), which we were able to walk to from our hotel. It was indeed right by the train tracks, though you wouldn't really notice it from inside. Some brave souls were dining outside, but the walk and my relationship with bugs kept us inside - which was quite nice and cool :)
If you go, you must get the crown prime beef ribs ($27.95 for 3, but when we were there, they had a special with one rib and burnt ends and a side for $24 - these ribs are HUGE! so one is plenty). also, make sure to get the cheesy corn bake - we got the small, but these are so good you should really get the large regardless of what else you order. the coleslaw was a good palate cleanser (as coleslaw tends to be!) and the sweet tea was once again mediocre (I can hope!) as was the regular pork ribs - so I would skip those. The service was super fast (then again, it's BBQ right? they better be cooking all day long to get it right!) and our waiter was a good, fun chatty. we are usually not fans of chatty waiters, but the dude we had played it just right - didn't overstay, but had a good laughs and left the check (LOVE that! foodie pet peeve #101 - waiters that disappear when you want the check).
As good as Jack Stack's was, the best BBQ we had in Kansas City was on the KS-side at a gas station, natch! we had read high praise of Oklahoma Joe's and they were all pretty much on the spot - especially about getting there when they open at 11am. we arrived around 11:15am and the seating area was already full and by the time we left at 11:45am, there was a huge line and the lot was full! they had decadent ribs (it's hard to pick between these ribs and Jack Stack's crown ribs - but those crown ribs were a different category of ribs - I had never seen such before - whereas Oklahoma Joe's had your classic ribs done to yummy perfection!) I got the zesty rice & beans (also yum), but I was eyeing the french fries - "KC's best" they said - and the chicken gumbo - there will certainly be a next time! the creamy coleslaw was another hit. I kind of wished we had gone to this place the day before so we could have it twice!
the last one we hit was Arthur Bryant's and, I hate to say it, but I may have had a little too much BBQ over a 3-day period because I just wasn't that into it ... hubs said that the burnt ends were the best of the weekend though (I'm not a burnt ends kind of girl, so I skipped it), the short ribs (recommended by the yelp crowd) as med-kay, but again, I was pretty BBQ'd out, so don't hold me to that! btw, the "large" drink is GInormous, so order if barney the purple dinosaur is dining with you and is crazy thirsty! eee-gad!!
anyway, after a week away from BBQ and thinking I could do without BBQ for a while, I am craving it again ... I wish I could have brought those crown ribs and Oklahoma Joe's ribs home with me ... mmmmmmm riiiiiibs ... droooooool
Stats (in order of attendance):
Smokehouse BBQ, Zona Rosa
Jack Stack, Freight House (*crown ribs and cheesy corn*)
Oklahoma Joe's, 47th and Mission Rd (*ribs, rice & beans, everything else probably!*)
Arthur Bryant's, The Original
Friday, July 9, 2010
Foodie Log 8, date July 9, 2010
have I mentioned that I like variety? tapas, mezza, hors d'oeuvres, appetizers, whatever you call them - I love making a full meal out of them! :)
so, I have no idea why it took me so long to try Lebanese Taverna, but since my first visit in June I have been back three times. I really like how they bring out fresh bread (I think there's a different name for them, but I don't know what that is - it's like a pita, but lighter and puffy with hot air inside) with a side of oil. I think more restaurants should serve a little something like that - it's just a great touch! (but the bread has to be warm - if you're gonna do it, better do it right than mediocre!)
In 2 of my 3 visits, we ordered a few mezza items, the other visit I ordered the lunch sandwich platter (carved chicken). The platter was yummy, but not as good as the mezza experiences - even though I did not necessarily enjoy all the different mezza. See below for a mezza debrief :)
Hommos - get it - any variety, any topping - yum!
French Fries - they're the thick restaurant fries - if you order it for dippage, it comes with a little bowl of some garlic puree. it is REALLY garlicky, so keep that in mind if you're on a date or something! but dipping it in the hommos is divine! mmmm drooooool
Meat Pies - it was okay, I am not a huge lamb-fan and it was lamb-y
Spicy Sausage - this would have been better if it was just beef, the lambiness sort of threw me off
Sauteed Shrimp - LOVE it! it's warm and has a great citrus taste
Grape Leaves - pretty good, I am not a huge grape leaves fan, but these were small pieces and I liked the filling :)
Bean Fritters - I always think I am going to enjoy fritters more than I actually do ... it's just too ... crispy ... and not like in a good-crispy-french-fry kind of way ... it's sometimes too hard to bite into
Yogurt Dip - I was expecting something more, but it is what it is, yogurt dip
Cheese Plate - came with three different kinds - one tasted like string cheese (kind of rubbery and salty), the other was like a babybel and I think the 3rd was goat cheese, maybe ... I am not a huge goat cheese fan, it has such a strong taste, so I didn't try it, but that's what my co-worker said
Stats:
Lebanese Taverna, Lebanese / Middle Eastern
Tysons Galleria, ground floor across from The Daily Grill
sorry folks, no potty report - maybe next visit ...
so, I have no idea why it took me so long to try Lebanese Taverna, but since my first visit in June I have been back three times. I really like how they bring out fresh bread (I think there's a different name for them, but I don't know what that is - it's like a pita, but lighter and puffy with hot air inside) with a side of oil. I think more restaurants should serve a little something like that - it's just a great touch! (but the bread has to be warm - if you're gonna do it, better do it right than mediocre!)
In 2 of my 3 visits, we ordered a few mezza items, the other visit I ordered the lunch sandwich platter (carved chicken). The platter was yummy, but not as good as the mezza experiences - even though I did not necessarily enjoy all the different mezza. See below for a mezza debrief :)
Hommos - get it - any variety, any topping - yum!
French Fries - they're the thick restaurant fries - if you order it for dippage, it comes with a little bowl of some garlic puree. it is REALLY garlicky, so keep that in mind if you're on a date or something! but dipping it in the hommos is divine! mmmm drooooool
Meat Pies - it was okay, I am not a huge lamb-fan and it was lamb-y
Spicy Sausage - this would have been better if it was just beef, the lambiness sort of threw me off
Sauteed Shrimp - LOVE it! it's warm and has a great citrus taste
Grape Leaves - pretty good, I am not a huge grape leaves fan, but these were small pieces and I liked the filling :)
Bean Fritters - I always think I am going to enjoy fritters more than I actually do ... it's just too ... crispy ... and not like in a good-crispy-french-fry kind of way ... it's sometimes too hard to bite into
Yogurt Dip - I was expecting something more, but it is what it is, yogurt dip
Cheese Plate - came with three different kinds - one tasted like string cheese (kind of rubbery and salty), the other was like a babybel and I think the 3rd was goat cheese, maybe ... I am not a huge goat cheese fan, it has such a strong taste, so I didn't try it, but that's what my co-worker said
Stats:
Lebanese Taverna, Lebanese / Middle Eastern
Tysons Galleria, ground floor across from The Daily Grill
sorry folks, no potty report - maybe next visit ...
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