Memories Are Made of This

Thought about titling this one "Five Bites" but there were also five sips to savor as well. So, in standard lazy or creative fashion, I'm resorting to my other passion for inspiration. 

So this past weekend, I was a real glutton. Visited my old faves and encountered new ones thanks to a kindred spirit and appetite for consumption. (Too cheesy? I'm a little rusty).

DC. I want for nothing. Memories are made of this:

Devour:

Appetizer special, sounds insane but this new kid on the block just made my top 5:
Vol-au-vent with crispy pig ears, escargots, fennel, shallots, Aperol cream sauce
BLT Steak

Veal schnitzel, house-made mozzarella, arugula, charred lemon vinaigrette
Brasserie Beck

Fried-chicken oysters
Marvin
 
Wood-oven roasted marrow bones with rhubarb butter and pepper crust
Blue Duck Tavern

12-hour roasted suckling pig, baby vegetables, pork jus
Blue Duck Tavern

Empty:

Zinfandel: Thomas George Estates, "The Torrente Vineyard", Dry Creek Valley, California 2008
Blue Duck Tavern or your local liquor/wine shop

French 75, gin, lillet blanc, lemon, champagne
Blue Duck Tavern or check the blog, I must have a recipe though literally it is 3 ingredients

Scotch: 15-year Balvenie
51st State if you don't mind outdoor seating at a dive bar and a jukebox (heaven)

Poste Seasonal G&T, Botanist gin, housemade strawberry and thyme tonic
Poste

And bourbon of choice these days is Bulleit, apparently pronounced "Bull-lay" according to a bartender who corrected me. Trust DC to have bourbon police. Hasn't happened once in three years in New York. Thoughts?

Open for Business

There's much to be said about Hurricane Sandy's aftermath but one of the most important things we can do is help our neighbors, communities and cities wherever we can. Whether you choose to donate your time or money, every little bit counts. Or if you prefer to eat and drink your support for the cause, celebrate the little guys, the mom-and-pop shops, the local neighborhood pub, that Italian restaurant around the corner, in areas that need it most.

So here's my Top 5 favourite places in the East Village and Lower East Side. And I realize I am missing other parts of downtown, Brooklyn, Hoboken, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island and loads of other affected areas but that's part of the fun. Reply back with your top 5 local digs that you wish were open last week and hopefully will remain open for business.

1. Lavagna - That Italian restaurant that you wish was around every corner.

2. Idle Hands Bar - Where they know your name and the bourbon/beer with your name on it.

3. The Wayland - Roasted marrow bones, enough said.

4. Freemans - The inspiration for my first blog post, Corpse Reviver #2.

5. Caracas - Because I've been once in 8 years and I still talk about it.

Scrumptious Grilled Fish Sandwich & Limeade

If you're hankering for a delicious grilled fish, don't hold the fat, sandwich, Austin Grill is where it's at. Don't bother ordering salad as a side at this casual, group-friendly Tex-Mex restaurant in Chinatown -- come for the homey, hungry man's fare and you won't be disappointed. You wouldn't think grilled fish is comfort food but a well-seasoned piece of snapper (or tuna on the current menu) sandwiched between avocado & tomato slices, fresh red cabbage, chipotle mayo and two buttered toasts hit the spot and then some. As it's summertime, grab a table outside, and enjoy a giant margarita (spring break serving size)or their addictive homemade limeade served chilled in glass jars. Great service and unlimited refills on their tasty salty tortilla chips, roasted salsa and soda pop. I'll be back...and leave a few pounds heavier but it's worth it.

Austin Grill
www.austingrill.com
750 E Street NW (B/tw 7th and 8th St NW)
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 393-3776

Bloody Saturday

Doesn't have quite the same ring to it but you'll be singing it once you hear about this: free bloody marys at Firefly in Dupont this Saturday, June 26th from 9AM - 2PM, and then $3 every following Saturday. Thanks UrbanDaddy for the heads up!

Firefly is located at 1310 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Ph: (202) 861-1310

DC Coast = Slider Heaven

It's the last few days of DC Coast's "Cheaper by the Dozen" June special: Dozen oysters for $12 in honour of their 12th anniversary. Luckily the deal continues on throughout the year thanks to their half-off bar menu noted below. Went last night and ordered a dozen which hailed from James River, VA and were beautifully presented with ginger, cucumber, basil and chives but upon taste, were rather mild and needed extra lemon juice to resuscitate any flavour. And so we ordered sliders. Stop the press. Hands down the best sliders I've tried in DC and will be back for more. The "brioche" bun was scrumptious and tastes a bit like a KFC or Pillsbury biscuit, and that's a good thing. I don't want to know how much butter was in it but rest assured your finger tips will glisten afterwards. The burger was grilled perfectly - medium and juicy - with a thankfully not-so-overpowering aioli as the meat itself was so tender and tasty. As for the bar, beautiful and handsome, and you will be well served by DC's own French and Japanese speaking though looks like a big NYC firefighter, bartender Jeremy.

DC Coast
www.dccoast.com
1401 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
Ph:(202)216-5988

Bar Menu is Available Half-Price, Monday-Friday, 3-6pm and Every Day, 9:30pm-Close. Bar & Lounge Only. (Artisnal Cheese is excluded from this offer.)

Cheeseburger Sliders
Cheddar, Herb Aioli, Pickles, Brioche Bun
10

Chilled Market Oysters
Ginger, Chives, Basil, Cucumber
Market Price
With Frozen Imperial Vodka Iceberg
Additional 2

Kennebec Frites
Parmesan, Truffle Oil
6

"Poisson Cru" Tahitian Style Tuna Tartare
Fresh Lime Juice, Coconut Milk, Wonton Crisp
14

Ginger-Soy Braised Duroc Pork Dumplings
Sauce Chi Phan
10

Poached Shrimp Cocktail
Horseradish Tomato Jam
10

Corn and Crab Fritters
Chesapeake Aioli
10

Selection of Artisanal Cheese
Bourree (Vermont, Cow's Milk)
Valencay (France, Goat's Milk)
Idiazabal (Spain, Sheep's Milk)
Buttermilk Blue Afinee, Roth Kase (Wisconsin, Cow's Milk)
14

** Prices and menu availability are subject to change **

Happy Hour in DC: Tasty Deals

There's no question DC has a lively happy hour scene. But where does one go for budget-friendly tasty cocktails, scrumptious bites and cool digs? Here is a quick list of personal HH faves by neighborhood - will add more as I find them so check back often!

ADAMS MORGAN

PERRY'S
http://www.perrysadamsmorgan.com/bar/happy-hour-tapas/
Every day from 5:30pm - 7:30pm
$5 Tapas, $5 Cocktails, $4 Beer & Wine
One of the best deals in town. Upon entering this sushi/new American establishment, walk up the steep stairs (and ponder how many people have fallen down them) to the spacious rooftop bar with a beautiful view of upper Adams Morgan. Highly recommend the refreshing Shochu Martini - made with Shochu (a Japanese clear distilled spirit similar to vodka), blood orange juice, freshly grated ginger & honey.

BOURBON
http://www.bourbondc.com
/home/index.html
Monday through Friday until 7:30pm
$3 Draft Beers, $4 Select Bourbon, $6 Specialty Cocktails
Homey food, cozy atmosphere, great spot for all other mealtimes. Usually priced at $10, Bourbon's cocktails are always top-notch. Rye-lovers, try the Ryjou made with yellow chartreuse, sweet vermouth and orange bitters. Margarita hounds, you might like The Rested Fig made with reposado, lemon, fig syrup and averna (an Italian digestif made with roots, herbs and spices.)

U STREET

VINOTECA
http://www.vinotecadc.com/menu/happy-hour
Every day from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
$7 gourmet sliders (2 plus salad), $5 apps, $5 wine
Healthy pours at this casual, upscale wine bar off 9th and U St. Outside patio is a bonus.

DOWNTOWN

BRASSERIE BECK
http://www.beckdc.com/
Every day from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, 10:30pm until close: 1/2 Priced Drafts
Every Thursday/Friday/Saturday same hours as above: 1/2 Priced Oysters
One of my favourite restaurants in DC: Brasserie Beck serves outstanding food and carries a fantastic selection of Belgian beers. Their oysters are also some of the biggest and juiciest I have ever seen so this is why it's a personal fave. Spacious layout and great service too.

CHINATOWN/PENN QUARTER

POSTE
http://www.postebrasserie.com/
Monday to Friday, 4:00pm to 7:00pm
$5 wine, $5 beer, $5 truffle frites
Once the heat is on, you can expect Poste's gorgeous outdoor patio to be buzzing with bees, boys and belles. Great spot for people-watching, frites-munching and if you can flag a server, enjoy a $5 glass of white or red. Simply stunning outdoor space and who can resist truffle frites?

ZOLA
http://www.zoladc.com/thebar.php
Monday to Saturday, 5:00pm to 7:00pm, 9:00pm to 11:00pm, Sunday all day
$4 wine, $5 beer, $5 specialty cocktails, $1.50 "tasty bites"
Though their music selection is often spotty, this cocktail lounge inspired by the Spy Museum downstairs has an unbeatable deal for tasty bites at just $1.50 per gourmet slider which I assure you, having tried them all, are indeed tasty and well-portioned i.e. not skimpy. The lamb meatball slider is delicious - and if you're in the area, worth visiting - especially as their happy hour specials are extended to night time when it's rare to find the $5 cocktail or $4 glass of wine.

ZENGO
http://www.modernmexican.com/zengodc/
Monday to Saturday, 5:00pm to 7:30pm
$5 Margaritas, $5 Mojitos, $5 Caipirinhas, $5 Wine, $4 Beer, $5 Plates
Right off the Chinatown metro stop, Zengo's happy hour is another steal with delicious apps bursting with flavour and well-prepared cocktails at 1/2 the price. Pork belly steamed buns, crunchy calamari, thai chicken empanadas, my mouth is watering already.

DUPONT CIRCLE

URBANA
http://www.urbanadc.com/index.html
Every day from 4:00pm to 7:00pm: $4 Beer, $5 wine including sparkling
Every day from 5:00pm to 7:00pm: $1 oysters
Part of Hotel Palomar, Urbana is "one of DC's hottest restaurant bar scenes" but if you're looking to enjoy raw oysters and sparkling wine on a budget, you've come to the right place.

New Rum Bar Coming to DC: Cuba Libre in Penn Quarter

All you lucky Penn Quarter residents have something else to cheer about this Spring: the arrival of Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar at 801 9th Street, NW. While the neighborhood already boasts plenty of cocktail lounges and restaurants, Cuba Libre will be a fine addition providing over 75 different kinds of premium and flavoured rums. Will report back on this in a few months. In the meantime, check out the libations and dinner menu at www.cubalibrerestaurant.com.