Irie!

Brown Stewed Chicken

This time I stayed a little closer to home. I've been to Irie Bar & Grille in Woodmore Town Center many times and I haven't been disappointed yet. I usually go for happy hour because the cocktails are always good. Bartender is great! Occasionally I will go to have a meal. My favorite dish there is the Rasta Pasta. ( chunks of jerk chicken, penne pasta and spinach. It has a kick to it . Kinda spicy. it's really good. The Brown Stewed chicken( chunks of chicken braised in a tomato sauce) with rice and peas is great also! I get a side of plantains with it! There are always so sweet! Yummy! This is my neighborhood hang out spot. It's always a guaranteed good time. On Fridays they have live music.  The meals are moderately priced and you get good sized portions. Have to check it out. Here's the linkhttp://www.iriegrille.com

I heart brunch!

I am a huge fan of brunch! This past Sunday I went into D.C. to Cuba Libre, a restaurant and Rum bar.    Inside the restaurant decor has an authentic Cuban feel. For brunch, Cuba Libre offers "unlimited plates" for a price of $26 but trust me it's well worth it. My party of three had the table overflowing with food.

Cuba Libre

Some of the dishes we ordered were the Waffle de Chocolate (chocolate waffle with vanilla-cherry syrup), Panqueques ( corn meal pancakes with rum molasses syrup and mango butter), Papas con Chorizo( smashed potatoes with sausage, sour cream and Monterey Jack cheese, Yuca frita (cassava fries), and Papas Rellenas( potato croquettes with beef picadillo and sweet and spicy pepper sauce). 

I like the idea of small plates so you can sample most of the items on the menu. The food and service were great and I would definitely go back. Cuba Libre has locations in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and Orlando.  Here's the link: http://cubalibrerestaurant.com

D.C Burger

The Big Board 

One night I was craving a burger so a friend suggested I check out this burger joint in D.C. on H Street.
The Big Board is primarily known for it's "stock market beer." When there is a huge demand for a certain beer the price goes up according to the market and when there is low demand the price goes down. I thought it was a cool concept but that wasn't my reason for going. I went for the burger.

After looking at the menu I decided on the Ciao Bella Burger which consisted of sliced prosciutto, age mozzarella, a roasted San Marzano tomato, and roasted red pepper aioli with a side of sweet potato fries. When the food arrived about 15 minutes later, I couldn't wait to chow down. I must say the burger was good but I felt that something was missing. It tasted rather bland to me. I felt there was a lack of flavor. The sweet potato fries were amazing! They were seasons with parmesan, garlic, and herbs! Very tasty. I would go back to give this place another try. It definitely has potential. Hopefully the second time they can get the burger right. I'm not sure the whole " stock market beer" concept will have people knocking down the door but I would go back solely for the sweet potato fires. The prices were average and the service was good. Here's the link:http://www.thebigboarddc.com

Baltimore Cap'n Crunch

After hearing all the hype about Blue Moon Cafe in Baltimore I decided to go check out the place for Sunday brunch. I've been hearing the rave reviews about the Cap'n Crunch French Toast and the thought of it just made my mouth water.

Cap'n Crunch French Toast

I was warned to get there very early and to expect a long line because there are only about 10 tables in the place. I arrived about 9:30 am and I was told there was about an hour wait. It was ok. I went down the block to have a chai latte in the meantime.

When my party was called inside we received immediate service, the waitress, which I believe is the owner came over and took our orders. I told her that I drove all the way to Baltimore to check out the Cap'n Crunch French Toast and she assured me that I wouldn't be disappointed. The rest of my party also ordered some pretty tasty meals like Eggs Benedict, and biscuits and gravy.

About 20 minutes later our orders arrived and everything looked so yummy. I had a sample of the Eggs Benedict. Yummy. I like a lot of hollandaise sauce and that'e exactly how it was served. The biscuits and gravy were so tasty. Two huge biscuits drowned in gravy with huge chunks of sausage. The best meal hands down was the Cap'n Crunch French Toast. You MUSt get this dish if you go here. The French Toast is battered with Cap'n Crunch Cereal. It's amazing. The French Toast was nice a crunchy.
We also had a complimentary Cinnamon Roll because it was a friends birthday. It was sooo good. Overall, the service was great! Food was good! Make sure you check out Blu Moon Cafe! Here's the link: http://bluemoonbaltimore.com

Latin-Asian Cuisine

Zengo

I went to Zengo's on a Friday night with a group of friends. The restaurant is located in the middle of ChinaTown. I expected it to be crowded on a Friday at 7:30 pm  but when we arrived we were seated upstairs right away. The atmosphere was a cool, laid back, trendy vibe.

The waiter explained to us the theme for Zengo's is small plates designed for sharing. Latin and Asian fusion is the cuisine.

After about 10 minutes of placing our order the plates started to flow from the kitchen. The Thai Chicken Empanadas were the first to hit the table. The empanadas were tasty especially with the mango curry salsa. Next to arrive was the Salt and Pepper Shrimp Tacos. I was not a fan. The tacos were rather bland although it was accompanied by a lemon sake aioli. The third dish to arrive was the Chinese Braised ShortRibs. The ribs were good but not great. Tasty but nothing to die for. The last plate to arrive was the Shrimp- Shiitake Potstickers. They were good.

Overall, my experience was ok. I did have great company, good service, but the food was just ok. I guess I was expecting an explosion of flavors at a Latin- Asian fusion restaurant. The small plates were enough to share but were a little pricey. Would I go back, probably not. If you wan to check it out here is the link: http://www.richardsandoval.com

Tapas

My first experience at La Tasca was in 2009, Inauguration Weekend. I was in Washington DC with some friends and we were in ChinaTown looking for a quick bite to eat. We passed by La Tasca and decided to go in and try the food. Needless to say every time I was in DC I would try to find La Tasca but I couldn't because I didn't remember the location or the name of the restaurant.

La Tasca

So 3 years later after relocating to Maryland from NYC I finally found La Tasca again. I was hanging out in DC with my sister in China Town. We passed by the restaurant and I shouted " That's it! We most go have lunch!"

I was soooo excited when we walked inside and we seated immediately on a Saturday afternoon. i quickly scanned the menu and tried to remember what I ordered 3 years ago. La Tasca is known for it's tapas aka "small plates" so I choose 5 different dishes. Ideally these dishes are made for sharing. I ordered the Pan de Ajeo con Queso (bread brushed with garlic and mozzarella cheese), Patatas Churreria (Sliced potatoes with cheese sauce with spicy papricka aioli), Gambas de al Ajillo (sauteed shrimp in olive oil with garlic and red peppers), and  Empanadas de Pollo( pastry shells stuffed with chicken). For dessert I ordered the bacon wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese. They are soooo yummy!!!!!!

The food is always amazing! La Tasca has 5 locations in the DMV area. I've been to the ChinaTown location, Arlington and Alexandria locations and they have all been consistent. The best time to go is during restaurant week when they have a set price and you can order as many plates as you like!

I highly recommend La Tasca. My favorite so far! Here is the link : http://www.latascausa.com

Sunday Brunch, Again!

Cinnamon Brioche French Toast

I am a huge fan of Sunday brunch. On Sunday I drove to    Waldorf to a spot called Mimi's Cafe. After driving 20  minutes in the rain to get there I was expecting a great meal. I heard they have really good french toast so I decided to give it a try.

I arrived at Mimi's about 10:00a.m. and the restaurant was not packed, surprisingly. I waited 10 minutes for a table, not bad. I ordered the Cinnamon Brioche French Toast. The waitress told me it was a popular item. My sister ordered the Four Cheese Quiche. 

The food arrived about 10 minutes later. I must say, I liked the french toast. It's hard to get cinnamon brioche french toast right. My scrambled cheese eggs and bacon were cooked just the way I like them. The food was good but nothing to brag about. Was the 20 minute drive worth it, not really. I am sure there were other places to choose from closer to the house. I kind of reminded me of a good diner breakfast. I didn't realize Mimi's was a chain restaurant. There is also a location close to Baltimore. If you happen to be in Waldorf check out Mimi's Cafe.
Here's the link: http://www.mimiscafe.com/

Sweet Tooth

I am not a huge fan of sweets, but sometimes I do crave something sweet. Since I've moved here from NYC all I keep hearing about is Georgetown Cupcake this, Georgetown Cupcake that, so I had to see what all the buzz was about.

On a Saturday afternoon I drove to D.C. to get a cupcake. As I was making a turn onto 33rd street off M street I noticed the line all the way down the block to just get into Georgetown Cupcake. Hmmm. What should I do, wait in line for a cupcake that may be just ok, or just come back another day.?My sister told me there was another location in Bethesda so we decided to go there and take our chances with the line.

When I arrived at the Bethesda Row location I went straight inside, no line. I kept staring at the the cupcakes trying to decide which one or ones to choose. I am a huge chocolate fan and I love caramel so I choose a Chocolate Ganache, Salted Caramel, and a Bananas Foster cupcake. Although there was one cashier, the line moved quickly and the staff was super friendly. When I walked out the door all I could think about was my cupcakes.

Back in NYC my favorite cupcake place was Magnolia Bakery. They have the best German Chocolate cupcakes! Hope Georgetown lives up to the hype!

OMG!!!! The Bananas Foster cupcake was YUMMY!!! The cupcake is Rum-infused baked with carmelized bananas and topped with a caramel buttercream frosting. My favorite!!!!!!!

The salted caramel was my second favorite. It's a caramel cupcake with a caramel buttercream infused frosting. The chocolate ganache was good. It's a chocolate cupcake topped with a thin layer of chocolate ganache icing. 

So now I can officially say I've tried Georgetown Cupcake! I give the cupcakes a thumbs up! I will be going back for more!!! Here's the link: http://www.georgetowncupcake.com

Middle Eastern, Please!

All of my food adventures start with a strong craving. This time the craving was for stuffed grape leaves. Grape leaves are leaves that are usually stuffed with rice, meat, and spices.  They are popular in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. This time I used Yelp as a resource to find a restaurant. I felt like driving into D.C. so I chose Mama Ayesha's in Adams Morgan. The restaurant got mixed reviews. Consistency seemed to be an issue but I wanted to give the restaurant a try.

Not everyone can make good stuffed grape leaves so I had my fingers crossed the whole way there. The restaurant has Jerusalem roots so I was sure I wouldn't be disappointed.

When I arrived I was seated immediately at a outside table. The waiter was gracious and promptly took my order.  I ordered hummus ( pureed chick peas with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic) as an appetizer and a combination entree which consisted of shish kabob, kifta kabob (ground beef with onions and parsley), couscous, grape leaves and kibbeh sineeyah (baked lamb cooked with wheat and spices) served over rice and vegetables.

The hummus and pita bread arrived at the table within minutes of the order. It's been months since I've had good hummus so I was excited. Let's just say the hummus didn't met my expectations. I like my hummus with lots of garlic. Also I prefer my pita bread to not taste like bread that could've been purchased at the supermarket. So I must admit I was disappointed already but I was giving Mama Ayesha's a second shot.

The combination platter arrived at the table and I started to chow down. Shish kabob, good. Couscous, ok but not a fan. Kifta kabob, lots of parsley. Kibbeh Sineeyah, not a fan. Grape leaves, nothing like I anticipated, not enough spice.

Overall, I must say the staff was very friendly and the decor inside was nice. The food left much to be desired. Would I go back? Probably not. The restaurant has a famous mural painted on the exterior wall of 11 U.S. presidents. It seems to be a tourist attraction. Here's the link if you want to give it a shot: http://www.mamaayeshas.com

Mama Ayeshas inside decor

Sunday Brunch

I heart a good Sunday brunch. I decided to give Ms. Shirley's a try. I drove out the the Annapolis location to check out the food. When I arrived there was a crowd outside the restaurant. It was about 10am. I was told there would be a half an hour wait. It was ok with that. I've heard many good reviews about the food.

After about 35 minutes I was seated outside. I  looked at the menu about 10 times because I was  unsure about what I should order. The waiter suggested the "Get Your Grits On." I agreed.

The downside to eating at a crowded restaurant is knowing the food may take some time before it reaches your table. With that thought in mind I ordered a Shirley's Crush, an orange juice beverage with Pulp & Passion fruit vodka with a sugar rim to keep me company.

As soon as I finished my drink the waiter arrived with food. I was excited to get started. The "Get Your Grits On" is Jumbo blackened shrimp and fried green tomatoes on grits dusted with a cajun spice.
I was kinda skeptical about the fried green tomatoes but I'm glad I ordered the dish. Can you say YUM!!! The shrimp was blackened to perfection and the grits were so tasty, there were diced bits of bacon inside. The fried green tomatoes were odd by themselves but with the grits and shrimp it was the perfect combination. A little less cajun spice would have sent the meal over the top but overall I enjoyed the meal.

Get Your Grits On

I would go back and I definitely recommend Miss Shirley's. Here's the link: http://www.missshirleys.com

Taste of Cuba

First stop , Cuban food. One of my first cravings was rice and beans and a good pork chop. My sister recommended a Cuba de Ayer restaurant in Laurel. She warned me that is was nothing fancy but the food was good. 

     

Cuba de Ayer

After a 30 minute drive we pulled up to a restaurant tucked away in a corner behind a convenience store. I've learned that you can't judge a place by the outside. I've had some of my best meals on street carts in the middle of nowhere! When I opened the door all I could smell was garlic and I immediately knew the food was gonna be good. The decor inside was nice. Burgundy walls covered with paintings. Inviting enough to make you want to stay and enjoy a meal.

The first thing I ordered was a mojito to drink and Yuca Frita (yuca fries) for an appetizer. The Yuca Frita was soooooo good! They were fried just right and the garlic sauce for dipping was soooo yummy!  The mojito was good. Just the right amount of mint. For dinner I ordered Chuletas con Arroz con rrijoles negros y tostones. (pork chops with white rice and black beans and fried green plantains). 

I must say, I was pleased with my meal. I've had good Cuban food in New York and Miami and this place comes close in flavor. 

The service was prompt and the staff was extremely polite. I would definitely go back!!! I recommend this place. Here's the link: http://www.cubadeayerrestaurant.net

Oink! Oink! Oink!

I love food! As a native New Yorker I've had the privilege of eating many great meals in NYC! When it comes to food, there's no place like home! Join me on my quest as I hunt for the best places to eat in the DMV area! Yes, I am a tough critic but I wasn't given the name Oinklet for nothing!!! Trust me, I know food!