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!