Pondering of my readers on trip in Antelope Canyon, Paige Arizona
I took a lot of the summer time off, so my pocket book is fairly full. Let me catch you up, beginning with some stray musings after which turning to my greatest summertime bites.
Deep Ideas, by Jack “Rick Eats DC” Useful
Puns are the bottom type of humor, until you’re a Thai restaurant. Then they’re charming.
Peter Chang’s meals tasted higher when he was a fugitive.
I’ve nightmares that every one the empty storefronts in Union Station grow to be Tattes.
I’ve an unnatural aversion to penne.
I don’t imagine within the loss of life penalty aside from on-line posts searching for recommendation ending with the phrase “Go!”
Kiwis are the Avril Lavigne of fruit. Twenty years in the past they had been in every single place however now your greatest guess is a Las Vegas buffet line.
Tortilla chips > Saltines for crumbling in soup
The world’s worst sandwich is the Monte Christo. By no means learn the e book, however my guess is at no level does the Rely take a break from swashbuckling for a deep-fried ham sandwich dusted in powdered sugar.
Hen doesn’t go together with waffles.
Ivy Metropolis simply wants to hold on till Union Market can get there.
You possibly can inform the whole lot you should learn about an individual by whether or not they return their grocery cart to the parking zone corral.
Fads that had been tremendous carefully however sufficient already: watermelon and feta salad; uni not in sushi bars; Detroit-style pizza; Detroit.
Folks complain about being pressured to eat turkey throughout Thanksgiving after which spend the remainder of the 12 months ordering cobb salads.
A desk lined with rings nonetheless appears to be like higher than a desk with coasters.
And it’s not food-related, however anybody who asks a Tambourine Man to play a music for them goes to be sorely disillusioned.
Finest Summertime Bites — DMV
Breads and cookies from Manifest Bread, Riverdale Park MD
Among the space’s greatest consuming might be discovered on this little nook of Maryland in and round Hyattsville. Manifest Bakery not solely has terrific baked items, in addition they serve lunch and throw a pizza night time each Thursday. The sesame-sourdough above was unbelievable. A bit of good butter made it sing, so utilizing irrefutable logic I added much more good butter and it was off the charts.
Pastrami Sandwich (Thursday solely) at 2Fifty Texas BBQ, Riverdale Park MD
Talking of Riverdale Park, 2Fifty Texas BBQ serves up the very best ‘cue in DC, and arguably within the DC space (though I’m a giant fan of the pork ribs at Monk’s in Purcellville VA). The excellent news is that 2Fifty is opening a second location this winter in Mt. Vernon Sq.. Hopefully this top-notch pastrami — on equally top-notch Manifest Bakery rye — will likely be promoted from a Thursday particular to a spot on the day by day menu.
Carbonara Pizza at La Casina, Washington DC (Capitol Hill)
The crust on these Roman pinsa-style pies is spectacularly crispy, gentle, and chewy. So maintain the toppings restricted, like this carbonara pizza with guanciale, pecorino Romano, black pepper, and a wash of egg.
Crispy Calamari with house-made orange chili sauce at Kyojin, Washington DC (Georgetown)
I’m not an enormous fan of the brand new, posh-bordering-on-pretentious sushi restaurant in Cady’s Alley. An excessive amount of truffle oil, 24k gold, and caviar added to too many dishes for my tastes (generally concurrently). This excerpt from the web site sums up the puffed-up vibe: Our expertise isn’t kid-friendly. We do not need excessive chairs or booster seats, and we don’t supply a child’s menu. Sunday to Wednesday, we don’t permit these beneath the age of 16 previous 7:00 pm. Thursday to Saturday, we don’t permit these beneath the age of 21 previous 9:00 pm.
So that you might be sufficiently old to vote and be part of the military to die in your nation, however you may’t have a California Roll at Kyojin after 9 pm on a Thursday night time. I don’t know what occurs after 9 pm, but it surely’s apparently an excessive amount of for a 20-year outdated.
However the calamari was scrumptious.
Grilled Avocado with Shiso Chimichurri & Tamari-Cured Egg Yolk, Perry’s, Washington DC (Adams-Morgan)
Chef Masako Morishita is performing some nice issues at Perry’s. How nice? Nowadays if the roof deck is full, I’ll accept consuming inside.
Parisian Gnocchi at Lutece, Washington DC (Georgetown)
There’s a lot to like at this jewel-box French spot — the sourdough foccacia, charred Napa cabbage, duck, and this gnocchi are all signatures — however you actually can’t go mistaken. This dish transported me from a DC sidewalk with Metrobuses rattling by to the 4th Arrondissement with a lot classier Métrobuses offering a pleasant backdrop.
Fried Egg Salad at Little Vietnam, Washington DC (Petworth)
My mother requested why anybody would fry egg salad and she or he has some extent. It ought to most likely be known as “fried-egg salad” however by no means thoughts. It’s top-of-the-line dishes at this excellent new spot that after housed the late, nice Himitsu (and this summer time reprised a few of Himitsu’s biggest hits in a joint pop-up with Chef Kevin Tien).
Sashimi Course (one among three) at Kappo, Washington DC (MacArthur Blvd)
I’ll make an exception for my anti-tasting menu temper today for the beautiful and intimate 8-course expertise at Kappo. The small plates are largely wagyu-focused, however Chef Ogawa is aware of his fish and the three sashimi programs stole the present.
Tofu + Truffle Dumplings with corn espuma at Queen’s English, Washington DC (Columbia Heights)
I assumed the phrase “I didn’t miss the meat” was meant to be ironic till I had this dish at QE and I meant the phrases popping out of my mouth.
Kung Pao Hen at Sichuan Jin River, Rockville MD
I like an excellent kung pao and Sichuan Jin River nails it with good warmth and brilliant vinegar/acidity. Be sure you get the “Chinese language-Type” made with darkish meat slightly than the white-meat model for many who like their hen dry and tasteless.
Potatoes at Albi, Washington DC (Navy Yard)
Chef Michael Rafidi has a approach with potatoes. I fell in love together with his patatas bravas when he cooked at Arroz, his first DC restaurant. He conjures an analogous outward-crisp/inward-fluffy magic together with his batata harra dusted in shawarma spices at Albi.
Crispy Potatoes at Melina, Rockville MD (Pike & Rose)
Talking of potatoes with good crunch and a fluffy inside, I provide the Crispy Potatoes at Melina. Satirically, the opposite must-order dish at Melina — the slow-roasted lamb neck “kleftiko” — additionally comes with a small dish of those potatoes. However until you’re eating solo, you’ll wish to order the total portion as nicely to keep away from wanting like a jerk who refuses to share.
Hen mole at Taqueria El Mexicano, Hyattsville MD
Every time I want my mole repair, I head to this modest storefront in Hyattsville the place the sauce is extra advanced and fewer stodgy than moles within the space at twice the worth.
Finest Bites — Out-of-City
Ramen at Ichiron in NYC (close to Penn Station)
Not solely is the ramen unbelievable at Ichiron, solo-carrel eating is the seating chart of my desires
Pork and Steak Tacos at Los Tacos #1, NYC (places close to Occasions Sq. and in Chelsea Market)
Fish Taco at Metropolis Taco, San Diego CA
Lobster roll at Peake’s Island Inn, Peake’s Island Maine (ferry from Portland)
Duckfat fries from Duckfat, Portland Maine
Clam chowder from Eventide Oyster Co., Portland Maine
Duck & Spaetzle at North & Navy, Ottawa Canada
Insalata di Mare at Ci Siamo, NYC (Hudson Yards)
Braised Lamb with celery pesto and pistachio at Ci Siamo, NYC (Hudson Yards)
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In Memoriam
Lastly, we misplaced Jimmy Buffet over the summer time. It gained’t shock you to study that I pronounced his identify “Buff-ay” till some spoilsport corrected me. Jimmy, in the event you’re on the market, they discovered this behind your fridge. You possibly can relaxation in peace.
