Johnna's Pick of the Week (Travel Edition): Charleston, S.C.

Southern Comfort. Not the alcohol but these are the two words to describe a recent trip to Charleston. Now we know other southern cities such as New Orleans, Houston and Atlanta are considered the hubs of true southern living, but Charleston is giving each of these places a run for their money. Now while we love the French Quarter of New Orleans, the huge portions of Houston and the nightlife of Atlanta, when we cross the borders from the North to the South (*Arguably D.C. is the south based on the Mason Dixon line...but we go by the rule that anything below D.C. is the south...), we are looking for pure southern living. Pure in the form that things will slow down just a bit from the congested city, that the food will be absolute comfort food and the homes remind you of the kind that were in Steel Magnolias. This is Charleston.

Welcome to a place that serves shrimp and grits everywhere (*We almost wondered if we could find it at the McDonald's...), the drivers don't honk their horns obnoxiously and the multiple waterways all offer something uniquely appealing. We must have eaten at every place in this city so here is a brief (*ok, long) run down of all the places that made our palate happy:

Day 1:
Santis- We started with the guacamole as an appetizer which was served inside a tortilla shell and resembled the guac at Rosa Mexicano, but a little more creamier than we would have preferred. This didn't matter, however, because after we started sipping on the Margarita's and Patron shots...things get blurry right around here...

Day 2:
S.N.O.B.- This was actually our worst experience in Charleston (*Maybe the name of this spot speaks for itself...). The hostesses were...we'll keep those thoughts to ourselves. The lack of good service upon entering kind of impaired our appetite, but from what we can remember the shrimp and grits were decent and the fried chicken livers over grits were a great twist on the typical grits combo.

Craves- Yum. We can actually still taste the four large cups of lemonade/sweet tea mix we slurped on alongside the fried seafood platter. Craves is a spot we found while perusing a neighborhood just outside downtown Charleston and we were glad to find it. Fried, fried, fried and more fried, we loved it! We know, we know...fried food is "not healthy" but we couldn't resist when fresh fried shrimp and scallops were an option on the menu. Needless to say, we weren't "healthy" for the night...

Day 3:
High Cotton- We could not keep our eyes from peering up towards the ceiling at the ceiling fans that actually resembled woven fans. The she-crab soup melts in your mouth and not in your hands! It was probably one of the best of the she-crab soups we tasted in Charleston with its thick but not clumpy base.

Cupcake- Cupcakes are all the craze around the District but not everyone is meeting the criteria. A cupcake should be moist with icing that has a personality of its own (*Basically, both parts should compliment each other but offer different things at the same time). Cupcake did the trick with some of the most fluffy cupcakes we have ever allowed our non-sweet tooth to touch. The icing had just the right amount of cream cheese...some places really over do it (*These names will remain anonymous...)...

Kaminsky's- D.C. needs one of these. Badly. This is the ultimate dessert indulgence. With everything from homemade tollhouse pie to bourbon pecan pie, you will not run out of ways to pack on an extra 10 lb.'s. We decided our 10 lb.'s would be well spent on one of their alcoholic infused milkshakes, the Brandy Alexander to be exact. This probably explains why we almost fell asleep on the carriage ride...

Fish- This is our favorite restaurant. Favorite meaning favorite out of every restaurant we've been to (*Ok that could be a bit overstated but definitely in South Carolina, this is our favorite...). The food was exquisite (*Don't think we've used that word to describe a lot of restaurants if that gives you any inclination how we felt about this spot). The service was on point and the ambiance was very new age/sleek. The Dim Sum was our absolute favorite part, here's what we crave: Duck Confit steamed bun (*the bread is some of the softest we've tasted...), the Fried Tofu (*this was actually our least favorite food @ Fish, it just didn't mesh well with the honey sauce they added to it...) and the curry crab soup gave the regular she-crab soup a run for its money. The rolls that they put on the table were the best freebies we've encountered in awhile and interestingly enough, they paired the rolls with a housemade soy sauce that was amazing. We could go on for hours on how good the food was, but there's not enough room on our post page for that...

Day 4:
The Fat Hen- That's what we felt like after leaving here, a fat hen. Now since breakfast is the easiest meal of the day, we never can give too much credit for it but we will say that this place does it right. The drive was a small hike from our normal surroundings and the line was kind of long to be out in the country but it was a country meal worth waiting for...the french toast has sent us on a french toast kick, we can't shake it. Yum to the she-crab soup, the scrambled egg/chorizo/avocado smothered in cheese burrito and of course our usual, the eggs benedict (*You didn't think we would order anything else except the poached eggs, did you??).

California Dreaming- Our least favorite of the pack. The seafood nachos were a good concept in thinking about it but actually tasting them was another thing. They really did nothing for us but top some nachos with chopped salmon and shrimp and smother that in cheese wiz. We could've done without, but by this time we had eaten our way through Charleston and really anything else was just icing on the cake.

The top two things we learned in Charleston:
1. Charleston has two foods that you will find on every menu (*Doesn't matter what cuisine/genre is served there...): she crab soup and shrimp and grits. They are somewhere on the menu in some form...

2. One should not visit Charleston if you don't like to eat. This is not for the faint eater, you almost need to be one of those professional eaters to fit in this town.

In addition to the food, there are so many beautiful homes, trendy boutiques and great places to just take a nice walk in Charleston...though we wouldn't really know about all these places because we spent all of our time @ the restaurants...

Food.Fun.Stuff: Misogynist or Misunderstanding??

Misogynist or Misunderstanding?? That's the question looming around Zaytinya's Mike Isabella after he was voted off the Top Chef island last night (*His leeks were undercooked...). Isabella made the comment during a clam-shuck-off that "a girl shouldn't be at the same level that I am" and it left his image tarnished as a misogynist in addition to his cocky attitude that labeled him as a certified Jerk. Well, we all know there's two sides to every story, so maybe he can explain himself and his behavior. Today, you have the chance to pick his brain a bit as he chats live today on www.washingtonpost.com. Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion here. The discussion starts today, October 29, 2009 @ 1:15 pm. Give us your verdict!

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Doors Closing & Foodies Get Buzzed

A couple of things on the foodies agenda:

>Tom Sietsema reports that Rock Creek will be closing its doors. Well not all the way. The Rock Creek at Mazza Gallerie is shutting its doors except for private events, the original Rock Creek in Bethesda will be keeping its doors open for the public. We can't say this doesn't make sense, the Rock Creek Mazza Gallerie never really seemed super packed to us whenever we visited. It should save them some utility bills considering the lack of patrons that frequent this spot (*Which is weird because it is literally right beside the theater that keeps constant high amounts of traffic...we love Club Cinema! Leather seats and tequila shots make almost every movie a winner in our book...). More info here.

>Food Blogger happy hour is coming November 4, 2009, 6 pm @ the Black Squirrel (2427 18th St., NW, 2nd. floor, Washington, DC). Ever wanted to see the face behind your favorite fellow food blogger?? Good chance to meet and greet and oh yeah, to get some good cooking tips;-) The Arugula Files has more here.

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Drinks on Me: Candy Corn Cordials (Alcoholic)

Candy Corn Cordials

For the infused vodka:
1/2 cup candy corn
1 1/2 cups vodka

For the cordials:
2 ounces orange liqueur
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 large egg white
Candy corn, for garnish

Infuse the vodka: Combine the candy corn and vodka in an airtight container; set aside for at least 3 hours, then strain.

Make the cordials: Add 4 ounces of the candy corn vodka, the orange liqueur, lemon juice and egg white to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses and garnish with candy corn.

Johnna's tip: Halloween is here and it's time to pull out all the candy corn, pumpkin carving tools and costumes. Our candy corn martini recipe is courtesy Savvy Events blog, which features two other festive recipes that you might want to try. Plenty of alcohol will be had and why not start the night off with a strong but sweet martini?? Have a safe and happy Halloween!!

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Happy Halloween!

Goblins and Bloody Tales is what will make up this weekend. It's that time of year to dress out of character and wear that wig you've been dying to try but never had the nerve to pull it out during normal business hours. Z Burger is helping you kick things off this weekend with a Halloween costume contest that entails a $500 cash prize and Pumpkin Spice milkshakes (*Yum). The costumes will be judged based on creativity, originality and execution (*Please refrain from showing up in the make shift stuff...unless it's absolutely awesome!)

The Low Down: 1st. Place=$500 & a trophy; 2nd. Place= Trophy, 10 Free Z Burger Tokens & 10 Free Milkshake Tokens; 3rd. Place= Trophy, 5 Free Z Burger Tokens & 5 Free Milkshake Tokens. There's something in it for all the kiddies that come out too...All children under 12 who come dressed up for the event will receive a "Trick or Treat" which is a Free burger or Free milkshake token. And for all the Obama costumers (*We made that word up, so no misspellings here...), Z Burger will award 5 Free burger tokens & 5 Free milkshake tokens to you for dressing up as our 44th President.
The Where: Z Burger Tenleytown, 4321 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
The When: Friday, October 30, 2009, 4 pm-7 pm

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Top Five Wednesdays

Top Five Wednesdays: To keep the week interesting on Hump Day, we decided giving you a "Top Five" list would be fun. Each Wednesday we will showcase the "Top Five" something i.e. top five burger joints in D.C., top five places to get a good meal with out-of-town guests, etc. This week we kick things off with the "Top Five" Places to Take Someone When Your Trying to Stay Low Key. Why we chose this topic for this week?? Really, for a little bit of a chuckle and because some people really want to find a spot where they can take someone their "interested" in but want to keep it out of the popular dining spotlights until they're sure of how things will progress...so here it goes:

1. Senor Pepper (DC)
Why this works? It is all the way down Connecticut Avenue where things are mostly residential and unless you or your date lives in this neighborhood or has friends that live here, the chances of running into a whole lot of attention is slim. Plus the drinks are good and the fajitas are pretty tasty.

2. Urbana (DC)
Why this works? The lighting is so dim in here, you almost need a flashlight to see what's going on. Plus, it lies on the outskirts of the popular Dupont area which means you can still catch the metro but you will remain low key.

3. Gaffney's (MD)
Why this works? The location is kind of awkward for this spot. But the brunch is good and the awkward location will serve you well because most people that frequent here are regulars...ask your date if they've ever been to Gaffney's, this could resolve that issue from the start...

4. Amici Miei (MD)
Why this works? Potomac is a small hike from the District life, which makes it perfect for the cause. Reasonable, but a good selection of items on the menu, your date/friend, whoever, will be impressed that you found this spot...

5. Kilroys (VA)
Why this works? Kilroys is probably one of the rawest sports bars we've come across in our lives. It is the spot you go to when you just want to throw on some comfy jeans and Cowboy boots and throw back a few beers. Trust, you will not run into any of your daily lives here that is unless you live in Woodbridge, VA (*Then you might have a bit of an issue, this is the neighborhood bar...).

Enjoy and keep it low key...that is unless it turns into something major;-)

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Recipe: Easy Spinach Alfredo

Easy Spinach Alfredo

1 package (16 oz.) linguine
2 (16 oz.) jars Alfredo sauce (*Suggestion: Classico or Bertolli)
1 (10 oz.) package frozen whole leaf spinach or 2 (10 oz.) bags fresh spinach (cooked and drained)
1 (8 oz.) package of fresh baby Bella mushrooms
1 medium onion (finely diced)
1 garlic clove (finely diced)
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast (*Cleaned and cut into about 1" pieces)
2 tbsp. butter or extra virgin olive oil

Cook pasta according to package directions and drain (*Add a little olive oil to the pasta so it won't stick together). Cook the spinach according to package directions, drain and set side. In a skillet, add the butter (or olive oil) over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion to the pan and cook until just about softened; remove and set aside. Add a little more butter or olive oil to the pan and add the chicken to the skillet; cook until done. Add in the mushrooms and cook about 1-2 minutes. Add the garlic/onion mixture back to the pan and the Alfredo sauce and heat until just bubbly; add in the drained spinach and combine well. Add the linguine to a plate and top with spinach Alfredo mixture. Serve!

*Johnna's tip: This was the easiest go-to meal that we used in college. It works so well with tortellini (*During college we were pretty broke so linguine was the better, cheaper option...) and shrimp if you don't want chicken. Serve alongside some really good garlic bread and you have a mini pasta feast on your hands. Also, feel free to create your own Alfredo sauce, we just used the jarred stuff because it is easy for the busy cook. Let us know how it turns out!

*Johnna's tip, tip: We plan on making this tonight, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that we will have pics up in the morning...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Newbies

"Everyday a Star is Born!" Well, here in the District everyday a restaurant is born. For us to be some pretty health conscience people, we sure do love to eat all that is good...and sometimes bad. Well, during the month of October, we are ushering in two newbies to the D.C. restaurant scene with many other openings on the calendar as the winter and spring months approach. Check it:

>Birch & Barley and Churchkey are now open and it's all the buzz in the Districts Logan Circle. The newest members to the Virginia based Neighborhood Restaurant Group, B&B/Churchkey is the first of the popular restaurant group to cross that bridge into the District. You know the drill (*Primarily because we already told you...): The restaurant will be serving up tasty bites such as Vialone Nano Risotto with beets, beet greens and whipped goat cheese and Loin of Venison, with wild rice, "popped" cranberries and squash. Upstairs you can indulge in all the beer that your heart desires (*Not really our thing but hey, if you like it, we love it!). With over 555 different beers being served, you will not get bored with the options. It's so funny that this is the first venture of the NRG in the District considering their presence is so conspicuous here, but that could be due to the fact that they dominate the Northern Virginia restaurant scene with over eight restaurants...

Birch & Barley and Churchkey
1337 14th st. NW
Washington, DC

>The BGR The Burger Joint is now in Dupont. Good stuff. The BGR Joint in Maryland gained a lot of popularity due to its grill style burgers which tastes like they just came off your backyard grill. Just looking at the website has us salivating at the fact that we finally have one in the District (*Not that we were opposed to venturing to Bethesda, this is definitely one of our foodie stomping grounds...). We are going for the Wellington...what about you??

The BGR Joint
1514 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036

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Etiquette Tip Tuesday

Etiquette Tip Tuesday. Our newest topic hopes to inspire, change or at least raise a brow as to the right things to do when dealing with food in all settings. After chatting with some friends, they suggested that we add this to our daily roster because people are losing good table manners, sanitation standards and a host of other things that are just wrong in the foodie world. So here goes it (*Translation: Here it is, this is how it goes, etc...):

Tipping. We've had this discussion time and time again and are torn between the waitress mentality and the regular consumer mentality. The waitress mentality is a little more lenient when it comes to tipping and that could be primarily due to the fact that this person has stood in the waiters shoes. The consumer mentality is simple: good service, you get a tip...ok service, we'll have to think about how much, if any tip. We are at the place in our lives that tipping has become mandatory. There's no way around it. We cannot remember the last time we actually saw someone leave a table without tipping or at least feeling obligated to leave something (*This could be in part that we have not had horrible service in a long time...). Now what you tip is where it gets tricky, here's what we've concluded:

10%- You were a horrible server but we'll throw you a bone for at least bringing the water over promptly.

15%- Service was ok. Maybe the server was preoccupied with their co-workers or noticeably distracted from getting your orders right...this sucks especially when you ordered those eggs over hard and they come out over easy...

18%- Service was good. You were not looking for Mr. Chow's service, but it was pretty decent, maybe even a little above what you expected. They got the order right, they got your food out fast and you left full and content.

20%- Service was good. Server was attentive, not too much, not too little. You even shared a couple of laughs during dinner.

25%- Service was awesome! This server damn near spread out rose petals at your feet.

0%- Horrible service. You actually feel a little aggressive after what was supposed to be a relaxing meal.

Tipping really is determined by your experience, but nine times out of ten, you should leave something...that is, unless your server makes your nostrils flare up...

*Disclaimer: These are the tipping standards of JKGF, they do not represent anyone else's views.

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Drinks on Me: Five Fifteen (Alcoholic)

Five Fifteen

1 oz. Curacao

1 oz. dry vermouth

1 oz. sweet cream

Ice

Nutmeg (for garnish)

Add all ingredients except the nutmeg to a cocktail shaker over ice; shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

*Johnna's tip: Five Fifteen is the time we feel like we woke up this morning (*That is after being up until 2 am...we are working on 3 hours sleep...). Sleep seems like a dream deferred after weeks and weeks of traveling, planning parties and attending parties. A nice drink to wind some of this energy down is in order and that's where the Five Fifteen comes into play: Not to heavy but just enough to spark our interest.

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Food & Friends

Take a slice of life or at least try to participate. Food & Friends is hosting the Slice of Life, which is the Districts only pie sale that you can buy your holiday pies and give back to the community at the same time. For the third year, the bake sale will benefit DC Area residents living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses. Food & Friends will prepare and deliver specialized meals and groceries in conjunction with nutrition counseling to DC area residents in need. What type of pies??

1. Picture Perfect Pumpkin Pie
2. Harvest Apple Crumb Pie
3. Oh So Sweet Potato Pie
4. Southern Pecan Pie
5. Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake

The Low Down: All pies are 10” rounds and shrink-wrapped. The prices start @ $25. Pickup date will be Tuesday, November 24 between 10 am-8 pm.
More Info: Check here (*Go Team Dining in DC! Team Dining is a collective group of area food bloggers:-) or call (202) 269-6826

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Food.Fun.Stuff: New Caffeine Addiction

We had the chance to “sample” some of the newbies to the POM family. We were glad to be included in this taste test considering we absolutely must have our morning coffee before having effective communication, hence POM’s new Iced Coffee’s were welcomed with a big smile. We had the opp to try the Chocolate Iced Coffee, which is a roller coaster ride of chocolate. As if chocolate wasn’t a pleasure by itself, but when added to the boost you need to be functional throughout the day (*Well at least the beginning of the day…) it is quite a treat. It tastes like chocolate milk more than coffee. We recommend POM’s Chocolate Iced Coffee for times when waiting in that line at Starbucks just seems unbearable or you’re really trying to cut down on that caffeine habits budget. We must say, not a bad attempt for POM in its first stint toward entering the coffee industry. We are however concerned how they are going to get patrons to convert to iced coffee that doesn’t come from Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks…these places have some serious loyal followers. After trying both the plain Iced Coffee and the Chocolate flavored Iced Coffee, however, we feel they should stick to the Chocolate formula. It offers the most distinction in taste and would probably be the only reason we might give up our Starbucks addiction…well at least for a few days out of the week…

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Recipe: Mac Un-Cheese

Mac Un-Cheese

1 lb. (16 oz.) pasta
2 cups vanilla soy milk
2 tbsp. soy margarine
2 tbsp. vegan mayonnaise
1 cup nutritional yeast
1 tsp. turmeric
¼ tsp. ground sage
1 tsp. salt
¾ tsp. ground pepper
½ tsp. garlic powder

Cook and drain pasta. In a large bowl, combine the pasta and all the other ingredients. Mix thoroughly and serve.

*Johnna’s tip: Mac ‘n cheese without all the normal dairy products. This could make things easier for your stomach and in celebration of October being the official vegetarian month, vegan recipes are in order. Pair with some fresh green beans or snap peas.

**Recipe via Compassion over Killing, cok.net

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Honorable Mention

*Smiles* The Washington Post thinks we're kinda cool. Yesterday in between the sniffles and sneezes (*fall cold), we were browsing the web only to see that we got a mention on the Washington Post website under their "Web Buzz" section. We were ecstatic! Needless to say, we thank the WP for the mention and we thank all our JKGF readers who inspire us to talk about "good" (*and sometimes not so good) food everyday, Cheers!

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Recipe: Baked Stuffy Shrimp

Baked Stuffy Shrimp

1 lb. large shrimp (peeled)
8 oz. lump crab meat
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. chopped onion
2 medium garlic cloves (crushed)
4 tbsp. bread crumbs
1 tsp. fresh parsley
1 lemon
1 egg
1 tbsp. capers
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup butter (melted)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Butterfly shrimp and place in a baking dish with the tails up. Saute the garlic and onion in butter. Combine with the remaining ingredients, except 1/2 cup melted butter. Stuff the shrimp with the mixture. Pour the melted butter over the top. Bake for 10-15 minutes until tails start to curl. Transfer to the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the top is brown. Serve with sliced lemon. Enjoy!

*Johnna's tip: Entertaining season is here. From now until the end of the year, it will seem like you're constantly having some sort of get together or attending someones holiday something. Be prepared! This is a quick, easy dish to wow your guest with...for some reason some people really get excited when food is stuffed with crab meat (*We are one of those people...). Try serving as an appetizer for a fall gathering and pair with your favorite Chardonnay.

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Drinks on Me: Long Jump (Alcoholic)

Long Jump

1-1/2 oz. Amarula Liqeuer
Chilled Champagne
chocolate covered strawberry (for garnish)

In a chilled champagne glass, add the Amarula and slowly top off with champagne. Garnish with strawberry and Enjoy!

*Johnna's tip: Not exactly your typical fall cocktail, but we were in the mood for chocolate today. Amarula is a thick, delicious liqueur that charms both the sweet tooth and the need for a nice buzz. We add the chocolate covered strawberry to highlight the chocolate effect...this could be a good time to dust off that fondue pot and make a fun night out of it...cocktails and fondue, sounds like a plan!

*Recipe source: 1001 Cocktails, Parragon Publishing

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Man v. Food Takes D.C.

Guess who's coming to dinner?? Man v. Food!!!!!! Ok, so we are uber (*Translation: Super) excited about this because Adam Richman is one of our favorite food personalities who takes on the most arduous foodie challenges. We've seen him eat everything from a 13 lb. pizza to mounds and mounds of raw oysters...he is truly the man. Now he will be making his trek to the District. Yup, tonight Man v. Food will air the Washington, D.C. episode where Adam Richman will take on the food challenges at local spots Ben's Chili Bowl, Horace & Dickies Seafood-Chicken Carry Out (*We told you this spot was great, now your gonna have to wait in the extremely long line that will be forming after this show airs...) and Chick & Ruth's Delly.

At Ben's, Adam will be feasting on the chili of course, then over to Horace & Dickies for the fried fish sandwich which is pure deliciousness (*Is it lunch yet??) and he wraps things up with The Colossal Challenge @ Chick & Ruth's Delly. Adam has 1 hour to finish a 6 lb. milkshake and a 1 1/2 lb. cold cut sandwich during the Colossal Challenge. We are rather impressed at the restaurant selections that they made (*Not so much with Ben's, this is expected if you come to the District...), Horace & Dickies and Chick & Ruth's are off the beaten path and are staples to Washingtonians.

We do, however, have one bone to pick with this whole situation...why weren't we picked to partake in the Colossal Challenge?? We're sure we could have met him head on with this one;-)

*Airs tonight on The Travel Channel @ 10 pm E/P

Recipe: Old Bay Salmon Cakes

Old Bay Salmon Cakes

1 packet Old Bay Salmon Cake Mix
1 (14 3/4 oz.) can Salmon (drained and flaked, boneless) or 1 lb. fresh salmon (cooked)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp. chopped green onions/scallions

In a large bowl, combine the mix and mayonnaise. Add in the salmon and toss gently until well mixed. Shape into 6 patties. Add two tbsp. extra virgin olive oil to a pan and fry five (5) minutes per side or until browned, turning once. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: We love salmon cakes. We didn't before, but now that we know the endless possibilities we are liking them more each day. They are good for both the single, busy individual or the large family that do not have much time after work to whip up a good, quick meal. Salmon cakes are the answers to your problems. Pair with a side of homemade whipped mashed potatoes or sauteed spinach or both. Once again, we cooked and did not provide pics:-( We know, we suck.

**Recipe found @ http://www.oldbay.com/

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Food.Fun.Stuff: So Much to Do, So Little Time...

Go on vacation for a week from the District and it seems like an eternity. We return today only to find that there are a host of new things in the District to see, do and of course, eat. For starters, New Heights has a new $38 prix-fixe menu ($60 with wine pairings) which includes such tasty bites as buttercup squash soup with chicory, smoked honey and cardamom, pan-seared rockfish with celeriac puree, tomato-mussel vinaigrette and Tahitian vanilla bean creme brulee.

Tom Sietsema is at it again with the Washington Post's 10th Annual Dining Guide where you'll find his top 50 restaurants in and around the District. This time around, readers can submit photos and enter for a chance to win a dinner with Tom (*Not sure what the photos should include...we say just smile and stay away from the porn stuff...;-)

Turkey Day is right around the corner and Sou'Wester is gearing up for its first major holiday season in the District. The restaurant will feature 8 different turkey dishes on Thanksgiving (November 26) from 12 pm-8 pm. Stuffed Turkey Neck, Herb Roasted Turkey Breast and Turkey Leg Confit are a few dishes that make the cut. Save up some room for the Pecan Pie and Pumpkin Pie at the end of the meal. Great way to avoid all those dishes at the end of the Thanksgiving Day meal and with the 10-seat Communal Table, there should be enough room for everybody (*Well, unless you're like our family which seems to be the size of a small army...)

Neediest Kids and Papa Johns team up. The Neediest Kids Organization provides District children with the basics that they need to attend and succeed in school. This fall/winter, Neediest Kids and Papa Johns have partnered for an online promo with proceeds going directly to kids in need. Papa John's Pizza Pies for School Supplies and more will donate $1 for every large pizza with up to 5 toppings ordered online using the promo code NEED. Papa John's used to be our favorite during college so we know all of our college readers will be ordering sometime soon...don't forget to put in the Code!!

No name restaurant comes to the District. WP's Tom Sietsema gives the scoop on Great American's new restaurant which will open next fall (*Are we already thinking about Fall 2010?!). Italian cooking will be the focus and the restaurant will be located in Fairfax. That's all we know. Honestly. Well, we do know they have a potential name they've been playing around with...more info here.

Everybody's talking about Old Bay's 70 years in the business. Did you know that Gustav Brunn, the Old Bay creator, was fired from McCormick & Co. for being Jewish which inspired him to invent the Old Bay company?? Wow, great example of how adversity makes you stronger. Kudos to Old Bay for 70 years strong and you can learn more here.

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Recipe: Black Bean Dip

Black Bean Dip

15 oz. canned black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves loosely packed
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. table salt

Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until desired consistency. Spoon mixture into a serving bowl and garnish with cilantro. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: Weight Watchers has some pretty good recipes for healthier eating. We did not want to trust them when we first started skimming over the recipes they would send to our inbox, but after trying a few of their recipes, we must say, we do enjoy. They seem to balance what's good and what will actually work with you trying to achieve your weight goals. Since we have no sense of discipline when it comes to food, trying a few of these recipes could unconsciously help us to drop a few pounds...Pair with your favorite raw veggies such as carrots and/or cucumbers.

**Recipe via www.weightwatchers.com

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Art Buzz Remixed

Don't forget about the Art Buzz Remix event tonight @ CoCo Sala, more info from our post here. JKGF will be in the building, hope to see you there!

Johnna's Pick of the Week: POV (D.C)

With a view like this, who really cares how the food tastes??? Well, we do, but the view could definitely distract you while gazing the tapa-style menu. POV is the new, hot spot to the District and has become the see or be seen venue for a Friday or Saturday night. The new District fetish sits at the top of the same place where the old Hotel Washington used to be which has been renamed the acclaimed W Hotel. Funny how D.C. is the last to get one of the worlds trendiest hotel chains in the city, but we can finally say we have one under our belt.

Recently, we threw a surprise party for someone super special to us and the W came under the radar when trying to choose the perfect venue. What we quickly realized about the District was how conservative and somewhat boring a lot of venues were, which quickly positioned us at the W Hotel. The W offered everything we needed: fun, pizazz and fresh. At first we were reluctant to go all the way, however, because with a hotel like the W comes the W type attitude (*Translation= High Snobbery). This ceased after we told them what we were looking for, working with and needed it done ASAP.

We were welcomed into the POV with open arms (*Our disclaimer is we were throwing an event here) and lounged on the low couches that lined the outside balcony. From here is where the magic happens. You can literally touch the White House from this point, we even had the pleasure of watching the helicopter land in the lawn in which we couldn’t make out whether it was actually Michelle Obama or one of their staffers. Really, at that point we didn’t care, we were mesmerized at all we could see of the District in our peripheral vision: The Washington Monument to our left, the White House right in front of us and the bustling Downtown city center to our right.

The food. It took us three paragraphs to get to the food which gives some indication of how there is so much more going on in this hotel and restaurant that you could get blindsided on the food. We tried to stay unbiased. We tried our hand at the samosas, the calamari and the crusted shrimp which were all pretty good tapas alongside the refreshing drinks from the bar. It wasn’t, however, until we hosted our event that we knew this spot was working with something. It is on the rare occasion that we go out and really like somebody else’s mashed potatoes, but the W has some good mashed potatoes. Everyone at the party was uber impressed with the food which is unusual at hotel events. Some comments included “delicious mashed potatoes”, “shrimp….was on point” and “the steak was nice and tender”. Some things we could’ve done without: some of the attitudes that your introduced to (*Mind you these are thoughts pre-party plans) and the soups (*lose the canned recipes).

We do not know if this spot is feeling like they have something to prove or what, but they’re doing a good job at making their mark as one of the top hotels in the District. POV has changed the atmosphere of what used to be at the top of the old Hotel Washington (*Translation: pure boredom pre-POV) and made it into the place to enjoy a good cocktail or two while peering into about 50% of the Districts top sites. From this Point of View, we don’t see why anybody would want to miss out…

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Authentically Made

Tonight we learned two things...that the blogging world has some new restrictions and the food blog community in D.C. is growing like a toddlers shoe size. The new restrictions: bloggers now have to report in their posts when they receive something new (*Ahhh!!! We had to scream @ this one...). As for the growing number: well, let's just say Washingtonians do not have to look far for anything food related...there's a blog for your beer, your cocktails and even your desire for some good chicken wings.

The new restrictions post a good and a bad side for us. The good news first: When we read other blogs from now on, we will know these are authentic posts. By authentic we mean not scewed by the fact that some company or restaurant has sent the writer some nice "incentive" to say something nice about their establishment. The bad: We can be guilty of this. Hello, we're JKGF, and we accept gifts (*Eeee!*guilty look*) Don't judge. If you're a blogger, a good blogger that is, you have received a gift or two in the past to nudge a good review of the product or service. Being how we try to find the good in just about everything (*We're really trying to do this with beer...), it was hard for us in the past to not at least say a small blurb about something good about each product/service/etc. Now don't get us wrong, we love our readers so we hold off on making a big deal about "gifts" sent to us and keep it authentic with our Pick of the Weeks, Happy Mondays, recipes, etc. Now we can't mention any blurbs about these "gifts" without telling you about our relationship with the company/restaurant. We look forward to an open relationship;-)

The massive spread of food bloggers has us thinking too. It's so pleasant to sit in the company of folks who don't give you the side eye for owning three food processors. Also, it doesn't hurt to learn about what and how people decided to write their blogs. Our visit to Commonwealth (*Who by the way, has a waitress that has the memory of an elephant...how did she remember over 20 orders without a pen and pad and actually got the orders right??) put us back on the right track. Authenticity. We are right back where we started with recipes, drink mixes and restaurant reviews. Maybe not as frequently (*writing @ night can be tiresome, maybe we'll switch to mornings...), but something authentic and delicious.

Food.Fun.Stuff: Not All Bad...

Potato Chips. It seems we rarely spend anytime actually writing or reviewing anymore. Well today, we made the executive decision that instead of telling you about some event in the District and elsewhere, we would put the focus back on telling you about the food (*See our earlier post on guacamole, we're back at it!). Since we haven't been cooking lately, we have picked up the bad habit of junk food. What we found is that not all "junk food" is really "junk food". Take for instance, our main prey, Cape Cod potato chips. We stumbled upon these chips and have not turned back since.

The best thing about potato chips are they can be shared with large groups, hence we pulled these out everytime houseguest dropped by and wanted something to nibble on. On one occasion, we pulled out every bag in our cabinet for our girlfriends to munch on over some gossip. We love good girlfriend time. They gave really good feedback on what made the cut and here's a brief re-cap:

Classic- "Eh, classic, nothing special but good for when you just want something to snack on"
Sea Salt & Vinegar- These are our favorites so we did not save any for our guests. We literally opened the 9 oz. bag and never turned back.
Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper- "These do nothing for me"...
Sweet Mesquite Barbeque- We never even tasted these because one commenter took one bite and ate the whole bag...you know who you are...
Robust Russet- "These were cool, they would match perfect beside a thick, juicy burger"
Parmesan & Roasted Garlic- "These are delicious" We all went back for seconds and thirds...and fourths on these...

We nibbled on popcorn too>

White Cheddar- "These are on point. I would have these on the side just for a quick snack."
Sweet Cream Butter- "I feel a little confused with this one...It's like the recipe should just stick to one side and stay there"
Sweet & Salty- "These are really good. Reminds me of the popcorn you might get from Garrett's in Chicago." And we know what your thinking "How can salt and sweet go good together??" Well they are a match made, we were quite pleased and shocked.

This taste test was soo much fun!! Our girlfriends session turned into a real live customer survey with suggestions and all. One of our girlfriends even pointed out the fact that these chips were diet friendly with 150 calories in each serving. That made us smile especially since we had become somewhat of a couch potato munching on these chips. Conducting this research (*Sounds professional, eh?) helped us to see that we weren't being total losers and were in fact finding out how great a snack potato chips can be without all the fatty bad raps.

Cape Cod has done a great job at tackling the potato chip rap as being "junk food". With 150 calories per serving and 8-pack, 100 calorie mini-bags, we think we can be a couch potato...well, for just another week...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: The Taste of Georgetown

The Taste of Georgetown is taking over this Columbus Day weekend. From 11 am-4 pm on Saturday (*October 10), Georgetown streets will be flooded with so much food your head might spin. Agraria, Mie N Yu and Filomena are a few names that made the restaurant cut. You can look forward to jams courtesy Blues Alley and red velvet cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake (*We suspect the line will be even longer @ the Taste...) Looks like all of Georgetown's heavy hitters are participating which translates to get there early...the lines will be long.

The Where: Wisconsin and M st. NW Washington, D.C.
The When: October 10, 2009, 11 am-4 pm

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