World Tour: London Treats

Never judge a book by its cover. Those are our words to live by and we did just that when we went to London. After hearing from various sources that London would be full of less than tasteful food (*searched for the best way to say that), we decided we couldn’t judge the place based on these comments. We would need to investigate this matter ourselves. We booked a cheap flight to London and packed our bags. A place that is booming with fashion that we couldn’t keep our eyes off of (*fashion is our other passion that deserved a little more attention this trip…), the home of the most elite of royal families and the common stomping grounds of one of the most renowned singing groups of our time, The Beatles…we found it hard to believe that it did not have it’s own delicious fare standing out among the surrounding EU (*Translation: European Union).

After our short and cheap flight, we were badly in need of eggs and luckily eggs is a key component of what is referred to as the “English Breakfast”. The English Breakfast consists of eggs over easy, toast, sausage, bacon and beans (*reminds us of good ‘ole Pork and Beans). Interesting to say the least. We, unfortunately, were not pleased and insisted on heading out into the city for some typical sightseeing to clean up the dirty thoughts we were having of London cuisine. Harrod’s did the trick with some much needed retail therapy. Side bar on this spot: Now anybody that knows us, knows we keep it strictly to the food…that is until you come across those places in time such as Harrods. This is a massive operation that is about the size of a mini mall and puts the Macy’s in New York to shame…smh (*Translation: Shaking my head…).

Between Buckingham Palace, Harrods and TopShop the disturbance to our palate was long forgotten by the next feeding time. Of course, we decided to give the fare another try (*and besides we had nowhere else to go for food…) and this time we had to try the acclaimed fish and chips. Absolutely delightful. As we munched and crunched on the thick, crispy fried cod alongside a heaping pile of fries, we were pleased with what we had discovered. London may not be the capitol of fantastic food fare, but it has those fish and chips down cold.

Food.Fun.Stuff: Socially Conscience

We will be out of commission for most of this week, so none of our regular stuff will go up i.e. Etiquette Tuesday, Top Five Wednesday or Johnna's Pick of the Week. We will be back next week with the usual goodies and lots of stories to share. Until then, we leave you with this event going on tomorrow night @ Social. Shirt designers Hugh & Crye will host a charity event tomorrow, March 25, 2010 to benefit Martha's Table. Donate ill-fitting dress shirts and receive a 20% discount from Social and a 10% discount off Hugh + Crye merchandise. The event will also showcase portrait photography from local photographer, Mark Silva. We love a good cause and would have been remiss not to mention this event. Go, donate and taste what Social has to offer, Enjoy!

The Where:

Social

3400 block of 14th Street, NW

Washington, DC

(202) 797-1100

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Happy Monday: Redwood (Bethesda, MD)

It is only Monday and drinks are in order. Hectic is an understatement for the way this week is panning out and it has only just begun...luckily local restaurants understand. This weeks happy hour spotlight shines on Redwood of Bethesda which offers up a happy hour Monday thru Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm. Drinks such as the Black Duck Cosmo and Maker's Mark Manhattan are featured for $4-$5 alongside bar bites such as Vidalia onion rings and cornmeal crusted fried oysters. The real kicker is the half-price bottles of select wines offered on Sundays from 5:30 pm- 9 pm and on Mondays from 5:30 pm to 10 pm. With the rain putting a damper on the georgeous weather we had this weekend, cocktails should be consumed and the blues should be heard (*They have live blues on Tuesdays...)...Cheers!

The Where:
Redwood
7121 Bethesda Lane
Bethesda, MD
(301) 656-5515

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World Tour: Fish and Chips from London

Fish and chips is the first thing I think of when London comes to mind. Funny because for most people it might be the Royal Botanic Gardens or the Tower of London but for me the food is the first pressing thought. In just a few short weeks, we will be strolling the streets of England’s capitol city known for the home of the Royal family and pounds for currency. After finding a cheap flight to London, it was time to decide just how long we wanted to stay in the city. When rationing out our time spent in the city, we decided we should shorten our stay because we have yet to hear about cuisine that matches its sister European cities such as Paris or Rome. We shall see whether this was a good idea.

Though many may think fish and chips, bangers and mash and the like are the only types of food you might find floating around the royal city, this is a mere myth. Indian food seems to be taking its toll on the culture. A few friends visited London a couple of years ago and said they had some of the best Indian food there but could not think of any good places for typical English fare. The irony. A city that is exalted for it’s diversity, fashion, deep architecture history and politics does not have good food?? And to find out the food that is good is not native to the land?? We must investigate.

This is interesting and exciting all in one. Now we know that we will visit London and get to see all the distinguished sites that we have seen on television/newspapers/magazines all these years but we will also have the opportunity to have some of the best Indian food in Europe. With an Indian population of about 6.5%, it is even more baffling how this cuisine has taken the lead in the best fare of London. Would we really catch a cheap flight to London to get the best Indian food vs. English food?? These are only opinions, we may very well get to London and realize this is the best fish and chips we’ve ever had, but we could also find the fish and chips absolutely insulting to our palate and it is good to know that we can redeem ourselves with some good ‘ole fashioned Indian food.

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Johnna's Pick of the Week: Froyo (DC)

Losing weight is a pain in the butt. Well, for a foodie. As a person that believes in consuming about 5-6 full meals a day, cutting down the intake was not an easy task. We changed our diet from reds to greens and from vodka to select red wines. Good idea except this leaves no room for trouble and we need some trouble in our diet to keep us satisfied. Good thing we stumbled across Froyo when we did because the diet was breaking us down. Froyo sells soft-serve frozen yogurt and it is delicious (*Typically, frozen yogurt is not our thing...). We have found some good trouble to get into:-)

Froyo is the sweet tooth haven for those that are trying to avoid the full calorie count of ice cream. It reminds us of Tasti D-Lite in New York but better because you can actually fix the servings yourself out of self-serving dispensers (*This is the Downtown location, do not know how it works @ the Wisconsin Avenue location). The process: You get a cup (*This thing has to be about 16 oz., it's huge!), you can mix and match whatever flavors you like, you add your toppings (*Various fruits and cereal. Yum.) and then you pay (*$.39 an oz.). Ok, so we tried to squeeze everything in that one cup because we are determined to discipline our greedy palate.

Our favorites for the week include the cheesecake, peanut butter and chocolate mix and the birthday cake is worth a lick. When toppings are offered, we are true to our roots: Fruity Pebbles. Loved this cereal since we were kids and now we are just kids with grown up faces. Next time, we think we'll try the strawberry and tiramisu with some fresh raspberries and Cap 'n Crunch...not necessarily in that order but our stomachs request them this week...

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Top Five Wednesday: Four Leaf Clovers

St. Patty's Day;-) It's that time of year again when all the Pubs bring out their best Irish pipes, beers and green treats. It's also the middle of the week so you may need a game plan on how to down all that beer and still have a lucid head on Thursday. This weeks Top Five Wednesday is a list of things to do on this lovely St. Patrick's Day and how to recoup...check it:

1. Good Luck Charms- Since plenty of drinks will be had later in the day, starting off with a good cupcake might be a wise idea. Start slow. Hello Cupcake unveiled their Bailey's Irish Dream cupcake just in time for St. Patrick's Day and is available until March 21, 2010. Think dark, moist Guinness chocolate cake topped with Bailey's Irish Cream frosting and a sugar shamrock. We love treats with booze:-) Try one for $3 or share a dozen for $33.

2. Green Milk- Z Burger is celebrating the day with a lucky Chocolate Mint Milkshake for $.99. When you go to the register, just say "Shamrock Shake" and this should be the code word to unlock all the goodness of this milkshake...we don't know but for $.99 and chocolate mint, this might be all the luck you need.

3. Drinks!- There will be plenty of places to get into all the St. Patty's Day fun you want. A few places to think about dropping by for some good beer, music and Irish food are: Nanny O' Briens, Duffy's, The Dubliner and Fado's. If those aren't enough for your celebratory spirit, Againn is having an evening of all things Irish including Irish coffees, Irish fare and a station devoted to Irish beer.

4. Hangover solution- After drinks, there must be bread to soak up all the alcohol. Founding Farmers serves breakfast Mon.-Fri. (*8 am-11 am) with a full menu that includes various hash combinations, 4 types of Eggs Benedict and "The Hangover Special". The Hangover Special includes a three-egg Pimento cheese omelet stacked with hearty beef chili, onions and Tilamook cheddar cheese for $12. This should cure your aching stomach and maybe throw in a nap to really get the full effect.

5. Recovered and Recap- The pictures are developed or they've been added to Facebook and everyone has been tagged. Time to recap the list of events on Wednesday night i.e. what happened to my scarf?? Did I really kiss him/her??...Brunch is in order to discuss these details. A few places to think about: Tabard Inn, Acadiana and Open City.

*Smiles* For some reason the Black Eyed Peas song "I Got a Feeling" is going thru our head...tonight's gonna be a good night!! Be safe and have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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Etiquette Tuesday: "Seat's Taken!"

Whew. That's the exact word we used as we exited one of the most awkward and uncomfortable dining experiences of our lives. Before we continue on our unhappy rant, let us start from the beginning. We were invited to a b-day dinner that was held at a popular dining hall. The drinks would be flowing, the food would be in abundance and good conversation was to be had. So we thought. This week's post focuses on improper planning of the formal birthday dinner.

Upon arrival, we cased out the spot from the back of the room sizing up the crowd and mapping out our seating location. Immediately our attention was drawn to the persons we knew and we happily approached the table, sparked up a convo and asked if we could sit beside them. The answer was yes, the seat was vacant as far as they knew. Twelve minutes later, we would learn that we would be moving across the room only to recieve the evil eye from the lady who was seated at that table. She hovered over the table until she got us away just the way a pit bull guards his owners house and we happily returned to our original location after learning that there was room at this table now. This is where it gets interesting.

"It's my party and I cry if I want to"...This was the official theme song from the time we sat down at the front table until we finally called it quits. The guest of honor was a little aggitated already (*Due to other reasons) and became even more aggitated when they saw us joining the main table. After a few quick bites, we decided it was time to call it quits. No more musical chairs. No more awkward stares. No more "You can't sit here" comments. Good move. Though we were disappointed with the list of events, we were glad to have this inspiration for our Etiquette Tuesday post.

Seating assignments, folks! If you want people to sit in specific seats at your shindig, make place cards or at the very least add some cheap reserved tags to the tables. This can go a long way and we now realize how important they are after we faced so much discomfort playing musical chairs. It makes your guests feel awkward and out of place when they have to constantly move and figure out where they should be sitting. Remember, this is your celebration but they are your guests, so they should be treated accordingly. Be organized, be prepared and be classy...musical chairs is not cool after 4th grade.

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Happy Monday: Againn (DC)

Drinks are in order. St. Patrick's Day is here! This Wednesday will be a day of four leaf clovers, green clothing and large glasses of Irish Pub beer. Againn is celebrating the day with all things Irish. Irish coffee, Irish Old Fashions topped w/ Jameson ($5), a station devoted to Guinness and Kilkenny Ale, Guinness braised lamb shank (Yum.)...should we continue down the list?? The restaurant seems to be well prepared to accommodate all the revelers ready for some good 'ole fashioned St. Patty's Day fun. Irish music will be provided courtesy O'Kane Mutiny from 5 pm-10 pm. Fun times, indeed. For this St. Patty's Day, don't forget two things:

1.) Drink slow or have a hangover remedy in your back pocket and
2.) Avoid getting pinched, throw on your best green and Cheers!

The Where: Againn, 11 st. between K and New York Avenue, NW (202) 639-9830
The When: Wednesday, March 17, 2010; 5 pm-10 pm
The Money: $5 drafts of Guinness and Kilkenny Ale; $5 Irish coffees and Irish Old Fashions topped w/ Jameson

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Food.Fun.Stuff: *New Product Alert* Spencer's Jerky

As a child, beef jerky was one of our favorite snacks from the 7-11. As we got older, jerky was constantly overlooked as a snack option as we combed the aisles for something quick but tasty. Then at the tender age of (*well we’ll leave that part out…) we were reintroduced to our childhood once again with Spencer’s Jerky. We received a package of the pineapple jerky about a year ago and were quite impressed or quite frankly amazed at how well Jerky.com was able to merge pineapple and jerky in the same package.

Now a year later, we maintain the same opinions we had in our first impression. This time we tried the Sweet and Spicy Mango and Orange Beef Jerky which matched up to their names. Unlike the pineapple jerky, this jerky tastes like the original jerky recipe but with a twist of mango and orange infused flavor. The fruity flavors are not really the draw to these jerky’s, however, it's the spice. Do you love spicy?? This is the snack for those that like the hot stuff. This taste was polar opposite from the pineapple flavor (*which should very little hint to the jerky we're used to)…and we liked it. It was refreshing to have snack that merged together the best of three worlds: beef, fruit and sizzle. We suggest this one for the spicy palate but if want something more mild, the pineapple is worth a bite.

*Official product release date is this Tuesday, March 16, 2010. Let us know your thoughts!
**And FYI, they have turkey jerky for those that don't like the beefy stuff.

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Johnna's Pick of the Week: Surfside (DC)

Fancy dinners, $200 bar tabs and the Jimmy Choo's to match. This was my before life. Before the recession. Two years ago, the boyfriends budget was endless and we spent every dime. Nowadays the boyfriends budget, my budget and everyone around and in between has dwindled to threads especially when it comes to a night on the town. We did not let this discourage our hungry fabulous souls, however, because this meant a new project: finding the best places to dine out in the District on a budget. This is how we came across Surfside.

Surfside is a restaurant/fast food/bar kind of place...let us explain. Fast food: When you first enter, you feel like you're at a Chipotle because you wait in line to place your order while peering in the glass windows protecting all of the fresh ingredients. As you make your way to the back after placing your order, there are plenty of tables and chairs for you dine casually with a group or to snuggle up in a corner with your new flame. The bar is the very last thing you see and it kind of reminds you of one of the laid back bars you might find in Miami along South Beach (*By the way, the huge shots of Cold Grand Marnier are worth a taste. Yum.). The scene is pretty laid back and allows for outside as well as inside voices (*we had to take note because we definitely have an outside voice:-).

The food was pretty darn tasty and it was evident that the ingredients were fresh. Almost everything that was on the menu was house-made. We loved how the house-made cheese dip made us feel slightly guilt-free alongside the corn tortilla chips...the cheese was not heavy like most dips we have tried in the past (*The boyfriend wanted the heavier stuff, so we disagreed on the taste of this one...). The grilled shrimp tacos stood out mostly because of the company it kept: yellow rice, pineapple jalapeno salsa, cilantro, guacamole and lime sour cream. After tasting the grilled steak burrito, it is no wonder why this place is constantly filled with guests.

The real fun part is the price, however, because we did not spend over $40 and we had an appetizer, two entrees and a pitcher of the Swirl Margarita (*Double Yum. and thumbs up to the Bartender). The boyfriend was pleased, our wallets were pleased and our bellies loved us. When one is on a budget, the fabness of dining out should not die...throw on your best pair of pre-recession Seven's and make a trip to Surfside.

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Free Money & Are You On the List??

This and That:

>>>FREE $$$- *smiles* This is a phrase seldomly used today. California Tortilla is changing that with the Found Money Fiesta. Today hundreds of $1 bills have been placed around the greater Washington, DC area for consumers to purchase the $5 Fiesta Combo (*includes small burrito, pico de gallo salsa and tortilla chips). The $1 bills will have a label on them identifying them as part of the promotion and the money is actual legal U.S. tender. Happy hunting for Free Money!!

>>>Underground restaurant scene- The Washington Posts Jane Black examines the underground culture of dining out in the District. We had heard about this before from a fellow foodie (*who made some of the best soup we have ever tasted and said she got it from one of these underground foodies...) but had never really looked into how prevalent it is in the District. The Washington Post's article opened our eyes about this scene which entails amateur cooks, former restaurant owners and the like who basically set up these secret locations for patrons to come out and eat for a donation (*Donations range from $50 to $125).

The guests are limited in selection (*typically 10-20 guests at a time) and only receive a text about the location of dinner no more than 24 hours in advance. They avoid the food policy violations by saying "Donations" instead of "Payments" so their services are more of a volunteer or friendly gesture versus a payment for an actual service. Interesting. Don't know how we feel about this scene just yet, kind of reminds us of the red tape they used to have @ mega night club Love (*frowns*). Your thoughts??

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Recipe: Easy Tofu Stir Fry

Easy Tofu Stir Fry

1 (12 oz.) bag of mixed vegetables for stir fry
1 (14 oz.) pkg. firm tofu (cut into 1" pieces)
1 tbsp. olive oil
3/4 cup stir fry sauce (*can be found at your local grocery store)
1 cup cooked rice

In a skillet, add the olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. Add in the vegetables and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes; add in the tofu and sauce; combine so sauce spreads throughout entire pan over veggies and tofu. Remove from heat and spoon tofu mixture on top of a bed of rice. Serve hot.

*Johnna's tip: Stir Fry's are it. They meet all the health needs while providing profuse flavor. The veggie mix doesn't have everything you want in it?? Feel free to add your own style to the dish...that's the good thing about its name: Stir Fry. This implies anything goes...have fun with it and share!

Etiquette Tuesday: To Wear or Not to Wear?

This week's Etiquette tip does not mean you have to rearrange your whole wardrobe but let's just say, you should put a few pieces aside for various restaurant settings. It is rare to find a restaurant today that still requires the bow tie and formal dress wear, but they are still prevalent. In the District, names like Citronelle, Marcel's and The Inn at Little Washington come to mind. Rightfully so, these establishments should require a slight upgrade in your attire especially where these are common places for celebrating a special occasion (*Personally, we don't want to stare at your ripped jeans and dusty Converse's as we toast to our parents 20th anniversary at the next table...We're just saying...). There are two sides to this, however, and we'll play the other side of the fence here.

When we were 16, we lived in sneakers. All colors, brands, shapes, sizes, etc. You could not tell us we were not dapper in our fresh pair of Classics, Shell toe's or AirMax. Now in our late 20's, the only time we get to wear sneakers are to the gym and to the occasional roll out of bed Saturday brunch. All this to say, we understand the person that wants to go to any and every restaurant wearing their best pair of Addidas. This however can be completely out of place at a restaurant that...ummm, looking for the words...shall we say costs over $50 a plate?? Has more than 5 courses?? requires reservations?? there is a maître d' reviewing every move the staff makes?? Just a few red flags that might stand out if your deciding between the Nike Dunks or the Louboutin's.

Now we're not saying going out to eat should be in uncomfortable attire, but dress the part. We promise, it won't hurt. When in doubt go for something a little more conservative. On the other hand, when you know you're going to a greasy spoon, BBQ joint or Burger Joint, jeans and sweats are in order. When you know your going to a restaurant on the caliber of...let's say, CityZen or The Oval Room, maybe leaving the sweats at home would be a good idea...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Spring!

Spring is here!! Spring is here!! Well, almost, but there's plenty to look forward to now that it's close. Check it:

>>>Cherry Cocktails- If you blog about anything in the District, you would be remiss not to mention the Cherry Blossom Festival during this time of the year (*The plantings of the cherry blossom trees originated as a gift in 1912 from the people of Japan to the United States as a gesture of friendship and goodwill). It is one of the biggest celebrations in the District and is all the buzz from the beginning of March until the closing ceremonies around the middle of April. From March 27-April 11, many area restaurants will join in the celebration with Cherry Blossom influenced dishes and cocktails. Here's a peak at what you'll see:
*Zola will feature Cherry Braised Beef Short Ribs w/ Caramelized Salsify, Pea Tendrils and Foie Gras Emulsion for $22.
*Redwood in Bethesda will feature the Cherry Pop cocktail which includes St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, cherry simply syrup and sparkling wine for $9.
*Jaleo has added a new twist to an old favorite: Gazpacho de Cerezas which is chilled Spanish soup w/ tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and peppers served with fresh cherries and sherry vinegar for $6.50.

Sounds like the cherries are in season and ready to be spiked...

>>>Let Me Upgrade You- Kellari Taverna is stepping the DC restaurant game waayy up. *Chuckle* They have released a new Spring menu and two new elite menu items. The two new elite members are what stood out most: The Liquid Gold Martini and the Lobster Benedict. We were just telling a friend one day we are going to just splurge and get a shot of the real top shelf of top shelf liquours: Louis XIII which is a super expensive (*Ranges from $1,000-$3,000 USD a bottle) Cognac produced by Remy Martin. The Liquid Gold Martini features Louis XIII, 150 year old Grand Marnier, Royal Chambord, Dragon Fruit Juice, a splash of ginger ale and is garnished with edible gold petals and a dried dragon slice. All for the great price of...drum roll please...$100! The Lobster Benedict is the other new addition @ the same price which features toasted house-made pita, a 2 lb. Maine lobster w/ poached eggs topped w/ Bearnaise sauce and White Sturgeon caviar paired w/ fingerling potatoes. Talk about a posh brunch...

>>>Happy Birthday Barbie!!- We grew up with a Barbie in hand and are happy to hear that Social is celebrating our favorite action figure (*We know she's not one literally, but that's as close as we get to action figures...). Barbie turns 51 today and Social is celebrating the day with a $5 Pink Bubblegum Cosmo all evening to ladies in the Cellar. Make it a Ladies Night or bring your guy and share a 1/2 price Bottle of Wine also on special tonight.

>>>Healthy Kids- Evening Star Cafe is one of our faves in the Del Ray community (*VA). They keep making us proud as they have now implemented a healthier kids menu this Spring. Chef Artley made it his personal mission stating he has struggled with his weight his whole life and knows first hand that it is very important to learn about the healthier food options as a child. Sloppy Joe's w/ ground turkey, juiced carrots, spinach, onions, raw peppers and tomato juice served on a housemade whole wheat toasted bun is on the menu. Lasagna made w/ whole wheat pasta, low-fat cheeses and multi-veggie sauce also made the roster. Let's keep the kiddie's healthy but still entertained...we think the cauliflower Mac and Cheese and baked Fish Sandwiches will help in these attempts.

>>>Wine hop!- The Virginia Winery Hopping Guide found itself in our mailbox yesterday and after thumbing through it, we want some wine. The guide has over a 100 pages of detailed information on wineries in the region including types of wine, directions and a little history on many of these places. Cool sidekick to have as you begin thinking of the wineries you will visit this spring and summer. More info on Wine Events, an A-Z list of wineries in this area and tickets to wine events here.

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Recipe: Broccoli Au Gratin

Broccoli Au Gratin

2 (10 oz.) pkg. fresh broccoli
1/2 lb. Velveeta cheese (cut up)
3/4 stick butter (melted)
35 Ritz crackers (crushed)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut off the stems of the broccoli and parboil the broccoli for 2-5 minutes in salted water. In a greased casserole dish, arrange the broccoli and fill in with cheese; pour half of the melted butter on top. Top with crushed crackers and drizzle on the remaining butter. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Serve hot.

*Johnna's tip: Spring is buzzing in the air. With temperatures expected to reach 63 today, the District is buzzing with smiles, kinder people on the Metro (*Translation: the library) and a reason to go out and eat lunch. Ironically, we are still in the mood for the heavier winter foods and figured before it gets completely warm, we need to cook all the dishes that need heavy heat now. During the spring and summer, we are notorious for our pasta and seafood salads...they keep things cool. Until then, we are still working on those batches of soups and of course, casserole dishes. Enjoy!

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Internationally (Well, Locally...) Known!

Superstar!! Johnna Knows Good Food is making waves, headlines and all the rest. We have been away for awhile but we have been Tweeting (*Follow us @jknowsgoodfood) along the way about anything new and exciting we have heard about in the DMV and beyond. While we have been away, this time has not been in vain...we have been working hard on material for various publications. Two of these publications made their debut this week and we are absolutely elated *smiles*. Check it:

>>>The Runcible Spoon- When The Grand International approached me about writing for the new "Zine" to hit the DC streets, we began searching through every recipe, rant and rave for the perfect addition to the collaborative effort. We came together and decided my "Etiquette Tuesday" posts fit into the theme of the DC quarterly publication. Alongside recipes of salsa (*courtesy Mango & Tomato), green waffles (*courtesy The Daily Breakfast) and quick desserts (*courtesy Pie v. Cake), our Etiquette Tuesday on Dinner Reservations made the cut. Check out one of the coolest, FREE magazines here that we have seen in awhile specificially catered to the District (*and we're not just saying that because we are a Superstar writer now...;-).

The Where: You can find the Zine in the following neighborhoods-U Street; 14th and P neighborhood; Dupont Circle; Adams Morgan

>>>The Bacon Cookbook- Bacon is one of our favorite delicacies (*Ok, we know its politically incorrect to call it a delicacy but it makes us immensely happy when we smell/taste/see it sizzling on a plate). It was no question but one when we were approached about contributing to the Bacon Cookbook and that was: What shall we concoct?? All we could think of was chocolate covered bacon. Yum. That's where the idea of a Bailey's infused cocktail began with chocolate covered bacon. The cookbook is complete, the bacon is chocolate covered and you can get a copy of the fruits of our labor here. Big thanks to Bacon Freak for a fun and delicious collaboration...bacon is what's for dinner.

World Tour: Tapas Anyone?

In DC, tapas are the food of choice during happy hour. The food is served in smaller portions and the drinks are larger. Many people that frequent spots in the District such as La Tasca of Chinatown or Jaleo do not know the origins of tapas. After traveling to Spain, we discovered tapas are a long standing Spanish tradition that stems from the Spanish dining hours. Spaniards usually eat dinner between 9 pm-11 pm and lunch is generally served between the hours of 1 pm-3 pm, so they tend to bar hop and eat tapas in between those two dining intervals.

Tapas are generally flavored with saffron, chilies, paprika and cumin and served as a compliment to the various Spanish wines served at the bar. Meatballs, olives, chorizo and tomato based dishes are common menu selections for tapas. Our favorites are the Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, Pimientos Rellenos and the various stuffed Empanadas with a voluminous chato (*Translation: glass of wine). Until we can get a cheap flight to Barcelona, we will take advantage of the authentic tapas right here in the DMV. In the District, we recommend Bambule, Oyamel and Sabores which feature creative twist on tapas-style plates.

So in between, the time of lunch and dinner you have the option of having succulent bites to suppress the hunger based on the Spanish way of life. We like this. It reminds us of the whole drinking wine @ noon that the French are accustomed to doing on a daily basis. Unless we are lucky enough to travel to Spain on a cheap ticket for some afternoon bliss, we will have to make do with the American way: tapas served breakfast, lunch and dinner! Not bad at all…

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Top Five: "Two for Brunch, Please." (DC)

Brunch. The time of day where breakfast and lunch compromise on the weekends. We love it and wake up eager for some poached eggs on any given Saturday. A few years ago, it was a little hard to find a good brunch menu or two, now there are multiple places to get some eggs in your drunken system. After a night on the town, brunch can become a mandatory task and knowing where to go should be listed right beside your emergency phone numbers. For the Top Five this week we focus on five of the newest brunches in the District. Check it:

1. Kellari Taverna (Mediterranean)- If you're looking for feta or pita with your eggs, this is the stop.

2. Acadiana (Southern Comfort)- When you order from their prix-fixe menu, you can get unlimited Bloody Marys or mimosas for 25 Cents. More info here.

3. Againn (British Isles)- The new brunch menu reflects the cuisine of the British Isles with dishes such as House-made Cranberry and Cornmeal Scones and English Style Breakfast served with two fried eggs, baked beans, marinated tomato, bacon and bangers.

4. Birch & Barley (American)- Yum to Fried Chicken and Waffles and Whiskey-Vanilla French toast w/ caramelized apples and whipped cream. Also, there are bites to share: fried donuts, sticky buns w/ brown sugar toffee and banana coffee cake. Hearty breakfast that ranges in price from $5 to $16.

5. Restaurant Ris (Classic American)- Think of this as the basics spot. All your grounds are covered whether you're in the mood for: french toast, eggs benedict or chicken fried skirt steak. Brunch runs on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm.

Please feel free to print this and post on the fridge. From all the Artini's and cocktails at Yelp Drink Week, you may need it.

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Food.Fun.Stuff: March Madness

*Chuckle* Today is March 1 and it seems that everything is starting today. Yelp Week, Artini's, Dining Out for Life, March Madness...our calendar is already full for the month and today is just the first day! Crossing our fingers for Spring temperatures in about three weeks but here are a few events to keep your mind off the present freezing temperatures:

>>>Artini's are back! When they first introduced this concept, we thought it would be a fad for the moment and we would not hear about it anymore. Corcoran Gallery of Art 1869 Society dispelled this theory with the unleashing of Artini 2010, which is a month-long event to benefit ArtReach. Beginning today, 12 of the city's top mixologist will compete by making the most artistic martinis inspired by pieces from the Corcoran's permanent collection, A Love of Europe: Highlights from the William A. Clark Collection (*On view until April 11, 2010). Folks are invited to sample the Artini's @ the various venues and to vote for their faves @ the Washingtonian website. The winner will be annouced on March 27 @ the Corcorans culminating event.

What do you do? Attend "Feature Night" @ the various venues and taste test the Artini's @ a discounted price. Go home, vote and do it all over again. Some venues to look out for: POV @ the W Hotel, PS7, Rasika and SEI Restaurant and Lounge.

>>>Yelp Drinks Week starts today. Again, we have learned the Macy's One Day Sale is not the only good gig in town...50% off cocktails, beer and wine is topping that. Beginning today until March 7 (Sunday), drink specials are all around at participating Yelp Drink Week restaurants. What you will see and taste??: $2.50 will get you Great Lakes Amber Lager from SOVA Espresso and Wine and $14 allows you to split a pitcher of Fusion Sangria Margarita @ Hudson. Another excuse to drink good cocktails...and plenty of them.

>>>Side Bar. We know it's been open for a minute, but just in case you're late like us, Red Apron Butchery is now open @ the Dupont Circle Freshfarm Market. *Excited look* Funny. We just had this conversation with someone the other day: "Where's a good local butcher?" Now there's one right in our backyard and metro accessible. Hot dogs, sausages and other fresh cuts:-)

The Where:
Red Apron @ the Dupont Circle Freshfarm Market
20th St, NW
Washington, DC

The When: Sundays, 10 am-1 pm

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Happy Monday: Zola (DC)

Talk about a sale! We thought we did good @ the Macy's One Day Sale on Saturday but when we checked our JKGF email this morning, we realized things could only get better. We were pleased to find the "Bar Fun at Five" menu which is offered at Zola. From Monday through Saturday (5 pm- 7 pm; late night version 9 pm-11 pm) and Sunday (5 pm-10 pm), the Downtown restaurant will offer $1.50 bar bites and cocktails/wine/beer priced at $4 to $5 each. So essentially, you can get a whole meal and drinks @ Zola for under $20?? Unreal. Two years ago, we would not have even walked in the direction of Zola unless we had $50 or more in our pockets...how things have changed.

The menu is not shabby either (*you know how some places charge $2 for food and it really is worth $2...): lamb meatball sliders, pulled BBQ pork served w/ bourbon BBQ sauce and steak and cheese sliders w/ braised beef cheek. Zola Sangrias and Red Sage Classic Margarita's to wash it all down. Happy Monday!!

Zola
800 F Street, NW
Washington, DC
(202) 654-0999

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Dining Ouf for Life

Up that bar tab for a good cause:

Just by Dining Out at a participating restaurant on Thursday, March 11th, diners across the DC metro region will not just be filling their stomachs, they will also be feeding their souls. Proceeds, ranging from 25 to 100 percent, of each meal purchased that day at more than 150 different area restaurants will benefit thousands of area residents served by Food & Friends. In fact, such popular restaurants as Annie's Paramount Steakhouse, Posto (*Went here last night...thumbs up) and Ristorante Tosca are among those donating 100% of their profits for the night, with Freddie's Beach Bar contributing 110%! These donations go a long way to ensure Food & Friends can continue to offer life-sustaining services of providing home-delivered meals to those facing serious illness such as HIV/AIDS and cancer. There's no better way to help a great cause than going to eat at a fabulous restaurant.

Please visit here for more information, including a complete list of participating restaurants. For diners who have already decided which restaurant they would like to eat at for Dining Out for Life, reservations may be made at Open Table.

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Recipe: Shredded Pork Tacos

Shredded Pork Tacos

2 lb. boneless pork roast
1 cup salsa
1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Add all ingredients to the slow cooker; cover and cook on low for 8 hours. After meat becomes tender, shred with two forks. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: Shredded pork tacos are everywhere now. Luckily this is the easiest, and probably, one of the cheapest restaurant trends to replicate at home. Serve with warm tortillas and sour cream.

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