World Tour: French Twist

Bonjour! Merci! None other than Paris could be on our mind. For the first time in our worldly travels, we were more excited to see the sites of a city rather than get straight to the food. Like a kid that has just landed in Orlando for a vacation at Disney World, we felt the same exact sentiment when our United Airlines flight touched down in Paris. We made sure we were so snugly close to the Eiffel Tower that by the end of the trip it would feel as normal as seeing the Washington Monument or the Empire State Building for that matter. Good idea. At night, the Eiffel Tower is a site for sore eyes (*Translation: an old saying that basically means exceptionally beautiful).

Of course, we would be remiss if we did not talk about the food. Funny, because once we landed here, our appetite craved good wine and crepes all of a sudden. Before our departure from the U.S. we had scoured every magazine and spoken with everyone who was remotely related to all things Parisian in hopes of mapping out our food journey. It was right around our third glass of wine and spinach/feta crepe that we strolled around the Notre Dame neighborhood only to discover...fondue. Fondue. Fondue. Fondue. Could this be true?? (*the rhyming was not on purpose...we promise...)

Fondue is our second favorite food next to a big, juicy lobster. It is all things pleasure: hot, cheesy and typically beer/alcohol infused. Who could ask for anything more?? Especially when the fondue was well within the Euro budget we had acquired during our EU journey. So after dinner (*spinach and feta crepe), we had another dinner. A large creamy pot of fondue was brought out alongside about 6 small potatoes and a heaping pile of bread. This is what a vacation is supposed to be: too much food for one person. Too bad we discovered this toward the end of our trip (*or maybe a good thing for our waistline) but it will be the first priority the next time we get a chance to take a cheap flight to Paris...

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Happy Monday: Restaurant 3 (VA)

Happy Monday!! First of the month and it feels good. May is a great month...lots of endings and new beginninngs. It is graduation, wedding and Mother's Day season which means plenty of celebrations. There are some celebrations, however, that last throughout the entire year. For about a year now, the DC food bloggers have been joining one another at the beginning of each month to celebrate/drink/eat in honor of none other than...food. It is a blast to sit around and chat about new restaurants, reviews and basically the evolution of the DC restaurant scene. This month rings no different with the monthly happy hour taking place @ Restaurant 3. Yup, we are taking over the Northern Virginia restaurant for drinks, talks about Kitchen Aids and the likes. If you're a foodie, come out and chat it up with us. If you're not, still come out and chat it up...you can find a place or two to take that next date.

The Where:
DC Food Blogger's Happy Hour
Restaurant 3
2950 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 524-4440

The When: May 5, 2010, @ 6 pm

Recipe: Pad Thai (NY Times)

Pad Thai

4 oz. fettuccine-width rice stick noodles
1/4 cup peanut oil
1/4 cup tamarind paste
1/4 cup fish sauce (nam pla)
1/3 cup honey
2 tbsp. rice vinegar
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, or to taste
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1 garlic clove, minced
2 eggs
1 small head Napa cabbage, shredded (*about 4 cups)
1 cup mung bean sprouts
1/2 lb. peeled shrimp, pressed tofu or a combination
1/2 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 limes, quartered.

Put noodles in a large bowl and add boiling water to cover. Let sit until noodles are just tender; check every 5 minutes or so to make sure they do not get too soft. Drain, drizzle with one tablespoon peanut oil to keep from sticking and set aside. Meanwhile, put tamarind paste, fish sauce, honey and vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and bring just to a simmer. Stir in red pepper flakes and set aside. Put remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; when oil shimmers, add scallions and garlic and cook for about a minute. Add eggs to pan; once they begin to set, scramble them until just done. Add cabbage and bean sprouts and continue to cook until cabbage begins to wilt, then add shrimp or tofu (or both). When shrimp begin to turn pink and tofu begins to brown, add drained noodles to pan along with sauce. Toss everything together to coat with tamarind sauce and combine well. When noodles are warmed through, serve, sprinkling each dish with peanuts and garnishing with cilantro and lime wedges.

*Johnna's tip: This recipe is courtesy one of our New York readers who came across this in the NY Times. Yum. Pad Thai is one of those easy and extremely flavorful dishes that takes no time to make. It is a great dish to entertain with or to take with you to a Spring get-together. With graduation celebrations, Mother's Day and summer gatherings on the rise, we can make use of a simple classic like this one...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: The District Buzz

Out and About:

>>>California Tortilla has some new treats. The fast food burrito haven has added menu items including a Fajita Burrito, Carnitas Verde and our new lunch fave, No-Meato Burrito. The No-Meato Burrito showcases various veggies, guacamole and rice. Bringing all the flavor without all the stuff we are trying to avoid (*i.e. cheese, sour cream...basically the stuff that does not fit into the "beach bod" diet...), we like this new addition.

>>>Finally, a dining series that incorporates beer. Usually you hear about dinner series that pair wine with selected menu items, but what if you are more of beer and chips kinda guy/gal?? Birch and Barley and Churchkey are not only "talking the talk" but they are "walking the walk". What does all of this mean? Well when the restaurant/bar first opened, they boasted one of the largest beer menus we have ever heard of in the District. They are standing up to their reputation by featuring top of the line breweries paired with selected menu items. On Monday (May 3, 2010), the restaurant/bar kicks things off with the Washington, DC Launch of Saint Louis Brewery. The open event begins @ 6 pm and there is no admission fee.

>>>The Wine Festival at the Plains returns on May 22-23 with 250 Virginia wines (*wasted...you might want to do a party bus or limo for this event). The festivities include fashion show, pig roast and kites (*wow, the kites is a total throwback...). The location is the Great Meadow in The Plains, which is west of the District (*off of I-66).

>>>Last but not least...Happy Earth Day!! Yesterday, we highlighted the our Top Picks to celebrate the day. See the events here.

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Top Five Wednesday: Earth Day Celebrations

Wonder why Earth Day is not a national holiday?? It should be. The one day designated for taking in and appreciating all of the earth's great natural treasures. Now we enjoy and appreciate a healthy environment everyday but it is always good to have a day where you actually can celebrate. Tomorrow is Earth Day and with more than 175 countries celebrating, it's hard not to get excited about making this land a better place to live. Recycle, turn off those unnecessary lights and think about walking or carpooling instead of driving solo...just a few ways to contribute to the cause tomorrow (*if they are not already in your daily routine...). If you really feel like a celebration, consider the following that made our Top Five Places to Go on Earth Day:

1. Tallula celebrates with a four-course dinner showcasing locally grown produce, humanely raised meats and sustainable seafood. We love when they host dinners in their wine shop because of the intimate setting. Chef Barry Koslow and friends will be there to explain all the benefits of these sustainable ingredients. Dinner starts @ 7 pm and is $85 per person.

2. Mixt Greens is new to the neighborhood but old to this concept. The eco-friendly restaurant boasts environmentally responsible "fine foods" and is offering up a green goody to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. The first 150 customers to visit any three of the DC locations tomorrow (April 22) will receive a complimentary Mixt Greens tote bag filled with treats (*i.e. recipes, herb seeds to plant at home...).

3. Earth Day on the National Mall. Any of these names ring a bell?? The Roots, John Legend or James Cameron...this is a small list of the celebrities that will be speaking or performing on the National Mall on April 25, 2010 until 7 pm. Music, environmental activities and the like will fill up the historic landmark.

4. The U.S. Botanic Garden will showcase innovative ideas for food, health and life through the use of garden grown ingredients. Guests can look forward to cooking demos and hands-on garden techniques on April 23, 2010 from 11 am until 2 pm.

5. Get your hands dirty! Clean up along the shores of the Anacostia River and several upstream tributaries in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties on April 24, 2010 from 8:30 am until 12 pm. Then celebrate your labor @ Anacostia Park w/ a FREE picnic lunch, music and presentations by various area representatives.

Plenty of ways to participate, get your hands dirty or to just bask in the united effort toward a healthier Earth. Enjoy!

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Etiquette Tuesday: One or Two Faces??

Two-faced. Ever been somewhere for dinner and then for drinks on a separate occasion and noticed the change in tone?? Before we start our post today, let us preface this by saying we are not a bartender but we are an expert at picking up disturbing body language. Today's Etiquette Tuesday is directed at the restaurant with two personalities. Recently, we went to grab a drink at ------ (*After much debate, we decided they would remain nameless...). We got there kind of early so it was plenty of bar stools available to sit and with the low numbers in clientele, the bartenders did not have to attend to a lot of patrons. We sat, ordered a drink and began to unwind for a split second. Split is exactly what it was.

Within the next thirty minutes, we were baffled by the reputation that the restaurant pushed. First, we were snappily asked to move our bum from the bar stools that would no longer be available unless we were prepared to pay the $500 for a "bottle popping" table. Then, the smiling bartender turned into a person that resembles the prison guard at Riker's. Lastly, the sweepers and busboys were one step away from saying "Move B!$@H!" in their approach to get you to move as they tended to their duties for the night. Clearly, this is when the restaurant turned into a pure nightclub.

Now it is nice when a restaurant opens its doors up to guests to host a nice soiree or two. The problem ensues when the restaurant does not know how to transition the restaurant temperament into a fun, festive party. We understand. The crowd changes, alcohol makes some people show their less than best self, but do you have to stoop to this level?? As the face of the club?? Is this not the point of the big, burly bouncers at the front door?? We are not saying roll out the red carpet or pull out the golden spoons but a smile and a thank you (*excuse me, etc.) is not a lot to ask for especially where you boast that you are this swanky, upscale dining spot. Choose one side and stay there: Are you going to be Citronelle or Love (formerly known as Dream)???...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Food News

This and that:

>>>Sports and Food- When these two come together, it's no stopping the possibilities. Food and sports are great mates because 1. what you eat affects how you perform as an athlete and 2. what better way to route for your fave team then with some good food?! DC now has a professional women's soccer team, The Washington Freedom, which kicked its season off on April 11. Alongside the beginning of another soccer season, Gloria Averbuch, the Director of Public Relations/Marketing for the soccer franchise Sky Blue FC (*which is one of the seven founding franchises of women's professional soccer) has released the "handy" how to food guide addressing nutrition concerns and questions of soccer athletes. The food guide features about 50 recipes from various women's professional soccer.

>>>New Opening- Buddha-Bar is set to open in May @ 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW with Pan-Asian cuisine and a twist of French inspiration.

>>>Paella on Sunday- Jaleo of Crystal City is now offering an awesome deal on paella and other treats. On Sundays, from 4 pm until close, the restaurant is featuring a traditional Spanish supper with gazpacho, salad, paella and flan for $18 per person. wtf?! That is probably the cheapest dinner deal that we have heard of in the District from a reputable restaurant. Thumbs up to Jaleo on this deal...

>>>Whiskey- Whiskey Week starts today at Founding Farmers. From April 19-24, 2010, the restaurant will offer specials, tastings and prizes in celebration of the classic liquor. Check out more info here.

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Happy Monday: Art and Soul (DC)

Recently we visited Art and Soul to catch up with our fellow food bloggers and instantly fell in love with the outdoor patio. Complete with a bar and fire pit, the outdoor space offers plenty of room to rub elbows or to just lounge. The patio and the new "5:01 Session" inspired our Happy Monday posts this week. The 5:01 Session is an after-work happy hour that features the restaurants newest small bites and the 7:10 pairing menu with seven options for $10 each. The 7:10 pairing menu is a collaboration of food and drink items for $10 each. Pairings include the crispy duck wings w/ a 2007 Riesling Mercer Estates, Yakima Valley and House Cured Jerky paired w/ a Manhattan Cocktail. The small bites menu includes Chip Dips (*Blue Cheese, French Onion and Maryland Crab) for under $6 and Fried Green Tomatoes w/ Lemon Caper Tartar.

We say stick with the Chip Dips (*The crab is a nice bite. Yum.) and a simple glass of wine. Avoid the Put Ups Martini w/ Pickled Onion, Okra, Beets and Quail Egg...entirely tooo strong, reminded us of rubbing alcohol...no bueno. The happy hour also features $4 seasonal and regional beers and about 16 wines by the glass for $7 each. Now that we got the important stuff out of the way, we can begin the work week...

The Where:
Art and Soul
415 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

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Food.Fun.Stuff: New Product Alert and Giveaway

New product alert: AMP Energy Juice. We had the pleasure of receiving a nice little nifty package of the Mixed Berry and Orange flavors. After passing by the sneaker-sized box holding the juices a few times, we grabbed a bottle on the way to work. Delightfully surprised. Now we are not much for the "energy" drink craze, but the the Mixed Berry threw us for a loop. Our curiosity was on full blast so naturally we cracked open the Orange as soon as we got home. Delightful surprise #2.

Between the two, we prefer the Mixed Berry. It has a grapefruit flavor that seems to subtly dominate the drink but not in a way that you think you're drinking actual grapefruit juice. The rest of the mixed fruity flavors complement the grapefruit but allow the bitter flavor to shine. The Orange is not chopped liver, but it does remind us of something we have tasted. Orange Citrus with a kick in sweet flavor is the best way to describe it. The real draw did not only come from the actual taste but when we read through the product info, we discovered there is no added sugar (*good stuff. It is beach bod season, time to get serious...) and contains the Vitamin B and C that we need in our daily diet. Yum.

Now for the Giveaway:
Luckily we were able to snag an opportunity for our readers to try the new drink (*Product was introduced in February 2010...we know we are late, but bear with us, we are working on some more awesome innovations for JKGF...)... Send us your best fruity cocktail recipes and the one that we think matches best with an AMP Energy Juice flavor wins an "AMP UP" prize pack filled with AMP Energy Juice goodies. Deadline is April 23, 2010 and please send submissions to johnnaknowsgoodfood@gmail.com. Below is our try at the challenge, tell us what you think!

AMP Me Up Spritzer

12 oz. bottle of AMP Mixed Berry Energy Juice
12 oz. bottle of soda water
Sugar (Optional)
1 (16 oz.) package of Frozen Mixed Berries

In a medium sized pitcher, add in the AMP Mixed Berry Energy Juice and the bottle of soda water. Add in about 2-3 tbsp. sugar if you think that the soda water has taken too much of the sweetness from the drink. Add in the Frozen Mixed Berries just before serving and Enjoy!

*Johnna's tip: Now this recipe is totally off the top of our dome (*Translation: off the top of our head) so please adjust as you see fit and send us your suggestions...we love new twists and turns on our recipes. Cheers to energy!

Food.Fun.Stuff: Tax Day!

TAXES ARE DUE AND DONE! If you have ever had a bite at the "real world" then you are very familiar with the importance of April 15. Today marks the last day to file your taxes and calls for either a celebration or a complete sulking fest. If you opt to do either, there are a few businesses helping with that cause. Check it:

FREE COFFEE AND TREATS
CINNABON: Get two free bite-sized cupcakes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday
at participating mall locations as part of "Tax Day Bites!" Flavors include
Chocolate Passion, 24-Carrot Cake, Vanilla Bliss and Cinnacake Classic.

MAGGIE MOO'S: Get one free slice of ice cream pizza — ice cream with red
frosting to look like sauce and white chocolate to look like cheese — at
participating locations from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

STARBUCKS: Get free brewed coffee all day Thursday if you bring your own
mug, a promotion the cafe chain says is friendly to the environment as well
as taxpayers.

DISCOUNTED MEALS
BOSTON MARKET: For a "last-minute tax break" — one free meal for each one
you buy Thursday through Sunday — show this coupon: http://bit.ly/d1YlRO

IHOP: Expanding on the tax deduction parents get for kids, the restaurant
chain is offering free dinner for one child age 12 or younger with each
adult meal purchased 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. all month long.

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S: The seafood restaurant is offering $10.40 dinner and drink specials in the bar on Thursday — a nod to the 1040 tax form. Bar
guests who come in April 15 also receive a $10.40 gift certificate for a
later visit. And professional tax preparers, who may have to work right
until the midnight deadline Thursday, get their freebie Friday: dessert on
the house plus a $10.40 certificate if they show a business card.

P.F. CHANG'S: Get 15 percent off food purchases for dine-in or take-out,
excluding alcohol and happy hour food and beverages.

STRESS RELIEF
HYDROMASSAGE: Get a free massage Thursday through Sunday at participating
locations. The mall-based massage chain suggests calling ahead to book an
appointment. Find a location at http://www.hydromassage.com/taxday

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World Tour: Pound for Pound

Over the past few “World Tour: London” posts, we have glamorized one of the staples of the EU (*European Union). Rightfully so, London goes on our top 10 lists of places in the Europe. What we failed to mention was the pound. The pound brings a big stomach knot, head throbbing and slight raise of the eyebrow to a tourist bringing in American dollars. Just our luck: we find a cheap flight to London and now we have to spend what we thought we were saving. Now not to say that you do not have the funds to not even flinch at even the heaviest of fines but even Donald Trump has to note the impact of the pound. The pound eats up the dollar in the most brutal way.

We did not realize the brutality of the currency difference until we needed to exchange Euro’s for pounds...check out this break down: we started with probably about $65 USD (*United States Dollars), changed that for Euro’s which came to €55 and then to pounds which left us with £40. £40?! After putting up about $65 originally?! Unreal. To us it is more the principal because with the £40, the same price tags still apply…i.e. shoes still cost 99 and food still costs 20-40 for a decent lunch. So essentially, you are paying almost double of the USD to buy the same things in London. It is not being cheap or without the adequate funds to limit your spending here, this is just common sense.

We had a short list of purchases here needless to say, except when it came to the food. No way would we sacrifice a good meal or a good location in the city, so everything else had to suffer. We did, however, figure out some great ways for a foodie to make it on the Queen’s money. There are plenty of pubs, small Mom ‘n Pop spots and off the beaten path restaurants that have breakfast and lunch specials that will run you between £10 and £15. Each special comes with more than enough food and after getting your hands on a cheap flight to London, why would you want to spend all your money on expensive mark ups of stuff you can find in the U.S.?? Stick to a £10 to £20 for lunch and splurge on dinner is our suggestion…especially where food is not the British specialty, save those pounds for a hidden treasure that you are sure will not be found on the shelves of Barneys.

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Etiquette Tuesday: "I Would Like to Propose a Toast"

"Cheers to your new life together", "Kudos on your new endeavor", "I would like to propose a toast"...sound familiar?? These are common closings on the Toast. This weeks Etiquette Tuesday focuses on the proper way to toast. The top three things to remember are: 1. Keep it short 2. Choose your words carefully and 3. Timing. The first one is self-explanatory. No one wants to hear you ramble on for 20 minutes about every single memory you have with that person or couple, tell one nostalgic story that really stands out and we will all get the picture. Not to say it should be two seconds long, but keep it to about 2-4 minutes depending on the occasion.

Choosing your words: At your best friends wedding rehearsal dinner is not the time to bring up that threesome you did in college. Keep some stories for the bachelor party or a more appropriate, private setting. Also, embarrassing or hurtful stories should be best left until the crowd has cleared out. Timing is knowing when it's your turn to talk. If you are not apart of the immediate hosting party or bridal party, basically you should wait until one of these people initiates the toasting segment of the evening.

A toast is supposed to encourage and make the guest(s) of honor feel special. A toast is not supposed to embarrass, humiliate or tell every single detail about the persons life. Use discretion, keep it short, know your place and things should be fine. Cheers!

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Happy Monday: Alero (DC)

It's funny that we have never mentioned this place before on our site. We have been here a million and one times, it's almost like the McDonald's of our drinking life. Alero has been a long time friend of ours primarily because of the cheap, tasty eats and drinks. With three locations in the District, you should make a trip to at least one for happy hour. Despite the fact that they all share the same name, they have different policies when it comes to happy hour so check before you go if you are expecting the same menu options/hours/etc. for each location.

For this post's purpose, we will focus on the U street location which is an awesome way to start out a night on the town. Plenty of outdoor seating to people watch on U street and a happy hour that runs from 3:30-7:00 pm with a plethora of specials. The usual suspects make up the Mexican restaurants menu: nachos, rellenos and quesado. The drinks specials are perhaps the real draw during happy hour: Half Margerita Pitchers that start off @ $14.99, Mexican beers for $3.50 and Premium rails for $4.00. Hopefully, this week will be filled with plenty of sunshine and nice, light breezes so you can enjoy a nacho or two...Cheers!

The Where:

Alero

1301 U Street, NW

Washington, DC 20009

(202) 462-2322

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Recipe: It's a Winner Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup fresh squeezed key lime juice (*About 9-10 limes)
4 egg yolks (*separated)
Whipped Cream

In a large bowl, whip the egg yolks and blend with the condensed milk. Add in the key lime juice and mix until juice is mixed in, do not over beat. Pour into a 9" graham cracker pie crust. Chill overnight and top with whipped cream. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: Oh how we miss posting fun recipes. It is Spring time and we have a few seasonal recipes that we are itching to share with you. This one comes from our reader out of Gaithersburg who won the Sugarloaf Festival Giveaway we hosted on our site last week (*Congrats!). We asked readers to submit their favorite sweet treat recipes and we would choose the one that stood out to us. Key lime pie is a staple Spring/Summer dessert and we could not resist especially after seeing how the instructions were incredibly easy. Continue to send in your recipes and we will post them...especially the BBQ recipes, we love good grill food.

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Sugarloaf Festival

Yesterday, we took a trip to the 'burbs (*Translation: suburbs). There are three reasons to visit the 'burbs for leisurely pleasure: 1. Target/Walmart/Costco, 2. those country buffets and 3. the Sugarloaf Festival. We went with expectations that we would see plenty of arts and crafts and some food stuff, which is exactly what we got. Arts and crafts ranging from hand made furniture to hand made purses and jewelry. Vendors filled the various buildings on the Montgomery County Fairgrounds with hand made jewels, knick knacks and food products.

Of course, we spent most of our time with the food, which was a craft all by itself. Starting with the pumpkin cake made by Brumbaugh's Old Fashioned Delights, we proceeded to taste test everything except for a few maple syrups and pickled food items. Now this is not the type of festival one should go to hungry, just think of it as a trip to Whole Foods where you get to nibble as you shop. Our favorites for the day include Olevano Truffle Olive Oil (*this is going to taste amazing on top of a simple linguine and shrimp toss...) and Rising Sun Farms various cream cheeses (*It took me a minute to process the fact that chocolate cream cheese exists...). We also snagged a pack of Grandma Gert's Feather Light Pancakes and are tempted to throw a small brunch party to test them out.

The Festival was worth a trip out to Gaithersburg (*which can seem ions away for those that live and work in the District or Virginia) and we received another Free ticket to give to a friend for attending. Of course, we are offering the ticket to our readers...so shoot us a quick email to say you want it and it's yours! The Festival continues on today from 10 am- 6 pm and tomorrow from 10 am- 5 pm. Congratulations to our reader from Southwest DC who submitted the best sweets treat recipe for our Giveaway! (*Recipe on Monday)

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Johnna's Pick of the Week: Bourbon Steak (DC)

The focus this week was lunch. Beautiful weather, better attitudes and plenty of outdoor seating. When the weathers warmer, I tend to take pleasure in the simpler things in life: simple pedicures, simple walks through the park for weekend enjoyment and simple food. Food that requires a lot of my time and attention is less than appealing when I really just want to bask in the sunshine and sit on my porch. This is exactly why I like Bourbon Steak's lunch menu.

I stumbled across the Georgetown restaurant's lunch when I attended a media event earlier this year. I went in with the preconceived notion that this would be a fancy foo-foo (*Translation: bourgie) lunch and on this particular day I was not in that type of mood. Lucky for me, burgers and fries make up the posh spots lunch menu. I love it. Simple but innovative enough to make a burger stand out as more than just a "burger".

Between the Oak Fired Prime Steak Burger (*which comes with pickles, Cabot Clothbound cheddar and the restaurants secret sauce) and the Glazed Salmon, "Bahn Mi" Style (*which comes with cilantro, jalapeños and shredded carrots), I could honestly make a once a week visit to Bourbon for lunch. No burger is complete without fries...duck fat fries to be exact. Bourbon serves their duck fat fries with three sauces (*french onion, bbq and a mayo infused sauce) and I can not shake the deep onion flavor. The best part about the duck fat fries is that you do not have to order a burger to get them, during dinner they are served as a pre-cursor just the way bread and butter is served at other restaurants. Nice.

By this point, I was in burger heaven...tasting, dipping and then the bartender decided to really speak to me. He created three of the most delicious, sweet cocktails that made me want to book a room in the Four Seasons and just make it a night. The hot chocolate (*very rich) and the spiked cider (*melts in your mouth) stuck out not only because of their taste but their timing (*it was the first day of the Snowmageddon '10)...the warmth was so necessary.

Lunch is a break in the day that allows you to decompress, a time of comfort. Glad to know Bourbon Steak gets this concept...

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Top Five Wednesday: Cafeteria

Lunch. The most important time of the workday. In the District, lunchtime is the best sale in town. When you work in an area like the DMV, you will find that dining out can be quite an expense. Lunch is the only time when you can get a good taste of the food and get the best price for it. At high end restaurants, lunch can range anywhere from $15-$30 which is a steal especially where a lot of the same dishes appear on both menus. This week's Top Five are the top places to grab lunch in the DMV. Check it:

1. Crepes on the Walk- Stick to the sweet stuff if you ask us...specifically banana and Nutella...literally melts in your mouth.

2. Medaterra- Love the outdoor seating in this weather! Try the Garlic Shrimp Wrap...just the right amount and light (*It's beach bod time, so gotta keep it light;-).

3. The Reserve- Simple and good for a biz lunch Downtown. Trendy enough to fit the mood but the food is simple enough not to get distracted from the point of the meeting. They have a new lunch menu that does not stray to far from the original lunch menu...but hey, why change a formula that works??...

4. Eat Sauca- The Sauca cart is delicious. It is fast food putting its best foot forward...our favorite is The Medi Veggie. You pull them into your neighborhood via Twitter: @wheresauca.

5. Zola Wine & Kitchen- Gourmet food and service on a budget. This is the best way to describe a lunch stop at Zola Wine. Quick but thoughtful recipes, simple but the ingredients fancy things up. They change the lunch specials often and for $10, it's not a bad idea to take a lunch date there...

If outdoor seating is an option and there's no wait (*we know you have 30 minutes to get in and out...), go for it. If not, just enjoy the warm sunlight basking in and the break you get away from the people at The Office...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: In and Around the District

This and That...

>>>FREE and FRESH- Freshii has opened in the District. The new eatery, which began in Toronto, opened on Monday at 2001 M Street, NW. Freshii's menu offers build-your-own salads, burritos, wraps, rice bowls, yogurts, and soups in a "build your own" format with ingredients from three categories: 24/7 - super low in fat, but high in fiber, essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and lean protein; balance - essential fats, slow-burning carbs, good oils, and high protein; and splurge - great flavors to be enjoyed in moderation. Freshii's website allows visitors to create a virtual salad, wrap, rice bowl, or soup and instantly see the nutritional value of selected ingredients.

On Thursday, the store is celebrating its Grand Opening by offering all customers a FREE fat-free tart yogurt from 7 am-9 pm (*Regular Business Hours). Good way to introduce yourself to the District: FREE and FRESH.

>>>Wine Tastings- Tallula will begin weekly wine tastings on Saturdays from 1 pm to 3 pm starting April 10, 2010. The tastings will cost $20 and will include five wines and light, seasonal canapes. The following wines make the list for this Saturday's tasting:

NV Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace, Sparkling Pinot Noir – Alsace, France
2008 William Fevre "Champs Royaux" Chardonnay - Chablis, France
2008 Edmond St. John "Heart of Gold" Grenache Blanc blend - Central Coast California
2007 Adelsheim Pinot Noir - Willamette Valley, Oregon
2008 Mauritson Zinfandel - Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma

Wine on a Spring Saturday afternoon sounds like a plan.

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Etiquette Tuesday: Spit It Out

This week's Etiquette Tip is speaking the obvious: No spitting the food back into your napkin! We did not think we needed to say this until we went out with someone above the age of five and they spit food back into their napkin in a public setting. Let us start by saying food that tastes bad is less than appealing and probably looks better on an old napkin than on your palate. This does not, however, give anyone room to spit the food out. Some people cannot stand the taste of certain things but spitting it out is not the right approach...well, that is, in front of people.

There is always an exception to a rule and here that exception is when you are alone. When you are alone, do what you please. When in the company of others, just suck it up. What's the worst that could happen?? You could have a terrible aftertaste?? You will make the worst frown face?? The last and most important question to consider before doing the unthinkable at a posh dinner party is: Would it kill you or make you uncontrollably sick?? If the answer is no, suck it up and find away to wash out or disguise the terrible taste immediately. If the answer is yes, kindly keep you mouth shut, move away from the group and discreetly swipe the food out of your mouth with a napkin.

Discretion is really the key here. We understand some tastes deserve to be spit out before they even enter the body but it is called couth. Couth (*as it is applied here) is maintaining a mature and cultured perspective when entering any situation that involves strangers in formal settings. Remember you do not have to take another bite...but can you just take this one for the team??...

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World Tour: Samosa's Anyone?

Shopping at Harrod’s, roaming around Leiscester Square and watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace were some of our favorite moments from a recent visit to London. We enjoyed treking up and down the double decker buses and dipping in various English Pubs to avoid the light rain drops. Perhaps one of the best parts was, of course, tasting the food. Whether it be good or bad, we do not care when it comes to food…we just want to taste, formulate our own opinion and add that experience to our memory museum. Quite a book that we can add to the memory bank from London.

After a cheap flight to London and a short stay, we can say we have had some of the best fish and chips in London. Just thinking about the extra bottle of vinegar they give you in lieu of what we are used to the United States (*i.e. our fish and chips typically are accompanied by Heinz 57 or Texas Pete) makes us want to lick our fingers all over again (*won’t do that or the girl sitting beside me on the flight would be really freaked out…). Ironically, the best thing we had in London was not the fish and chips, however, it was the Sri Lankan and Indian cuisine we taste tested.

Buckingham Palace was on our list for the day alongside Hyde Park, Picadilly Circus and Kensington. Lucky for us, Buckingham Palace has some quaint, reputable spots surrounding it to eat at and our aching soles (*and bellies) thanked us. We decided we would go with one of the recommendations that we had received on the Indian food in London. One person described it as some of the best Indian food they had ever tasted. We can agree with this. Even days later, we can still smell the strong aroma of cardamom and tumeric flowing through our nasal passages. The chicken falling off the bone as it took in all the flavors of the pool of golden brown curry. Yum.

If ever you should get a cheap flight to London, there are three things you must do: 1. Take a tourist picture in front of Buckingham Palace (*You know the kind where you’re smiling directly in the camera with the background behind you as you awkwardly pose), 2. Have a drink, or two (*or three) at an English Pub (*makes for great conversation…we adore those British accents) and 3. Eat fish and chips but if you do not like, go for the Indian food…it’s a great plan B.

Giveaway: Sugarloaf Festival Tickets!

Sugarloaf is back!! And guess who has tickets to giveaway?? You know it. We were able to snag a couple of tickets for our readers.

What is the Sugarloaf Festival?? It's the Gaithersburg (*located in Maryland) festival filled with arts and crafts, food exhibits, performances and more. The 35th spring show will be held April 9-11 with 14 gourmet food exhibitors as well as a canned food drive for the Manna Food Center. Food exhibitors include:

Berkshire Sweet Gold Maple Farm (http://www.berkshiresweetgold.com/ )
Ron & Franks Gourmet Beverage Mixes (http://ronandfranks.com/ )
Leonard Mountain Specialty Foods (http://leonardmountain.com/ )
Meadowcroft Farms (http://www.meadowcroftfarm.com )

Visitors can purchase a discount $6 dollar admission ticket with $2 from each going to the Manna Food Center. These special tickets can be purchased here. If visitors donate $5 to Manna at the show, they will receive a complimentary ticket for Sugarloaf’s return to Gaithersburg in October.

What you have to do to get a FREE pair of tickets from us?? Send us your favorite Spring sweet treat recipe and we will choose our favorite recipe for the winner. Simple enough?? Send submissions to johnnaknowsgoodfood@gmail.com

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Food.Fun.Stuff: NCAA Finals & $.25 Cent Wings

March Madness is coming to a close which calls for a reason to celebrate (*that is if Duke wins!...;-) Drinks and food specials sounds like a plan. Social is hosting a night of food and drink specials for the NCAA Finals 2010 on Monday, April 5, 2010. Things kick off @ 7 pm and patrons can look forward to $.25 wings, $1 angus sliders, $2 saval dogs w/ pretzel buns, $3 chili and cheese fries and $2 Bud Lights. We are liking this gametime menu especially those $.25 wings...Fun times.

The Where:
Social
1400 Meridian Place, NW (3400 Block of 14th Street)
Washington, DC

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Food.Fun.Stuff: New Restaurant, New Cocktails

Love this time of year! This year it feels extra special and warm outside mostly because of the brutle winter the District experienced. The Cherry Blossoms are in full effect and new restaurants are blossoming around the District. Check it:

>>>We hear there were a swarm of tourist checking out the Cherry Blossoms this weekend, hence we decided laying low was the best thing. For those of you wishing to cool down from the crowds, Ping Pong Dim Sum has created some cherry cool cocktails to release the steam. The Cherry Blossom inspired cocktails include the Sour Cherry & Coconut Bubble Tea (*Non-alcoholic), the Cherry Bellini and the Cherry Mousse with Almond Miso Brittle. The specialty cocktails end on April 11.

>>>Michel Richard is at it again. This time he's stepping into the Virginia restaurant scene with his modern French cuisine. The new restaurant will occupy the space formerly held by Maestro in The Ritz-Carlton and plans a complete renovation by early Fall 2010. Slated to be named "Michel", the restaurant will be open seven days a week and will serve Sunday Brunch. Yum. We love Michel Richard and are all *smiles* when we hear about new food from him...good things to look forward to in the Fall.

Happy Monday: Sutra Lounge (DC)

Happy Monday!! We know the exclamation points may be a lot on a Monday, but we figured we would put some excitement in the sluggishness that usually comes with the first day of the week. Happy hour is in order for the week. Lucky for Washingtonians, there's always a drink special and usually something brand spankin' new. Sutra Lounge holds our attention this week with a new happy hour on Tuesdays from 5:30-8:30 pm (*We love late happy hours!). Look forward to $4 wines and domestic beers, $5 mixed cocktails and cosmopolitans and food specials ranging from $4 to $5. Sutra is where a night on the town blends into one: lounge, high intensity club, wine bar and restaurant all wrapped up in one place. New hangout, new happy hour, new week, Enjoy!

The Where:
Sutra Lounge
2406 18th Street NW
Washington, DC

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Food News Travels

Back on track. The past couple of weeks have ushered in a wealth of new information including new restaurants, better weather and some fascinating site seeing. Forgive us if you already have most of this information, but we had to share some of the good news even if it is late. Check it:

>>> No more rubber airplane food- Michel Richard has teamed up with OpenSkies to provide an exclusive menu for the all business class airline. The menu will feature Richard’s blend of Parisian and Californian cuisine and will be available to OpenSkies customers traveling on its new route between Washington D.C.-Dulles and Paris-Orly for two months beginning in June.

>>>New Job!- A couple of local restaurants are welcoming new faces to the staff. The Source by Wolfgang Puck welcomes in new general manager Rikka Johnson (*formerly assistant general manager of The Source). Bourbon Steak has chosen Julian Mayor to be the new lead sommelier whom has been apart of the team since 2008.

>>>Froggie Love- Starting April 6, 2010, Buzz Bakery will begin celebrating "National Frog Month" with all things green and sweet. To celebrate, Pastry Chef Josh Short has created iced Kermit cookies (*pictured above), Frog Legs (*pistachio lady fingers dipped in chocolate), Frogger Pie (*Oreo crust and crème de menthe cream) and Frog Eye Parfait (*which is a play on the traditional frog eye salad with pasta, whipped topping, pineapples and Mandarin oranges). All are priced between $2.25 to $16).

>>>Take Me Out To the Ball Game- Flippin' Pizza is now the official pizza of the Washington Nationals. The five-year agreement between the team and the privately-held pizza franchise names Flippin’ Pizza as the exclusive provider of premium pizza to be sold at Nationals Park. Fans can purchase a cheese or pepperoni slice @ the Park.

>>>New Cookbook- Lauren DeSantis is officially the hardest working food blogger in DC. In addition to having a successful cooking show, The Capital Cooking Show, Lauren is set to release her first cookbook at the end of April. The cookbook will showcase restaurants and chefs around DC and include favorite recipes from the show, as well as new ones. The cookbook will be for sale through Amazon. Kudos to Lauren!

>>>Site worthy- A couple of sites worth checking out: Better D.C. School Food and GrubHub.com. Better D.C. School Food is exactly what its title suggest...trying to get these schools to encourage healthier eating for our children. GrubHub is now in the District which encourages Dining In vs. Dining Out...a concept started by two entrepreneurs that worked for another dot com and got frustrated one night when could not find a restaurant close to their office that would deliver.