Happy Monday: Memorial Day

Today is not your typical Monday. Families are reflecting on lost ones, the nation is holding a moment of silence for our lost Veterans and nostalgic events fill the conversation of the day. After all this crying and reflecting, one must refuel their energy with none other than good BBQ food. The scent of BBQ ribs, burgers and hopefully some colorful shish kabobs should fill the air. Hopefully, these scents will also remind you of the years past and the good memories that you have shared with loved ones. Instead of a place to plant your feet and take a few shots back, we decided this Happy Monday (*Happy Hour Post) should be a strong drink concoction that you can make at home. The recipe below is perfect for an old fashioned BBQ with beer as the cocktail of the hour (*No cookout is complete without it...). Enjoy the day (*off) and take back a few while telling your best tales from the past...

The Snakebite

1 cup lager beer (chilled)
1 cup hard cider

Add both ingredients to a tall glass and give a slight stir. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: Most guests that enjoy beer are going to go for straight beer instead of mixing it up with anything else. Serve this one to the reluctant beer drinker...it slowly eases them into the world of lager. Drink responsibly and a safe Memorial Day!!

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World Tour: Geneva, Switzerland

The first time I went to Europe as an adult, I visited Geneva, Switzerland. What a great way to start my travels in the EU?! Switzerland is beautiful and typically you would think of the Swiss Alpes as the main attraction but when you visit Geneva, it’s almost like you forget they are there. Lake Geneva took up most of my attention and I spent most of my time observing its accents night and day. It was one of the most calming and peaceful experiences of my life. Geneva is a major city in Switzerland but ironically loud noise past 10 pm is totally unacceptable. Good thing we had plenty of fondue to keep our mouths shut.

Once we discovered how cheap the fondue was and how delicious Swiss fondue tasted with our favorite beverage of choice, red wine, we spent most of our time dipping and double dipping. Geneva is the place of chocolate. As you know, chocolate, sweets and the rest of the family are not my favorite foods but if chocolate is your thing, this is place you need to add to your travel list. Watches with much attention to detail, cheeses to please any palate and chocolate galore…Geneva has carved out its own identity in the EU and these are some of the main reasons they attract guests from all over the world.

It did not hurt that United Airlines bumped us up a notch to first class after a we had snagged a cheap flight to Switzerland. Thinking about this trip brings back amazing memories…maybe it’s time to plan another trip??...

Happy Monday *Revised*: Zentan (DC)

*Revised Happy Monday Post* Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Food Blogger Happy Hour will now to be moved to Zentan (*still @ the Donovan Hotel, but we will be downstairs instead of on the rooftop). The new flyer is posted on the right...come out, drink, eat and toast to a great summer and of course, eating good food.

Wednesday Guest Post: Solving the Four 'O Clock Munchies

Nutrition with Women’s Professional Soccer

Last weekend, WPS (*Women's Professional Soccer) had a bye—meaning no competition. However, professional athletes understand that doesn’t mean abandoning good nutritional habits, such as making sure to have plenty of healthy food on hand.

One of the most common failings of youth players (and youth in general) is to go from school to practice or games or any activities “on empty.” They’ve had a noon lunch, but don’t have the snacks on hand to fuel up for post-school play. That means not eating for at least 6-7 hours.

Two lunches is the solution.

Solving the Four O’clock Munchies

Many athletes believe eating in the afternoon is sinful. They self-inflict "Thou shalt not snack" as an Eleventh Commandment. Then, if they succumb, they feel guilty. Or more likely, younger players do not plan for after-school eating, and then train on empty. Hunger is neither bad nor wrong. It is a normal physiological function. You can expect to get hungry every four hours. If you have lunch at 11:00 or 12:00 P.M., your body needs fuel by 3:00 or 4:00 P.M.

If you think of your afternoon fuel as a “second lunch,” you’ll end up with wholesome food—a second sandwich, a mug of soup, or peanut butter on crackers and a (decaf) latte. In comparison, “afternoon snack” suggests candy, cookies and sweets—the goodies craved by soccer players who eat too little at breakfast and first lunch. The preferred solution to sweet cravings is to prevent the cravings by eating more food earlier in the day, and having a second lunch later in the afternoon. The second lunch maintains afternoon energy and helps prevent evening over-eating.

“When I was on the Boston Breakers, Nancy taught us to eat two lunches. It’s good to eat the same amount of food four times a day instead of a little bit in the morning and then a lot towards the end of the day.”

Amy Rodriguez, Forward, Philadelphia Independence

Excerpted from Food Guide for Soccer—Tips & Recipes From the Pros, with Women’s Professional Soccer, by Gloria Averbuch and Nancy Clark, RD. Available on www.amazon.com or www.nancyclarkrd.com.

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Fresh and New

*New*

>>>Typically when you think of diners, you think of juicy, greasy and cholesterol?? Well Clarendon's Silver Diner is here to refute those stereotypes. The classic Northern Virginia diner has made some upgrades to the menu that include keeping you in beach bod shape. We recently had an opportunity to try the new "farm to table" menu. The turkey and salmon sliders are definite satisfaction without all the greasy mess and for those that opt for an even lighter fare (*a salad), the chopped Asian salad was a shining star in our book. Perhaps it was the entrees that we need to keep in our memory bank with a few tasty (*figure friendly) options including the 600 calorie vegetarian stir-fry and the gluten-free shrimp scampi. Like our college professor used to say over their low reading glasses "Not bad at all". Since we are not sweets fanatics, we could not give you much of an opinion on that unless we are talking about the mimosas. Instead of a night out drinking, maybe we should start our night here...we easily guzzled down about 5-7 of these (*...In a three hour period...don't judge us...).

More info found here.

>>>The cookbook of the summer. Planet Barbecue is the grill king/queen's encyclopedia. Literally, the book takes you around the world while teaching you the grilling techniques native to various regions. Steve Raichlen, author of the cookbook, has spent the last five years traveling and exploring all of the innovative techniques involved in a good BBQ. As a journalist, PBS TV host and an internationally known grilling authority, Raichlen knows his stuff and has done quite a job at conveying everything from Thai grilling techniques to the All-American Bobby Flay way of doing things on the grill. Some interesting facts: Australia's lamb is grilled on a shovel, Canada's trout is grilled on a log and the Charentes region of France takes on the eclade de moules way of grilling (*Translation: Mussels grilled on a bed of blazing pine needles). Yum from all around the world.

Etiquette Tuesday: Your Card or Mines??

Dating has certainly changed. Shall we call this an experiment or an attempt to enter the dating world again?? Recently, we ventured out into the dating scene only to find things have evolved in all areas including being picked up for the first date to the types of places and outfits to wear on the first date. After kissing a few frogs, we thought just maybe we had stumbled on the prince. Boy, were we wrong...Hermit was still alive and well. Hence, the inspiration for this weeks Etiquette Tuesday: Who pays on the first date??

Call us old school or a straight up Victorian but the guy paying on the first date used to be the protocol. On this anonymous date, this guy thought it best to keep his wallet in his pocket after asking us to go on the date...*side eye* *glance*. Now we are no cheapo, "gold-digger" or the like but if you invite us to come out for a drink, we generally expect the first round is on you. We could be wrong, we have been rather spoiled over the past few years with our Southern Comfort protege. The Etiquette tip is simple: If you invite the lady out, you pay for (*at the very least) the first round. If you invite your friends out for beer and chips, totally different story...split the rounds up or each man for himself.

Needless to say, this date went down as research. Some things about dating should never change and if you want our opinion this is definitely one of them...

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Happy Monday: ADC (DC)

It's that time again. The first Wednesday of the month (*next Wednesday, June 2, 2010). This time I am proud to say that I will (*kind of) lead the show. Alongside Mary of Girl Meets Food, I will host the June Food Blogger Happy Hour @ ADC rooftop deck. Located at the top of the Donovan Hotel, ADC is one of the top summer happy hour destinations. With a pool located in the center, I find it adds a bit of sex appeal to the casual setting. The specials will include $7 wine, beer and cocktails. Hopefully, some sunshine will join us so guests can see that ADC is a cool alternative to the typical bar setting in the District. Check out the details and take a few back with those who talk about good food, good drinks and the like...

The Where:
ADC
1155 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 737-1200

The When:
Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Food.Fun.Stuff: This Weekend

Out and About...

>>>SoundBites integrates food, music and charity. This Sunday, the 9:30 Club will be filled with all things benefiting DC Central Kitchen. The tickets are $30 and will not only profit DC Central Kitchen but guests will taste specialities from 18 area restaurants and caterers. Signature dishes from such places as Masa 14, Mie N Yu, Radius Pizza and Sauca will be on display. Sounds will be provided by DJ Will Eastman, US Royalty, Bluebrain, Fatback DJs, Beautiful Swimmers and Midnight Kids over the five-hour event. Get tickets here or the 9:30 Club box office.

>>>Before you sip Cosmopolitans and slip on your best pair of Manolo Blahnik's next weekend with your girlfriends, you might want to stop in for the Hello Cupcake's Sex and the City 2 special edition treats (*Pictured above). We love this idea. The Dupont cupcake haven has created cupcakes representative of our four favorite characters: Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and of course, Samantha. The cupcakes are offered now through May 31, 2010 for $3.50 a pop. Rotating daily, here are your options:

Carrie – Cosmopolitan
Lime/triple sec cake with cranberry lime frosting, pink sugar sprinkles, and an edible fondant stiletto decoration

Charlotte – Vanilla Rose
Rose scented vanilla cake with rose and vanilla bean buttercream, topped with a crystallized rose petal

Miranda – Chocolate Cabernet
Chocolate cabernet cake with chocolate cabernet ganache glaze and an edible fondant martini glass decoration

Samantha – Manhattan
Sweet vermouth-soaked chocolate cake with bourbon vanilla bean buttercream and a maraschino cherry

Yum with a New York State of Mind.

>>>We love a good cause. This Sunday, May 23, 2010, Cafe Green will host a benefit to raise funds for the Louisiana Gulf Response Involvement Team (GRIT), which is a coordinated effort between several non-profit and governmental conservation and environmental organizations to assist in BP Oil Spill recovery. Ten percent (10%) of all waffle sales on Sunday will go directly toward GRIT. Patrons can look forward to a heaping helping of vegan goodness: waffles with your choice of Earth Balance (margarine) and Maple Syrup, Peanut Butter, Strawberries, Blueberries, Mango's, Chocolate Sauce, Raw Agave Nectar, Vegan Whipped Topping, Pineapples, Cinnamon Apples, Bananas, or Candied Walnuts.

The Where: Cafe Green, 1513 17th. Street. NW, Washington, DC (Dupont Circle) (202) 234-0505

The When: May 23, 2010, 10 am- 4 pm

World Tour: Paris Top Five

“Merci, Merci!” I got pretty used to saying thank you in French when I was in Paris and when it was time to come back I actually said this to my American taxi driver as I was getting out. Through the years I have traveled to many French influenced places but nothing matches up to an actual trip to France. There are so many things to take in on a trip to the French speaking country. Champagne, crepes, unparralled fashion and wine galore. When one is in Paris, there are five things you must do:

1. Have a glass of wine on the Seine. The Seine is the water passage that lies in the center of the city’s best attractions. It is the ultimate people watching scene which is probably why most of the chairs face the sidewalk and streets versus the typical table setting.

2. Take 1 to 2 days to visit the Louvre. This is the part of our trip that we regret. We only got an outside view of the house of masterpieces. Next trip we promise ourselves a trip to the Louvre: 1 day to stare at the Mona Lisa and another to see the rest of the museum.

3. Shop. When one is in Paris, you have to bring back something representative of the top fashion capitol of the world. From outdoors markets to the Avenue des Champs-Elysées strip, there are plenty of options for the inexpensive or expensive trendy trinket.

4. Enjoy a crepe while soaking up the scene outside of the Notre Dame Cathedral. One of the most prestigious churches in the city, the outdoor scene at Notre Dame is full of interesting things to see. (*When I was there, they were filming a movie that looked like it took place in the 1920’s…)

5. Visit the Eiffel Tower at night. The site is absolutely for sore eyes. If you can get a hotel with a view of the Eiffel, go for it, but if not, with a camera and a beau in tow, it is something you want to catch once the daylight leaves.

On our next cheap flight to Paris, we will be sure to tack on an extra large chunk of change for a new dress and we will extend our stay to really take in all the Louvre has to offer. For now, until our United Airlines Mileage points add up, we will continue to work on those French speaking lessons…”Au revoir!”

Wednesday Random Thought: New Product Alert...Maybe??

Computer desk. We need a new workspace. Sitting on our couch with a pillow as the base for our computer has gotten old. We are now ready for some upgrades. Of course, when we shop for one thing we get distracted by another. How computer desk shopping turned into searching through kitchen appliances is beyond us. The only explanation we can offer is that when it comes to necessity, we prioritize our food utensils at the top and the rest of our house falls behind that somewhere on the list.

We visited CSN stores which has a store for everything. We went from looking at computer desks to looking at state of the art cutting boards to having to say to ourselves “do you really need an island in that small kitchen??”. We settled on ordering a new 3-piece skillet set, designed by Rachel Ray, with a no-stick bottom. After sifting through more links, we tacked on an Egg Cooker for good measure. The thought of being able to poach our eggs every Saturday morning this summer makes the sun shine that much brighter.

We decided it was time to stop our hunt for the “computer desk” and put the credit card down. Obviously, it was not as important as we thought. The order is placed. The merchandise should be here soon. A review of our new home improvements to come. No computer desk in site but poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and skillet home fries are looking bright in our future…

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Wednesday Guest Post: Nutrition with Women’s Professional Soccer

Inside the Shopping Bag of the Legendary Kristine Lilly

Last week, the controversial issue of sodium—to take in more or less—was the topic. This week, we tackle one of the most prevailing topics of all: the issue of calories. Many soccer players, on all levels, are in drastic need of paying attention to the most important aspect of their sport: getting enough fuel to power their game.

Kristine Lilly of the Boston Breakers of Women’s Professional Soccer is the world’s most capped (international appearances) player of all time, male or female—and a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and World Cup Champion team member.

CALORIES AND MORE CALORIES

Youth soccer players are calorie-burning machines. Consider that an average youth player runs anywhere from 2 to 4 miles per game, while older players and pros can cover up to 10K (6.2 miles). If you compute for a typical two-day tournament, that’s an amazing 10 to 15 miles per day for the youth player. Running alone burns 100 calories per mile (the equivalent of a medium banana). Toss in the other demands of the sport, the caloric requirements of just growing and existing, and you can appreciate that playing this game requires enormous energy expenditure.

In one British study of top 14-year-old swimmers, soccer players, and track athletes, all three groups failed to meet the recommendations for caloric intake (at least 3,000 calories per day for active young athletes). Soccer players were also deficient in vitamin D, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Nutritional knowledge was also low, as a questionnaire revealed. From a possible score of 56 points, soccer players averaged 15.5.

We encourage you to think of yourself as an endurance athlete—like a cyclist or marathoner—with “a banana in one hand and a sandwich in the other.” Basically, you should feel like you are eating “all the time.” This is because most youth players fail to eat enough. They are distracted, nervous or excited, and not focusing on food. Or, they eat a normal amount—for a sedentary person.

KRISTINE LILLY’S RECOVERY FOODS

Here’s what Boston Breakers player Kristine Lilly commonly uses to refuel after a hard game. She tosses the food into her soccer bag, so it is ready and waiting to be devoured!

Chocolate Gatorade Shake
Chocolate Chip Fiber-One Bar
Water
Sandwich of some sort (like her favorite PB&J, made with soft bread, raspberry jelly and peanut butter)

Excerpted from Food Guide for Soccer—Tips & Recipes From the Pros, with Women’s Professional Soccer, by Gloria Averbuch and Nancy Clark, RD. Available on

www.amazon.com or www.nancyclarkrd.com

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Foodie News

This and that:

>>>Whole Foods Friendship Heights opens today!- We had the pleasure of getting a sneak peek last night and we cannot wait to get our first validation stamp (*Yup, there is parking and you get one-hour validation when you shop @ the store). The aisles are huge, plenty of new concepts and the orchids invite you to come in and take a peek. A staff that has the same resume as someone working @ any of the best pastry and 5-star restaurants in the city, the store boasts meeting the consumer needs (*i.e. you only want a 4 oz. cut of salmon for a single person dinner?? They will have it cut, marinated and wrapped to go by the time you are ready to walk out of the store).

Conveniently located a block away from the Friendship Heights metro station, you should stop in, if not for the fresh, sustainable shopping but to just get a glimpse of all the shiny new toys (*a candy station with Matcha Caramels- pastel green balls of goodness, the Purified Water station and their version of the "NY Lunch"- fast food that does not taste fast...).

>>>Kids eat FREE:-) - Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town Alexandria and CommonWealth Gastropub in the District's Columbia Heights neighborhood will offer kids meals for free. Every Tuesday and Saturday night from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m at CommonWealth Gastropub and every Tuesday at Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town, kids 10 and under can eat for free with the purchase of an adult meal. With kid-friendly selections such as mac n' cheese and fresh fish sticks from Hank's, the kids will be gaining a good meal while you are keeping some money in your wallet.

>>>Dan Mesches (*CEO and Founder of Star Restaurant Group) has parted ways with the House on F St LLC , owners of the International Spy Museum. Mesches has worked alongside the House to form successful restaurant ventures Zola, Zola Wine & Kitchen and Potenza. Mesches take on the ending of this long-standing relationship is simply stated "We've had a great run together. But, as in any business, relationships evolve and change over time, and hospitality is no different". Mesches looks forward to continuing to grow and pursue new opportunities. Sad to see him go, but it sounds like he has even better things waiting in his future...

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Etiquette Tuesday: Happy Everyone??

Planning a dinner party? Making the reservations for dinner?? Be mindful of the menu and your other guests. This Etiquette Tuesday is dedicated to knowing what to serve and where to go when you have either picky eaters, allergens or vegetarians. It might be a bad idea to serve steak and hot dogs at a cookout where most of your guests will be vegans. Try a menu filled with veggies and pasta salads. On the other hand, it might be a bad idea to serve tofu to a room full of carnivores.

Restaurants to avoid when you're dealing with a mostly vegetarian crowd are, of course, restaurants ending in "steak house", "BBQ" and the like. Restaurants to avoid when your out with staunch meat eaters are those that are titled "Raw" or "Veggie Supreme". This etiquette tip is short and sweet. Just be mindful of who is on the guestlist. There is nothing like showing up to a dinner party as a vegetarian and all you can eat are the rolls. For a meat eater, you may have more flexibility because meat eaters typically love veggies and tasty carbohydrates alongside their slabs of meat. Choose a place or a menu where everyone can have at least three items on their plates. This makes for a nice and happy (filling) dinner no matter what your diet preference.

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World Tour: 3, 4 or More

3-course, 4-course, 5-course meals. Rumor has it that French women tend to be thinner than most American women because of the smaller portions in their meals. The truth is they eat just as much as we do but they are paced in their meals and yes, the serving sizes are smaller. It takes about 20 minutes for the body to recognize that it is full so after the first course your body has already decomposed the food and thinks that it is nearly stuffed.

We were first introduced to the multi-course French meal at our beloved Citronelle in the District. As a teenager, we laughed at the idea that bite size portions of eight separate servings would fill us up...dead wrong. Thanksgiving dinner is probably the only other time of year where our bellies have felt this gorged with food. A lesson learned that we would take with us over 10 years later on a cheap flight to Paris. We now know how to handle taking in this much food over a longer period of time. Smart.

The multi-courses allow you to digest and ultimately absorb all of the flavors of the food taking in the whole experience. In Paris, multi-course dining is a dime a dozen so we stopped in on a few spots until we discovered one that had a main course we were looking for: beef bourguignon. It was hard for us to fathom how this dish would be squeezed in among other dishes because we could honestly take a whole bowl of it by its lonesome. After a few bites of a savory onion soup and chocolate mousse, it was clear that the beef bouguignon was in good company and did not need to be alone. Until our United Airlines points add up for another cheap trip to the EU, we will serve our beef bouguignon alone...but we will also watch our portions.

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Johnna's Pick of the Week: Nam-Viet (DC)

The neighborhood restaurant. That is probably the best way to describe Nam-Viet. With two locations in the DMV, Nam-Viet is not new to the neighborhood, rather a place that is a part of the culture in its designated locations. The one we are most familiar with is the one in Cleveland Park, which offers the perfect amount of space for an intimate dinner for two or a dinner with four of your best girlfriends.

We stumbled on this spot one day when we were looking for something reasonable, with a relaxing environment and without the high maintenance of some of the typical Upper Northwest restaurants. Perfect match. The staff was attentive and helpful in the menu selections...Vietnamese food is not our speciality, but we are learning. We randomly chose our selections...one was for the best, the other not so good. We started with the Sup Mang Cua (*Nam-Viet Crab and Asparagus Soup)...delicious. The combination of the crab, egg whites and asparagus dipped in a clear, thick broth was just what we needed on this rainy night (*sound familiar?? Last night was absolutely yucky...). The not so good part of the meal came with the Rau Kho Xa (*Lemongrass Tofu with Mixed Vegetables)...the mixture just did not mesh well together. We will take the blame for this one, however, because we were looking for a lemongrass soup when we entered and just needed to fill that void.

The atmosphere offers the low key, pleasant feel needed after a hard day of work or play. When you're on this side of town, it is worth it to try the Pho (*they are Pho 79, after all...). The lesson from this Pick of the Week is when one is ordering Vietnamese food, one should know their "dish". This is not the time to try something new and that be your whole meal...choose something safe and then splurge on something new. We speak from experience...crab and asparagus soup is our new fetish of the week.

Top Five Wednesday: Summer Vacay

Summer vacation is almost here and that means trips! As you get beach bod ready, we decided to give you a few suggestions of places to show it off and get some good food at the same time. This week’s Top Five are the top places to see and eat at the same time. The District will be full of tourist during the summer months, so if you are a native you are looking forward to getting out of the city. The typical spots come to mind around this area: Ocean City, Rehoboth Beach and Atlantic City. If you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone, it might be a good idea to think of some less than likely food havens with great history and sites. Check it:

1. We understand…the economy has changed a lot of vacation budgets so it is more efficient to drive rather than fly a lot of the time. Our first suggestion for a Washingtonian is “When is the last time you took a trip to Virginia Beach??” The city that rests at the bottom of the state has plenty of room for basking in the sun and eating all the crab you can fit in one sitting. The Chesapeake Bay area is known for its abundance of good and fresh seafood. A short drive and you’re in a crab cake haven.

2. OBX- You know the seal that you see on car bumper stickers with “OBX”?? Well that stands for the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Having lived in Eastern Carolina, we know it is one of the most beautiful and delicious places to vacay on this coast. Plenty of reasonably priced beach homes to rent during the summer and more low key than the crowds at the Hamptons and the Vineyard, the OBX is a top destination for those that want something super mellow.

3. Savannah, GA- No real cool beaches but plenty of gorgeous Victorian homes to see. Home to Paula Deen’s The Lady & Sons Restaurant, you must know that good food is not going to be hard to find. Take a horseback ride through town and enjoy the southern comfort.

4. Virginia’s Wine Country- After attending a recent event sponsored by Heart’s Delight, we now have a new mission of becoming a sommelier. What better way to begin our unofficial training than to visit the local wineries and learn the process. Most of the vineyards are within driving distance and with a couple extra dollars you can rent a party bus/van/limo for a day trip to the vineyards.

5. Philly- How does this fit into the paradigm?? Why leave a busy city for another busy city?? Well let us start with those cheese steaks (of course…), then there’s the art scene (intriguing) and what about those Phillies?? A good baseball game, a cheese steak from Geno’s and a trip to Liberty Bell will make you see why Philly is the two-hour drive that is worth taking.

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Wednesday Guest Post: Nutrition with Women's Professional Soccer

There is a general movement among many soccer players and other athletes to avoid salt. However, this is not always necessary; in fact, if you are a heavy sweater, or you crave salty foods, you may benefit from indulging in them. Below is an explanation of the possible sodium needs for active youth athletes.

Take a tip from Rachel Buehler, quoted below, captain of FC Gold Pride, the current number one team in Women’s Professional Soccer standings. To learn more about WPS, log onto www.womensprosoccer.com.

Do You Need Extra Salt to Replace What You Lose in Sweat?

As a recreational player who exercises for about an hour, you are unlikely to be losing gallons of sweat, nor significant amounts of sodium. Your standard diet undoubtedly offers more than enough sodium.

Even if you are in a tournament and sweating heavily for two or three hours, you are unlikely to become sodium depleted. You might lose about 1,800 to 5,600 milligrams of sodium, but the average 150-pound person's body contains about 97,000 milligrams of sodium. Hence, a small 2 to 6% loss is relatively insignificant.

However, if you are a salty sweater, and find yourself craving salt, you should indeed respond appropriately by eating salty foods such as salted pretzels, soups, crackers and/or salt sprinkled on baked potatoes or other foods. There is no harm in enjoying salty foods post exercise. If you tend to avoid the saltshaker, as well as processed (high-sodium) foods, you might feel better with a bit more salt added to your diet.

Instead of replacing sodium after the game, choose some salty foods, like chicken noodle soup or a ham and cheese sandwich, before the soccer session. These will help your body retain fluid and reduce the risk of dehydration. If you repeatedly experience muscle cramps, experiment with boosting your sodium intake on a daily basis, especially if you are doing hard workouts and extended training in the summer heat.

“I sweat a ton and lose a lot of salt when I play. I usually crave salty food after games. The salt tastes good and helps me feel better.”
Rachel Buehler, Defender, FC Gold Pride

Excerpted from Food Guide for Soccer—Tips & Recipes From the Pros, with Women’s Professional Soccer, by Gloria Averbuch and Nancy Clark, RD. Available on www.amazon.com or www.nancyclarkrd.com

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Food.Fun.Stuff: New Groceries, New Language

Out and About…

>>>Friendship Heights is the home of a few of our favorite things…Barneys Coop, Clyde’s Bar and Restaurant, etc. To make sure we spend every dime of our money in this neighborhood, they have now added a Whole Foods Market to the roster. Whole Foods is one of our top ten places to shop for good food. The salad bar has a vast array of options to fit any appetite, they now sell wine and the cheese selections are unmatched in this Friendship Heights neighborhood. On May 18, 2010, the store will open its 8th location in Maryland with a host of reasons why we will need to have a serious talk with ourselves about our food budget. No spending more that has been allotted! The new store will offer, among many other things, a coffee bar with homemade gelato and popsicles that has public Wi-Fi access. On May 21, 2010, the store will introduce the weekly Lobster Dinner @ $18.99 per person. So the summer begins with lobster and popsicles?? Sign me up, please…

>>>The Goethe-Institut is gearing up for its summer series of films, discussions, exhibits and language classes that begin on June 7, 2010. The global German cultural institute’s Washington, D.C. branch has implemented a few cool events to learn about German culture alongside food. The institute will host monthly lunchtime gatherings inviting those interested in hearing and speaking German to bring their lunch and hear from various special guests (*May 11, from 12:15 pm-1:15 pm will feature Dr. Uta Balbier of the German Historical Institute). Good way to learn something new without missing out on your lunchtime bite…Guten Appetit!

Etiquette Tuesday: Move Away From the Bar, Please.

Lounging around the bar. Good times, fun conversation and…irritating for the person behind you waiting to place their order. Typically, when you go to a bar or a restaurant bar/lounge, you are there to get your drink on and enjoy your company. There is usually a ratio of 2 to 3 bartenders up against 15-20 customers at any given point during the night. With this type of crowd, you need to get in, grab your drink and move to a spot Away from the bar. Today’s Etiquette Tuesday post is a tip that we all should be mindful of: step away from the bar once you have been served.

We are all waiting to get served and toast to a week’s end and for those that stand there in front of the bar simply chatting, they prolong the process. The bartender is less inclined to check for the patrons that are two rows behind the persons sitting or standing directly in front of the bar, so the wait could average between 15-20 minutes for the first drink depending on the bartender to customer ratio. Now this is not just the nightclub scenario, this type of crowd can be at a typical weeknight happy hour in the District at any given restaurant.

The point is to be courteous of your fellow patron: get your drink and step away from the bar. We all want to get to the bar and order but with you blocking the path to the liquor watering hole, we might not get a drink at all. Leave the lack of consideration at home and bring out your best reason to celebrate, Cheers!

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Happy Monday: Cantina Marina (DC)

Happy Monday!! The irony of this week's happy hour posts is that we do not want to see another ounce of liqueur for at least a good week or so. Why?? Well after spending the last three days on an all-inclusive vacay, we have had our share of Jamaican Rum and the like. Detox is wanted, if not necessary. Though we are good on even the slightest thoughts of alcohol, we would not want our lovely readers to miss out on any good deals especially where their weekend did not include heavy Pina Colada consumption. Since the sand is still behind our ears, island flavor is on the brain. Reminiscent of our weekend, this week's "Happy Monday" highlights Cantina Marina's happy hour. Cantina Marina offers up the chill vibe that is needed as temperatures warm up and attitudes change from cold to nice.

The Monday happy hour is for the pet lovers...that's right, pups need happy hour too! Bring in your dog and they get a Free dog treat buffet. The rest of the week takes on various themes featuring Corona Night on Wednesday, $3 Tecate on Tuesday and $6 Eclipse Rum on Friday. Seated on the waterfront, it is the perfect place to catch a game or to just lounge with some friends as you peer out at the boats. Honestly, if we did not see a glass of rum we would be happy in our lives...well, that is until Friday...*smiles*

The Where:
Cantina Marina
600 Water Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
(202) 554-8396

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World Tour: Paper Thin...Goodness.

Crepes. Our new obsession. It was only fitting that we finally made a trip to Paris after all these years. Now in the past we would see crepes on various breakfast menus and simply disregard them as thin pancakes that we would rather not take a chance on trying. Well today our views have taken a total 360 degree turnaround and we can not get enough of the paper thin layers of goodness. When we told everyone we would be visiting Paris, we made it clear that crepes were on the brain so not very many restaurant recommendations were needed (*not for this trip, anyway...). So when American Airlines touched down, we made a beeline for the first crepe stand we could find.

Crepes in Paris are just as common as the bagel stands on New York City street corners. Quick, cheap and a wide variety of options. We stuck to our two favorite combos: for the savory crepes, we prefer the spinach and feta. For the sweet crepes, we always go for the Nutella and banana. Nine times out of ten we are aiming for the sweet crepe, Nutella is the best thing that could have happened to the crepe. The sugar sweetness of the crepe compliments that chocolate-nutty flavor that comes from the Nutella, which equals pure bliss when you top that off with sliced bananas. The perfect way to have lunch in Paris on a budget with prices ranging from €3-€5.

Needless to say, we were "crepe-d" out by the time we got on our flight headed back to the U.S. We would roam around the Louvre, crepe in hand, visualizing what was inside the massive museum (*we promised ourselves the next time we get a cheap flight to Paris, we would spend at least one day sitting and stare at the Mona Lisa...). For now, since we had such a short stay, food took first priority and from the looks of things, crepes were the absolute center of attention...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Cinco de Mayo!

Ole! Yup, you know what it is...Cinco de Mayo. The day of drinking tequila and celebrations around the city. Today's Top Five is dedicated to the places to make Cinco de Mayo a celebration to remember. Check it:

>>>Social is celebrating with $5 Margaritas Sociales or $25 pitchers. To soak up all the alcohol, the restaurant will feature $1.50 fish tacos, made-to-order guacamole and blood orange pico de gallo for $3.

>>>Farmers & Fishers has been celebrating all week with "Tequila Week", which is a week-long of speciality cocktails infused with plenty of tequila. Founder David Suro, a Mexican-born American, has teamed with Siembra Azul Tequila to educate and entertain patrons on none other than...tequila.

>>>No celebration is complete without something sweet. Good thing we have Hello Cupcake. The cupcakery is featuring the "Cinco de Mayo" cupcake until Saturday. Yum to lime cake, tequila-lime buttercream, a festive sugar rim and a slice of lime candy. How do you like it? Regular, Gluten-free or Vegan?? You choose.

>>>The DC Food Blogger Happy Hour- Not exactly a Cinco de Mayo celebration but there will be plenty of Tequila on hand and good convo on food stuffs @ Restaurant 3. Toast one for the day!

>>>Wednesday not a good day to be wasted?? Try the "Ocho de Mayo" celebration at the Capitol Skyline Hotel on May 8, 2010 from noon until 8 pm. Look forward to a nacho eating contest, Margarita contest, Maracas and of course, plenty of Tequila. The entry fee is $15 for all ages.

Wednesday Guest Post: Nutrition with Women's Professional Soccer

We are on a serious health kick and it helps that we are loving the way our body is transforming as we change our diet. As we embark on this journey for healthier eating and pumping up our exercise routine, we welcome the newest addition to our blog. Soccer has been one of those long lost dreams that we wish we had played during our childhood years and developed into a super athletic adult soccer player. A dream deferred but not too far. Thanks to Gloria Averbuch, writer and creator of Food Guide for Soccer—Tips & Recipes from the Pros, each week there will be a post on JKGF highlighting nutritional advice from the best of Women's Professional Soccer. Now that we have filled you in on this new addition, let the games begin:

Welcome to Women’s Professional Soccer—eight teams around the country that feature the best national and international players in the world. Teams entertain on the field and educate off the field. Their contributions are part of the helpful information offered below. For the nearly 20 million soccer players in the U.S., most of them under the age of 18, learning good nutrition is helpful for sports, and for life. Check out more on Women’s Professional Soccer here.

Tips for Parents, Managers and Coaches when Traveling with the Team

• Remind each player to bring her personal supply of emergency food and fluids. For insurance, request each player bring an extra filled large water bottle.

• If flying, have each player pack one or two empty water bottles to be refilled after going through airport security.

• If the team will be eating as a group, order a buffet-style meal, so each player can choose the foods she wants, and to be able to get the desired quantity.

• Find restaurants immediately after arriving to your destination. Ask if they can prepare to feed a large group (so you don’t have to wait forever for service, give them a heads up) and if they can accommodate your group’s sports food needs.

• Request pitchers of water be put on each table.

• Locate the local supermarket. Find a volunteer to buy snacks for the group. Ask for volunteers to organize team meals or snacks at game sites, if necessary.

• Provide fresh fruit, yogurt, granola bars, and juice boxes for snacks to be available in hotel rooms.

• Remind players to pack their plastic zip lock bag of non-perishable snacks in their soccer bags, so it is with them at all times. And then, not to forget to eat those snacks!

*Food Guide for Soccer—Tips & Recipes from the Pros, by Gloria Averbuch and Nancy Clark, RD, is available on www.nancyclarkrd.com or www.amazon.com.

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Lunch Time

Lunch deals are taking over the District. Check out the newest deals for the midday bite:

>>>Oya's $10 "To Go" Lunch in a Bag- For 10 bucks, patrons can choose from (1) sushi, entrée salad or sandwich (2) Oya adds Artisan Chips or seaweed salad and edamame with sushi and (3) a sweet treat. We are loving this concept: Spicy Crunchy Shrimp, Seaweed Salad and Banana Bread Pudding all in one sitting for $10?! How will you get back to work??...

>>>Bond 45 now offers lunch on the weekends. Good idea. For those of us who cannot make it to the Harbor during the work week, the Lobster Cobb Salad and the Tagliata Gorgonzola, aged sliced sirloin steak with zucchini julienne and crostone, make us want to spend more time at the Harbor on the weekends. Lunch will run from 11:30 am until 5:00 pm on weekends.

Guest Post: The Lazy Man's Way to Start the Mediterranean Diet

Of our Top Five favorite cuisines, Mediterranean is definitely apart of the team. Robust, seasonal flavors that tantalize all of our senses. We were reminded of our passion for the cuisine when one of our Illinois readers provided some helpful information regarding the Mediterranean diet. We welcome info like this with open arms especially when it involves red wine and olive oil (*two of our favorite cooking ingredients). Eva, of the Mediterranean Diet Blog, provides our newest guest post "The Lazy Man’s Way to Start the Mediterranean Diet". Check it:

a) It is widely known that the Mediterranean diet has high fat content. Is weight loss still possible if people will follow this kind of diet?

While the Mediterranean diet is high in fat, it is high in the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated healthy fats, in contrast to diets that are rich in saturated fat. It is not the fat content that will determine weight loss on the Mediterranean diet. People who wish to follow the Mediterranean diet may experience other health benefits but still not lose weight if they do not lower their caloric intake.

b) What makes the Mediterranean diet different from the American diet?


Americans consume high numbers of red meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy, while the Mediterranean includes very little. The diet also differs from the typical American diet through its dependence on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, olive oil, beans, breads, cereals, and potatoes.


c) What is the effect of the Mediterranean diet in lowering the incidence of heart disease?


The Mediterranean diet plays a crucial role in lowering cases of heart diseases. Based on established research, this diet promotes a holistic approach so that you can have a healthier body.


d) Does regular exercise has a place in the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle?


Exercise plays an important role for the Mediterranean diet. When this diet was developed, the people of the Mediterranean were already a big fan of exercise and physical activities. This is the basis why the Mediterranean diet includes regular exercise in its overall program. Essentially, a daily one-hour walk is needed. You should also perform full body exercises once a week.


e) Is there a difference between a Low Carb Diet and the Mediterranean Diet?


There is a sea of differences between these two diets. With the Mediterranean diet, your protein consumption would be lower. Normally, you will get 15% of your calorie consumption from the protein content of a Mediterranean diet.


f) Wine is a regular feature of the Mediterranean diet. Is there a recommended amount for wine consumption each day?


Men should generally get 5% calories from wine while women should consume 2.5% calories. As a rule, always drink wine in low to moderate amounts daily to enjoy the best results.


g) Final word of advice


The Mediterranean diet is a good program that can help you achieve good health. This type of diet can help prevent cardiovascular diseases. The key is to eat foods that are rich in Omega 3 and combine these with root crops, vegetable, fruits, breads, and cereals.


*About the Author- Eva writes for Mediterranean Diet Foods, her personal hobby blog focused on tips to eating healthy the Mediterranean way.

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Etiquette Tuesday: "Hold On, I Have a Coupon for That"

Dating has changed from the way it was back in the "good 'ole days": people meet at their destinations instead of the guy going to the girls house and picking her up (*for the first date and safety purposes, that is...in today's day and age), jeans are more common than a formal dress and texting has become another way to ask someone out. The part that we are most wrapping our minds around is the use of the coupon. Now this Etiquette Tuesday is to arouse some discussion on what you think is an acceptable means of payment on the first date (*we will keep it to the first for conversation purposes). Is it acceptable to pull out a coupon to pay on the first date?

Recently, we went out on a date (*a person we have been out with more than a few times...) and they pulled out a coupon to pay for dinner. This sparked the question of "would you do this on the first date or would you not?". Our date said "not on the first but definitely once I get to know the person, around the 4th or 5th date". This could go either way: for the person paying...they wanted to treat you but they saw this as a way to save a dollar and wine and dine you at the same time. On the flip side, the person being wined and dined is thinking "what's up with their financial status?? Are they a cheapo??".

For us this is could be the red flag...this person is a tad too frugal for us. On the other hand, if the conversation is good and dinner lasts into the wee hours from such great company, this could be overlooked and surely discussed in future convo's as to why you chose to use a coupon on the first date. What do you think? Good etiquette? Bad etiquette? Let's discuss.

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Pencil This In...

Foodie Buzz:

>>>A Tactile Dinner is back. Remember this?? This is one of those dinners you will never forget. Check out our story here. It is back and you can get your own taste at/on:

TACTILE @ Big Bear Café
1700 1st St NW

Thu 05/13: 8:00pm
Fri 05/14: 7:30pm
Sat 05/15: 7:00pm & 9:30pm
$25 with $5 suggested gratuity for 10 vegetarian “courses”
Recommended for ages 13 and above

TACTILE @ Long View Gallery
1234 9th St NW

Sun 05/16: 5:00pm & 7:30pm
Mon 05/17: 7:00pm & 9:30pm
$45 for Aperitivo & 15 omnivorous “courses”
Recommended for ages 21 and above

>>>We love a good cause. GiraMondo Wines is hosting wine fest highligthing the best wines of Chili to raise funds for the Chilean Relief Fund. The event will be held @ the Embassy of Chili and will feature over 90 wines with 25% of the proceeds going to the Chilean Relief Fund. Wines to look forward to include: 2006 Almaviva (92 points Wine Advocate); 2006 Clos Apalta (94 points Wine Spectator) and 2006 Don Melchor (95 points Wine Advocate) among others.

The When: May 13, 2010, 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm
The Where: Embassy of Chile, 1732 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036

More Info?: Check here

>>>Note to Self: The Taste of Arlington returns on May 16, 2010. From noon until 5 pm, Arlington VA will be filled with food, wine, performances and more fun stuff. The festival will take place on Wilson Boulevard (*outside Ballston Common Mall) and ticket prices range from $20-$25. More info here.

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