Wednesday Guest Post: Protein for Your Sports Diet

The Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) season is in the thick of the battle for statistical standings, with an eye toward the WPS All-Star Game presented by the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, on June 30th in Atlanta and on Fox Soccer Channel.

In the meantime, soccer fans are glued to the substantial action (both on and off the pitch!) of the World Cup.

Here is this week’s Nutrition Tip, an enlightening look at the topic of protein, which often seems to be surrounded by as much controversy as the World Cup!

Protein for Your Sports Diet

Like carbohydrates, protein-rich foods are also an important part of your sports diet. You should eat a protein-rich food at each meal. Some soccer players tend to either over- or under- consume protein, depending on their ideas about healthy eating and lifestyle. While it is true that young athletes have an increased need for protein due to the demands of their sports and the fact they are growing, most tend to consume more than they require.

Whereas high-protein eaters may frequently choose cheese omelets, fast food burgers and other meals filled with saturated fats, others bypass these foods in their efforts to eat a low-fat or vegetarian diet—but they neglect to replace beef with beans, or other appropriate substitutes. Or they equate healthy eating with low-cal protein like skinless chicken breast and avoid important carbs and good fats.

To meet your protein requirement, you should consume one or two protein rich foods per day.

Recommended daily protein intake:
5 to 7 ounces (or ounce-equivalents; 140 to 200 g)

Here are some examples of protein-rich foods:

Tuna 6 oz (170 g) can, drained
Chicken 6-ounce breast
Peanut Butter 2-4 tablespoons
Kidney Beans 1 cup

*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 http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.nancyclarkrd.com/.

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Etiquette Tuesday: The Grinch That Stole Dinner

Moody. I almost feel like the Grinch that stole Christmas. Unfortunately, I get like this from time and time and unlike many others I choose not to share my grouchy behavior with the world. Now I have been out with a few of these characters...they have a bad week, day or the like and sit down to have dinner with you which turns out to be a total negative-fest for the mind and stomach. I do not know about you but I would prefer a bad attitude stay home when its time to engage in a rarely friendly feast (*the food has done nothing to you...) or at the very least, be open to some positive energy (*and positive wine, if your up for it;-). Today's Etiquette tip digs at your mood: leave the attitude at home.

No one wants to sit down and pay anything (*in this economy...) that will not be totally enjoyable to the senses. Now there is always the chance that the food could be less than pleasurable but there is also the chance that with a boost in energy, the meal can be a memorable one. This goes for the waitstaff too. Leave the attitude in the break room. I did not do anything to you. Neither did my date. We want a fair shot at a good time and the best way to attain maximum satisfaction is to give good vibes. Who knows...maybe this change of heart might change your mood?? Just a thought...

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Happy Monday: B. Smith (DC)

Sitting outside between the hours of 10 am until 5 pm on any given day of the week is less than appealing right now in the District. Hot, hot and more hot. The weather is what we all wished for after such a tough winter...be careful what you wish for... Don't get me wrong, I love the summer, especially a DC or NY summer but this heat is intense. B. Smith has caught the hint by offering up their patio space for patrons from 4 pm-9 pm on Saturdays this summer. The Union Station restaurant will offer food and drink specials with featured dishes including gazpacho, blackened shrimp and lobster cocktail. The only catch to the outdoor enjoyment is guests have to make a reservation (*Call (202) 289-6188 or get more info here). Saturday afternoons are the perfect time to unwind and catch a nice breeze while taking in some of the District scene. With the Fourth of July looming, now would be a good time to get those outdoors plans together...fireworks anyone??

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World Tour: Marrakesh Palace (DC)

Last night I had the pleasure of taking a trip to Morocco. Not on a United Airlines flight, but it sure did look like a familiar setting. I guess I should start by telling you where I went last night...Marrakesh Palace in Dupont is where I trekked in the heavy District heat for what I thought would be simple couscous and the like. It was well worth the walk from the Dupont Metro (*which easily feels like 15 NY blocks in this weather...). I decided to get the Marrakesh Feast which covers all the basics of a classic Moroccan meal. Soup Harira, Mixed Green Salad, Bastilla Chicken and Lamb Couscous make up the traditional menu.

Good option for someone that has either never visited Morocco or it has been a very long time since your last trip. For me it has been about 5 plus 4 stars and 2 silver moons since we tasted actual Moroccan fare in Morocco. With a timeline like that, we cannot even remember the flavors except for the astringency of cloves in the food. Marrakesh Palace was a good reminder of the authentic aroma of turmeric and ginger soaked lamb and chicken. One of the most distinct flavors I noticed in all of the food was the use of cilantro...why I think cilantro is strictly a Latin American flavor is beyond me but Marrakesh had a healthy portion in most of the dishes that I tasted. Excellent compliment.

Until I get a cheap flight to Morocco, Marrakesh Palace will have to do. Not a bad supplement if I do say so myself, they even have the belly dancers come around daily so you get the total Moroccan experience...

Johnna's Pick of the Week: G Natural and G2 Natural

The only time I reach for a Gatorade is the night after…the night after a hangover (*Off the record, Gatorade is one of the best things that happened to recovering from a hangover…). That was until I had an opportunity to taste the G Series: G Natural and G2 Natural from Gatorade. Created with the purpose to fuel, fluid and add nutrients (*before, during and after) activity, the new line from Gatorade has taken a healthy approach to the fruit juice family. Sober Johnna stays away from Gatorade unless it is the only option around. Now sober Johnna has a reason to skip the other stuff and head for the Gatorade G Series.

Sweet, but not to sweet, light and refreshing (*blah, blah, blah…), the typical features of a good natural fruit juice fill this quirky bottle, but the most appealing part is not listed above. Perhaps it comes in the calories (*its beach bod season, no time for games…): G Natural holds about 50 calories per 8-oz. serving and the G2 Natural has 20 calories per 8-oz. serving. This fact combined with the flavor count: Blackberry Raspberry, Orange Citrus and Citrus Mango, to name a few, makes this our new drink of the week. Johnna’s Pick of the Week is evolving…I realize I do not always go to a good (*Emphasis on “Good”) restaurant, ice cream shop or the like every week so it would be unrealistic to limit the span of subjects. The evolution begins with G Natural and G2 Natural…good drinks, perfect time of year to enjoy a nice cold one and they encourage your belly to stay flat instead of initiating a gut. Quench your thirst!

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Wednesday Guest Post: Nutrition with Women's Professional Soccer

Celebrate the World Cup with Healthy Snacks!

With World Cup fever firmly taken hold, and the trumpeting sound of the vuvuzelas heard wherever there’s a game, it’s time to turn to the best possible accompaniment to viewing the games; that means snacking!

Below is a dish which honors the heritage of many of the teams taking part in the World Cup, and features both nutritional benefits and taste.

In the meantime, Women’s Professional Soccer’s 2010 season continues to role on, with the WPS All-Star Game presented by U.S. Coast Guard Reserve kicking off on June 30th.

Boston Breakers Black Bean Spinach Dip
Here’s a tasty dip that’s a helpful recovery food because it is rich in both carbs and protein. Bring it to a post-game tailgate party, along with some baked chips.

1 15.5 ounce (440 g) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup (120 g) salsa
1 4.5 ounce (135 g) can chopped chilies
1 10-ounce box (300 g) chopped spinach, thawed and drained
2 teaspoons cumin
1 cup grated cheddar cheese (8 ounces, 240 g), preferably low-fat
1 chopped jalapeno, as desired
Optional: 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro, or to taste

1. Mash the beans either by hand using the back of a fork or in a blender or food processor. Leave some beans whole, for varied texture.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the beans, salsa, chilies, spinach, cumin, cheese (cilantro and jalapeno).

3. Pour the bean mixture into a pie-plate or other similar baking dish. Bake in 350º F (180º C) oven until well heated, about 20-30 minutes.

4. Serve with baked corn chips.

Yield: 10 servings
Total Calories: 1,200 (without chips)
Calories per serving: 120
16 g Carbohydrate
9 g Protein
2 g Fat

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.

Etiquette Tuesday: Pop that Gum!

Do people really still do this?!? Put gum on the side of their plate or on their hand?!? Well, an awesome but lost soul we know still engages in this behavior. One of our Aces (*Translation: best friends) recently went out to dinner with us and after chomping and popping a few bubbles, decided to give the gum another life by sitting it on the side of their plate. You can imagine my expression as I tried to enjoy the wasabi mashed potatoes without thinking about the thick gooey factor staring at us from across the table. Being this is our "best, good friend" (*Forest Gump comes to mind in that wording...), we had to give her our honest Etiquette Tuesday advice: lose the gum.

Reason number 1,222 you should lose the gum: it costs all of $.25 at your local convenience store. The list goes on and on but the major one is we (*your other guests) do not want to see that gum outside your mouth (*including popping your gum...). Placing it on the side of your plate, on your hand, behind your ear or wherever you choose is totally unacceptable at the dining room table and the like. Tossing it before dinner is not that hard, besides shouldn't you be ready for a fresh piece after a flavorful meal?? I'm just saying...

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Food.Fun.Stuff: District Food Scene

Out and about:

>>>Leftovers for all! Hello Cupcake is doing its part in recycling by implementing "Hello Pie" which is two leftover cupcake tops filled with Hello Cupcakes buttercream frosting. The Dupont cupcake shop is using its daily leftovers in this new take on the classic Whoopie Pie. Flavors will vary daily, there will be no special orders and they will be served first come-first serve basis. Yum to eco-friendly sweet treats.

>>>My favorite way to eat cheese: beer infused. The Melting Pot is hosting the Sierra Nevada beer dinner at their Arlington, VA location (1110 N. Glebe Road) on Thursday, June 24th starting at 7:00pm. The dinner includes four courses of beer and fondue (*see menu below) hosted by Sierra Nevada Brewery and Melting Pot MVP's for $55.00 per person (excluding tax and an 18% gratuity).

First Course: Cheese Fondue
Pale Ale Cheese Fondue
Butterkase/Fontina cheeses, Shallots, Whole grain mustard, and hints
of Spices. Made with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale base.
Our cheese fondue blended tableside and served with French, Rosemary,
and Honey Wheat breads, delicious granny smith apples and assorted
vegetables.
*Paired with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale*

Second Course: Salad
Alpine Ridge Salad
Honey Roasted Almonds, Egg slices, Fontina cheese blend, and chopped
fresh greens tossed topped with a robust shallot vinaigrette.
*Paired with Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager *

Third Course: Main Entrée
The main entrée will consist of a combination of Peppercorn Crusted
Filet Mignon, Hefeweizen Shrimp, Citrus Marinated Scallops, Garlic and
Herb Chicken, and Vegetable Dumplings.
Served with fresh vegetables, homemade sauces enjoyed in our
Bourguignonne cooking style
*Paired with Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA and Kellerweis Hefeweizen*

Fourth Course: Chocolate Fondue
Dark Chocolate with Baileys Irish Cream
Served with fresh fruit, cheesecake, brownies, pound cake, and tasty
marshmallows
*Paired with Sierra Nevada Porter*

>>>Againn Tavern opens on the Pike. We love how Rockville Pike is changing faces from the typical chain restaurants to some off the beaten path. Againn Tavern opens on June 29, 2010 @ 12256 Rockville Pike making it the second restaurant from the Whisk Group in the DMV area. Taking from its sister restaurant (*Againn DC), the menu will intertwine classic British Isles fare with American cuisine. Patrons can look forward to such dishes as fish and chips with mushy peas served with tartar sauce and malt vinegar and house made bangers and mash with whole grain mustard mash and onion gravy. Of course a fully stocked bar must accompany the comfort food menu...six of the beer drafts start @ $5 and wines by the glass start @ $7.

>>>South American food in Chantilly, VA. Don Churro Cafe is making its mark in the suburbs of the District. With its most recent participation in Dining Out for Life, the restaurant is not stopping there...it has enrolled in two more festivals to get the word out. On July 3, 2010, the restaurant will show off its skills @ the City of Fairfax Festival (*8:30 am-12:30 pm) and July 10-11 @ the Reston Festival. Now I have a taste for Pabellon Criollo...

>>>Good cause of the week: City Blossoms' gardens is hosting a happy hour fundraiser @ CentroNia Pre-K Incentive Program Garden at Harvard St. There will be treats courtesy Jamie Forsythe of Bolton Hill Bistro, wine/refreshments, a raffle and auction that includes tickets to Jack Johnson's concert on July 17th at Merriweather Post Pavilion. There is a suggested donation of $15.

The When: June 24, 2010, 6 pm-8 pm

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World Tour: Travel=Food

Travel and food go together like a horse and carriage (*the theme song from Married with Children just popped into my head…). Last night I had the pleasure of attending a South African wine tasting at an acclaimed District Art Gallery. During one of my networking sessions, I was telling one of the members of the organization who held the event that I was a food blogger. How that equated to her telling me about her friend who runs a travel blog with cheap flight deals is beyond me…but it made sense when I got to thinking about the two side by side.

Travel equals food because you spend most of your trip eating out at the local dining venues. When I think of all the places I want to visit in the coming years, food is the focal point. Sure I want to see the pyramids of Egypt but what is Egyptian fare like? An Alaskan cruise sounds wonderful but what is the seafood about?? As I round out my plans for the Fourth of July, again food is the focal point. Vegas sounds great for Independence Day but in my opinion it is not a foodie town unless you’re ready to spend big bucks at Tao every night…

Basically, when you think about where your next American Airlines frequent flyer miles will take you, consider what type of food you will have to eat. Spending two weeks in a city like Tangier when you do not fancy a heaping helping of couscous could be a bad idea or even better when visiting Vienna (*like I did some years ago) if you do not like veal maybe you should limit the stay to two nights instead of the originally planned three. Now this is not to say the sites won’t fill you up but for a foodie, who wants to be lost in a mysterious land without good food? Not I.

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Etiquette Tuesday: Speak Up

This Etiquette Tuesday tip is totally dependent on your dining location. If you're at Dave & Busters, do as you please. If you're at Zola or Neyla's, this is the post for you. Remember when your teacher used to say "Please, use your inside voices"...this rule still stands true into your adult life. The only difference between your childhood loud voice and your adult loud voice is that now your being chastised with raised eyebrows and frowns from your fellow patrons instead of being praised by your 5 year old friends for being the loudest in the room.

This tip is simply a matter of knowing your surroundings. By no means am I judging anyone who has a naturally loud voice, my voice is always on a high octave level (*It has to be something in our genetics...). Because we are aware of our heightened voice frequency, we have to consciously tell ourselves to pipe down when we enter the restaurant scene. When we get to Public Bar, we feel the need to talk at our normal level or above...but when we are at The Gibson, on the other hand, we leave the outside voice outside. Nice, normal, inside voices...it's that simple. Keep it in mind and remember "Please use your inside voice" where appropriate.

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Happy Monday: Againn for Moonshine (DC)

I thought moonshine was prohibited?! Well Againn evidently wants to make it legal with the introduction of its summer cocktails: Homemade Moonshine Iced Tea and Prohibitions Punches. Created by beverage director, Caterina Abbruzzetti and Mixologist JP Caceres, Againn's Moonshine Iced Tea blends moonshine from a local distillery with fresh herbs and spices like Black Berry Leaf, Organic Lemongrass, Organic Rosehips and Organic Barks. Names like "Easy Day", "Happy Tummy" and "Hibiscus High" makes me want to break the rules and try the old school teas. For $10 a pop, you can get your fix too. Prohibition punches round out the list with the "Bootleggers" (*Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Cassis, Old Tom Gin and Muddled Majoram) and "Moonshine" (*Lemon Juice, Falernum, Gin, Raspberry Puree and Club Soda with Muddled Sage) for $11.

Whether your team is winning or your bets are going down the drain, drinks are in order this week. Old school sounds good right about now...especially since our earnings are slowly dwindling down the drain with every shot...suppose you can guess where we put our money...I digress and am now headed to get some Moonshine...Cheers!

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World Tour: 2010 World Cup South Africa

Each week we post a tidbit on various regions of the world. Either we visited these places, wish to visit these places or are just curious about what types of food and culture come with the territory. The World Cup has began and this makes our job a lot easier. With over 30 teams from around the world participating in the most intense soccer game of the season, making our list of places just became that much easier. Soccer (*everywhere else except America...) is the dominant sport so this is probably the most integrated sporting event that this world will ever see.

With the World Cup being held in South Africa, this brings back blissful memories we spent there last year. Ironically, other than the World Cup events, this is not the best time to visit the southern most region of Africa. Johannesburg and Cape Town is where we spent most of our journey and the weather was less than appealing. Despite the weather it was like a breath of fresh air (*no exaggeration) to take in all the natural appeal of South Africa. Of course, when one is in South Africa, you must go on a safari. How beautiful?! The thought of visiting a zoo now seems almost inhumane when you think of all the animals in Africa just roaming free and enjoying life without being caged in at your local zoo.

Other than the beautiful images and the smell of fresh ocean air (*Cape Town officially holds the title of being home to one of our top five beaches in the world), the food was distinctive in flavor and presentation. When we visit a place where the lobster can literally be collected from the water down the street, thrown into a steam pot and then on our plate...we are going all in! Lobster was our seafood of choice and we tried it in all forms: steamed, sauteed, broiled...all with the deep freshness of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Just thinking of this now leaves us with a slight regret that we did not search for a cheap flight to the World Cup (*which probably would be impossible anyway...). We will start, however, thumbing through United Airlines deals for a getaway later this year...lobster and warmer weather at the southern most tip sounds like a plan.

Johnna's Pick of the Week: World Cup 2010

On Friday, I think I'm almost afraid to walk outside my house. Why? Well, this city will look like a ghost town as the whole city (*no, world...) gathers around the television for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa. The last time this much energy was built up over a sports event was...honestly, I cannot think of a time when there was this much anticipation. I love a good sports battle and if you do to, then this Friday begins the ultimate battle that effects not just America but every region of the world. Unlike the Super Bowl or the NBA Playoffs, the World Cup brings out so many different cultures that even if you do not like the sport you have to respect the diversity.

Rumor has it (*it's a rumor for me because I have not checked a schedule...) that some of the matches begin on Saturday @ 7 in the morning. This. Must. Be. Serious. There are actually restaurants and parties that begin at 7 am on Saturday...and they include alcohol. Again, I'm almost afraid to leave my house on Saturday night based on the fact that alcohol consumption will begin for a large majority of the District @ 7 am...Not to say I will not participate, which is how we came to today's post: Where to Go and Enjoy the World Cup in the District...

1. Dukem- Broadcasting games everyday from 10 am from June 11- July 11, 2010. 6-screens, 10 ft. projector and a half-dozen African beers.

2. Cafe Citron opens its doors @ 7 am from June 11- July 11, 2010. Projection on screens and specials on beer.

3. Againn is holding their celebration on June 12, 2010 @ 2:30 pm with Bangers vs. Burgers when the U.S. goes up against England.

4. Evening Star Cafe will kick things off on Saturday, June 12, 2010 opening its bar @ 10 am for the games.

5. Summers in Arlington, VA will have plenty of TV's for patrons viewing pleasure (*60 HDTV's). The festivities begin June 11- July 11, 2010 with $3.50 Italian beer specials.

Plenty to do, plenty to see and be seen...now I need to figure out what team I'm going to root for, this could determine whether I receive the evil eye from June 11- July 11, 2010 or a whole bunch of high fives...

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Wednesday Guest Post: Nutrition with Women's Professional Soccer

Fruits & Vegetables

Soccer nutrition is also good nutrition. That is, consuming foods good for your game means enjoying foods good for your health as well . Below is useful information on some of the most valuable building blocks of your sports diet, the carbohydrates provided by fruits and vegetables. In addition, Women’s Professional Soccer players consume large amounts of fruits and vegetables in their diets.

Fruits and vegetables are also excellent sources of carbohydrates. But some players have trouble figuring out how to consume the recommended daily 2 cups
(500 g) of fruits and 21/2 cups (600 g) of vegetables. As one 22-year-old sheepishly remarked, "I'm lucky if I eat that much in a week." The trick is to eat
large portions. Most soccer players can easily enjoy a banana (counts as one cup
fruit) and 8 ounces (one cup) of orange juice in the morning. That’s already the
minimal 2 cups of fruit for the day! A big bowl of salad filled with colorful tomato, carrot, and pepper can account for the minimal recommended 21/2 cups
of vegetables.

Fruits: Recommended Daily Intake—2 or more cups (500+ g)
Here’s what counts as “one cup”; hungry soccer players can easily consume double portions and achieve the recommended intake of two or more cups per day.

Orange Juice 8 ounces 240 ml
Apple 1 small 100 g
Banana 1 small 100 g
Canned Fruit 1 cup 240 g
Dried fruit 1/2 cup 80 g

Vegetables: Recommended Daily Intake—21/2 to 3+ cups (600 to 700+ g)
Here’s what counts as “one cup”; plan to eat double!

Broccoli 1 medium stalk 200 g
Spinach 2 cups raw 60 g
Salad Bar 1 average bowl 100 g
Spaghetti Sauce 1 cup 250 g

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...

>>>OpenSkies (*the all business class airline) has launched its new menu created by Chef Michel Richard (*Citronelle, Central…). A nice touch if we do say so ourselves: we had an opportunity to taste the menu options and duck breast with port cinnamon sauce is our idea of a way to jetset from D.C. to Paris…The menu is available during a two-month promo for the launch of the new routes from D.C. and is also available on westbound flights from Paris to Newark International.

>>>Zola is making it healthy for the kiddies. The Penn Quarter restaurant has joined Destination DC in Restaurant Week for Kids which takes place from June 20-27, 2010. The menu is priced based on the child's age (*9 year-old child=$9 meal) with the offer applying to children 11 and under and will be available from 11:30 am-3 pm for lunch and 5 pm-6:30 pm for dinner. Ha, upgrades on some old childhood favorites: alphabet soup with chicken clear broth, vegetables and pasta letters and four cheese ravioli with sautéed mushrooms, basil and local tomato sauce. We love it. It’s about time restaurants ditch the typical fries and small pizzas for children…

>>>Fresh fruit and veggies in Ballston. The District is full of farmers markets and lucky for us Virginia is right around the corner with even more fresh produce. Ballston Farmers Market is open every Thursday from 3 pm- 7 pm until October. Vendor products range from herbs to pastries to honey, check out more info here.

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Food.Fun.Stuff: Openings!

>>>New Indian restaurant joins the Penn Quarter restaurant scene. Merzi is set to open with a menu full of classic Indian dishes with a healthy spin. Founder and CEO, Qaiser (Kaz) Kazmi, brings his culinary vision to the table with everything from oven-baked Naan Rolls to Mango Yogurt Juice.

The Where: Merzi, 415 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC

>>>More beer for the area. Port City Brewing Company is the creation of former wine executive Bill Butcher who will join the beer brewing family in Alexandria. The brewery will produce ales to be sold throughout DC and the Mid-Atlantic region. Patrons will have the opportunity to visit the on-site tasting room and purchase bottles and/or on draft.

>>>We had to read this press release twice. A restaurant coming to the area where everything is under 475 calories?! Where have you been all our lives?? Seasons 52 opens next summer (*2011) north of the beltway in Maryland. Ok, we know we’re kind of early on this one, but this is something to look forward to… the restaurant promises seasonal, healthy ingredients without all the fryers, butters or heavy creams. Sounds like a plan…funny how our planner already has scheduled events for next summer...

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World Tour: The District World Tour

No travel plans this week. Finally. The past two months has been nothing but airports and train stations. I will now have a little time to enjoy the District during this steamy season. Lucky for me, this is the perfect time to be in town because outdoor seating is spread throughout the city. No searching for cheap flights this week, we will be perusing the streets to find the best dishes that remind us of our recent travels (*and future travels we fantasize about often...).

Cafe Atlantico is at the top of our lists with a shaded patio and their "Majic Mojitos". Commonwealth Gastropub has a 40-seat patio with French Margaritas and a few beer centric cocktails. Black's Bar and Kitchen in Bethesda has a cute pond with a 60-seat outdoor patio. Zatinya is offering plenty of mezze's and a few cocktails such as the Greek Sidecar (*Metaxa, Cointreau, luxardo maraschino liquor, lemon juice and a candied citrus rim)...and you can bring your dog. The Bombay Club outdoor patio sounds like a nice way to end a short walk across Lafayette Park.

These are just a few spots that I think I might check out this weekend especially at the early part of summer. As the summer progresses the steam is going to force me inside unless it is after 8 pm (*when the sun has drifted away...). I think the key is merging my two favorite activities right now: food and travel. Until my American Airlines points build up again, I will have to resort to only tasting the flavors of the places I want to visit...

Guest Post: 3 Reasons Diet Soda May Be Worse Than Regular Soda

We all know the dangers of soda – how they’re foods with zero nutrition and laded with calories and sugar, how they make you pack on the pounds even if you’re careful about what you eat, and how they leach minerals from your bone and bring on osteoporosis, how the sugar causes tooth decay and other more serious diseases like diabetes, and many, many more. Also, soda is a nothing food in that it does nothing to satisfy your hunger or quench your thirst. Sure we love to drink tall, cool, fizzy sodas when we’re parched and thirsty, but the sugar and caffeine in the drink cause more dehydration and make you thirstier than you were before.

If that’s the bad news about soda, wait until you hear what diet soda does. Yes, you heard that right; diet soda is worse than regular soda, not a healthy substitute as the smarmy sales spiels scream. If you’re wondering about the truth of this statement, read on:

Aspartame is worse than sugar: Sugar is the main villain in any diet story; cut the sugar, trim the fat – that’s what the experts say. But if you knew how dangerous aspartame, the most common sugar substitute used in diet sodas, was, you would start to think of sugar as your best friend. Although the FDA has certified aspartame as a safe food additive, research has proved that this chemical is responsible for hastening Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia when ingested on a regular and continuous basis. Also, aspartame has been known to bring on mood swings, headaches, dizziness, and even diarrhea.

The sweetness does the damage, not the sugar: If you’ve labored under the mistaken assumption that diet soda causes weight loss, all I can say is that the marketers have you just where they want you. Diet soda does not hasten or cause weight loss; rather, it promotes weight gain because it’s not just the sugar in regular soda that is the villain. Rather, your brain senses that you’re eating or drinking something sweet and immediately signals the body to start producing insulin. This slows down the fat burning process and plays havoc with your metabolism. It’s the same reaction as when you drink a can of regular soda, only, because you assume it is healthier and conducive to weight loss, you end up drinking more of the diet soda. You also end up increasing your risk for heart disease, stroke, blood pressure and cholesterol.

You lose nutrition and strength: Soda contains phosphorous and other chemicals that leach your bones of calcium and also deplete your body’s store of iodine. When you drink sodas, your body uses its cache of iodine to neutralize your blood pH from becoming too acidic. When you lose iodine this way, your thyroid does not have enough to regulate your metabolism, and this in turn causes you to gain weight and suffer from thyroidal problems as well. Also, without adequate calcium, your bones become brittle and more prone to fractures and the early onset of osteoporosis.

So the next time you reach for a can of diet soda because you’re dying of thirst, remember that this drink could end up killing you too.

*This article is contributed by Ashley M. Jones, who regularly writes on the subject of Pharmacy Technician Certification. She invites your questions, comments at her email address: ashleym.jones643@gmail.com.

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Wednesday Guest Post: Eat Like A Brazilian

Nutrition with Women’s Professional Soccer

In the latest news, Women’s Professional Soccer (*WPS) kicks off the final week of voting for the WPS All-Star Game presented by U. S. Coast Guard Reserve on June 4, so do your voting at now www.womensprosoccer.com! The upcoming kick-off the men’s World Cup—the largest sporting event in the world—is a prime occasion to celebrate the sport of soccer and the countries and cultures that play it. Brazil is a prime example. In addition, there are a number of Brazilian stars in Women’s Professional Soccer. The advent of summer also brings out the barbecue. However, rather than the typical large hunks of meat often consumed in the U.S., we can all take a lesson from Brazilian-style radizio.

Women’s Professional Soccer celebrates its share of Brazilian players, among the top in the league and in the world for both men and women. This soccer culture, which plays what is called in Portuguese Juga Bonita (play beautiful, as in: skillfully) has a few typical dishes that lend themselves well to sports performance. Rodízio is a style of eating in both Brazilian and Portuguese restaurants, where food is brought to the tables, usually barbecued meats on a skewer such as sirloin steak or chicken, and distributed in small amounts until the customer has had enough (so it is not a massive piece of meat calling to you from the plate!). Barbecued pineapple or banana serves as a dessert. Rice and beans, a derivation of Caribbean influence, and a combination that forms a complete protein dish, are also typical Brazilian fare. In addition to bean-based recipes, try Sky Blue FC’s Rosana’s Fejioada, a Brazilian classic, and featured in Food Guide for Soccer.

*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: Chef's Best Dinner and Auction

You know we love a good cause so when we heard about Food & Friends' signature fundraiser, Chef's Best Dinner and Auction, we knew we had to share. The fundraiser will prove there's no such thing as too many cooks in the kitchen, as 60 of the region's brightest culinary stars gather to offer a night of fun and deliciousness. On Monday, June 14th, the superb chefs will be putting out a menu that can be found nowhere else in the world. Some of the chefs who will be preparing the meals include Hank's Oyster Bar's Jamie Leeds, Chef Geoff's Geoff Tracey, Food Network's The Next Food Network Star finalist Teddy Folkman, Poste's Robert Weland, PS 7's Peter Smith and Gina Chersavani, RIS's Ris Lacoste, Ristorante Tosca's Massimo Fabbri, Vermilion's Anthony Chittum, amongst others. There will also be live and silent auctions and prizes.

This year's fundraiser marks its 20th Anniversary serving residents of DC, Maryland, and Virginia who face HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life threatening illnesses. Details on the event below:

The Money: Individual tickets are $250, a table (10 tickets) is $2,250 and two tables are $4,500. The tickets can be found at www.foodandfriends.org/chefsbest

The Where: The Hilton Washington Hotel,1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC

The When: Monday, June 14th, VIP Reception for Sponsors & Special Guests begins at 5:30pm; Main Doors Open at 6:30pm

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Food.Fun.Stuff: The District Food Scene

On the scene...

>>>Jaleo kicks of the 8th Annual Paella Festival on June 7, 2010. José Andrés leads this two-week event honoring the acclaimed Spanish dish with specials based on the recipes of special guest Chef María José San Román of Restaurante Monastrell and La Taberna del Gourmet in Alicante, Spain. During the Paella Festival, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of paella specials during both lunch and dinner service. The rotating paella specials will be available all day at each Jaleo location and are priced between $34 and $48. In anticipation of the big event, Jaleo will begin the festivities on Sunday, May 30th at the Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market at 11 a.m. with samples of the paella for those that stop by and on Tuesday, June 1st at 4:30 p.m. they will have the giant paella at the Crystal City FRESHFARM Market.

>>>Deal of the Week- 701 Restaurant is offering a 2-course lunch for $15 and a 2-course dinner for $35 with a glass of wine. For lunch guests can look forward to goat cheese cavatelli with fresh artichokes, broccoli and oyster mushrooms and the crispy calamari salad with shrimp, scallop, capers, and an olive vinaigrette amongst other dishes. For dinner, guests can look forward to the seared scallops with cauliflower puree, pine nuts and a balsamic reduction; Roasted Cod with lentils, haricot verts, roasted peppers and a verjus emulsion and fried chicken with creamy grits, collard greens, scallions and gravy amongst other dishes.

>>>Tom Sietsema's Spring Dining Guide is out. In the new dining guide, "Then & Again" he revisits 20 local restaurants — old favorites and recent flops — to measure how they stand now. It's interesting to see some of the changes in the area including how Restaurant Eve was once so casual and now has suave service and ingredients.

>>>World Cup Time. Beginning June 11, 2010, the entire world (*not just the U.S.) will be glued to their TV screens watching the 19th World Cup. On Saturday, June 12, 2010, Againn will be filled with fans of the U.S. and United Kingdom teams as they battle in their first round of play. The restaurant is hosting "friendly competition" between the fans with Bangers vs. Burgers 2010. At 2:30 pm, guests can watch the game on 3 flat screens in the 19 seat bar while ordering Bangers and Mash or Burgers and Chips (*both dishes are $15) along with a choice of six different beer shandies. Bartenders will keep track of the sales for both dishes, and the team with the most sales at the end of the match wins bragging rights until the next FIFA tournament. Patrons are encouraged to wear their teams jersey. Go U.S.!!

>>>Beach Blanky time- EatBar will host its annual beach-themed wine tasting party allowing guests to try 25 hand picked wines by Neighborhood Restaurant Group Wine Director Juliana Santos for $25 per person. Executive Chef Barry Koslow will complement the wine selections with small bites of calamari ceviche with mango and chilies, caramelized onion and olive focaccia and crab fritters with remoulade.

The When: June 5, 2010, 1 pm-4 pm
The Where: Tallula & EatBar, 2761 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA, (703) 778-5051

>>>Calling All Bakers!! And All Non-Bakers!! On June 5, 2010, Hello Cupcake and Kitchen Aid will host "Design Your DC" which encourages participants to create a cupcake that reflects their city inspiration. The Grand Prize is the Artisan Series KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Eligible cupcakes must be dropped off on competition day from 10 am until Noon. It is a $12 registration fee per cupcake and additional rules and regulations can be found here.

The Where: Hello Cupcake, 1361 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC

>>>Lauren DeSantis book release party was a success! We still cannot seem to get those pulled pork sandwiches off our mind but lucky for us, all of this is in the cookbook. The Capital Cooking Cookbook features everything from the mini burgers found at Matchbox to the fried chicken at Art and Soul. The book can be purchased here (*or on Amazon) and retails for $29.99.

>>>Cheese and wine...a couple of my favorite things. Lucky for us the DMV houses a couple of The Melting Pot's when we are in the mood to indulge in both simultaneously. The fondue restaurant is holding two new events featuring wine, beer and cheese. The first event is a Ravenswood Sip and Dip dinner at their Reston location (*11400 Commerce Park Drive, Reston, VA) on Thursday, June 3 @ 7 pm. It features 4-courses + Ravenswood wine pairings for $75.00 per person, plus tax and gratuity. The second event is a Magic Hat beer dinner at our DC location (1220 19th St. NW in DC) on Friday, June 11 at 7pm. It's 4-courses + 4 Magic Hat pairings for $58 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

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