Metro 29 Diner

I love diners, greasy spoons, pretty much any place that serves copious amounts of coffee and massive platters of food.  This area really lacks the quality 24-hour Greek diners that I remember fondly from growing up in upstate NY.  One issue we're running into is the lack of late-night dining in the Old Town Alexandria area.  If it's after 10 pm, we've got slim pickings nearby.  After a marathon Ikea assembly session, it was 1 am and we were hungry.  Into the car we piled and off we went to Metro 29 Diner, which stays open until 3 am on the weekends.  

 My boyfriend loves breakfast.  He ordered silver dollar pancakes, hashbrowns and 2 eggs sunnyside up.  These were definitely not his favorite pancakes, and he probably would have been happier if they had grits.

My guilty pleasure, besides cheeseburgers, is a well-made reuben sandwich.  There's something magical about sauerkraut, melted swiss cheese and Russian dressing on rye bread.  This one was massive in size, but with the sauce was the side it didn't create the unctuous bite I was craving.  It was good, but there are better reubens out there.  The onion rings were exactly what I was looking for. 

Super Busy Saturday

Today we had tons of errands to tackle.  After our dinner at Sushiko last night, we had enough time to do our weekly grocery shopping at Whole Foods, which helped lessen our Saturday chores.  We were going to have a lovely dinner together after shopping and errands, but our late afternoon snack was more than we should have indulged in.  Neither of us were hungry for a full meal, so after quick workouts, we settled in for something lighter.

 We love the Whole Foods brand of inexpensive wine.  The chardonnay is unoaked, so similar in body to the light pinot grigio and sauvignon blancs we often lean towards.  At $3.99, it's tough to walk out of Whole Foods with only one bottle.

 We picked up a half baguette of fresh multigrain bread, 2 lobster tails (1 day special for $5.99 each), and celery.

Which is better, a Maine lobster roll or Connecticut-style? 
Why choose just one when you can have both?

I cooked the lobster tails and made two types of mini-lobster rolls.  The chilled celery, mayonnaise Maine-style lobster roll and the warm butter-poached with celery lobster roll. 

***

My boyfriend liked them both, but I think preferred the warm butter version.

Saturday Snack

We're apartment hunting.  After a few early morning tours, we ended up at a newly opened WalMart.  Say what you will about the destruction of small businesses by the monolith, but their bakery has some pretty tasty sandwich rolls.  My boyfriend needed a snack, so I picked up a few things to make him a lightened steak and cheese sandwich. 

Thanksgiving Leftovers

We had a lot of leftovers from our Thanksgiving feast, despite sending home some food with our guests.  

One lunch was a turkey dinner redux.

 For the leftover macaroni and cheese, I cut the cold macaroni into sticks, dredged them in egg wash and panko, then fried them in hot oil.  After they turned brown, I put them in the oven at 350F for 20 minutes while I made the spicy tomato dipping sauce.

The coating was nice and crunchy, the insides were meltingly luscious.  Extremely decadent and I'd do it again in a heartbeat, although maybe this should remain a once a year assault on my arteries.

I also made homemade turkey stock for a vegetable-filled turkey chowder.  Paired with a turkey sandwich, we've almost finished the last of the leftovers.  My boyfriend and I will need to go on a cleansing diet after this week of holiday gluttony. 

Cooking at Home

After a cold, rainy, blustery day, I needed something comforting.  I love making soups when the weather turns colder.  Yesterday was a spicy tomato basil soup with grilled cheese sandwich and salad with apples and avocado.  Today I decided to be a little more indulgent.

Cream of mushroom soup, grilled cheese and salad with grapes, avocado and champagne vinaigrette.  Buying an immersion stick blender was a great purchase for me.  After you sautee the onion, mushrooms and garlic in butter, add a little sherry and vegetable stock, and blend in the pot.  Less mess, and a nice creamy texture.  I added some heavy cream at the end.  The bread is a sliced Italian bread from Trader Joe's that is perfect for making grilled cheese or paninis. 

Old Ebbitt Grill in DC

We meant to go to the Rally to Restore Sanity and even rode bikes up from Old Town.  But my stomach started to protest once we hit the streets of DC.  Messages from my friend on the Mall confirmed that acquiring a seat, a well-earned beverage and some food was the better way to go.  http://www.ebbitt.com/

 Off the back bar there's a hidden, quieter nook and excellent perches for people-watching.  We saw many costumed-people carrying signs amble by.

On this cool crisp autumn day, oysters called to us.

 We ordered a dozen oysters from the East Coast.  ($23.95)

The East Beach Blonde (RI) and Harpswell Flat (ME) were my favorite.  The Raspberry Point (PEI) and Wellfleet (MA) were my boyfriend's favorite.

 We also ordered a dozen Jonah crab claws ($16.95)

The glutton in me wished there was a ramekin of drawn butter to dip the crabmeat into.

 French Dip au Jus sandwich ($10.95)

 Fish and Chips ($13.95)

***

We should have just shared one sandwich after the raw bar order.  Our bike ride home was definitely slower.  Unfortunately the  bartender left a lot to be desired.  We saw he was getting busier, but providing plates and napkins with silverware after we ordered food would have been appreciated.  Then his slow pace and surly handling of the growing number of patrons was noticed by not only us but other parties nearby who waited and waited to order drinks.

Furin's in Georgetown

I like to support small family-owned establishments that serve good food.  Furin's is one of those places that is easy to miss unless you're familiar with the area.  It is predominantly a carry-out lunch spot that now serves breakfast and has some small tables.  Furin's also caters and make some lovely cakes. 

Turkey Club with pickle and Utz chips $7.95

Three Salad Sampler $8.25

Fruit, Tex-Mex corn and bean and pasta with spinach and garlic.

***

http://www.furins.com/pdf/carry-out-menu.pdf I've ordered birthday cakes from Furin's before, and they make a lovely 6" chocolate round cake for $18.99.  Their monthly window display is a whimsical exhibit that I've enjoyed walking by over the years.  Their staff is genial, the line moves quickly, and they make warming soups and chilis in the wintertime.

The Italian Store

Some times I'm surprised by the places my boyfriend has not tried in the area.  When I heard he had never been to the Italian Store before, I had to remedy that.  http://www.italianstore.com/  Located in a nondescript shopping center in Arlington, this store has a nice array of cheese, salami, pastas and Italian wines.  The real reasons people head here are for the Italian "Philadelphia Style" subs and the New York Style pizzas.  If you haven't ordered ahead, take a number when you walk in, browse the aisles, taste some wine on Saturdays, and get ready to place your order at the counter when your number is called. 

When the difference between a large and a small sub is $1, it's hard to pass up the large.

 Large Milano (two Italian hams, provolone cheese, genoa salami) on soft bread ($7.99)

  Large Capri (prosciutto, genoa salami, provolone cheese, capacola ham) on soft bread. ($7.99) 

 Hot and sweet peppers, lettue and tomato with oregano finish them off.

These are so good, even the cat wanted a bite.

Taylors Gourmet Redux

Went to a Johnnie Walker tasting last night with some friends.  To prepare myself, I planned to have a substantial snack beforehand.  Since the tasting was held at Atlantic Video in Chinatown, I headed over to the City Vista Taylors Gourmet.  This location is only open until 10 pm, and they seemed to have a steady stream of customers placing mostly takeout orders.



Rocky's Risotto Balls aka Arancini served with spicy marinara sauce $4.50. 

These are much nicer than the mozzarella sticks. 

Inside the fried risotto ball is a nice bit of gooey cheese.

Wharton Street 6 inch hoagie with mozzarella, pesto, roasted red peppers, lettuce and tomato $6.50

While it was filling, the flavor combinations are a bit lacking for vegetarians.  I'd love to see an eggplant parmesan hoagie added to their menu with their spicy marinara and cheese.  The bread seems better suited for hot sandwiches too, like the Pattison or any of the grilled or fried chicken cutlet options.

***

The free Johhnie Walker tasting felt a bit like a rock show with the thumping music and lighting effects.  Compared to the Macallan tasting, the pours were much more conservative.  They served the Gold Label chilled and the Blue Label in a small snifter, which accentuated the bouquet.  The Red Label had a hint of chili peppers.  The Black Label was much more smokey, and the Green Label had an earthy flavor.  Definitely informative, and it's hard to beat the price.

Taylor's Gourmet Hoagies

H Street NE is the new hot neighborhood for bars and restaurants. The Red and the Black and the Rock and Roll Hotel are fun places to go and watch some live music. My better half's band played a show over there, and we finally had a chance to try out Taylor's Gourmet afterwards.

Fried Mozzarella Sticks ($4.50)

Pretty salty breading and a little average tasting, but the marinara sauce was great.
Pattison Avenue 12-inch hoagie ($9.50).
Broccoli rabe, aged provolone cheese, slices of roast pork with a hot au jus on a Sarcone Bakery bread (premier Philly bakery). This hoagie has been widely talked about on various food forums, so I suggested he try it.
Very nice bread. Chewy and soft.

Decent amount of toppings but not quite the same as Tommy DiNic's in Philadelphia. http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/merchants/view/56

Juicy and flavorful.

***

Taylor's has an annoying flash website. There's a nice selection of hoagies for carnivores, but vegetarian hoagie options are somewhat of an afterthought. http://www.taylorgourmet.com/

They've expanded from their H St NE location to the new City Vista development at 4th and K St NW, and now to Bethesda. For people who live too far from the Italian Store, it's a pretty decent alternative.

My Favorite Sandwiches

I love sandwiches. What's not to love? They're portable and versatile meals in your hand that require minimal clean-up. The following is a very subjective list of my favorites and where to find them.

"The Milano" at the Italian Store (big fan of the Philly and Roma too). http://www.italianstore.com/subs.html Worth the trip over the river into Virginia and the long wait in line. You can order ahead to pick up if anxiously grasping a deli ticket stub and waiting for your number to be called is not your thing. Also, you're silly if you don't order the large on a soft roll with everything. While you're waiting, check out their wines, refrigerated pastas and other Italian sundries.

Greek Deli gyro http://www.greekdelidc.com/. You will know you've found the hole-in-the-wall office-drone lunchtime take-out spot when you see the long line of people waiting to hear Kostas shout out "Next!" Know what you want to order, march up to the front and speak loudly. The Greek meatballs special looks delicious, but the gyro is my go-to.
A fairly new contender now that I no longer eat meat is the veggie wrap at Whitlows on Wilson http://www.whitlows.com/. Not a fan of their caesar dressing (too tangy) but good when you ask for their balsamic vinaigrette dressing instead. You have to order the side of onion rings, they're fantastic. Whitlows also has a wonderfully greasy turkey Reuben and good burgers.

Hank's Oyster Bar's fried oyster po'boy. http://www.hanksdc.com/ I love Hank's. Excellent selection of raw oysters. I also enjoyed their oyster po'boy. Perfectly fried oysters mounded on a buttery sandwich roll. The coleslaw accompaniment was ok, although a little watery.

Kinkead's bar menu shrimp po'boy http://www.kinkead.com/. Spicy and tangy remoulade sauce with three fried jumbo shrimp, lettuce, tomato and jalapeno slices on a grilled, buttery baguette. It's a bit fancier, but satisfying.

Perfection on a roll. Lobster roll in Boston. I've tried the lobster rolls at Hank's and Tackle Box... neither satisfied my craving. I have high hopes for the Red Hook lobster pound food truck http://foodtruckfiesta.com/red-hook-lobster-pound-food-truck/, but no desire to wait 45 minutes to two hours in line for a lobster roll. Until their line becomes shorter or they open up a brick and mortar shop, I'll make my own with steamed lobsters from Cannon's Fish Market http://www.cannonsfishmarket.com/.

***

Honorable mentions:

Cafe Tu-o-Tu Caprese Melt http://www.cafetuotu.com/ They have a great selection of salads and wraps as well.

Crabcake sandwich with a lump crabcake from Chris' Marketplace http://www.chrismarketplace.com/ You can order backfin or lump crabcakes online or visit Chris at an area farmers' market where you'll find him frying up delicious samples. His gazpacho is also terrific. He's at the Dupont market on Sundays, White House and Penn Quarter on Thursdays and Falls Church on Saturdays.

Birch & Barley

Birch and Barley has so many great things happening together. An amazing array of ever-changing 50 draft beers you can try in tastings or in full size. A fantastic pastry chef who really knows how to make bread. Plus, a light American menu that pairs well with beer.

What can I say about B&B's bread board other than it's absolutely phenomenal? Hardest part is choosing which one I liked the most. Was it the hot pretzel bites with a spicy mustard? Or the cinnamon raisin bread topped with soft, creamy butter? Or the kalamata olive rolls?

We shared a selection of cheese that had a variety of accompaniments and more bread. This included a Cashel Blue, a Monte Enebro (tangy and soft goat's milk cheese from Spain), and Tete de Moine (a mild cow's milk cheese from Switzerland).
3 Cheese flatbread with a special request for arugula on top. The peppery arugula added a nice balance to the mixture of cheeses. The flatbread had more of a pizza-feel than a cracker crust. Other than the shape, I would call it a very nice pizza.
Wild mushroom and cheese flatbread with fennel-crusted sausage on half. My mushroom half was wonderful. Earthy wild mushrooms mixed with cheese and the amazingly chewy flatbread.
Port-glazed fig flatbread with gorgonzola and prosciutto.
Crispy wild-striped bass with baby fennel, artichoke, sunchoke and olive. Perfectly seared on the outside, moist firm fish paired well with the vegetable ragout. Beer-braised sauerkraut bratburger, covered in melted emmanthaler with fries.
Pairs well with beer.
Roasted baby beets with carmelized pecans. When done well, beets have a lovely texture and sweetness, and this was a nice side dish.

Fresh tagliatelle with mussels, clams, seafood sausage and lemongrass.

The pasta was light with a nice tooth-feel.

Ode to the Falafel

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... crunchy exterior, delicious fresh toppings, hot fluffy center, portable, and vegetarian! Maoz regular on whole wheat pita. Decent variety, but better toppings at Amsterdam Falafel. The flavor of the falafel was good, but my crazy array of toppings overwhelmed the crunchy and hot falafel balls. Sometimes less is more. Best falafel ever. Street-side near Rosh HaNikra, Israel. Tahini sauce on top, with fresh cucumber, radish and tomato, this had the right balance of hot, crunchy falafel in a warm pita with toppings.