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BakeHouse

by Jenna on May 20, 2013

14th Street is currently going through a major growth spurt, and the latest addition is BakeHouse located at 14th and T Streets NW. I stopped by on Saturday morning around 9:30AM and was pleased to see a lot of early risers, young families, and neighborhood locals stopping by for coffee and pastries. The shop is small, but there is ample seating to park for a bit, read the paper, and enjoy a treat.

The counter has a lovely display with beautiful homemade scones, breads, and muffins to choose from. I was incredibly excited to try one of the breakfast sandwiches but unfortunately they were already sold out by the time that arrived. But, not to fret, I was able to snack on a bacon and Gruyère brioche which did not disappoint. It was soft and chewy, had a great cheesy zing to it, and there were delicious crunchy bites of bacon hiding inside the pastry.

Also, don’t underestimate the importance of good coffee. BakeHouse is serving Zeke’s Coffee and it was one of the better lattes I have had in some time. They also have a great selection of teas from Tealuxe, and all dairy comes from Trickling Springs Creamery. BakeHouse also has a great selection of lunchtime sandwiches including one that caught my eye with eggplant, roasted red peppers, goat cheese, and a peanut pesto sauce. Additionally, they are open until 9PM on weeknights, and 11PM on weekends. Happy to have them in the neighborhood– it’s a great spot to grab a coffee, pastry, or sandwich, and I have a feeling BakeHouse might become part of my morning routine.

BakeHouse
www.bakehousedc.com
1407 T Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
@BakeHouseDC

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First Bite: B Too

by Jenna on May 8, 2013

There’s another new restaurant that just opened on 14th Street: B Too. Lately there has been almost a new opening a week, and there are so many places to try, and so many more on the way in the upcoming weeks. B Too is brought to us by Chef Bart Vandaele of Belga Café on Capitol Hill. The restaurant serves Belgian classics, and some dishes have been remade with a modern twist to update and elevate the cuisine. I stopped in last night without a reservation and was able to be seated in the downstairs area of the new restaurant. The downstairs has a great bar area with some couches, as well as tables for seated service. It’s a nice space, and B Too is quite large with plentiful seating between the two floors. I should mention the restaurant was operating under a soft-opening as they are getting the kinks worked out, but things seemed to be off to a good start.

We started by ordering the root vegetables and the Brussels sprouts with crispy duck confit and duck fat. Both were technically sides, but we decided to have them as appetizers. The dishes were piping hot and very flavorful. The Brussels sprouts in particular had a richness to them, and they had a great crunch. On a regular night I probably would have gone for the mussels because they are a favorite of mine, and because it is a specialty at B Too with over six different preparations, but last night I decided to try the salmon. The plate arrived with a very playful presentation (see above), and the fish had a potato crust with rhubarb, tomato, and salsify on the plate. I must admit that I found this combination a bit random– salsify is a heavy root vegetable, while rhubarb is a sweet perennial vegetable often used in summer pies. Then throw in the tomato and I was a bit confused. The salmon itself was excellent. It was cooked perfectly and the crust was so crispy and delicious. In addition there were dollops of puree on the plate that I dipped the fish into to provide an extra kick of flavor. The other elements on the plate were good, but felt off to me. My friend went for the Belgian steak with frites and this was definitely a good choice. Classic, your choice of sauce, and a nice side salad. This was a great dish.

The dessert menu had a lot of great options, but I felt we had to go with a waffle to round out the evening. We decided on the chocolate waffle with pistachio ice cream. The waffle was great, and I loved the pistachio pairing, but there was a glaring shredded orange pile on the plate that kept making me think “one of these things is not like the other.” It looked like carrots which I thought couldn’t be, and turns out it was a type of orange. However, I didn’t think it added anything and thought it should have been left off the plate.

The last thing about B Too was the music. For a classic Belgian spot, they were playing very loud Latin music in the basement which seemed really out of place. For those who have met Bart though, it sort of fits his fun and playful attitude, so I’ll leave it at that. I noticed by the time our meal was over there was smooth jazz in the background. I wonder if someone said something?

B Too
www.btoo.com
1324 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
@BTooDC

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First Bite: Ghibellina

by Jenna on May 6, 2013

There are so many restaurants opening on 14th Street, but the one I have been anxiously waiting for is Ghibellina, the Italian gastropub brought to us by Ari Gejdenson and the team from Acqua Al 2 in Eastern Market. This restaurant was special to me before it even opened because I happened to live on Via Ghibellina (123 to be exact) in Florence, Italy in 2004. It’s a bustling street just a stone’s throw from the Duomo, Santa Croce, and the Bargello in the heart of downtown Florence. Ari and his business partner Ralph Lee also lived on Via Ghibellina which is how the name of the restaurant was born. This weekend they provided a soft-opening just for friends and family in order to test out the menu and the service. I was thrilled to be able to join them for the pilot program before they open their doors to the public this coming week on May 7th.

The exterior and interior of Ghibellina are nothing short of impressive. The team worked to restore the original facade of the location at 1610 14th Street NW, and the inside is comfortable, inviting, and feels like a local neighborhood trattoria. The exposed brick, the open window into the kitchen, and the great bar space at the front of the restaurant all have the makings for a regular local haunt.

Now for the main focus, it’s time to get into the details of the food. The menu is mainly small plates, and they recommend about 2-3 per person in order to satisfy your grumbling tummy. There are also some larger entrees should you choose to go that route, as well as meat and cheese plates, soups, salads, and more. For four people, we ordered 11 dishes total (before dessert), and we thought this was the perfect amount. Food highlights and descriptions below:

Insalata Ghibellina: This salad was well dressed and delicious. Made with arugula, avocado, confit tomatoes, emmanthaler, pine nuts, and pesto, the ingredients were interesting and it immediately caught my eye. It’s a very small dish, but a great choice if you are looking to add some green to the table.
Tortelli Di Patate Al Ragu: This was like a traditional ravioli with a hearty beef ragu sauce. The sauce was great, and I even used my leftover pizza crust to dunk in it.
Pici Carrettiera: This is the most simple and classic dish on the menu made with a fat spaghetti, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and parsley. Simple yet divine. This was a standout.

Stracotto: This small plate was packed with comforting flavor– the post roast of beef with white wine and tomato was tender and pulled apart easily with the fork. I loved this dish.
Carciofi Al Forno: These wood-roasted artichokes were crispy and browned tossed with mint, lemon, croutons, and onions. Such a light and refreshing vegetable dish. I highly recommend adding this to your ordering rotation.
Salsicce E Cippola Pizza: Made with sausage, provolone, wood-roasted onions, oregano, peperoncino, and grana. The pizza had such a great mix of flavors including the sweet onions and the salty cheese. It was hard to resist finishing the entire thing.

To top off a great meal, we ordered dessert and really narrowed in on the olive oil cake with crumbled pistachio on top. It was moist and subtle in flavor, but just right.

Overall, our group was incredibly pleased with the dinner we had at Ghibellina, and I felt like it was a very nice homage to Florence. The one dish on the menu that caught my eye immediately was the Ribollita. A classic Tuscan soup made of beans, vegetables, and bread. While I did not order it given the warm weather, I can’t wait to go back and try this specialty. Hard to find in the United States, and you know the team is serious about serving authentic cuisine when they have it on the menu. Thrilled to live just a few steps away from Ghibellina, and it makes me long for the incredible time I spent in Italy.

Ghibellina
www.ghibellinadc.com
1610 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
@GhibellinaDC

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Spring Dishes & Cocktails at Firefly

by Jenna on May 2, 2013

It’s finally spring. We have waited long enough for the sun to arrive, and I am excited to enjoy the weather and all of the great ingredients and flavors that come with the season. Last night I was invited to Firefly at the Hotel Madera to enjoy some of the new dishes and cocktails they have added to the menu. Bar manager Jon Harris took good care of us making recommendations for us to enjoy, and also providing us with a refreshing cucumber cocktail palette cleanser in the middle of our meal. I started with the Porcelina which was made of Bols Genever, St. Germain, Campari, lemon, and Fentiman’s rose lemonade. With the doors and windows propped open and the breeze coming through the bar area of Firefly, it was a really lovely start to the evening.

*Left: Pimento cheese fritters. Photo by Scott Suchman. Right: Porcelina cocktail.

Chef de Cuisine Todd Wiss generously provided us with tastes of multiple dishes on the menu, but there were a few standouts. To start, the pimento cheese fritters and the beef tartare were clear winners. The cheese fritters, while fried, still managed to be served in a way that made them not feel too heavy. They came with a side of bacon marmalade which was hard to resist. The beef tartare had a small quail egg on top for us to crack and eat with the potato chips. I loved the different textures and consistencies in the dish with the soft beef, the crispy chips. and the liquid egg.

For the entrees, I particularly enjoyed the pan roasted Alaskan halibut. The fish had a perfectly crispy top and was served over a carrot puree and spring pistou with fingerling potatoes and snap peas. The carrot puree really sealed the deal for me on this dish. It had slightly sweet tones and was a perfect complement to the fish. Other noteworthy dishes included the smoked lamb shoulder with pappardelle pasta, feta, and leeks, as well as the spring risotto. I learned they actually have a smoker out back at Firefly where the chef prepares the lamb.

Finally, the evening ended with bacon bourbon bread pudding. Served with coffee ice cream and a peanut caramel glaze, this dessert was a delicious indulgence. I quickly noticed a serious kick of spice in the bread pudding, and Chef Todd revealed it was Cayenne Pepper. Probably not for everyone, but the cold and sweet ice cream cut it well. I thought it was unique and a great end to the meal. If you’re looking for a great spot for a cocktail or some nice spring dishes, consider parking yourself in the lounge at Firefly. With the open atmosphere and the fresh air streaming in, it makes for a really nice evening.

Firefly at the Hotel Madera
www.firefly-dc.com
1310 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
@KimptoninDC

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A Weekend In Portland

by Jenna on April 29, 2013

I am currently writing this post in the midst of my travel from Portland back to DC. It’s a long haul, but it was certainly worth the trip for a weekend filled with great friends, great food, and great wine. Portland is a fun town with a lot of “weird”, but also a lot of exciting things to explore. We rented a house in the Pearl District which was described to me as “yippie” (translation: yuppie hippy). It’s a quaint and walkable part of town with a lot of old beautiful homes, great shops, and newly converted warehouses. The fancy condominiums and high-end restaurants have moved in, but it still manages to keep its edge. In addition to a few days in the city, we also spent a day out in the Willamette Valley wine tasting and enjoying the quiet country roads of Newberg and Dundee, Oregon. It was a great trip, and I can’t wait to get my big wine shipment from Adelsheim so I can sit back after a long day and enjoy a great glass of Oregon Pinot Noir right in my own home. Below is a roundup of our eats from the trip:

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TASTY N SONS

I love a place that offers brunch every day of the week starting at 9AM. Tasty n Sons is a great neighborhood restaurant that has a large garage door that can be propped open when the weather is nice. The indoor-outdoor feel is appealing, and it’s a great place to dine on a sunny and breezy day. The menu here is overwhelming because every single thing sounds incredible. A few of our favorites were the polenta with sausage ragu, the sweet biscuits with blueberry compote, and I thought the frittata with nettles, asparagus, and feta was something to write home about.

Tasty n Sons also had chocolate potato doughnuts with creme anglaise that were really delightful little bites. Tasty n Sons is located at 3808 N Williams, Suite C, Portland, OR 97212. On Twitter: @TastynSons.

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PARK KITCHEN

For our first night in Portland we were looking for a sophisticated restaurant that would show us the best of Portland. Park Kitchen definitely did that. We had a great table right at the front that was exposed to outside so we were able to get some fresh air as the sun was going down. The menu is split into small hot plates, small cold plates, and large plates which allows you to either order a dish for yourself, or to order a bunch of things to share for the table. We started with the Ken’s bread with handmade butter. Story goes that Ken was put in jail for some troubles related to marijuana, and in jail he became an expert bread baker. Ken now has his own bakery and the bread was really fantastic– along with the hand churned butter! We loved our meal here. I particularly enjoyed the spinach fettucini with lamb ragu and leeks and the blackened salmon with toasted barley was light, healthy, and totally hit the spot. We also were enamored with the lamb dish which had a carmelized yogurt sauce and was cooked to perfection. The folks behind Park Kitchen also own The Bent Brick which we stopped at for drinks. Also a great spot. Park Kitchen is located at 422 NW 8th, Portland, OR 97209. On Twitter: @ParkKitchen.

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POK POK

This is the place everyone talks about. I knew we HAD to go here when we were in Portland, and I am very glad that we did. This Thai outpost is not fancy, but it delivers some serious spice. We went a little crazy ordering way more dishes than people. I would say the fish sauce chicken wings were a highlight and a must order. We got two buckets for the table and we considered ordering more. I also loved the baby back ribs and many of the salads including the Yam Makheua Yao (grilled eggplant with Thai chilies, shrimp, pork, and prawns), and the Sunny’s Yam Wun Sen (glass noodle salad with pork). It was so hot that I needed a lot of sticky rice to cool down my mouth, but I never complain about good flavors.

My friend Alejandra ordered the special which was the crispy whole fish with a mango slaw on top which was really excellent. It was the mildest of the dishes and was a nice break from all of the intense spice. Tammy ordered the Northern Thai sweet pork belly and pork shoulder curry which had an incredible sauce, and had a stew-like consistency. The cocktails were also very fun and we enjoyed Tamarind Whiskey Sours, Apple Gin Rickeys, and I loved the Mango Alexander cocktail with vodka and coconut cream. To end the meal we went for dessert and the mango sticky rice was a perfect sweet balance to all of the spicy dishes we had just enjoyed. With toasted sesame seeds and coconut cream, it definitely hit the spot. One note about Pok Pok: they flavor their water with toasted rice (or so they say). Let’s be clear: it didn’t taste good. Don’t feel bad asking for regular tap water! Otherwise, you’ll enjoy everything you order. Pok Pok is located at 3226 SE Division Street, Portland, OR 97202. On Twitter: @PokPokPDX.

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VOODOO DOUGHNUT

It is perhaps the most famous spot in all of Portland: the doughnut shop with multiple locations that uses the tagline “the magic is in the hole”. We got to the Voodoo around 11PM and there was a line about 30 people deep outside. The majority of those waiting seemed to be high school kids at their weekend hangout spot, but we were not deterred. We got a dozen doughnuts and we were sure to get a sampling of the best flavors that were offered: bacon maple, Captain Crunch, Oreo, chocolate cake, lemon chiffon crueller, sprinkles, chocolate glazed, cinnamon sugar, and even one with a Tang flavor.

These doughnuts are not messing around. We dug into the box first thing the next morning when we woke up and we went to town. I am not normally someone to crave doughnuts, but I have been thinking about the chocolate cake doughnut ever since I had it this past weekend. So good. Voodoo Doughnut has two locations in Portland: 22 SW 3rd Avenue, and 1501 NE Davis Street. On Twitter: @VoodooDoughnut.

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CLYDE COMMON

I really loved the space at Clyde Common. Most of the tables were made of large slabs of wood to create common spaces for people to dine. They describe the restaurant as a European style tavern, and they also have a robust drink list including one called the B.M.O.C. made with bourbon, raw ginger syrup, bitters, and soda (we later found out this stands for ‘Big Man on Campus’ which I love.) There is a limited menu, but the odor of truffle oil had been permeating the air for awhile, and we knew we needed to get a few orders of the truffled popcorn to start. The key ingredient on this dish was the melted grana padano on top. Clyde Common also serves a hot focaccia bread for the table with olive oil that is a really nice start to any meal. I started with the cream of mushroom soup which came in a huge bowl, and had a perfect thick consistency and was topped with baby artichokes and spinach. I would eat this soup on any chilly evening as a dinner on its own. I decided to order a half portion of the buckwheat cavatelli for my main course which came with ramps, grana padano, and walnuts. It was a very small portion, but I loved the flavors. Had I been really hungry, I would have likely wanted a lot more to eat. The reviews at the table were mixed– the pork seemed to be a little dry and the chicken dish had a bit too many components and needed some editing. All in all, a really nice atmosphere with good drinks and solid food. It probably won’t blow your mind but they do change the menu regularly so I would say it is worth a try. Clyde Common is located at 1014 SW Stark Street, Portland, OR 97205. On Twitter: @ClydeCommon.

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STUMPTOWN COFFEE ROASTERS

Known as the coffee mecca of Portland, a trip to Stumptown is a must while visiting. We ended up heading to the one located on Stark Street inside the Ace Hotel both mornings we were in town for lattes. It’s also nice to take the coffee over to the huge sectional couches in the lobby of the Ace to relax and enjoy. It was a perfect morning gathering place to get ourselves organized before heading out for the day.

This Stumptown shop is located at 1026 SW Stark Street, Portland, OR 97205, however there are four other locations throughout Portland. On Twitter: @StumptownCoffee.

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Other spots that I wish I had the chance to get to were Le Pigeon, Little Bird Bistro, and Mother’s Bistro for brunch. We also heard great things about Laurelhurst Market. There’s just too many good places to eat in such a short period of time.

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OREGON WINE COUNTRY IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY

If you go to Portland, rent a car and drive an hour out to see some of the beautiful vineyards. The views are spectacular, and the wine is some of the best we have to offer in the United States. We were able to visit Adelsheim and Domaine Drouhin. The wine at Adelsheim was so good that I ordered a case so I can enjoy it back home. While we didn’t enjoy the wine as much at Domaine Drouhin, the setting with a huge outdoor deck was divine, and had an amazing view of Mt. Hood. In between vineyards we stopped at Red Hills Market to fuel up on sandwiches and flatbread pizzas. Stop in, order at the counter, go park yourself at a picnic table, and wait for your delicious food to arrive while you sip on a bottle of rosé. They were playing great music, the weather was perfect, and we even hung around a bit to play bocce ball. It’s such a laid back and fun environment, and I can’t wait to go back to the Willamette Valley for more wine.