It is a good thing that he lives on the west coast, I don’t want him messing with our food trucks in DC. If you don’t read David Alan Grier’s food blog, Chocolate Glutton, you should. It is a hilarious read and his passion for cooking really shows.
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A photo I took of the Duomo and Florence from the top of Giotto's Tower
Eat
Acqua Al 2: Well, I don’t have to say too much given that we have been blessed with a DC version of this wonderful restaurant in Florence, but it is still worth a visit when you are in Italy to see the authenticity and its hometown roots. I recommend making a reservation as this place fills up fast. Make sure to order the pasta sampler and the blueberry steak. The rigatoni in eggplant sauce is my favorite and the tiramisu is a must! Located on Via della Vigna Vecchia.
The famous pasta sampler at Acqua Al 2
Mamma Gina: Mamma Gina’s is your first right after crossing the Ponte Vecchio from the downtown part of Florence. This was my favorite restaurant in all of Florence. It is absolutely phenomenal. The service is fantastic and the waiters go out of their way to make you feel at home. Try to the rigatoni with four cheese sauce or the spinach gnocchi as your first course. YOU MUST get the eggplant parmesan for the main course; it is the absolute best eggplant in the entire world. I still dream of it today. Also Mamma Gina’s had my favorite tiramisu in all of Florence as they slop it on your plate with a spoon. Don’t be fooled- it may look messy, but it’s nothing short of spectacular. Located on Borgo San Jacopo.
Mamma Gina's interior is an inviting space
Baldovino Trattoria: Baldovino is located in the heart of Santa Croce which is a wonderful area to walk through as the Basilica of Santa Croce is gorgeous and right in the center of the square. This restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere that is quaint, romantic, and adorable. The food is wonderful including the focaccia to share for the table, delicious pastas and pizzas, and an amazing chocolate cake for dessert. Located in Piazza Santa Croce.
Ciro & Sons: This was one of our favorite spots that we frequented often as it was right by the school I was attending when living in Florence. The pizzas and pastas here are wonderful, but the lasagna is magnificent in a light meat sauce and cooked to perfection. I also was a huge fan of the gnocchi and Ciro & Sons is a great choice for seafood as they have an amazing selection. The restaurant itself is beautiful and makes for a wonderful dinner… or a great lunch as you are strolling through the leather market or touring the Medici Chapel. Located on Via del Giglio.
Ciro & Sons on Via del Giglio with the Medici Chapel in the background
Trattoria Zaza: This is a wonderful spot that is known to feed a lot of famous people when they come to Florence. There is an amazing Italian cheese platter and Zaza makes a fabulous pappa al pomodoro here (this is a famous tuscan soup made with stale table bread, tomatoes, garlic, oil etc.) My favorite dish here was the rigatoni alla sorrentina. Simple and understated but absolutely delicious in a light red sauce with melted mozzerella cheese. Located in Mercato Centrale.
Sights
The Ponte Vecchio over the River Arno
Florence is a very special place, and I hope to make my way back in the next year or so to experience some of my favorite food memories again. Enjoy yourself, soak in the sights, drink wonderful wine, take day trips to Tuscany, sit at one of the coffee shops and sip a cappuccino in the middle of Piazza della Repubblica, and remember to mangia, mangia, mangia! Buon appetito!
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Chocolate Chip Cookies
One of the wonderful things about getting married is the “in-law” family you get along with the spouse. In my case, I was especially lucky to marry into such good cooks and bakers (no offense mom, wink-wink:)…Since Chad does most of the cooking (and by most I mean all unless we are craving that occasional Kraft Mac-n-Cheese dinner) I have taken up his one weak link..baking. I’ve been fortunate to get a lot of great recipes and tips especially from Chad’s Aunt Lenore (aka Tonte Nor). She is most famously known for her chocolate chip cookies, which she so generously bakes for all of the hotel gift bags for the family weddings, Sunday dinners and holidays. When I initially asked for her recipe, she willingly gave it to me (and also willingly left out a few secret tips) but I think I have finally coaxed it out of her. This is a great easy recipe that I always get tons of compliments on, and if there is a better recipe for chocolate chip cookies in DC, we haven’t found it.
Ingredients
Chocolate Chip Cookie Batter
Directions
Placing the cookies on the sheet
Bake at 375° for 9-11 Minutes – this is actually probably one of the trickier parts depending on the oven. Typically I bake mine for 10 minutes but it really depends on your oven. I recommend putting in the first batch and seeing how they come out and adjust accordingly.
The perfect chocolate chip cookies
Enjoy!
PS: it may look like the chips above haven’t melted, but they are just soft enough that they will melt in your mouth!
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In just under 48 hours three restaurants, American Tap Room, Vapiano, and Taylor Gourmet are all opening up shop. Even more ridiculous is the fact that they are all on the same block. Talk about some serious competitive drive! I haven’t had a chance to head out to any and I’m patiently awaiting Taylor Gourmet’s opening tomorrow but we are getting initial reports that American Tap Room is a bit of a let down. We’ll be sure to send over a member of the EMDM team before we make a final decision on it.
Other restaurants slated to be opening up in Bethesda are the Uptown Deli and Cava. I cannot wait for Uptown Deli and am hoping it can live up to its claim of being a legit New York style delicatessen with house made corned beef, brisket and chicken soup. Added bonus… it’s right around the corner from my office at 7905 Norfolk Ave.
Cava with location currently in Rockville and Capitol Hill will be a “build your own pita” Mediterranean joint. It’s slated to open at 4832 Bethesda Avenue sometime in September. According to their website they will also be opening a space in Clarendon.
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I should start by saying I am so jealous that someone else (Wendy) is living my dream of selling wine, cheese and cured meet to the masses. Since I am clearly not brave enough to launch my own wine bar I’m sure glad Wendy did.
The Screwtop concept of wine bar, retailer, restaurant and event location is genius. They have a great selection of “fancy cheese”, every kind of pork you could ever want and delicious wine. Plus, they have that neighborhood feel I crave. I recognize the waitresses and it is completely unpretentious.
I am a member of their wine club, a fan of their happy hour specials and have even hosted a private event there so I’ve had a chance to see the business from many perspectives.
The wine club: At only $39.99 a month it is a pretty good deal considering you get 2 bottles of wine and a cheese selection. I’ve been impressed with the wine selection and I always end up being exposed to something new. They also host a great tasting party for members on the second Sunday of every month. My only complaint is that with it being summer and always being out of town, it is hard to make it to the tasting parties. I loved when they were on Tuesdays, it was a great way to break up the week.
Eating & Drinking: I love that they have themed happy hours. Who doesn’t like a theme?? Thumbs up Tuesday and my personal favorite Wino Wednesday. Their wine selection has something for everyone and with wide range of prices so you never feel forced to break the bank. In addition to buying wine by the glass, you can also choose from their rotating wine flights which typically consist of 3 selections. I love these since you get a chance to try a variety. They also have a craft beer selection if you are visiting with a beer fan.
Overall the food has been good. If you sit at the bar they will give you some delicious truffle popcorn to munch on while you mull over the menu. Here are a few highlights. The baked goat is soooo good plus it is almost an entire log of goat cheese and could be shared by 3-4 people. I had the Toked Goat Sandwich last night and it was really yummy. My all time favorite though is the Bacon Cheddar Bruschetta. This stuff is amazing and addictive. I haven’t had a chance to try the Buffaloaf (shocking to those of you who know me) but I will make sure to get it soon.
Retail Shop: Sometimes picking out a wine can be intimidating but the handwritten notes about each wine in the retail section make it easy to imagine each bottle in its best element. This is especially helpful since they stock such unique offerings. Bonus alert: If you try something at the bar and want to buy a bottle from the retail shop they’ll give you 5% off your purchase. Not much but every penny counts these days!
Event Space: They don’t have a ton of space but I held a standing room only wine tasting and networking event for about 50 people and it was great. The planning was simple, they had a wine rep come in to conduct the tasting, the cheese and charcuterie plates were delicious and the bill was incredibly reasonable.
So, if you haven’t been to Screwtop, stop in for a drink, a snack, and maybe a few take home bottles!
Screwtop Wine Bar
1025 N. Fillmore St.
Arlington, VA 22201
703-888-0845
www.screwtopwinebar.com
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