Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Blue Duck Tavern
The end of 2008 has brought us not only an FDP anniversary, which was celebrated at the original location of Zatinya, but also the last piggy birthday of the group. For our December dinner/Amanda's birthday we really went all out and gorged ourselves with duck, Mac and Cheese with Duck and French Fries fried in Duck Fat (yes, you heard us right) at Blue Duck Tavern. It certainly was a memorable night...
We met at the bar and shared a quick cheer before we were seated. Upon arriving at our table Amanda was pleasantly surprised to see that the traditional bottle of celebratory bubbly was awaiting us. Our (new favorite) server, Mike came over to pop the cork (Deutz NV Brut to be exact) and to go over the menu with us. We loved his honesty in suggesting that we order some apps and share entrees and sides due to the large portion sizes. We certainly took his advice and were glad we did!
While mulling over our options one of the managers stopped by and it was quite the coincidence that he used to work with Melissa. They had a quick reunion before he sent some delicious appetizers our way. While we attacked the smoke mackerel rillette and cured meats we tweaked our strategy. We decided to share the Bouillabaisse as another starter and then go with 2 entrees and some mouthwatering sides. Oh yeah and some more wine. We chose a 2006 La Pierre Morgon because of its versatility when pairing with food.
Our entrees included the Roasted Guinea Hen and The Tavern Steak. For sides we went with the French Fries (fried in duck fat as stated before), the "Mac N Cheese," Roasted Mushrooms and the Veggie of the Day which was Champagne Braised Cabbage. Okay we'll give you a second to digest that.... Good, now we'll tell you how amazing it was. The Mac N Cheese was actually made from Spaetzel with Mustard and Duck Confit. This is probably one of the most decadent dishes you could ever dive yourself into. The mushrooms were an awesome example of how high quality ingredients simply prepared is the epitome of deliciousness. And the French Fries- well need we say more? They were even better dipped in the steak Jus!
To sum up our night it was delicious, delightful and a great way to wrap up 2008. We had a ball with our server Mike and we even got a tip for our January FDP gathering. Stay tuned!
Our Rating: 4 Oinks!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Pho is phun!!
For our November dinner, the FDPs decided it was time for some warm, soothing, comforting winter food, and a night in. Since Amanda was in full study mode for her big wine and chemistry test, we thought it would be a great idea to have dinner and help her study. Our quest for warmth and heartiness brought us to Pho 75 in Arlington. Pho 75 is fairly non-descript with long tables and chairs set up in the middle of the floor, stark walls and a bare floor. The menu lists several Pho options including different meat selections, and 2 bowl sizes; regular or large (and FYI, the regular was enough for most of us to have leftovers!) Traditionally, Pho consists of a lovely salty beef broth full of rice noodles, and comes with the diner’s selection of meat cuts such as skirt steak, brisket, tripe and eye-of-round. Each bowl also comes complete with an add-on kit. This kit includes mung bean sprouts, Thai basil, scallions, jalapeños, hot chili sauce, a milder plum/soy sauce, and of course, limes. Diners customize their warm bowls by adding as much or as little of the add-ons as they want. The Pho is consumed with a big spoon and chopsticks to manage the noodles and lovely cuts of beef.
After making our selections; Molly and Kate choosing flank steak, Amanda and Melissa choosing brisket, we waited for several minutes while they prepared our takeout bowls. Both Kate and Molly ordered theirs without the jalapeños, but there seemed to be some communication issues and they received the hot peppers anyway. Oh well! After getting our warm plastic containers of broth and noodles and plastic bags of add-ons, we piled back into cars and headed to Kate’s for an evening of chatting, wine knowledge and warm delicious Pho. We slurped our way through regular piggy conversations, and took lots of photos of our delicious bowls. Though Molly had to leave early for another event (she’s the FDP who overbooked herself…..boooo Molly!!) she was there long enough to ask Amanda difficult review questions and be awed by the wine and chemistry knowledge of her academic FDP. The bowls of Pho satisfied our November cravings and overall we rate Pho 75 3 oinks!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Cheese Heads
Us FDPs have a natural love of food and while we all have different palates and different tastes there is one food that we all have a love affair with... cheese! To satiate our dairy needs we took our ever expanding butts down to Cheesetique in the adorable neighborhood of Del Ray in Alexandria, VA. Just a few years ago Cheesetique began simply as one the most awesome cheese retail stores we've ever seen. It quickly began selling wine as well and recently expanded into a small cheese and wine bar in addition to its retail end. So just imagine your cute, local cheese store with a cute little restaurant attached to it. Sound incredible? That's because it is.
We arrived with our mouths drooling and eyes full of excitement. Unfortunately we had to wait because the rest of the neighborhood also decided to partake in the fermented goodness on that Friday night. This was to be expected though. One of the kind servers, Charlotte, offered to get us a drink while we waited. We started things off the way all things should be started and that's with bubbles! The four of us gave a little "cheers" with our Prosecco, to the cheese that was about to be consumed. As we were waiting more and more people were coming into the store in hopes of scoring a table, but they had to get in line like the rest of us. Sensing that it was going to be an extremely busy night (like all nights we were told), the servers gathered together and ingeniously decided to pull a few tables from the outside and set up impromptu places for people to dine within the store. Because we waited so patiently we were granted one of these tables!
Now for the good stuff. A no brainer was the cheese and meat board. With your choice of 3 cheeses and meats, with cornichons, quince paste and mustard it was the perfect way to kick things off. From there we decided just to order a bunch of things and share them all. The prices were fantastic, with nothing really over $10 (besides our cheese board) so why not try a nice variety? In addition to our cheese selections we ordered the Arugula Salad with bleu cheese, dried cranberries and walnuts and the Fig and Brie Crostini with Prosciutto. Before moving on to our next course we ordered a tasty bottle of Vino (Primitivo) to wash it all down. Our next round brought us baked Mac n' Cheese (yum) and the Artisan Quiche which had goat cheese, artichokes and prosciutto. I must say that the Quiche was much lighter and fluffier than normal Quiches that you come across. It was flavorful and the texture was so delciate.
Although Cheesetique was crowded and busy, we never once felt rushed or ignored. All of the servers as well as the cheesemongers had smiles on their faces and looked like they were enjoying the company of their neighborhood. It makes us jealous that we don't live in the neighborhood! But because of the fun and friendly service, the amazing cheese selections and scrumptious food combined with great prices it is definitely worth the trip outside of the city and we will definitely be back!
For all of the reasons listed above plus the cheesy goodness that is still lingering in our bellies we give Cheesetique 3.5 oinks out of 4!
We arrived with our mouths drooling and eyes full of excitement. Unfortunately we had to wait because the rest of the neighborhood also decided to partake in the fermented goodness on that Friday night. This was to be expected though. One of the kind servers, Charlotte, offered to get us a drink while we waited. We started things off the way all things should be started and that's with bubbles! The four of us gave a little "cheers" with our Prosecco, to the cheese that was about to be consumed. As we were waiting more and more people were coming into the store in hopes of scoring a table, but they had to get in line like the rest of us. Sensing that it was going to be an extremely busy night (like all nights we were told), the servers gathered together and ingeniously decided to pull a few tables from the outside and set up impromptu places for people to dine within the store. Because we waited so patiently we were granted one of these tables!
Now for the good stuff. A no brainer was the cheese and meat board. With your choice of 3 cheeses and meats, with cornichons, quince paste and mustard it was the perfect way to kick things off. From there we decided just to order a bunch of things and share them all. The prices were fantastic, with nothing really over $10 (besides our cheese board) so why not try a nice variety? In addition to our cheese selections we ordered the Arugula Salad with bleu cheese, dried cranberries and walnuts and the Fig and Brie Crostini with Prosciutto. Before moving on to our next course we ordered a tasty bottle of Vino (Primitivo) to wash it all down. Our next round brought us baked Mac n' Cheese (yum) and the Artisan Quiche which had goat cheese, artichokes and prosciutto. I must say that the Quiche was much lighter and fluffier than normal Quiches that you come across. It was flavorful and the texture was so delciate.
Although Cheesetique was crowded and busy, we never once felt rushed or ignored. All of the servers as well as the cheesemongers had smiles on their faces and looked like they were enjoying the company of their neighborhood. It makes us jealous that we don't live in the neighborhood! But because of the fun and friendly service, the amazing cheese selections and scrumptious food combined with great prices it is definitely worth the trip outside of the city and we will definitely be back!
For all of the reasons listed above plus the cheesy goodness that is still lingering in our bellies we give Cheesetique 3.5 oinks out of 4!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Apples and Grapes
Amanda, in all her food dorkiness and endless love of Fall, organized an un-official gathering of the FDPs to partake in her yearly tradition of Apple Picking.... followed by wine tasting of course! Since it was an un-official gathering we allowed some boys to come along- mostly so they could reach the very high up apples!
Last Sunday, we all piled into two cars and headed down to the "country-side" of Virginia. Only about an hour away, in Markham, VA (exit 18 off of Rt 66) is where we made our first stop. Because it was a weekend day and the weather was incredibly gorgeous, Stribling Orchard was completely packed with others who were out enjoying picking and picnicing. After waiting patiently in a line of cars we got our Orchard maps and bags and drove on in. We settled upon a few favorite varieties- Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Rome. Unfortunately, we had missed the Macintosh apples. We strolled up and down the rows, tasting and picking the perfect apples all while breathing in the fresh Fall air.
Before heading to any vineyards, we spread out a blanket to re-fuel our bellies before filling them with fermented juice. (What can we say? We're responsible!) Our picnic spread was quite eclectic with goat cheeses from a local farm called Firefly, baguette, a bag of Sunchips and one (yes one) sandwich from the Italian Store in Arlington. This was all washed down with a bottle of Meritage from Unicorn Winery in Virginia, which was consumed out of make-shift plastic bottles turned into wine glasses. Not only are we responsible, but we're crafty too! I think the Pepsi plastic bottle really brought out the aromas of the wine....
Since we were throroughly embracing this much needed relax time, we decided to park ourselves at a winery for the rest of the afternoon so we weren't feeling rushed. Not too far away was Rappahannock Cellars, where we met up with Amanda's dad who was heading back from Lynchburg. All 8 of us now, went inside to begin our second fruit consumption of the day- grape juice! Jeff, the man behind the tasting bar, was extremely friendly and walked us through our tasting selections. They offered two different flights- one was predominately white wines and one was predominately red, although each list did have some of both. Combined, we tasted everything from their Viognier to Chardonnay to Meritage to their Late Harvest Vidal. The two stand-outs for us were the Glenway Chardonnay and the Claret. We got a bottle of each and retired outside on the deck to soak up the sun, the vineyards, good wine and good friends.
This un-official gathering was officially relaxing and turned out to be a very fruitful day!
Last Sunday, we all piled into two cars and headed down to the "country-side" of Virginia. Only about an hour away, in Markham, VA (exit 18 off of Rt 66) is where we made our first stop. Because it was a weekend day and the weather was incredibly gorgeous, Stribling Orchard was completely packed with others who were out enjoying picking and picnicing. After waiting patiently in a line of cars we got our Orchard maps and bags and drove on in. We settled upon a few favorite varieties- Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Rome. Unfortunately, we had missed the Macintosh apples. We strolled up and down the rows, tasting and picking the perfect apples all while breathing in the fresh Fall air.
Before heading to any vineyards, we spread out a blanket to re-fuel our bellies before filling them with fermented juice. (What can we say? We're responsible!) Our picnic spread was quite eclectic with goat cheeses from a local farm called Firefly, baguette, a bag of Sunchips and one (yes one) sandwich from the Italian Store in Arlington. This was all washed down with a bottle of Meritage from Unicorn Winery in Virginia, which was consumed out of make-shift plastic bottles turned into wine glasses. Not only are we responsible, but we're crafty too! I think the Pepsi plastic bottle really brought out the aromas of the wine....
Since we were throroughly embracing this much needed relax time, we decided to park ourselves at a winery for the rest of the afternoon so we weren't feeling rushed. Not too far away was Rappahannock Cellars, where we met up with Amanda's dad who was heading back from Lynchburg. All 8 of us now, went inside to begin our second fruit consumption of the day- grape juice! Jeff, the man behind the tasting bar, was extremely friendly and walked us through our tasting selections. They offered two different flights- one was predominately white wines and one was predominately red, although each list did have some of both. Combined, we tasted everything from their Viognier to Chardonnay to Meritage to their Late Harvest Vidal. The two stand-outs for us were the Glenway Chardonnay and the Claret. We got a bottle of each and retired outside on the deck to soak up the sun, the vineyards, good wine and good friends.
This un-official gathering was officially relaxing and turned out to be a very fruitful day!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
From Heaven to Hell Burger
September 20, 2008
Ray’s Hell Burger
Rating: 3.5 Oinks
After hearing the rumblings through town about the “best burger” in DC, we felt it was our civic duty as FDP’s to find out for sure. Foregoing previous FDP outings that usually include getting dressed up (as well as we are able), we decided this night should be about staying in. And sleeping over as it turned out. This would not just be a mission to try the so-called best burger in town, but also the first official FDP slumber party in honor of Melissa’s new apartment. Air mattress? Check. Champagne and homemade brownies? Check. Footie pajamas? Check. Stockpile of embarrassing girly movies? Check. Now we just needed the burgers.
Ray’s Hell Burger is owned by none other than the beef expert behind Ray’s the Steaks and Ray’s the Classics. A couple of us have tried (and failed) on several occasions to get into the elusive Ray’s the Steaks, but it’s a bit of a gamble. The restaurant is small and does not take reservations making it difficult to get a table without some serious stealth maneuvering. We have not totally given up on getting in eventually, but Hell Burger seemed like a nice alternative to finally be able to try some of Chef Michael Landrum’s beefy creations. Hell Burger is located in the same small strip a couple of doors down from Ray’s the Steaks in Arlington. It is very unassuming and we didn’t even notice a sign to mark the location; the line nearly out the door was a good indicator, however.
The small space is packed with tables for 2 and 4 and a couple of tall café tables for standing if no seating is available. And there is really only one thing on the menu—the burger. Not just any burger, but 10 ounces of prime beef as is proudly stated on their chalkboard menu. The burger can be prepared simply grilled, blackened or au poive to the temperature of your choice (we recommend medium rare) with a great selection of delectable cheeses and toppings. The cheeses range from the classics American and Swiss to more exotic choices like Aged Danish Bleu, Mustard Seed Gouda and Double Cream Brie. Additional toppings include Applewood Smoked Bacon, Guacamole, Grilled Peppers, Sherry-Sautéed Mushrooms (our recommendation!), Roasted Garlic and even…Foie Gras. Clearly, they are not messing around here. Sides are also available and include Buttered Corn on the Cob, Mac-n-Cheese and Potato Chips. Given the shear mass of the burgers, we opted to keep it simple and share some chips and corn (although the mac-n-cheese looked really tasty and will need to be sampled at some point!).
Each burger is grilled to order and after a short 10 minute wait in line, we headed back to the home-front with our giant burgers in tow. Each of us opted for the simply grilled burger and our choice of topping varied slightly (though I think we all decided to get the smear of roasted garlic which was delicious). After some initial pondering about how best to eat the massive burgers, we opted to cut them in half and do our best not to dribble them down our shirts. Bibs may be a good idea for next time.
So what’s the final FDP verdict? I can safely say that the phrase “This is the best burger I’ve ever had” was uttered several times by all of us. The burgers are huge, juicy and the topping are delicious--I can see Ray’s quickly becoming a burger-fix necessity. One word of warning—be sure to go hungry! The rest of the night proceeded with the requisite girly conversation, drinking, and even a visit from the upstairs neighbor who yelled at us for being too loud. Overall a great way to break in a new apartment and by far one of the best burgers in DC.
Ray’s Hell Burger
Rating: 3.5 Oinks
After hearing the rumblings through town about the “best burger” in DC, we felt it was our civic duty as FDP’s to find out for sure. Foregoing previous FDP outings that usually include getting dressed up (as well as we are able), we decided this night should be about staying in. And sleeping over as it turned out. This would not just be a mission to try the so-called best burger in town, but also the first official FDP slumber party in honor of Melissa’s new apartment. Air mattress? Check. Champagne and homemade brownies? Check. Footie pajamas? Check. Stockpile of embarrassing girly movies? Check. Now we just needed the burgers.
Ray’s Hell Burger is owned by none other than the beef expert behind Ray’s the Steaks and Ray’s the Classics. A couple of us have tried (and failed) on several occasions to get into the elusive Ray’s the Steaks, but it’s a bit of a gamble. The restaurant is small and does not take reservations making it difficult to get a table without some serious stealth maneuvering. We have not totally given up on getting in eventually, but Hell Burger seemed like a nice alternative to finally be able to try some of Chef Michael Landrum’s beefy creations. Hell Burger is located in the same small strip a couple of doors down from Ray’s the Steaks in Arlington. It is very unassuming and we didn’t even notice a sign to mark the location; the line nearly out the door was a good indicator, however.
The small space is packed with tables for 2 and 4 and a couple of tall café tables for standing if no seating is available. And there is really only one thing on the menu—the burger. Not just any burger, but 10 ounces of prime beef as is proudly stated on their chalkboard menu. The burger can be prepared simply grilled, blackened or au poive to the temperature of your choice (we recommend medium rare) with a great selection of delectable cheeses and toppings. The cheeses range from the classics American and Swiss to more exotic choices like Aged Danish Bleu, Mustard Seed Gouda and Double Cream Brie. Additional toppings include Applewood Smoked Bacon, Guacamole, Grilled Peppers, Sherry-Sautéed Mushrooms (our recommendation!), Roasted Garlic and even…Foie Gras. Clearly, they are not messing around here. Sides are also available and include Buttered Corn on the Cob, Mac-n-Cheese and Potato Chips. Given the shear mass of the burgers, we opted to keep it simple and share some chips and corn (although the mac-n-cheese looked really tasty and will need to be sampled at some point!).
Each burger is grilled to order and after a short 10 minute wait in line, we headed back to the home-front with our giant burgers in tow. Each of us opted for the simply grilled burger and our choice of topping varied slightly (though I think we all decided to get the smear of roasted garlic which was delicious). After some initial pondering about how best to eat the massive burgers, we opted to cut them in half and do our best not to dribble them down our shirts. Bibs may be a good idea for next time.
So what’s the final FDP verdict? I can safely say that the phrase “This is the best burger I’ve ever had” was uttered several times by all of us. The burgers are huge, juicy and the topping are delicious--I can see Ray’s quickly becoming a burger-fix necessity. One word of warning—be sure to go hungry! The rest of the night proceeded with the requisite girly conversation, drinking, and even a visit from the upstairs neighbor who yelled at us for being too loud. Overall a great way to break in a new apartment and by far one of the best burgers in DC.
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