We are Present

The month of May means warm weather is here to stay, and the piggies had a craving for some bold and fresh flavors to bring us into Summer. Present is a Vietnamese restaurant located along Rt. 50 in an undistinguished (and unattractive) strip mall. However, upon entering the restaurant we were greeted not only by amazing smells, but a lovely, warm, dining room surrounded by golden-wood paneled walls and a trickling fountain in the center. The dining room was a stylish and welcome contrast to the surrounding strip mall. The hostess and wait staff that greeted us were extremely friendly and seated us right away in a cozy booth; we ordered a bottle of sparkling rose to get us started and began to peruse the extensive menu. The first page of the menu included a brief paragraph about the concept of Present. Food, as life is to be enjoyed in the moment, surrounded by friends and family—Present is named to remind diners to take time, taste every bite, and enjoy the entire experience. At first glance of the menu, we were a bit overwhelmed by the amount of choices, so we focused on one of the last pages which listed “Chef’s Recommendations.” We also had some help from our bubbly waitress who gave us several suggestions and made us feel right at home.

We began with a few appetizers including the Green Paradise Spring Roll, prawn and pork wrapped in rice paper with mint and basil served with peanut dipping sauce; Jewel-Green Papaya, a salad of shredded papaya, fresh herbs, beef liver jerky (yes, indeed) and a fish sauce based dressing; and upon our waitress’ recommendation, the Smokey Petal; baby clams sautéed with herbs and spices and served with sesame rice crackers. The contrast of fresh herbs against the sweet shrimp in the spring rolls was delicious, and perfectly enhanced by the peanut dipping sauce. The papaya salad was refreshing and a bit unusual with the addition of beef liver jerky, but it gave it a welcome depth of flavor and complexity. And the baby clams were perfectly cooked, tender and extremely flavorful after being sautéed with herbs and spices. The clams were served with crisp rice crackers which provided a nice texture contrast to the soft clams. The sparkling rose paired beautifully with the fresh herbs and spices of the appetizers, so we ordered a second bottle before heading into the main courses.

With a little more help from our friendly waitress, we ordered the Rich Folks Golden Crepes, Hardworking Piglet, and Cow on the Open Field. The cutesy names of the menu items were entertaining, but we were even more impressed with how everything tasted. The crepe was brought out and the waitress instructed us in how it should be assembled and eaten. The large, beautifully golden and crispy crepe was stuffed with pork, shrimp, bean sprouts and green onion. Accompanied by large leaves of spring lettuce, we were told to cut a wedge of the crepe and place it in the lettuce leaf, to then be topped with fresh herbs including mint, basil, cilantro and shiso. A drizzle of fish sauce on top and the lettuce leaf was rolled around the goodies like a big, sloppy and utterly delicious Vietnamese taco. The contrast of flavors and textures was incredible. The Hardworking Piglet was a small clay pot filled with caramelized pork ribs and served with steamed white rice. And finally, the Cow on the Open Field included marinated beef, “shaken” in open flames and served atop watercress and sliced onion. This was served with a tangy lemon juice and pepper sauce. The meats were tender and perfectly cooked, enhanced by their respective sauces but not overwhelmed—the flavor of the meat was the main attraction. After the entrees, we were all completely stuffed, but what kind of FDP review would this be without dessert? We ordered the Bananas Fritters with Coconut Cream—tender, lightly fried bananas served with coconut cream and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The not-too sweet dessert was a perfect ending to this wonderful meal.

Even more amazing than the fresh, flavorful food, attentive and friendly staff and lovely ambiance was the overall cost—Present is a steal for the amount and quality of food we received. This is a place you can go for a special evening, or on a Tuesday night whenever a craving strikes. In fact, I went back for the second time in one week…I just HAD to make sure everything was as good as I remembered (3 days before). And it was.

3.5 Oinks!

April showers bring May……….Spring PIGGIES!!!

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For our first real spring FDP outing, we decided on French cuisine. Oui? It seems like a no brainer, with all the food/wine experience shared between us, but we 4 piggies have never ventured into French food for an FDP dinner. Non? Tres Bizarre!!

For our foray into French fare, we opted for Bistro Lepic in upper Georgetown/Glover Park. This little gem of a restaurant is small, quaint and very sweet. The bar is upstairs and serves a nice happy hour with half price glasses of wine and interesting crostini appetizers. The bar area is decorated with wall murals depicting whimsical and happy pigs (how very apropos). The main dining room, downstairs, is very cozy with a friendly wait staff. We were seated at a table for 4 right at the front window so we could watch people on the sidewalk outside. We had all perused the dinner menu on line earlier in the week, and had a pretty good idea of what we were going to order. Amanda ordered us a bottle of La Bastide Cotes du Rhone Blanc, and we settled into our usual menu choosing: 4 appetizers and 4 entrees to share. The warm, fresh baguette with butter arrived and we made our selections:

For our appetizers, we ordered: Risotto aux crevettes parfumé au citron / Lemon lime risotto with shrimp, which was a creamy slightly citrusy risotto with a lovely butterflied and grilled shrimp on top. Second, escargots des bois de Bourgogne au beurre d’ail / Organic Burgundy snails baked in garlic butter, which I was reluctant to try, but admittedly were delicious. They were soft, succulent and had a lovely pesto-like sauce on top which was perfect for dipping the baguette. For our third, we chose Le pâté de campagne aux pruneaux et Armagnac / Homemade country pâté with prunes and Armagnac, which was rich and elegant and came with little buttered toast points to spread the pâté. Our last appetizer choice was La tarte à l'oignon et sa petite salade / Onion tart with bacon and baby green salad, which had a thick, yet flaky crust and was presented in 4 slices like a quiche. The tart was simple, with a lovely caramelized onion flavor and creamy custard filling. Four lovely appetizers to begin our spring meal.

For our main courses, we chose 2 seafood entrees and 2 meat entrees, and a bottle of Vincent Saumur-Champigy: For the entrees, there was a Truite grillée, julienne de pois gourmand, huile au basilic/ Grilled rainbow trout with snow peas and seasonal vegetables and extra virgin oil perfumed with basil, which was a light and perfectly fried piece of trout with julienned spring vegetables and a delicate, but springy-green sauce. The second entrée was Thon grillé, socca Nicoise, huile de citron / Grilled tuna cooked rare with chick peas crêpe, lemon capers tomato confit and lemon mosto oil; perfectly seared tuna resting on a thin chickpea crepe and topped with a Mediterranean mixture of olives, tomatoes, and fresh herbs that provided a deliciously acidic contrast to the rich fish. Our third entrée choice was Médaillons de boeuf, polenta et jus aux shitaki / Beef medallions with polenta and shiitake mushroom sauce; lovely pieces of juicy, medium-rare beef with a rich demi-glace. The mushrooms added a depth a flavor and texture, and the polenta provided a creamy bed of softness. Our last but certainly not least entrée was Poulet fermier organique aux deux vinaigres / Free range organic chicken braised with white and red wine vinegar, tomato light cream sauces and rice pilaf; a nicely oven roasted chicken with in a tangy, creamy sauce and simple pilaf.

Though we were sated, we couldn’t resist dessert. We had a scrumptious, moist chocolate cake with a crème en glaze and topped with confectioner’s sugar. It came out smartly cut into four pieces just the right size to complete the meal.

Our rating of Bistro Lepic?? C'est Magnifique!! Good wines, a good representation of classic French cuisine and an attentive wait staff earns this small jewel a rating of 3.25 oinks!!

Stayed tuned for our May adventure………

Art, Soul and an FDP Birthday

March brings us another FDP birthday! And you know what that means…. A fabulous restaurant picked out by the Piggy of Honor, Kate. Kate, a well-known biscuit lover, chose the southern inspired Art and Soul restaurant on Capitol Hill. And since our schedules always seem to be ridiculously busy, we did brunch rather than dinner. But don’t think for one second that just because it was brunch we slacked on our gluttonous duties. There was plenty of food and champagne of course!

Since it was a special occasion we kicked it off with the celebratory bottle of Champagne. This time it was a 2002 Montadon Brut. While we sipped and mulled over the menu we were greeted with a warm cinnamon bun, which lasted about 5 seconds on our table. The menu presented us with many dilemmas. We couldn’t decide how many biscuits, hoecakes and fried things we should order! We did decide to start with the biscuits and gravy (which is technically a side) and the Capitol Hill salad (kidding ourselves trying to be healthy). The biscuits were light and fluffy and were the perfect thing to absorb all of the delicious pork gravy. The salad was a nice contrast with apples, blue cheese and candied pecans.

Now time for the main event! Hands down all four piggies snorted with delight when we saw Chicken and Waffles on the menu. So that was a no brainer to order. We followed that fried deliciousness with the Country Fried Steak. Yep, that’s right. Both the chicken and the steak had a beautiful thick golden brown crust on the outside and were appropriately salty. The waffle that accompanied the chicken had a light texture and was topped off with a Pecan Butter. The steak was served up with eggs any style; we went with scrambled, and some sumptuous grits. To contrast our fried extravaganza we also ordered the Chesapeake Benedict and the Lemon Mascarpone pancakes. The poach on the benedict was just right and it sat atop lovely lump meat crab cakes. The pancakes had just the right amount of lemon taste to them that counteracted the salty bacon. In this line-up there was no weak link. We devoured everything like our lives depending on it.

We loved the décor of Art and Soul. It displays fun, modern art while maintaining a southern comfort kind of feel. Our service was a bit slow (and forgetful- 3 times to ask for coffee), but at least it was nice. We would certainly go back (we didn’t get to try the hoecakes) and we collectively decided on 3.5 oinks!

Schnitzel, Spaetzli, and Steins: The FDPs take a break from reality courtesy of Cafe Mozart.

Without getting into details, let’s just say February was a stressful month for the FDPs. Craving an escape that our busy lives won’t currently allow, we turned our focus instead to an evening meal that would take us to a far-away spot, at least in our minds. This need was met by Café Mozart, a cheery German restaurant tucked away on an otherwise nondescript downtown DC street. Located amidst tall office buildings on H Street, from the outside, Café Mozart appears to be a delicatessen and German foodstuffs shop. The front of the restaurant is indeed a store where you can purchase all sorts of imported goods and some freshly-baked delights as well. But, push through the doors in the back of the store (trust us—do it!), and you are suddenly transported into another world.
Café Mozart exudes a cheerful, relaxed intimacy. It is the kind of place where you look around the room and somehow get a sense that everyone there considers themselves a regular. There is a comfortable, congenial air about the place, with patrons speaking in hushed but happy tones, which are buffered by the soft piano tunes gently filling the space, courtesy of the cheerful older gentleman tickling the keys. At the front of the room, a few men sat hunched at the dark wooden bar drinking tall steins of beer and conversing with the bartender. The rest of the restaurant is filled with tables of various shapes and sizes, all covered in crisp white linens. The walls are decorated with scenic posters depicting German castles, mountains, and picturesque towns. We gratefully gathered at a large corner table in the back, where we had privacy and yet were still enveloped in the cozy feel of the room.
Instantly the ambiance relaxed us, and we eagerly turned to the menu, which is quite extensive. We decided to start with the potato pancakes (served with sour cream and applesauce), breaded mushrooms, and the choice of two sausages—we picked Weisswurst and smoked Bratwurst. And of course, we ordered ourselves delicious German beers and wines. The appetizers were all scrumptious, but the potato pancakes and Bratwurst won the highest raves (you need to ask for mustard to accompany the sausages). For our main course, we picked the special of the night--venison goulash served with spaetzli, and the breaded veal schnitzel. Obviously we also needed a hearty side of sauerkraut and red cabbage! The food came relatively swiftly, and we dug in with gusto. The rich venison alongside the soft, melt-in-your-mouth spaetzli, and the crispy and flavorful schnitzel were both excellent choices, and the sauerkraut was the perfect accompaniment for both meat dishes. Amazingly, after we finished inhaling the main courses, we still had room for dessert. It was a tough choice, but we went with two sweet delights: linzer torte and apple strudel. Both were delicious and more than enough for four somewhat-overly-stuffed ladies to share. By the time the check came, we were fully satiated and significantly more relaxed than when we dragged our stressed-out selves through the front door.
Café Mozart is a small gem that is definitely worth discovering. For a night when you want to say auf Wiedersehen to reality and enjoy some delicious German cuisine, we give it 3 oinks!

Philly By Way of DC...

The month of January found the FDP’s recovering from the holiday season in more ways than one. After all the money spent and rich food consumed throughout December, we went looking for something a bit more casual--sandwiches seemed like the perfect solution to our bloated bellies and depleted wallets. There are plenty of great places to get a good sandwich in the DC area (including our beloved Italian Store that we frequent often), but we had heard through the grapevine about a new place offering Philadelphia-style hoagies.

Taylor Gourmet Deli is located in the up-and-coming H Street NE neighborhood and has quickly carved a niche for itself as having delicious, high-quality subs at great prices. The small, yet funky deli was built out of an old barber shop and offers a limited amount of seating. Gourmet items are offered for sale including Italian goodies such as gelato, pasta, sauces and a selection of wines. But let’s talk about the hoagies—Philadelphia seems to have set the gold-standard for subs on the east coast, and part of that is due to the bread. The sub bread in Philly just tastes BETTER, and although DC has long tried to compete, there is just something about those sandwiches to the north that reign supreme. Sarcone’s Bakery in Philadelphia has long been creating the bread for those fine subs, and the owners of Taylor’s in DC went straight to the source--bread from Sarcone’s is trucked down to Taylor’s daily.

In addition to the fresh bread at Taylor’s, turkey is roasted onsite, while other meats are imported straight from Italy, along with the delicious aged, sharp provolone that is used on many of their creations. The menu consists of many traditional sub sandwiches, all named for different streets or parks in Philadelphia. In keeping with the tradition of the Italian-style subs, Mayo is NOT allowed (as is spelled out on the menu) and the hoagies are adorned with a nice squirt of oil and vinegar. Wanting to try a variety of items, we opted to each get a different 6" sub (nicely priced at under $8 each) and an order of Risotto Balls.

And here are the selections: The Philadelphia Landfill – home-roasted turkey, imported herb roasted ham, Genoa Salami, roasted red peppers, sharp provolone; Vine Street Expressway – chicken cutlet, prosciutto, pesto, sharp provolone; Church Street – Taylor sausage, peppers, onions and sharp provolone; Pattinson Avenue – roast pork and broccoli rabe with sharp provolone. Each sandwich was unique and the high-quality of ingredients was apparent. The roast pork on the Pattinson Avenue was juicy and flavorful, accented nicely by the broccoli rabe and sharp provolone (this sandwich is a classic in Philadelphia). The sausage and peppers was delicious; the sausage pounded flat by hand before cooking to create an easier-to-eat concoction. The chicken cutlet was fried to perfection, crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle, accompanied perfectly by a light pesto and salty prosciutto. And the Philadelphia Landfill was an Italian hoagie at its freshest and best. The risotto balls came five to an order and were huge and dense, accompanied by a tangy, fresh marinara sauce—very rich, but very tasty.

Taylor’s is a fantastic new deli offering fresh, delicious sandwiches at great prices. We are sure to go back whenever the craving for a Philadelphia hoagie strikes. 3 Oinks!

A Milestone Month...

December is a very special month for the piggies. Not only is it our beloved Amanda’s birthday month, it’s also the anniversary month of the FDP’s. 2 years ago this week, we met and started our glorious food relationship!

For our ultra-special December dinner, Amanda decided on Obelisk in DuPont Circle. Obelisk has 2 seatings a night, and thanks to Amanda’s culinary connections, we were able to make a reservation for the 9:30 seating on Saturday night. This special spot is very difficult to get into not only because of the amazing food, but also because of the small size and intimate setting--we counted 12 tables. The menu at Obelisk changes every day depending on what the Chef has fresh, and how the mood strikes.

We arrived at Obelisk a bit early, and were greeted by a very enthusiastic hostess named Tina. Once inside we found the tiny bar and decided on a drink of the day which consisted of Campari, Prosecco and lemon juice and was a refreshing way to begin our amazing meal. Soon we were seated and our hand-written menus were presented. The meal is prix-fixe and consists of antipasti misti, primi, secondi, formaggi, and dolci. Since there were four of us dining and we share everything anyway, we were able to choose everything on the entire menu. We opened a bottle of Graham Beck sparkling rose and Amanda ordered a bottle of Freisa from Langhe, and here’s how the meal went:

We were first each brought a plate of luscious burratta, a soft, creamy fresh mozzarella with olive oil and pepper. The antipasti came with 4 amazing dishes: a rich and creamy duck pate, lovely little savory sausages on a bed of lentils, a fresh, bright chicory salad, and a crispy duck leg confit over a tangy slaw. All 4 antipasti were amazing, with rich flavors and freshness.

The first primi to arrive was a fresh butternut squash ravioli with a savory duck gizzard ragu, which was salty and rich on top of the delicate raviolis and simply to die for. Next came a pasta dish called bigoli, a thick and chewy whole-wheat type of spaghetti with a fuller texture. It was paired with a wonderful, slightly crunchy pancetta and tomato sauce. Third primi, shrimp soup - a clear seafood broth with big beautiful prawns.

By now we were already pretty sated with 3 courses still to go. Secondi: the first dish was a lightly seared grouper cooked to a perfect, flaky, golden-brown and served with earthy matsutake mushrooms and a chive, lemon, and butter sauce. We were also presented with succulent quail served with spinach, pine nuts, and raisins, and a large plate of veal (for 2) served with stewed borlotti beans and a wilted escarole. All 3 entrée dishes were amazing and cooked to perfection. The veal and quail were lovely dishes perfect for a cold winter evening, and the grouper was a light, fresh accompaniment.

Cheese came next--we each received a plate with a soft creamy robiola cheese, a nice wedge of pecorino stagianto with cogna, a Toma piedmontese and a little dollop of jam to cleanse our palettes.

For dessert, we had a hazelnut tart (with a birthday candle for the birthday girl) paired with a flavorful cinnamon ice cream, a puff pastry with caramel blood oranges and zabaglione (a light and fluffy egg and sugar custard) and a chocolate cake with a mint anglaise. Not only were the desserts beautiful to look at, they were each unique and brought our amazing meal to a perfect close. We finished with small chewy candies and very full bellies.

Obelisk is a pricy option and is perfect for a very special occasion, and we unanimously voted on 4 oinks for both high-quality food and perfect service.

Dirt Cheap (and Delicious!) Dim Sum

For our November meal, in anticipation of the holiday season ahead, including a December month that would involve both a birthday and a very important FDP anniversary, we decided to search for something cheap and casual. Fun was also key, of course, and somehow the idea of dim sum brunch got came up as a potential solution to our needs. We consulted our imaginary boyfriend Tom Sietsema (food writer of the WaPost and unwitting soulmate of the FDPs) and found mention of a tiny Chinese spot in Annandale that he enjoyed. Its name was A&J Restaurant and it boasted small plates, dim sum all day, and foot-long, deep-fried breadsticks. Sold!
On a sunny November morning, the FDPs made the trek out to Annandale (a mecca for all foods Asian, see Honey Pig blog for further details of this delicious neighborhood). A&J is indeed tiny and tucked away in a building that also holds a Chinese grocery store, bakery, and video store. Blink and you’d miss it, although the gentleman selling dim sum treats out of a truck in the front parking lot was a sure sign we were in the right place. Once inside the small, simple restaurant, we were seated fairly quickly with no reservation (they don’t accept them) after a brief delay caused by our need to fetch cash (they also don’t accept plastic). When we were finally settled, we were presented with menus. Unlike many dim sum experiences, at A&J, you circle your choices (sushi-style) instead of ordering from a chart. Luckily, they provide descriptions next to the items so there is no guessing involved. A&J does not serve alcohol, so we sipped tea as we perused the extensive menu. We started with the breadsticks, which are pretty much just as described, not terribly exciting but enough to satiate us while we waited for the rest of our dishes. The wait was very short, though, and in a manner of minutes, plates began arriving. We started with a dish billed as “smoked chicken” which quickly earned raves from the table for its incredible juiciness and intense smoky flavor. We also began with a light seaweed and bean sprout salad in a garlic and vinegar sauce and a lightly crispy scallion pancake, which was delicious in its own right but also added a nice texture variation from the other dishes on the table. These were followed by fried pork potstickers, steamed pork buns, and steamed veggie dumplings. The steamed items were certainly tasty, but (no surprise) the fried potstickers pleased us the most, with the yummy crispy outside giving way to tender, juicy pork inside. Delicious! Finally, we tried the “5-Spice Spareribs” which come in a clay pot and are literally smothered in a spice rub that is quite intense, at once both sweet and slightly smoky. It was a bit hard to find the meat under all of the rub, and you had to be careful to chew around the bone, but the FDPs aren’t afraid to work for our food. Finally, we ordered one last dish—a “sweet” to finish. We ordered buns with a red bean and pine nut paste in the middle, which were full of flavor but not sugary, and just sweet enough to finish the meal.
We know that you must be reading all of this and thinking, but oh! All that food! The bill! As we leaned back from the table, bellies full and very content, we awaited the damage. Imagine our joy when our bill came and we realized that (including tax and tip) this veritable feast came to $11 a person! We exulted over our successful discovery of a ridiculously affordable and delicious meal. While reaching this destination certainly requires a trek outside of the city, and you have to be sure to bring cash and check your hankering for a mimosa at the door, for an authentic and inexpensive Chinese brunch without much (ok, any) fanfare, the FDPs give A&J three oinks.