The Making of DC Gluttony

The idea of a restaurant review blog has been rolling around in my head for a number of years, and now, it is finally a reality! I won't bore you with any extensive credentials, like how I graduated from CIA or apprenticed under Eric Ripert or spent the summer savouring the flavours of the French countryside. In fact, I won't even pretend that I have any culinary background, period! Truth is, I never went to cooking school and I rarely cook for myself! As for the taste of France, does eating crepes at IHOP count? But my one qualification for starting this blog is my love of cuisine, particularly that of the DC area.

I have lived here since 2004, and I have been fortunate enough to eat at a number of eating establishments around town. Sure, people like to discredit the culinary strength of DC, comparing it to more progressive cities like Los Angeles or New York. In my opinion, this is similar to comparing apples to oranges. DC is a transient town and the food will reflect that. Flip open the phone book to "Restaurants" and you will find such a random smattering of cuisines. From Filipino to Southern to Ethiopian, consider yourself in the United Nations of culinary goodness!
 

Let's get to the heart of this blog and its concept. I want to give an honest, clear-cut review of restaurants in the DC area, with everything being rated on a 1- to 5-star rating scale. I've always believed that when we eat, we utilize all of our basic senses. What we experience with our senses complement each other, elevating the dining experience. Sometimes, they're just dealbreakers. For example, durian is a yummy fruit with a delicate tropical flavour, but for many, the smell itself is enough to make them want to singe their nose hairs in the attempt to mask it! Simply put, Sight, Smell, Touch (Texture), and finally Taste will all be factored in when I give my reviews. If I encounter food that pops or even crackles, I'll try to include Sound! How neat would that be?

I will try my best to be both comprehensive yet concise with the descriptions. As well, I plan to be as impartial as possible, but as we all know, food is very subjective and I am easily swayed. So unless the restaurant has an amazing Cabernet Sauvignon that's just the right kind of oaky and a bread pudding that can strike that perfect balance between being rich and light, you got yourself a front row seat for an honest take of DC Gluttony.

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