I'm Outta Here!

"Oh Memorial Day Weekend, how I have missed you! I cannot wait to reunite with you, this time in Ocean City, MD."

My bestie and I will be spending our long weekend in the OC (the East Coast version), galavanting on the boardwalk, soaking up the rays while drinking poolside. Where will you be?

May 22 - May 28: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Asian Heritage National Festival: The whole afternoon can be summed up in four words, "Chicken on a stick".

Old Dominion Brewery: Watched the Flyers clobber the Canadiens over some Hoegaarden.

P. Brennan's: Did the dessert sampler with the panna cotta and the blueberry bread pudding. Panna cotta was superb, and the bread pudding was to die for!

Ray's the Steaks: Red meat with the Riderz. Worth the hour-long wait (jeez, thanks a lot, Mark!).

Tony Cheng's: Late night eatings with Mark and Buddha. We ordered a total of eight dishes. Now that is gluttony!

Battle of The Pike's Thai Restaurants

Here's a question: when choosing a restaurant, do you decide based on the ambience or on the authenticity of the food? One would think that the food would take precedence, but after taking an informal poll of friends, it seems that the atmosphere is just as important as the food in the decision-making process.

In my neighbourhood, there are two restaurants vying for the title of "best Thai place ever!", namely Bangkok 54 and Thai Square. I have had the pleasure of dining at both, and to me the difference is as clear as black and white. Herein lies the issue: with two places being so starkly different, how can anyone possibly figure that one place is better than the other?

Commitment-Phobic? Try 20 Bites!

Friends who know me well, know that I have issues with commitment. I have a tendency to be fickle and because of this, I like options. That may be why I have been obsessed with small plates lately. Tapas at Masa 14, mezze at Komi, whatever you call it, these food bite samplers are the answer to my commitment-phobe, pseudo-ADD appetite. They really are the best of both worlds; if I like something, I can always order more plates of it, and if the food is a disaster, at least I didn't waste a whole lot of money on the little sampling.

May 15 - May 21: Top 5 Sins of The Week

ADC @ Donovan House: Drinks at the rooftop pool deck, overlooking much of the District. Clear skies, great friends, and Veuve Clicquot champagne = happy face!

Caribbean Breeze: Felt like I was back in Rincon, PR after dining on lechon, arroz con gandules, and empanadas.

Extra Virgin: The tiramisu was light, but the cannoli was a little too sweet for my liking.

P. Brennan's: Watched the Flyers come back from a 3-0 deficit to eliminate the Bruins. Guinness never tasted so sweet!

Village Bistro: Lobster ravioli with Old Bay sauce was good. Lamb sausage was over-spiced and over-cooked. That's the problem with outdoor barbecue, it's too difficult to regulate the cooking temperature.

Pimp My Pub

I was flipping through the channels the other day when I came across an old episode of the MTV classic show "Pimp My Ride". I have always loved the show's premise: Taking someone's old clunker of a car, adding some fancy accessories, throwing some fresh paint on it, and voila! Same old car with a fresh, updated look. P. Brennan's of Arlington is banking on a similar idea.
 

Dinner Date Decision-Making

I'm pretty opinionated, especially when it comes to telling people where to go for food & drinks in the District. Want an awesome Mexican place where you can dine al fresco? No problem (Lauriol Plaza)! Want imaginative plates of Greek / Mediterranean mezze? Sure (Zaytinya)! Want a place to have drinks with a view? Definitely (ADC at Donovan House Hotel)! Want me to pick a place for a date? Umm, I'd rather eat pickles, thanks!

As the designated "foodie" (still dislike that word, by the way!) within my circle, I'm occasionally called upon by friends and family to give my take on all things related to food & drinks. Sometimes, I even give them my two cents without being asked! But when it comes to choosing a dinner/drinks date venue, I break out into a cold sweat. Why is that?

May 8 - May 14: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Bangkok 54: Had an amazing duck roll, wrapped up in a buttery, flaky roti. Tender duck and cucumber inside was divine.

Cafe Citron's top floor: Apparently, if the bartender likes you, your drinks are automatically upgraded to doubles free of charge.

Midtown IV Diner: Post-Flyers game breakfast. Did not touch the scrapple.

P. Brennan's: Guinness and good food while watching Game 7 of the Flyers-Bruins series. Go Broad Street Bullies!

Silver Diner: Fresh and Local menu unveiled to local food writers. Had a gluttinous feast which included salmon burger on pumpernickel bread, gluten-free pasta made out of brown rice. Awe-some. And guess who won the $50 gift certificate?

Going AWOL on June 16

At long last, Bravo has given us an official air date for Season 7 of Top Chef! Yes, the one that was filmed right in my neck of the woods. So dear readers, I implore you: please do not call me, text me, expect me to show up anywhere that does not have a television, because I intend to plant myself in front of the 42" to do some live-blogging of the inaugural episode.

May 1 - May 7: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Atilla's: Creature of habit, especially when it comes to really, really good gyros.

Hard Times Cafe: Cincinnati Chili with chopped onions, sour cream, and cheddar. Comfort food!

Matuba: Still cannot get over the portions and the freshness of the fish.

P. Brennan's Irish Pub: Site for my very first shepherd's pie. Herd me, I'm a follower!

Restaurant 3: Very happy hour (or two!) with the DC Food Bloggers.

DC Food Bloggers Unite!

What has 40+ legs, wears a Pucci headband, eats free food, and comes out nocturnally once a month? No, not a crossbreed between a caterpillar, Ann Coulter, a tapeworm, and a bat! It is the DC Food Bloggers Happy Hour crew, and this past Wednesday I got the chance to meet some of the members.

Eater's Remorse

I will go out on a limb and say that everyone has experienced buyer's remorse at some point in life. It is the great shopping equalizer, capable of knocking a shopper down in one fell swoop! Myself, I try to avoid it by researching any purchases, going to online forums and reading reviews. Whether it's for a pair of shoes or eyeshadow, I want to know what the world has to say. But sometimes, I get lured in and I fall for the sales pitch, hook, line and sinker! 

Fever For Food Reviewing

Food review? It must be contagious! I am excited to announce that my cousin Alexis is venturing into the world of food & restaurant blogging. She's my go-to gal in the Panhandle, and will be reviewing all that Melbourne, Florida restaurants have to offer! If you're ever in the area, make sure to check her blog at SpaceMunchies.blogspot.com for any recommendations.

April 24 - April 30: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Atilla's: However you pronounce "gyro" (hee-roh, yee-roh, jai-roh, jee-roh?), the beef one was perfection.

Champps: The perfect Saturday involves sunshine, hockey and beer.

Gordon Biersch Brewery: If it has the word brewery in the name, then the attention goes to the beer, not the food, so don't expect anything spectacular from the eats.

Thai Square: Just awesome. 

Union Jack's: British pub grub while watching Game 7. Had the fish & chips and a spotted dick. Honest, that's what it was called!