Comfort Food at Ted’s Bulletin

C – If you squint, you can see Ted’s Bulletin in this picture. It was a cold and grey day, and what would typically be a bustling green area at the Mosaic District looked a little bleak. The perfect day for some comfort food.

Everyone’s been raving about Ted’s. Specifically, their adult milkshakes and homemade pop tarts. I heard rumors of crazy long waits – they don’t take reservations during peak lunch/brunch times. So, I showed up about 30 minutes early. I walked in, was told the wait would be 30 minutes, put my name on the list and decided to run across the street to Target. I was given a pager and I left my phone number in case I was too far out of range. I walked out the door, saw my friend – also super early – and the pager went off. No wait whatsoever. Strange for a Saturday just before noon, but hey, luck was on our side.

The atmosphere: upscale diner, cozy and comfortable. Counter seating, a generous amount of booths for two, and tables for larger parties.

The food: Deeee-lish. Not low-cal, for sure. My friend had “The Rachel” – basically a Rueben with turkey. I had the “Short Rib Sammy.” I’ve been on a bit of a short rib kick lately, so this was an interesting variation. Grilled texas toast, Vermont white cheddar, arugula, red wine gravy and red wine mayo, served with “bowling alley” onion rings. Fat Fest 2015. And I ate every bite.

The signature items: After enjoying the previously mentioned Fat Fest 2015, I couldn’t in good conscience order both of their signature items. So, I skipped the adult milkshake and split the salted caramel pop tart with my friend. There was a bit of a disagreement over the splitting of said pop tart. Tears fell. Plates were licked. It was an ugly scene.

Ted’s Bulletin
Mosaic District/Merrifield, VA
Reston Town Center, VA
Gaithersburg, MD and
1818 14th Street in DC

Cheers! WHS #Sugar and Champagne

K- Last week I volunteered/attended the Washington Humane Society’s Sugar and Champagne Affair and I must say, what a treat!

Many fabulous chefs from restaurants such as Black Salt, Hanks Oyster Bar, Trummer’s on Main, Bastille and Equinox were represented at the event and it was difficult to decide what delightful pastries I would relish for the evening.

I tasted a mouth-watering tiramisu, champagne cake, a macaroon interestingly frozen, a boozy vegan shake, a profiterole oozing with a fruit jam, among a few other tantalizing sweets. I did get some non-sweet delectables such as a lovely, fresh ceviche and sweet potato soup.  I also picked up some cute little dog biscuits for my pup – who went crazy for the treats. Oh and did I mention the champagne? It went delightfully with everything! Although if you would rather something other than champagne there were some mixed drinks.

The reception was at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and honored local animal crusaders while raising critical funds to help care for the homeless pet population in our nation’s capital. The hosts of the affair were Chef Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray.

I would highly recommend going to this event with your friends  next year. Besides raising money for a fabulous cause, it’s also a great way to taste some scrumptious treats with a glass of bubbly and well-dressed pups!

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Founding Farmers – MOCO

Bill delivery at Founding Farmers

C – I love that new little hoods are popping up everywhere. My latest discovery is Park Potomac in Maryland. Weirdly, I think it’s been around for a while, at least four years as that seems to be the last time their website was updated, but the area still looks very much under construction. Perhaps they’re phasing the building. I’m not sure. But my reason for bringing this up isn’t really about the area, it’s actually about a new(er) branch of Founding Farmers in the center of this community.

Similar to the original in the heart of DC, this version is relaxed and welcoming, with some of the same staples. The service during my visit was excellent. Almost more of a story than the food, our experience with employees here was outstanding. Our waiter was very honest without being smarmy. When we ordered the Bread, Chips and Crisps as an appetizer, he steered us away, volunteering that the chips were more like Cheez-its and that it was actually the least appealing appetizer on the menu. We went with the Skillet Corn Bread, which was great and honestly, too much for two people.

While ordering mains, we deferred to our server again. My dining companion chose the Chicken Pot Pie, which came with a monster biscuit on top. I requested the Carolina Pork BBQ and Fixings, but I was again steered away and pointed in the direction of the sandwich version which was terrific. We were too full for dessert.

A few notes of warning:

1. Parking at Potomac Place is weird. Make sure to park in the underground garage and get a validation ticket from the hostess stand. They validate for 3 hours or less.
2. If it’s cold outside, it will be cold inside – but only when a patron decides to avoid the revolving door. Once the regular door is open, the wind ricochets off every wall. And it will find you no matter where you are.
3. We arrived at 12 for lunch (on a Saturday) and it was moderately crowded. By the time we left, at 2, it was completely rammed. Come early.

Founding Farmers – MOCO
12505 Park Potomac Avenue, Potomac, MD 20854