Sea Pearl @ Mosaic

Photo from Sea Pearl website

K- Last Saturday, C and I met for lunch at Sea Pearl. For whatever reason, I was trying to decide between Sea Pearl and Gypsy Soul – completely forgot about True Food Kitchen, which I really want to try – and ended up making reservations at Sea Pearl as their menu looked quite interesting.  I always make reservations, especially on the weekend as I believe it’s better to be safe than sorry and sometimes, like this time, we are one of the very few people in the restaurant.

Our table was by the window, which was quite nice and our server was quite prompt. I ordered the crab and corn chowder with crisp wontons only to be told that they didn’t have that but they did have a sweet corn soup with crab, bacon and crispy wontons so I ordered that minus the bacon for my first (yes, I hear those of you gasping at my sacrilegious decision of no bacon.)  For my entrée I chose the lobster crepe with shitake mushrooms, green onions, coconut milk, red chili, potatoes hash and sautéed spinach and a cucumber Bloody Mary to sip with my meal.

The cucumber Bloody Mary arrived with a large spear of cucumber rather than a spear of celery thus the cucumber part I’m assuming. It was good, but not very spicy or “tomatoey.” The sweet corn soup wasn’t very sweet, it wasn’t very anything – well, bland. There was a “sprinkling” of crab, which was also bland and of course the crisp wontons, which were nice and crisp.  I was hoping the crepe would add a bit of “zip” to the meal with the red chili but was sadly disappointed. To be honest, I don’t know if and where the red chili part was in my lunch.  The potatoes hash, I did like that – nothing spectacular, but it was good and the spinach was a bit flat.

Overall, for me, the Sea Pearl wasn’t a “pearl” however I had a great time hanging out with C and catching up.

C – These look amazing, don’t they?  Meh. The ricotta fritters with vanilla and lavender honey were just OK. And that was mostly because of the honey. The taste was lacking — like nothing at all, actually — and the rest of my meal was the same. I also had the lobster crepe and, as someone who never salts or peppers, I was looking for the shakers. They weren’t there, or on any table. I didn’t bother to ask. The experience was more about the company anyway.

The atmosphere was nice, though I was surprised to see the dining room so empty at 1:30 on a Saturday. All of the other restaurants at Mosaic are usually packed on the weekends. Perhaps I was served an unusually dull meal, or maybe I made a poor choice, but my instinct tells me lack of flavor may be why we didn’t have to fight for a seat.

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Sea Pearl Restaurant & Lounge
8191 Strawberry Lane, #2
Falls Church, VA  22042

 

Farmers Fishers Bakers – Our new go-to place for pre-theater dining

C – Getting in and out of the Kennedy Center can be a bit of a pain, and once you’re there, your dining options are limited. K and I went to Farmers Fishers Bakers at Washington Harbour before heading out to La Boheme, and I have to say, it kind of worked for us.

The hook at FFB – can I call it FFB? – is “Farm to fork.” Related to Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania Avenue, FFB serves dishes with ingredients sourced from American family farmers in a creative, eco-friendly setting. You might think that means it’s pretentious, but think again. It’s all quite casual. Prices vary, but you can get away pretty inexpensively if you want. (My favorite, the Detroit Deep Dish w/Meatball is only $11, and it’s massive!) The choices are varied. Feel like sushi? They’ve got it. Steak Frites? No problem. Jambalaya? You bet.

Detroit Red Top

I’d recommend starting with the Bread and Broths. It’s exactly as it sounds, but with a remarkable amount of roasted garlic.

Bread and Broths

 

As for entrees, K had the Cauliflower Steak & Risotto which satisfied her need for a no meat entree quite well. On the traditional steak side, the 5oz Butcher’s “Butter” Rib Cut is excellent, and small enough so you don’t have to roll away after the meal.

Cauliflower Steak

 

The Virginia Peanut Butter Mousse and Floating Smith Island are the only deserts I can vouch for. Both good, but given the choice, I’d go for the mousse again.

 

Finally, or maybe I should have started with this, the cocktails. It’s a crazy assortment of craft beers, wine and insane drinks. They have a proprietary line of spirits, “Beer Cocktails”, and a Signature Tiki Redux section, which scares me a little. The Zombies come with a limit of how many a customer may have: two.

Farmers Fishers Bakers
3000 K Street NW
Washington Harbour
Washington, DC 20007

Farewell Eventide

C – Consider us shocked! Eventide in Clarendon served its last meals on Sunday. I was there, but through a ridiculous little date mix up, my dining companion had made reservations for the following Sunday. So, I left without brunch and we decided to meet again the following week. While I waited (stomach growling furiously) in the foyer, it didn’t seem like there was anything strange going on. There was no indication they were closing up shop. There was no mad rush to get in one final brunch. It was business as usual. So what happened?

 

According to ARLnow, the owner of A-Town bought the business and lease. Don Tito, a “Tacos, tequila and beer” establishment, will go in its place.

We will miss Eventide. It was a great place for brunch, it had a lovely roof top, and the Odd Bar was a great choice for a last minute meet up.

Mad Fox’s Hoppy Oktoberfest

C – The last Saturday in September saw Mad Fox’s annual Oktoberfest in Falls Church, and this year did not disappoint. The line to get in stretched through the parking lot, but everyone managed to get into the Market Square in good time. It was a family (and pet) friendly event, which made the atmosphere happy and lively.

My favorite pour of the day

There was an impressive selection of the region’s top IPA’s and Oktoberfest beers along with pretzel bites, bratwurst and chili. Admission was technically free, but to eat and drink you had to buy tickets and a souvenir mini-beer stein. $20 for 6, 4 oz. pours worked quite nicely for me, though some in my party opted to mix in some food. The weather was amazing, the music was good and the company was outstanding. I’d recommend it for next year!

Mad Fox Brewing Company
444 West Broad Street, Suite I
Falls Church, VA 22046

BLT Steak

C – I’d like to direct your attention to the popovers in the photo above. Free with any meal at BLT Steak, these could easily be mistaken for the highlight of your dinner. In fact, they’re so popular, BLT provides the recipe in the form of a cute, branded card. But don’t be fooled, the popovers are good, but the steak is the real center of attention here. (Also, don’t eat the whole popover. Rookie mistake. Never fill up on bread even if it is laced with Gruyere.)

I got the filet mignon during my most recent visit to BLT and it did not disappoint. Weighing in at 12 ounces, it’s easily the largest filet I’ve ever been served. Paired with Bearnaise sauce, I couldn’t resist eating the whole thing. Nothing left for the doggie bag.

BLT Steak is expensive and everything is a la carte. So, this isn’t an every week kind of restaurant. But on special occasions, or when you just want a really good steak, it’s the place to be. Bonus: great atmosphere, hopping bar scene and good selection of beers.

BLT Steak
1625 I Street, NW
Washington, DC

 

 

 

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ

K- Last Saturday C and I went to the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival at National Harbour. The event touts “60 Beers, 40 Bourbons and lots of BBQ.” The day we went was for their VIP Bacon Session. I’m not a huge meat-eater as I lean more vegetarian however I’m always up for an adventure. C had a couple of VIP tickets so we thought we’d check it out.

The event began at noon and we arrived about 1 p.m. By the time we arrived there was already an huge crowd milling about the tents. We were a little unsure of where we needed to go but we figured it out. Upon entrance we received a souvenir glass as well as a couple of bracelets labeling us as VIPs and of age to drink.

We went to the pier as that is where they had the VIP section. Once there, the confusion began. We got into a line but wasn’t sure if it was to get in or if it was for a taste of bourbon. We found that it was a line for moonshine punch. We didn’t have the punch but tried the “moonshine.” I tried a cherry-flavoured one. It wasn’t too bad.

We walked along the pier to see what else was offered as there really wasn’t a map or plan that showed where things were. However we discovered that on the pier there was a bacon tasting station, cheese tasting station as well as beer tasting station. Really no BBQ.

We went to the more general section – not on the pier. There you were able to taste different bourbons, ciders, beers, etc. However, the BBQ we found was not included in the ticket – you had to pay for it. We also found a lot of other booths that were separate from the ticket, in other words you had to pay. Also, if you wanted to have some water or soda – it was a very, hot day – it was not easy to find and once you did, it cost you $2.

Overall, I must admit I wasn’t impressed by the event and am unsure if having a VIP ticket was worth it. Although we got in a couple of hours early and were able to go to the pier for items not available to the general attendees, I wouldn’t recommend it.  I’m glad that C invited me along, but I guess overall I would say, “Been there, done that and got the glass.”

C – Been there, done that, indeed! It was a lovely day, weather-wise and it was nice to be near the water, but that’s about all I can say about Beer, Bourbon and BBQ. I have friends who go every year and just love it. Me, not so much. Though I was driving, I opted for the regular ticket because I wanted to at least taste a bourbon or two – I’ve never had bourbon so I thought it would be a learning experience. I managed to taste exactly two. And when we went to the driver’s area so I could get a soda and a water, I basically had to beg for it. This event is not set up for people who want to stay safe, clearly. The lack of any water available meant the opportunity for drinkers to pass out from heat/dehydration was highly likely. We left and got fro-yo (and water) at Pinkberry. Not my scene. Next time I’ll skip the event and just go walk around Washington Harbor.

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Rasika West – yum!

Photo taken from Rasika West FB page

K- I was meeting a friend of mine that I hadn’t seen for a very long time who was flying into DC for a business trip. I suggested we meet at Rasika West as it was nearby to where I was and where he was staying.

I got there early so I sat at the bar. I ordered a Kaminee, which consisted of Pimms, chili gin, lime juice, ginger syrup and cucumber. The chili gin gave a nice kick to the drink and overall the drink wasn’t too sweet. I also munched on some spiced popcorn that they have at the bar rather than the usual boring nuts or chips.

When my friend arrived we went to the dining room – I couldn’t handle the bar anymore as there was a girl there who sounded like one of the Kardashians – to have dinner.  The dining room is exquisitely decorated and can get a bit noisy when it starts filling up, especially since the tables are a little close to each other.

Photo taken from Urban Spoon.

When the waiter came to take our order he was very informative but not overly so. He answered our questions and offered to help with the menu if needed.The menu had a nice choice of vegetarian options. There were also other choices for non-vegetarians such as fish and chicken entrees.

My only question was although it’s not on the menu, could I have palak paneer. He said “yes,” which made me very happy as it’s my favourite; sadly as it is my favourite, I have a tendency not to explore other dishes. I have vowed to change that next time I go to an Indian restaurant but that wasn’t going to be the night. I also ordered garlic naan and basmati rice. My friend ordered the shrimp pepper masala.

My dinner was fabulous, so much so that I ate all of it, which left no room for dessert. But I enjoyed every bite of it!

I’m looking forward to going back and trying something new – maybe the paneer mattar, malai palak or vegetable biryani. Yum!

Rasika West

1190 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Entrance on New Hampshire Avenue & M Street.
Valet parking is available at Dinner only.
See map

Tel: 202.466.2500

Boozy Brunch at P.O.V.

C – We were in the mood for a boozy brunch on Sunday, so we took an honorary 3rd Girl to P.O.V. on 15th Street. High atop what used to the be the Hotel Washington, P.O.V. is now the jewel in the W Hotel’s crown. With views that sweep across the city, it’s an experience you should embrace more than once in your life. The food isn’t cheap, but it isn’t outrageous either. Small plates are their thing, and we found four were enough for the three of us. The pitcher of White Peach Bellini set us back $65.

K- Besides the pitcher of Bellini, we ordered the cheddar-jalapeno fritters, beef short-rib steam buns, fried chicken and waffle, and 7 grain French toast with bacon. The fritters were nice, crunchy and with a bit of spice – not greasy at all. The French toast had a wonderful grainy texture and flavour and the maple syrup added a little sweetness to it. The steam buns were very spicy – if you aren’t use to something with quite a bit of heat you may want to think about it. The fried chicken was crispy as was the waffle. The four small plates were more than enough for the three of us so we unfortunately had to skip dessert.  While we enjoyed our brunch we had a great roof top view of the city, which included the White House and Treasury. Overall, it was a fabulous view, good food, yummy drinks with wonderful friends!

The Food:

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The View:

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P.O.V.
515 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
TIP: Make reservations through http://www.opentable.com for anytime up until 8:30pm. At 9:00pm the club starts thumping (untz, untz, untz!) and it’s a free for all.

Mad for Mad Fox

K – I have passed the Mad Fox on numerous occasions, especially when going back and forth to Pilates class, but have never stopped by. Until now. For a weekday afternoon it was quite crowded and I can understand why. It has a nice gastro-pub, brewery atmosphere, good food and of course, beer.  I had a Kirsche Weissen – a cherry, wheat beer – that tasted very good, not too sweet and not too “wheaty.”  For lunch, I had the black bean burger and for a side onion rings. The black bean burger was quite tasty with a Tilamook cheese, pesto, tomato and lettuce. I will say that I had to remove the bun as it was too much for me and I was more interested in the burger than the bun anyway. The onion rings, wow, they were HUGE. They looked like Cruller doughnuts! That being said, they were good, crunchy and not greasy at all – although there was more crunchy outside than onion but nothing to truly complain about. For dessert I had the root beer float. I hadn’t had one of those since I was a kid and when I saw it on the menu, I thought, yeah, I want one of those. And I’m so glad I ordered it because it was the best root beer float! Yes, I know, how can you ruin something that’s just root beer and ice cream but I’m sure there is bad root beer out there and it’s possible. This one though made me think that I miss having a root beer float and should have them more I often – sigh.

C – I have actually been to Mad Fox Brewing Company more times than I care to admit. On our recent trip, it was a dreary, drizzly Friday at 1:30 and it was still packed. Most local restaurants clear out after the lunch rush, but Mad Fox seems to keep going right into happy hour. The food there is great. There’s nothing I’ve had that wasn’t good. The truffle mac and cheese pizza, available only during dinner hours, is as obscenely awesome as it sounds. I’ve had the frickles while enjoying a drink with a friend. They’re good, but you kind of have to be into the taste of fried pickles. They have excellent burgers and the beers are outstanding. During the winter holiday season, they offer a dark, robust ale called Festivus. (For the rest of us).  I tend to routinely go for the Kölsch — a German-style golden ale. If you can’t decide on a beer, you can get the sampler of 4. And if you know what you like, you can walk out of there with a growler filled with your favorite.

On our recent trip, I skipped the beer and went directly for the nearest high-calorie foods: the fig and balsamic blues pizza and the butterscotch pudding. The latter was so divine I’ve been thinking about it all weekend.

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Mad Fox Brewing Company
444 West Broad Street
Falls Church, VA 22046

Addicted to Мари Vanna

Klubnichka!

C – Opened just a few months ago, Mari Vanna (Мари Vanna) has quickly become the “in” restaurant for Washingtonians. Complete with kitschy interior, costumed hostesses and a roaming accordion player, it’s a feast for the senses.

I went on a Wednesday at 7:00 and it was PACKED. Word to the wise: you can make reservations on www.OpenTable.com in advance. We were seated on the second floor where the decor is very cool, but incredibly tight to the point of being uncomfortable once it fills up. I started with the Klubnichka — a strawberry-infused vodka drink that went down way too fast. We ordered pickled vegetables and potato vareniki (pierogies) for the table. My three friends went for the salmon as their main, but I wanted the full-on experience and went with the beef stroganoff. This is not your Babushka’s stroganoff… it’s filet mignon with a rich sour cream sauce served on buckwheat kasha. Outstanding. On another occasion I had the chicken kotletki which was fine, but not amazing. It is, really, all about the atmosphere, though. Our check came in a cute little grandma-style change purse. I’m going back again for happy hour this week ($5 infused vodka shots) and will hit it up for lunch service soon (just started at the end of March). I’m also going to take the next person I know to have a birthday here. The embarrassment quotient is high… servers singing a birthday song in Russian with accordion guy in tow and the whole restaurant clapping. Good stuff.

One more thing… I came across this article from the Washington City Paper which discusses the “secret keys” you can get for their regular Monday night exclusive parties.

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K – Lunch! Went for lunch and it was oooohhhh so good! We were on the second floor this time as well but although it was crowded it wasn’t packed.  I got the prix-fixe lunch (soup or salad and sandwich or entree) that was a good deal at $19. I started off with the Russian country salad, which was nice and fresh as well as some bread – I am not one to shun carbohydrates! The slices of cranberry bread were moist and not too sweet, the other slices, I think they might have been poppy, was a bit dry, but still good. For my entree I got the Roasted Potato with Mushroom Sauce. It was not what I was expecting – it was better! It was half of a baked potato, mashed in the middle with the mushroom sauce on top and absolutely delicious! (Note: I have lots of exclamation marks!)  C  had the Borsch. I thought about trying it but I’m not a fan of anything with beets. However I may change my mind someday and try something “beetish” from here as the food was really good. She also had the Chicken Stroganoff and unfortunately they were out of whatever it usually comes with and came with mashed potatoes instead. Of course we had to have dessert – how could we not? So we shared a Kiev Cake and a Napoleon. Both were delicious and not too sweet. The Kiev Cake was a mound mixture of crumbly stuff with a condensed-milk-like flavour which had a fluffy, sweet taste to it. That’s the only way I can describe it. The Napoleon was a layer of puff pastry with custard that was light and creamy tasting. I’m definitely going back to try dinner so I can try their evening menu as well as their vodka cocktails! But right now I think I need a nap……

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Mari Vanna
1141 Connecticut Ave NW