Category Archives: Fun Finds

The Big “B” is back on the market; Brioche is back

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Bring on the holidays. The big “B” is back and available again, and yes I purchased two bottles.

Old school italians would remember this as the best remedy for upset stomach, occassional indigestion etc. not to mention its fun to watch fizz. Growing up we always had it around and even as an adult I generally had a bottle somewhere until a few years ago when it seemed to vanish. When Walgreens stopped selling it a few years ago I did some searching and its back with new labels that don’t promote it in a way to get it in trouble but still has the same recipe of sugar, baking soda, malic acid, glucose syrup, natural lemon flavor (dehydrated lemon juice), FD&C Blue No. 2 to combat that indigestion and heartburn.  More info can be found in its site: https://www.brioschi.com but it appears it has a new owner. You know I will be asking Walgreens to stock it again. The bottles run about $9 but last. The market I found it in Palm Springs also has a import alternative, but for now – I am back to my roots and picked up two bottles…

 

“Doi Moi” did me right @DoiMoiDC

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Another new find while in DC was on 14th street, Doi Moi. I had walked by here several times at  night and its clean white look at night, didn’t start a place for me to want to eat on my own. But one  Saturday, we were walking by animg_3918d wanted an early dinner, and figured we would take a chance to try it. Especially with the mild  weather DC was offering that day. I will say I am super glad we did.

Doi Moi is all about fresh, sharp, clean and especially seasoned flavors that speak to  all the places the recipes are adapted from with none of the synthetic american overplayed control to mess with them.

They have a pretty diverse menu – so pretty much anyone will find one of two things to try. If I had to rate them in order – our least favorite were the Shrimp and Pork Wontons ($15) with szechuan pepper broth, cabbage, cilantro. While not bad to any degree, I just didn’t think they held up to the ret of the dishes. Especially my personally favorite of the night the Crispy Rice Salad ($14) with fermented sausage, herbs, peanuts, fish sauce. Equally as good was the Green Papaya Salad ($13) w/ chili, lime, peanuts, green bean, tomato, trout roe and the Grilled Chicken Thigh Skewers ($8) w/coconut milk, cilantro, fish sauce.

Dos Moi offers both gluten free and vegatarian dishes as well.

location 1800 14th street nw, washington, dc
phone 202.733.5131
twitter @DoiMoiDC
instagram doimoidc

 

 

Dinner at Me Jana

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So a delayed but well intended post! Paul and I had dinner one night with our friend Louis on my recent trip to DC and  he introduced us to the incredible food of Me Jana. img_3959

This is true Lebanese cooking with the right flat to make it special, yet the kind of food you think about weeks after and look forward to going back.  All too often I will hit a resturant that uses bold seasoning and flavors to impart the “foreign, exotic” ambiance of the dish and just as often the meal sink because the chef try to hard to hit me in the head with flavor. The brains behind Me Jana understand that quality and taste can be subtle, played and bright and still leave an impact.

Our dishes that night included

  • Watermelon Salad
  • TABOULEH, Parsley, mint, onion, tomato, burgul, olive oil, lemon
  • HOMMOS WITH MEAT* With sautéed beef, roasted pine nuts
  • MAKANEK*, Sautéed sausages, olive oil, lemon
  • SEARED HALLOUMI; Bronzed Halloumi cheese, pears, dates
  • A mixed meat plate of the house grilled favorites
  • HALAWET EL JEBN; Rolled sweet cheese, stuffed with Achta, orange blossom syrup & pistachio
  • ACHTA; Milk pudding, sliced bananas rose water, honey & pistachio
  • I can honestly say I would order all of them again!
    I can’t wait to go back.

http://www.mejanarestaurant.com/

PHONE. 703.465.4440

2300 WILSON BLVD (AT THE CORNER OF CLARENDON BLVD & ADAMS ST)

Don’t let the summers end, mean you can’t still eat like its a day at the fair

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On his September 2016 website post- fav food traveler and culture cuisine explorer Andrew Zimmern posted a great list of Classic Fair recipes; I think I have my winter blahs recipes well in hand now!

Give it a read at: Classic State Fair Dishes To Make at Home  Also check out his website for his Recipes, his own blog aka Editorials and follow him on Twitter at @andrewzimmern or on Instagram @chefaz

All images are from the article and posting.

One of the fun things I caught on his site I caught was the AZ Canteen, which according to the man himself; “That’s why I’ve created AZ Canteen. This carefully curated menu showcases some inspired versions of the best food items I’ve discovered on the road. From a Nicaraguan shaved ice that I’ve seen only once outside of Central America, to goat sausage grinders (one of the most delicious meats on the planet!) made with an exclusive cabrito blend from my friend Pat LaFrieda, these foods resonated with me and I’m thrilled to share my culinary experiences with you.”

@AZCanteen is an   food adventure

And because he isn’t busy enough; he also launched Foodworks Inc. and check out his Podcasts

Relish isn’t just a summer goto place – here comes “santa”

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Let’s face it  – every so often, you just need a good cupcake. Sometimes you want to get creative with the fancy flavors and icing – but more often than not, I want plain, good, deep dark chocolate with a slightly gooey, sweet chocolate frosting.image

While it Ptown of the summer, one rainy day I knew just where to go! Relish. Down in the west end, this little but highly fast and efficient sandwich, snack & bakery shop not only puts out some great sandwich and sides – they do some incredible desserts. I would say I eat three several times eat stay.image

A new feature I noticed this year was that your an order xmas cookies!! A pretty great idea – what better way to treat friends and family than with food products you already love. they have an entire holiday menu of options to choose from.image

Over on the website – I notes posting from the past that indicates; they do Thanksgiving Pies and Cupcakes and kick off  a workshop for Christmas cookies.  Orders for Christmas need to be placed by December 1st.

imageFor more information, give them  a call at 508-487-8077.

you can find them at:

93 Commercial Street (at Cottage)  Provincetown  MA  02657

p: 508-487-8077

e: [email protected]

 

Angel Mornings @ Gifford House

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I have been lucky to have the generous tasting of these folks from the different locations in Ptown over the last few years – so was excited to check them out at the Gifford House in a traditional dinning room setting.

I am so glad we did. A great menu – actually pretty large by Ptown standards for breakfast fare. It’s not going to rock your socks off  “ambiance” wise – the room is basic to what it needs to be – but the flavor and food quality is where it is at. They make basic ingredients, taste the way they are supposed too and they invite you to “kick it up a notch” with the graceful punch of seasoning and combinations. From the egg scramble with sausage to the omelettes.. I could eat here every morning.imageCheck out the full image

menu. They are open 8am to 2pm and the entire Menu Served All Day

508-487-8600

 

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Cafe Edwige

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With another show under our belt, and the night still early, we decided a later dinner at one of our favorite finds in P’town for the last several years was eating at Cafe Edwige. While pretty outstanding for breakfast/brunch – dinners offer a solid flavor profile with a simple and straight forward menu of options.

Not being overly hungry I went with the Cure All Kale Salad. Dressed with bacon and fresh toppings, this well portioned dish was good, but lacked sharpness in the dressing. Kale, being what it is, can often be a hard “nut to crack” raw. So my tastes run towards adding sharpness like lemons, limes or even hot pepper flakes or chili infused oils to balance to denseness of the leaves. I think it also lacked salt and pepper to my tastes. But I would still suggest you give it a try..

For our entrees, I opted for the Local Board; with an assortment of olives, cheese liver pate and bread. This was perfect for my dinner, but I would warn – the pate’s is hearty “liver” flavor and doesn’t disguise itself. Our other dish was the Filet Mignon.

OK – now this is where Edwige excels. It was literally, “melt in your mouth” good. Perfectly cooked, tender and well seasoned- this was the meat eaters orgasm of flavor.

More on them

333 Commercial Street  •  Upstairs
Provincetown, MA  02657
[email protected]     Contact:  508 . 487 . 4020

 

Cafe Heaven

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While always a good standard when we visit, Cafe Heaven with it’s new Bar area, has a new vibe to it, that definitely works. We stopped by for dinner one night and couldn’t have been happier. The food was dead on. We started with my favorite dish in most resturant’s – but one that I know is big enough here to serve as lunch or a lite supper. The Antipasto, nothing on it feels tossed on, cheap or low end. For dinner we went to basics with my having the Shrimp  & Grits; with aa sweet, sour, sticky glaze meets sauce spicy with chorizo and Paul jumped in with a broccoli & chicken penne pasta. Now Paul being Paul, the only comment I heard was; “it could use more broccoli”. Him and that green stuff.

I can honestly say these shots don’t do the dishes credit – so get you butt over to find out!

For more on Cafe Heaven:

199 Commercial St, Unit 10, Provincetown, MA 02657-2126, (508) 487-9639

 

Is it Thursday already?

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While the weather overall of the first week has been good – Thursday was one of the ones that started and ended with the sun yet not so overwhelmingly humid or hot.

But it did mean we had a few activities that would be perfect; the ride out to Race Point on the bikes, beach & Ssun time and of course then obligatory “Ice Cream” walk after dinner and yes – for those of you who follow me on Swarm, will notice that we did indeed eat again at Local 186. Paul opted for the El Guano Burger (hint -it had as egg on on, go figure) and I went with the Tuna, severed reformulated as a burger seared and laid on top of a scallion pancake. But were good – but El Guapo still takes the win for that meal.

But first – it all started with a little homemade breakfast.. in the “hmm what kitchen tools do I have to fake it with” kitchen. Part of the vacation fun is figuring out how to repurpose leftovers at the same time also use what ever utensils happen to be around. on some occasions – its been a real “how-dunnit”. But this yesterday mornings as well as this morning seemed to work. the secrete to the eggs with our lots of butter or cooking spray on a pan that has seen better years and no spatula is low heat. add what little butter you have, add the eggs first to form your layer, then add the toppings. Then let it heat  through slow. Once you notice it start to brown on the bottom – it should form a thin crust; bump the pan against your palm to loosen it and do the “flip”. The end result is it should do a flip of the entire “omelet”  and let it cook for a few more minutes and its done!

Later that night we walked down to the Nut House for an ice cream sunday (for Paul) and got presented with a new flavor; Burnt Carmel. One little sample had me, and I knew my reserve about eating dairy via ice cream which I almost always avoid was going on the window. Thank good need for my lactose pills. Of course I did use some moderation and went with the “kids cone” size and only had enough to satisfy my taste..

It ain’ t always pretty.. but it hits the spot!