the roundup: february 2023
Favorite Foodie Things:
This month we cooked another winner from Eric Wareheim’s cookbook, FOODheim. We made the orange chicken and honestly it was so easy and delicious. We have attempted take-out-style orange chicken and it has always been a bit funky, but this version was amazing and will definitely make it into our dinner rotation.
I discovered a new favorite wine this month and it is the Troupis Hoof & Lur Moschofilero. It is from a Greek wine maker and this wine is a beautiful dark pink color (but it is technically an orange wine) and a has a fizzy and floral taste. It is so delicious and fresh! I have found it at Whole Foods and also at the Reveler’s Hour wine shop.
My friend discovered a new fish monger called Fishery Seafood Market (5509 Connecticut Ave) and she made us the most delicious seared scallops and risotto and it was one of the best homemade meals I have had in a while!
Back to our current favorite spots in DC for dinner with my parents, Lutece, for another incredible, show stopper meal. I literally dream about the charred cabbage and the duck entrée.
We were lucky enough to have two dinners at Izakaya Seki this month and it is just so damn delicious. We brought my parents there and my dad said “this is one of the best meals I have had in a while.” Izakaya Seki is quickly moving up in the ranks of one of my favorite spots in DC.
They recently opened (or maybe re-opened) a The Coffee Bar location by my office on 17th street and not only is the coffee so good, but they also went above and beyond and when I ordered a vanilla matcha latte, and gave them my name, I got this! It was almost too pretty to drink!
While in Charlottesville we went to the new Jean-Georges restaurant Marigold at Keswick Hall. While the whole meal was good (but didn’t blow me away) this dessert really did. It was a salted caramel sundae with chocolate fudge, Virginia peanuts, caramel popcorn and whipped cream. It was unreal, truly.
Easily the best meal we had in Charlottesville, was at Oakhart Social. I am so happy we were able to have a meal there, as I have planned many dinner/events there but never gone! It was so good and the service was amazing. Some of the standouts were their fried chicken and scallion pancake (but truthfully, everything was delicious).
It is so hard to find a good breakfast burrito in DC so while we were in Charlottesville, we stopped at Ivy Provisions in Charlottesville to pick up the En Fuego breakfast burrito (green chili chorizo, eggs, potatoes and pepper jack cheese… AMAZING).
As soon as we saw that The Dabney was written up as the number 1 restaurant in DC on the Washingtonian’s Best Restaurants list, we made a reservation and it did not disappoint. I hadn’t been there in years and it has completely turned around in the best way possible. The food was thoughtful and local and delicious and the service could not be beat.
Turns out that I am a negroni gal now and I have especially been loving negroni biancos! I have also had negroni spagliatos and negroni lambruscos and those are also delightful! I think I have found my new cocktail!
Very late to the party, but I recently discovered Nido Wine Shop + Market in Mt. Pleasant and I am their newest yet biggest fan. They have EVERYTHING- amazing sandos, wine, tinned fish, dips, crackers, treats, and more. I will be back… frequently.
Other Things That Made Me Happy:
My parents came to visit in early February and it was such a nice visit! They have been coming to visit me for about 12 years and just when I think we have run out of things to do in DC, we find something new! It is so nice to see them (always) and be able to show them my life here.
I suppose this is both a favorite and a foodie favorite, but when my parents came to visit us, we went out to a winery in VA (Linden Vineyards!) and I really enjoyed it as a “thing to do”. I want to make more of an effort to get out there and have more winery/vineyard days!
We went on a friend’s trip to Charlottesville and it was just the most lovely weekend! You can read about our weekend trip here!
I found out that Buck Mason makes women’s clothes this month and I now have 4 pieces already. I got the scoop neck ribbed long sleeve in heather oat, two pairs of the vintage interloop wide leg sweatpants and the vintage interloop oversized crew. Their products have such a nice quality and if you are looking for elevated basics, this is your spot!
What’s Up with Len:
