Beginning of the DC food tour
During our whirlwind trip to Washington, we did make time to sample some fabulous food. Just to touch on a few of the highlights… The Lebanese tasting plate at Neyla was perfect for our first dinner following a day in the car. Beautiful space, great service, and wonderful food. We have made, and eaten, a lot of hummus over the years, but the hummus at Neyla is in a class by itself. The meal was so good, we returned there for another dinner the night before we left for the trip back to NC.
The meal at Rasika was equally impressive. The photo of the tandoori salmon doesn’t begin to do it justice. For anyone who loves tandoori, this is a “must try”. The cauliflower with peas was a beautiful side dish, and we enjoyed a great chicken entree as well.
No photos from Hook, but we will rectify that problem as soon as we have another meal with them. From the moment we walked in the door, and came under the care of Ari, this was a very memorable evening. The menu is in constant transition, but on the night we visited, the dorade and barramundi were just fabulous! Each entree was prepared in a totally different way with locally sourced veggies – amazing! We will visit Ari and friends again very soon. Oh, almost forgot the parsnip creme brulee… Yes, it sounds very strange, but Ari convinced us to give it a try, and he was definitely on target – for those of us who order dessert rarely, this was a winner.
More memorable food moments – the foccacia at Papa Razzi in Georgetown, some terrific pizza with prosciutto and arugula at Sette Osteria on Connecticut Avenue. Obviously despite the search for an apartment in cold and windy weather, we managed to be well fed. One thing we observed during all of these meals was the friendly yet professional service at every restaurant we visited.
Once we are ensconced in our apartment, we will be looking for farmer’s markets, ethnic ingredients to try in new recipes, and more great restaurants, of course!
Hi there! This is Ari…your waiter at Hook in Georgetown. Reading the very flattering comments you made about Hook and me on Open Table and this blog, it became apparent that you need guidance to navigate DC’s farmers markets! So here’s a few of my favorites:
Dupont Circle: On 20th and R St, year round Sunday mornings. This is the granddaddy of DC farmers markets. During the summer, you’ll find dozens upon dozens of stands, selling everything from local meats to fruit, veggies, baked goods, candles and crafts. I haven’t braved the weather to go in the winter, but in the summer you better get there early!
Foggy Bottom: 24th and I St (or thereabouts), Wednesdays from 2:30-7, warm season only: A small market, but love the character and the people. Located in the shadow of the George Washington University Hospital and medical campus, great fresh pasta and buffalo meats. My girlfriend worked on one of the farms that sells there, and I love to support them. Also some amazing empenadas and pastries!
Bloomingdale: 1st and R St, 10am-2pm Sundays, warm season only: A bit out of the way, but I used to live in the neighborhood and loved it. Another smallish market, but bustling with the young and vibrant local residents, as opposed to the tons of GW students or Dupont Circle folks at the other two I’ve mentioned. A bit lacking in the produce department, but great baked goods and some fresh pasta and sauces. Lots of dogs (including mine!). A big guy with a gray beard conducts cooking lessons at noon, and a local bicycle group does bike repair for free. Also in next to Big Bear Cafe, a local, hipster-laden organic and fair trade coffee shop and cafe.
Hope this is useful; there are some others (including one in Glover Park, near where I now live, that I have yet to check out) around town, but these are the ones I’m familiar with. Let me know when you’re coming back to DC!
Ari, great to hear from you, and what terrific market info – thank you! We look forward to trying each of the markets you mentioned, and to another great meal at Hook. Returning at the end of the week, so we hope to see you soon, both at Hook and out at the farmers markets!
Best,
Merry & Allen