Super Bowl XLVI Grub & Pub Round Up

Posted by Sally Traynham / Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Get pumped for Super Bowl XLVI, Sunday’s rematch between the epic teams that faced off in 2008. Whether you are a Pat’s fan or represent NY and the Giants, we have the inside scoop on the best food and drink deals for the big game.

Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse, for the big screen experience in comfy chairs and tableside service.

Capitol City Brewing Company, for handcrafted beer.

Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, for an all you can eat buffet. ($15 pp)

Crystal City Sports Pub, for a Super Bowl themed menu. ($35 pp, reservations required)

Glory Days Grill, for burgers, wings and BBQ.

The Green Turtle, for Super Bowl giveaways.

Hard Times Café, for traditional football fun.

Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern, for football pool prizes and 50-cent wings.

Kalypso’s Sports Tavern, for $2 Miller Lite Drafts.

Kilroys Restaurant & Sports Bar, for nachos, wings and pizza.

Murphy’s Irish Pub, for the true Patriot experience.

Polo Grill Restaurant, for 35-cent wings and $2 Bud Lights and Miller Lights.

Velocity Five, for tvs galore.

Virtue Feed & Grain, for a “souper” bowl between New England and Mahattan chowders while watching the game.

Whitlows on Wilson, for the big screen and beer specials.

Wildfire, for a big game buffet. ($45 pp)

Photo by: Shutterstock/Steve Cukrov

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Easy Local Eats for Hosting a Big Party for the Big Game

Posted by Joey Hernandez / Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

There are only three requirements for any Super Bowl party:  beer to drink, bites to eat and a big TV screen to watch.  Assuming the flat screen’s already mounted to the wall, you just need to think about grub. Sure, you could spend all day in the kitchen and then hours washing dishes; you could also grab Miller Lite and frozen pizza from the grocery store, but that’s no way to celebrate (or jeer) the Giants and Pats. Host the perfect Super Bowl party with some tasty and local NoVA goodies.

Chips and Dips

• Tomatillo salsa and black bean and garlic dip, from Bigg Riggs Farm
• Locally grown Route 11 potato chips from The Local Market in Falls Church

Pizza and Sandwiches

• Tony’s New York Pizza, authentic NY style pizza (for the Eli fans)
• The Italian Store, for a proper spread: The All American offers three meats, three cheese and accompaniments, priced per person
• Lost Dog Cafe, open-faced finger sandwiches for polite pig skin fans

Beer

• Growler to-go at any of the Great American Restaurants 
• Dogfish Head Alehouse for its famed 60 Minute IPA
• Norms Beer and Wine for interesting craft selections

 Photo: Shutterstock/Igor Dutina

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Port City Brewing Company’s ONE Year Anniversary

Posted by Sally Traynham / Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

After selling 3,000 barrels of beer and giving over 7,000 brewery tours, Port City Brewing Company celebrates its one year anniversary this Friday. To commemorate, head brewer Jonathan Reeves has brewed ONE, a Belgian Imperial Stout that the Alexandria-based brew house describes as rich, dark and strong with flavors of espresso, dark Swiss chocolate and a touch of orange zest.

With only one batch brewed, you won’t want to miss out on this commemorative beer, which you can find tomorrow after 6 p.m. at select restaurants and bars in Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Why after 6 p.m.?  Because that is the designated time when there will be the simultaneous tappings of ONE at participating spots. Find the closest pint of ONE via Port City Brewing Company’s Facebook and Twitter.

PS–Don’t forget to vote in our best of NoVA beer poll. 

Photo: Port City

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First Night, Second Sitting: Will Artley’s Project 2312 and a Quest for a Permanent Kitchen

Posted by Stefanie Gans / Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

An almost life-size banner of Chef Will Artley hangs from the building housing his pop-up restaurant, Project 2312. For eight days, Artley and his quickly-assembled crew of friends and former collegaues–”We’re getting the band back together”–will fill the space of Chop Chop, a catch-all, casual Asian concept, launching in the next three weeks.

Project 2312 opened last night; reservations are booked for the duration, although about ten open bar seats are available.

>>>View First Night Menu

Since leaving Evening Star Cafe, down the road from his now temporary kitchen, Artley’s been consulting for restauranters “Mango” Mike Anderson and Bill Blackburn. Artley jumped on four days before the launch of Pork Barrel BBQ, re-testing recipes and training staff, and has since worked on the menu for their next concept, Chop Chop.

Restaurants require much paperwork to open so with Chop Chop still weeks from service, Artley eyed the unused space.

“In about 20 minutes,” Artley brags, he convinced Anderson and Blackburn to lend him Chop Chop’s space to open a quickie restaurant. After the successful, and hurried, Artley-led premiere of Pork Barrel, he simply asked the two owners, “Have I failed you yet?” A plea to bestow the place for good, however, was dismissed.

Read the rest of this entry »

5 New Ways to Food on Valentine’s Day

Posted by Sally Traynham / Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

The stress of Valentine’s Day may be looming on your shoulders as February kicks off tomorrow. This year, plan ahead and avoid the craziness of Valentine’s Day goers looking to drop loads of cash on fancy dinners.

Instead, stay in, simplify life and enjoy the evening with your loved one by doing something different than selecting items off the traditional prix-fixe menu.

Need Ideas? Here’s my list:

1 . Have a Movie Night with a Kicked-Up Snack.
Customize a movie list for the perfect evening with you and your beaux, but don’t forget the popcorn. Because you are not eating out this year, splurge by making some truffle butter. Buy some truffle salt and sprinkle it over perfectly popped and buttered popcorn. [William Sonoma - truffle salt]

2. Pack a Picnic.
Since Mother Nature can’t make up her mind, this year might be a perfect year for a picnic at sunset. However, even if you decide to take the party inside and enjoy the warm fire, open up that blanket and indulge in a spread that includes wine, food and sweet treats. [World Market - cozy blankets]

3. Taste New Beers and Wines.
If beer and wine is your thing, set up an at-home, customized tasting for the evening. Try a few glasses from new breweries or vineyards and pair them with chocolate or cheese. [The Hour Shop - modern glassware/barware]

4. Dip Strawberries.
Nothing is more delicious and sexy than a chocolate dipped strawberry. Buy strawberries and dark and white chocolate at the store and set up a strawberry dipping bar. Eat them right away or let them set up and feed them to each other after dinner for an exceptionally sexy Valentine’s Day. [Frans Cake & Candy Supplies - tools for dipping strawberries]

5. Make S’mores.
Cozy up around a fireplace or an outdoor grill and roast marshmallows that will sandwich perfectly in between two graham crackers and some dark chocolate. [The Dairy Godmother - homemade marshmallows]

Photo: Shutterstock/bonchan

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Hungry For Linkage: New Ray’s the Steaks, Meat Week Lands at Pork Barrel BBQ, Girl Scouts Reveal New Cookie

Posted by Stefanie Gans / Monday, January 30th, 2012

America’s most powerful people in food: the top 10 slots are dominated by corporate America (Monsanto, McDonalds, Walmart) and the bottom 10 slots are filled with crusaders (Bittman, United Farm Workers, PETA). [The Daily Meal]

Evening Star scored a glowing two stars from WaPo and started brunch service this weekend. Anyone check it out? [WaPo, Washingtonian]

Michael Landrum must get bored easily. He started a new concept (is it the fourth one in so many months?) with Retro Ray’s, intended as overflow seating for the original Ray’s the Steaks, but with an emphasis on higher-end liquors and cognacs. The same menu will be found at both Ray’s, save for the “retro” (aka 2003) prices at Retro Ray’s. (PS-Ray’s the Steaks at East River opened this weekend.)  [ARLnow.com, WCP]

Meat Week lands in NoVA: Pork Barrel BBQ tomorrow and Memphis BBQ on Friday. [Meat Week]

Feeling guilty about eating all those animals? Meet-Free Week begins February 6th. Arlington’s Guajillo Grill offers a 3-course prix fixe menu, with vegan choices, for $35. [DC Vegan]

Do This. [Mostly Cabbages]

Don Rockwell praises Yechon‘s new take-out menu (Good, Noteworthy), enjoys La Caraqueña‘s arepas and its lunch carry-out (Excellent, Noteworthy) and can barely believe the cheap beer pricing at Bollywood Bistro, as well as its large-portioned vegetarian entrees (Very Good). [DC Dining.com]

In totally non-shocking news, McLean’s Chocolate Festival deemed a success. [McLeanPatch]

Where you should eat breakfast, says Kathleen Nixon. [Falls Church Times]

Missing your fix of local radishes? Sign up for a CSA. [WaPo]

The Girl Scouts turn 100. It’s about damn time there’s a new cookie: Savannah Smiles. What’s your favorite? [OTAlexandriaPatch]

Photo by Stefanie Gans, rare roast beef from South Side Under

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Five Unique Dessert Shops for Valentine’s Day Sweets

Posted by Sally Traynham / Monday, January 30th, 2012

Everybody loves a box of chocolates on Valentine’s day, but this year, kick it up a notch and treat your special someone to one of these outrageously delicious and unique Valentine’s Day noshes.

If you want to keep with the chocolates theme, head to Artisan Confections where Jason Andelman creates beautiful chocolate masterpieces in one bite. Each piece of chocolate is covered in a stunning design created by a local artist. With flavors such as lemon-rose, port wine-fig and raspberry caramel, you can’t go wrong.

For something different, delve into the world of macarons. These French confections are known for their light, but bold flavors. PastryXPO offers various sizes of macaron gift boxes with flavors that you can mix and match.

Alexandria Pastry Shop is the place to go for a light, moist and perfectly balanced cake. For this lover’s holiday, they will be selling their chocolate raspberry marquis and red velvet cakes in heart shapes – the perfect ending to any Valentine’s Day.

Looking for quantity? Buy cookies. The Swiss Bakery and Pastry Shop is featuring linzer cookies with heart-shape cut outs, allowing you to see the delicious jam sandwiched in between.

As a lighter option, try a fresh fruit tart from Café Rumi. These creations are stunning to look at and are hand-crafted from the freshest, all natural ingredients. You won’t even notice the absence of chocolate.

Photo: Shutterstock/Sabino Parente

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Michelle Obama and Rachael Ray Lunch at Parklawn Elementary School

Posted by Sally Traynham / Thursday, January 26th, 2012

A balanced diet is hard for anyone to maintain. With limitations of time, money, resources and knowledge about nutrition, it’s no surprise that obesity is a growing epidemic in our nation.

Yesterday morning at Parklawn Elementary School (in Alexandria), Michelle Obama, Rachael Ray and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, took steps in challenging childhood obesity within the school system by announcing the first changes in 15 years to the $11 billion school lunch program.

With the hope of making a positive impact on the 32 million children who take part in the nationwide school meal programs each day, Mrs. Obama and Vilsack outlined some of the new changes made to the guidelines in government-subsidized school meals while Rachael Ray cooked along school staff to prepare the midday meal. Such changes include: doubling the amount of fruits and vegetables that children are served, requiring all grains served to be whole grains, the distribution of low fat milk, limits on salt and trans fat levels and setting a maximum calorie intake per day based on age.

While these changes have been met with criticism by conservatives who say this is an overreach of government regulation, many nutritionists and representatives of the food industry including Coreay Henry, vice president of communication for the American Frozen Foods Institute, applauded the new efforts.

After the announcement this morning, Mrs. Obama, Ray and Vilsak stood in line with students and devoured Rachael Ray’s turkey tacos with brown rice, black bean and corn salad and fruit in the school’s lunchroom.

Not a bad way to lunch if you ask me.

New School Lunch Rules Aimed at Reducing Obesity [NYTimes]

Michelle Obama: School lunches to have more veggies, whole grains [MSNBC]

Photo by whitehouse.gov

[tips for the food desk]

A Second Opinion on District Taco

Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

“The meal is simple, but undeniably tasty. You can taste the freshness of the pico de gallo and the authentic flair of the carnitas. And for the price, you definitely get a great bang for the buck!” –Ra Chan on District Taco (www.districttaco.com)

Photo by Kate Bohler

Good? Bad? Tweet-worthy? Let us know where you’ve been dining in Northern Virginia. If we like your review, we’ll feature it in the magazine and here on the blog (and send you a prize). Tell us what you think: www.Northernvirginiamag.com/second-opinion

Just In: 2941 Opens Monday, January 30th

Posted by Stefanie Gans / Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

After passing all of its inspections, 2941 will start serving its new upper-scale Mediterranean menu in the renovated space this coming Monday.

Look for more details later today (menu items!) and check out NVM’s interview with Chef Bertrand Chemel about the economy’s impact on losing its French fine dining label.

Photo by Sally Traynham