Posts Tagged ‘Alexandria’
Open House Tasting Tonight in Alexandria
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, January 6th, 2011
Artfully Gifts & Chocolate would like to extend an invitation to anyone with a sweet tooth to visit the store this evening between 5:30-8 PM. Located near the Patent & Trademark Office, AG & C is in the Carlyle Complex of old town Alexandria. The King Street Metro is also nearby. It opened just over a year ago by the already established Chocolatiers Eric Nelson and Rob Kingsbury.
Not too far away, Artfully Chocolate & Kingsbury Confections on Mount Vernon St. was a dream that came true in 2007. Their passion for art and chocolate would lead to a lucrative business partnership that continues to this day. Their success has allowed them to open other locations in Del Ray and downtown DC, but let’s focus on the one with free food tonight.
Tonight’s tasting will feature Michel Patisserie’s Parisian macarons. These small rounded cookies are slightly crispy on the outside, but soft in the middle. The result is a light crunch before it gradually melts in your mouth. Macarons go perfectly with coffee or tea.
At least three traditional flavors, salted caramel, chocolate and pistachio will be available for sampling this evening. Patisserie claims on his website that his macarons are made by hand daily, using only the finest natural ingredients available in the market like Californian almonds, fresh farm eggs, European butter and Valrohna chocolate. The lack of preservatives means that they should be enjoyed sooner rather than later.
If you plan on attending, AG & C would probably appreciate it if you could RSVP first. Their e-mail address is info@artfullygifts.com, and their telephone number is (703)-575-8686.
Enjoy!
Assorted Parisian Macarons (image: www.michelpatisserie.com)
Farrah Olivia Resurrected Within Kora
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, January 4th, 2011
Renowned perfectionist Morou Ouattara is ready to slide back behind the burners.
And he’ll be doing just that at TWO new(ish) Northern Virginia restaurants. They just happen to share the same address.
Beginning tomorrow, devotees of Outtara’s short-lived fantasy dining project, Farrah Olivia, will once again be able to indulge in fanciful, multicourse tasting menus–think: beef tartare embellished with berbere, “shocked” tuna, roasted quail with banana bread stuffing–courtesy of the tasting-room-within-an-established-restaurant model Ouattara is utilizing to reintroduce his critically-acclaimed cooking style within Kora ‘s four walls.
The embedded Farrah Olivia will feature 3-, 4- or 5-course tasting menus ($45, $55 and $65, respectively) to be served in a separate 50-seat dining room from 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. “There are separate menus, decor, staff,” Ouattara promised of the custom-tailored, fine-dining experience Farrah Olivia regulars have been clamoring for ever since the shuttering of his restaurant in Alexandria.
Ouattara is also retooling the menu at Kora, having assumed control of the kitchen after his brother, Amadou, stepped down in November.
“I found that most of our diners were slightly disappointed not to be tasting my cuisine since my name was on the restaurant. They were expecting Italian with a twist, not traditional Italian cuisine,” Ouattara said, owning up to the lukewarm response Kora has received to date.
According to Ouattara, Kora’s lunch fare will likely remain undisturbed. But he’s already begun fine-tuning the dinner program, eschewing convention in favor of fresh interpretations.
“I’ve fused Italian with modern American, some French and a few other things,” he expalined. Tentative updates include: steak tartare, tuna with caponata, balsamic and olive pearls, goat cheese gnudi with fried artichoke hearts and pan-roasted, walnut-crusted chicken breast flanked by bacon mac and cheese.
And that’s just for starters.
“I’ve also been experimenting with zero-calorie pastas,” Ouattara mused, casually floating plans to make calorie counting obsolete by marrying noodles and insoluble fibers into a guilt-free go-to.
And while he’s not entirely given up on his dream of returning to downtown D.C.–”My wife and I just had another daughter, Lily,” the proud papa reported (Kora and Farrah are the names of his earlier progeny)–he’s in no immediate hurry to race back across the river.
“Farrah Olivia will stay in Virginia for the foreseeable future,” he suggested, adding that he has nothing but fond memories of the friends he made on the outskirts of Old Town Alexandria. “I still remember the names/faces of our regulars: the Brunos, the Singers, the Outlaws, Michelle Boggs, the Jaffee Family. These people saw us on a weekly and sometimes daily bases [sic],” he shared. “I don’t know if I can find that downtown.”
Farrah Olivia will re-open Wednesday, January 5. For reservations, call: 703-445-6571.
–Warren
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, September 8th, 2010
(Image: John Arundel)
Frickles fans have just over two weeks to feed their fix at Del Merei Grille, as the neighborhood eatery will be shuttering on Friday, September 24.
Co-owner and chef Eric Reid (pictured above with in-law and partner Mary Reid) is, understandably, saddened about having to move along in order to accommodate the planned full-scale renovation of the Calvert apartment building. But the optimistic toque doesn’t seem to harbor any ill will towards the landlord.
“It’s going to be really nice for the neighborhood … once it’s all said and done,” he said of the high-rise makeover.
Rather than dwell on any negatives–not that he really could, given that Reid and all the other soon-to-be-displaced tenants (Bombay Curry Company, Pizzaiolo Cafe & Bar) are being asked to sign confidentiality agreements as part of the retail update–Reid said he’s choosing to celebrate his 5+ years run by bringing back customer favorites (including a mixed grill boasting andouille sausage, scallops and shrimp, his famous mustard-horseradish sauce and other tastes from wayback) and just generally enjoying the ride.
“We’re going to pretty much find any excuse to have a party,” he suggested about the closing week agenda.
Rockwellians have already scheduled a farewell chili dog and beer bash for next Wednesday. And Reid hinted that he’s prepared to burn through his inventory with total abandon (switching up the menu near nightly, experimenting with new dishes).
And while he’s trying to not fixate too much on the future, Reid said he would absolutely love to continue cooking/launch another restaurant concept in his native Del Ray. He said he’s already being courted by potential investors/new business partners, but Reid insists on remaining focused on Del Merei until the lights officially go out.
Those who’d like to keep track of the chef after the 24th can always do so on his personal Twitter (@delmeric).
–Warren
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
(Image: Photobucket)
Is it just me, or are local toques acting like total heels all of the sudden?
* Shirking their financial responsibilities;
* Extorting out-of-towners;
* Shunning spouses in lieu of the spotlight (any guesses who this culinary cad might be?).
I’m not suggesting hospitality professional should be held to some illusory standard.
But howzabout behaving like you belong in polite society?
–Warren
Del Ray Vid Vies for Cash Prize
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
(Video: Meredith Bragg)
It’s coming down to the wire in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “I Am Free Enterprise” video contest.
And while nothing is certain till the polls close tonight at 11:59 p.m., Del Ray resident Meredith Bragg remains squarely in the middle of the pack–which means he’s still got a decent shot at pocketing between $20,000 (third place) and $50,000 (first place).
Regardless of whether he walks away with a top prize or not, Bragg deserves–sorry, I had to–bragging rights for cracking the top 5 via an outsider’s perspective. While all the other finalists chose to flog themselves/their livelihoods, Bragg composed, instead, a video valentine to some of his favorite gourmet purveyors–Caboose Cafe, Cheestique and Let’s Meat on the Avenue.
“I love the shops in Del Ray and Old Town and wanted to show how small entrepreneurs make my life and community a little better,” Bragg said of his non-traditional tact, noting, “A true free market it is a symbiotic relationship and helps consumers just as much as it helps businesses.”
Should his shopping montage net him a financial windfall, Bragg plans to celebrate–in true trickle-down fashion.
“I’ll need to throw a party for all the Facebook friends who helped vote for me every day over the past few weeks,” he said. “I’ll likely serve sandwiches.”
–Warren
Eamonn’s Flips for National Fish & Chips Day
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
(Video: First Advertising)
As indicated in the insanely-choppy-yet-undeniably-catchy-video above, it’s National Fish & Chips Day across the pond.
And local chipper, Eamonn’s, plans to celebrate the Irish Traditional Italian Chipper Association (Cosa Fritto?)-sponsored “holiday” by dishing up “1 & 1″s (small cod with chips) for $4.35–”sickly cheap,” according to Eamonn’s co-founder Meshelle Armstrong–all day.
Deep-fried food lovers: enjoy the early Christmas present
–Warren
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, May 10th, 2010
(Image: Louise Max)
ACKC co-founder Eric Nelson liked the fro-yo they used to dish out at his twin, local cocoa bars.
But he so LOVES the full butterfat, soft-serve ice cream mix they’ve added to the menu so much–”It’s the real deal,” he said of the frosty delight–he’s sharing free samples of the new frozen treat all week long.
From today through Friday, May 14, stroll in to Nelson’s Del Ray or D.C. shops for a free 5-ounce cup of either vanilla, chocolate or swirl ice cream. Samples are limited to a single serving per customer per day, but Nelson said repeat visitors are welcome to snag another helping during subsequent visits.
Should you get hooked, expect to see the soft serve joined with all the different “Diva” flavors in forthcoming frozen desserts and milkshakes.
–Warren
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, March 4th, 2010
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
Last month, Amazon.com named Alexandria the most romantic city in the United States. Arlington came in seventh. This is quite an honor, considering the fierce competition that we are up against: Washington, D.C., New York, the not-too-distant beach towns and, of course, South Jersey (just kidding).
Locals can boast about our area since we have a plethora of intimate restaurants and outside cafes, romantic walkways, scenic boat rides along the Potomac and numerous museums and historic sites that house hundreds of years of history. All at our fingertips.
Until recently, I worked along the Potomac in Alexandria, where, on one date, I enjoyed the amazing views of Washington, D.C., at night from my workplace balcony. On another I picnicked with a date along the Potomac off the GW Trail, where we discretely hid a bottle of vino and took in the monuments at night from afar. In other instances, we walked or biked into D.C. using the Georgetown, Rosslyn and 14th Street Bridges. It is amazing to learn how many private, romantic areas you can find in a crowded metropolitan area.
This past weekend, I ventured outside the Beltway to the city of brotherly love, where I dined on cheesesteak after cheeseteak. I also toured historical sites and walked miles humming to Bruce Springstein’s “Streets of Philadelphia.” By the end of the weekend, what struck me most was the number of couples in Philadelphia who were walking hand-in-hand—young and old—expressing their love for each other.
We are fortunate to live in an area where romance is easy to find. But we also have the added benefit of traveling to nearby romantic getaways.
–Katie
I want to hear from you. What city do you think symbolizes romance? In your mind, what makes a city romantic? What romantic activities have you done in Northern Virginia? Post a comment, or email me at littleredbook@northernvirginiamag.com.
Walk away calories at Alexandria Restaurant Week
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, January 21st, 2010
(Source: Visit Alexandria)
There are only a few more days left to ignore your New Year’s Resolution before getting back into shape. Alexandria Restaurant Week continues until January 24th. Thanks to the folks at Capital Spice, here is a map of the participating restaurants. New to this year’s event, $3.50 sweet treats at Bittersweet Cafe and Artfully Chocolate Kingsbury Confections.
If you really want to get some cardio in while enjoying Restaurant Week, take part in an Old Town Alexandria Food Tour by DC Metro Food Tours.
Normally priced at $50 per ticket, this tour is a shortened version of the regular tour, lasting 1.5 hours as opposed to 3.5 hours. The progressive dinner still offers some Virginia history mixed in with some tasty treats. You’ll have your first course at one restaurant and your second course and dessert at the second. The only way to find out which local restaurants you’ll visit is by taking the tour.
(Source: DC Food Tours)
Jeff Swedarsky, director of DC Food Tours, believes in highlighting the local, family run restaurants that make Old Town unique. That’s right, no chain restaurants. He wants diners/tourists to experience Old Town in a new way, without any “preconceived notions about what to expect” in a culinary experience rich with history and architecture. He hopes to extend the tour to the west end of Alexandria in the near future. Each tour is customized to your liking, so call 202-683-8847 to make a reservation.
Cheers to walking away your calories!
–Aisha Salazar
New Toque Adds Mystique to Cheesetique
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, December 21st, 2009
Cheesemonger Jill Erber is thrilled with all the culinary embellishments chef Joshua Andrus has wrought–a roster which, to date, has included homemade soups, assorted quiches and gourmet flat breads–since assuming control of the Cheesetique kitchen in late October.
But she is most excited about what he’s pledged to add to the carte later this winter: house-cured charcuterie.
“It’s really more about finding the time to fit that in as well,” Erber said of the plan to add signature pates, terrines and aged meats to the wine and cheese shop’s snacking arsenal.
Andrus, an alumnus of D.C.’s fabled minibar, has certainly beefed up the wine bar’s offerings. But Erber insists the focus will always be on “approachable” cuisine.
“We’re not here to truffle people to death,” she stressed.
–Warren