LET'S FACE IT, if you're reading this post, it's likely that you're not Bill Gates and might have some concerns about money. As in, you don't have an unlimited amount of it. That's what Chef Geoff, the pleasant-looking man in the picture above, is here for.
At his three restaurants — Chef Geoff's uptown and downtown and Lia's in Friendship Heights — you can enjoy one of the city's finest (and most substantial) burgers for just $5 along with a discounted drink every day from 3-7 p.m if you sit at the bar. That's a pretty sweet deal, considering the caliber of this restaurant and its reputation as a place the more powerful amongst us might go to dine.
» Chef Geoff's, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; 202-464-4461. (Metro Center)
» Chef Geoff's, 3201 New Mexico Ave. NW; 202-237-7800.
» Lia's, 4445 Willard Ave., Chevy Chase; 240-223-5427. (Friendship Heights)
Photo by Len Spoden
MANY AMERICANS STRUGGLE with the question of giving back — how can we juggle helping with our high-paced jobs? Oh, and with all the leisure activities we enjoy? Share Our Strength, an organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger, has found a way to marry the two.
The Great American Dine Out is a nationwide campaign that recruits restaurants — both chain and independent — to contribute a portion of their profits to Share Our Strength from Sept. 21-28. Several D.C. favorites have jumped on the charity wagon. That's where your appetite and wallet come in.
If you've been meaning to try Rasika, now is the time. It's tough to go wrong, but seafood appetizers, the savory chaats and any of the lamb entrees (the roganjosh, particularly) are all a sure thing.
Continue Reading "Eat Well to Help Those Who Can't: The Great American Dine Out" »
IT TAKES PERSISTENCE to land a seat at Persimmon. With a small location on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda and a big reputation, this upscale American bistro can be fully booked two weeks in advance. After a recent foray into the suburban restaurant capital, it's easy to see why.
Having made reservations three weeks in advance, a party of four came away thoroughly impressed with an interesting menu and excellent execution. There were several fish, poultry and meat dishes — including the signature barbeque rack of lamb that, while not cheap, is not unreasonably priced.
I'd enjoyed the lamb my previous trip, so in an effort to branch out, I jumped on the crab cake platter — featuring two perfectly sized cakes with no filler and healthy portions of delicious mashed potatoes and a corn hash. At $26, it was a bargain. Two in the group had the rockfish, and the bouillabaisse rounded out our entrees. Each was done exquisitely, making for a nice evening.
THOSE OF YOU who have come across Ceiba, the home of upscale Latin food in D.C., know that's it's not just friendly service, succulent seafood, tender cuts of meat or decadent cocktails that make the place such a draw. It's all of the above, inside a tropical oasis located conveniently at 14th and G.
Ceiba has stood the test of time, and this week it celebrates its fifth anniversary. Which means deals. There will be food specials, there will be $5 mojitos and margaritas, there will be merriment, and it will last all week long. For more information, check out their Web site.
» Ceiba, 701 14th St. NW; Mon.-Sat., Sept. 15-20; 202-393-3983. (Metro Center)
Photo by Rafael Suanes for The Washington Post
CAPITOL HILL ISN'T used to the fanfare that accompanied the opening of Good Suff Eatery — a flurry of interest powered by the fame of its creator, Spike Mendelsohn, a recent contender on Bravo TV's "Top Chef."
Lines of eager patrons snaked down the street for weeks after Good Stuff's debut in July. Which is why this Cap Hill resident held off till now on sampling its wares.
It was worth the wait.
Good Stuff is a burger joint, and it has settled into its niche with meaty aplomb. Three lo-fi burgers — regular, cheese and bacon cheese — share the menu with eight action-packed originals, including Uncle D's Chili 'N Cheddar and Colletti's Smokehouse, which includes onion rings among its toppings.
THE EMBASSY OF MEXICO is sponsoring a week of food that I can only hope will become an annual tradition.
Taste of Mexico D.C., which started on Saturday and goes until Sept. 12, is a celebration of things our Southern neighbor does exceptionally well — namely edibles, but also music. Several restaurants are participating, and tonight's activity is going down at Zengo where the evening will be dedicated to learning about and eating Yucatan cuisine.
Casa Oaxaca and Oyamel are later in the week, as are performances by Julieta Venegas and Los Lobos. For a full schedule of events, click here.
» Various locations, various prices, through Sept. 12.
Photo by Renee Comet for the Washington Post
PAELLA — IS THERE a tastier culinary mix'em-and-match'em? Taberna del Alabardero invites Washingtonians to experience Spain's rib-stiking confetti of a dish during its annual two-week Paella Festival from Sept. 15th through the 30th.
Look for several variations, from paella with green beans, fava beans and clams, to judiones and magro paella, lobster paella and even black rice with baby octopus. In addition, chef Dani Arana is offering a DIY cooking class. Look for free tastings on the 15th from 11 a.m. to noon on the patio. The festival is offered for dinner at $28 per person.
» Taberna del Alabardero, 1776 I St. NW, 202-429-2200. Minimum of two people per order
Written by Express Contributor Christopher Correa
Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post
ARE YOU READY for some football? From now through the rest of the NFL season, lunchers can hit up Arlington's Liberty Tavern for the past time's classic pairing: a bacon cheeseburger and a pint. At $10, it's a steal.
Chef Liam LaCivita perfected the meaty treats by using organic skirt steak and homemade Amish potato bread. Try it with herbed fries or red-bliss potato salad. But the burger's only the QB; it takes a wide receiver to take it into the endzone. Stella Artois, Dale's Pale Ale, Weihenstephaner, Magic Hat No. 9 and Brooklyn Lager are all on tap as sudsy go-withs. Take it from us: It's good.
» Liberty Tavern, 3195 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-465-9360
Written by Express Contributor Christopher Correa
Photo by Gerald Martineau/The Washington Post
BRING ON THE deadly nightshade. The Neighborhood Restaurant Group and Freshfarm Markets are making dinner together at Evening Star Cafe on Sept. 10. Chef Will Artley's five-course meal is all about tomatoes, from a tomato salad with arugula pesto and garlic chips, and seared sea scallops with tomato carpaccio, to a sweet heirloom tomato tart with basil ice cream.
The dinner is pricey at $75 per person, but wine pairings are included. And it's all in the name of getting to know your local farmer. The evening will feature local producers talking about their seasonal products, the area's growing conditions and the skills required to grow high-quality produce.
» Evening Star Cafe, 2000 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria; 703-549-5051
Written by Express contributor Christopher Correa
Photo by Alice Webb
WHEN IT COMES to dining out, New York is no longer the new black: Over there, there's a stifling competitiveness among upstart eateries to claim a spot on the upper-middle-class food chain, and tony standard-bearers polish laurels instead of plates (coughTavernontheGreencough).
So the Beltway food scene is an expanding frontier for new chefs looking to post a stake. One of the happiest phenomena of late is the decline of Washington's erstwhile food staple, the slab of red meat.
Whatever its effect on other industries, the subprime mortgage crisis may also be translating into a subprime rib crisis. Small plates such as tapas are still selling the way tarted-up co-ops with views of the Capitol dome used to.
Limp consumer spending? Not in Bethesda, an invigorated swatch of Maryland where demand for haute cuisine remains robust and development flourishes, real estate slowdown be damned.
That makes Redwood, the latest venture by California-inspired gadflies Jared Rager and Eli Hengst, a breath of fresh air. Redwood boasts the quiet majesty of its eponymous evergreen and the sun-dappled charms of the East Bay.
Addison Road