Donburi: Ebi Katsudon

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Donburi

There’s nothing like a good restaurant named for the dish it serves, especially when that dish is donburi – the ultimate Japanese comfort food. Think of donburi’s soothing ways to be on par with the American grilled cheese sandwich.

On any given night at the Adams Morgan newcomer, there are about nine rice bowls to choose from ranging from raw to golden fried. The Best Thing on the Menu belongs to the latter category: Ebi Katsudon with panko coated shrimps, sliced onions and a half cooked egg with donburi and tartar sauce. Sure, they have pork  and salmon sashimi, but the humble set of four shrimp are superior and much easier to sling around with chopsticks.

The owner, Seungjoon Jang, answered the call for a quality and satisfying $15 dinner in an era of DC dining where it’s hard for a table of two to escape a small plates meal for less than $100. He does so by adding value in surprising ways, like tangy pickled jalapeños or all you can drink barley water.

Donburi Pan

The one glaring menu omission? The familial and tasty oyakudon, or “parent and child” rice bowl, featuring chicken and eggs. Here’s hoping this post inspires a menu addition, since eggs and chicken are already available. Attempts to make oyakudon at home end in failure without an adorable donburi pan. So leave it to Jang and his team of professionals.

Ebi Katsudon not your BTM? Post your favorites in the comments section.

The Red Hen: Burrata

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Red Hen Burrata

There are hundreds of reasons to get yourself down Rhode Island Ave. to The Red Hen. This charming, edgy and entertaining spot has helped put Bloomingdale on the map.

We’ll stick with just a few reasons though, starting with The Best Thing on the Menu: Burrata with Broccolini Marinati, Pickled Red Chiles, Mint & Vin Cotto. Burrata, Buffalo mozzarella’s brother from another mother, is super soft and oozes cream when pierced with a knife. Instead of going the tomato/basil route, Chef Mike Friedman surprises diners with bitter broccolini and peppers that manage to be sweet, sour and spicy. You’ve been warned; once you go burrata you never go back.

There’s also something special to drink at The Red Hen. We’re willing to bet our burrata that you haven’t tried orange wine. Whether it’s a trend or just a fad remains to be seen, but it sure is luscious. There are eight different orange wines to choose from at the restaurant, hailing from Slovenia, Croatia and Italy. The taste will take your breath away. Did someone fortify your wine with Scotch? Is there actually a full bouquet of flowers from UrbanStems in there? No, in fact, orange wine is simply made by producing white wine more like red wine, where the stems, skins, seeds, etc. have a longer maceration period.

Red Hen Rabbit Sugo

Pair your first glass of orange wine with The Best Pasta on the Menu: Saffron Fettuccine with Rabbit Sugo, Cinnamon, Grilled Kale & Mustard Breadcrumbs. Let’s all admit that rabbit is the new duck. And, according to the Twittersphere, duck is the new pork belly. Rabbit, though totes adorbs in the flesh, is elegant and perfect for pasta. This brilliant bowl is a bit autumnal, so we hope to eat it come October (Read: Please keep on the menu!).

Red Hen Octopus

One last can’t miss dish is the Grilled Octopus with Shelling Beans, Frisee, Crispy Capers & Romesco Sauce. The octopus is flame kissed and super smoky and Romesco is the best sauce, it just is.

Though an appetizer, the octopus dish is the perfect size. We have a special appreciation for The Red Hen because it bridges the divide between small plate lovers and big plate purists by offering medium-size plates that can in fact be split among friends without feelings getting hurt. Click here for more photos of the meal.

Burrata not your BTM? Post your favorites in the comments section.

Agua 301: Pork Belly al Pastor

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Agua 301 Pork Belly Taco

If Hawaii and Mexico had a baby, a perfect baby, it would be this taco. The Best Thing on the Menu at Agua 301 is undoubtedly: Pork Belly al Pastor. Three succulent tacos filled with crispy fried pork belly, pineapple habanero salsa, al pastor aioli, salsa de arbol arrive at your table glistening with an entrancing glaze.

As if the world’s most perfect protein needed any help…Chef Antonio Burrell lightly breads and fries the belly, which has already been slow-cooked to optimal tenderness. The pineapple habanero salsa is what transports you directly to a Hawaiian luau, where the pig of the party is cooked underground to an equal level of deliciousness. Hopefully by men in ridiculous outfits.

Berry Mezcal Cocktail

If picking the right margarita has always been a problem for you, we’re here to help. The Humo en el Agua (translation Smoke on the Water) is the right choice. This pomegranate margarita made with Fidencio Classico, Pama Liqueur, pomegranate juice, and fresh squeezed lime juice. Fidencio Classico is key because it’s mezcal, and thus delivers smoke. Typically mezcal is paired with citrus fruits, but here’s hoping that the smoke and berry combination is a new trend. Mezcal is one of my favorite things right now, with its notes of beef jerky and peat. Fair warning though, mezcal is a gateway drug to scotch because once you go smoky, toasty, roasty  – you never go back.

Apple Pie Empanadas

Finish the evening at Agua 301 with Chef Burrell’s apple empanadas. They’re stuffed with his mother’s good old-fashioned apple pie recipe. You’ll undoubtedly be choosing between these and the churros. Choose these.

All and all the tacos and the guacamoles (with bacon!) steal the show at this new spot in the Navy Yard. They outshine the entrees and will be perfect before or after a Nats game come spring. Click here for more photos.

Pork Belly al Pastor not your BTM? Share your favorites in the comments section.

Taan Noodles: Duck Ramen

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 THIS RESTAURANT CLOSED EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2014.

Taan Noodles Duck Ramen

Pork is overplayed when it comes to the meat component in most ramen. Taan Noodles takes it to the next level by going with duck confit that falls right off the bone and into your broth. The Best Thing on the Menu: Taan Shoyu Duck Ramen also contains pickled cucumbers, dashi tomato, scallions, shiitake mushroom, spicy mustard greens, crispy shallots, taan hanjuku tamago (pink egg!) and bamboo shoots.

Think fowl are foul? No problem, there are plenty of pork belly bowls to go around inside this Adams Morgan noodle shop. Like heat? They hook you up with togarashi spice flakes and spicy sesame oil, so you blast off your taste buds if that’s your thing.

Taan Noodles Okonomiyaki

If you’re ravenous and in need of a snack before your bowl arrives, there are a handful of appetizers that pull from Japanese, Chinese and Thai cuisines. The best pick here? Japanese okonomiyaki, the traditional street food of Osaka. Having downed many of these fish pancakes from street carts in Osaka, I’m a tougher critic than normal. While the sauces were nailed (Japanese mayo and savory brown sauce) the fish to cabbage ratio could have been more generous. Daikaya has a cool take on this classic.

Unlike their friends Sakuramen down the road, these folks have booze. More importantly, they have a lot of fun with their booze. We loved Second Place is not First Place (the perfect drink while watching the Olympics at the bar) made with Bulleit Bourbon, grapefruit juice, Barenjager and togarashi spice as well as There are Hippies in Asia – a tasty concoction of Nolet’s Gin, lavender vanilla simple syrup, tonic and lavender spice bitters.

Taan Shoyu Duck Ramen not your BTM? Post your favorites in the comments section.

Don’t miss a bite: Keep up with us on Facebook and Twitter. You might also like Toki Underground and Zentan.

Best Thing at the Party: Sugar and Champagne

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Sugar and Champagne

More than a hundred dogs sniffed each other, got gourmet treats and snuck gelato licks from their two-legged companions at the Washington Humane Society’s fundraiser Sugar and Champagne. There were 800 people  in attendance for the event at the Ronald Reagan Building and
International Trade Center. Yes, dogs were allowed inside of one of DC’s most prestigious venues. So let’s get to it, the food that is.

Founding Farmers panna cotta

The Best Thing at the Party: Sweet Corn Panna Cotta with Bacon Blueberry Sauce was made by none other than the team from Founding Farmers. They always use bacon really well and have a knack for bringing out the best in fresh produce, so it’s not a surprise that they took the cake. Well maybe not the cake…those accolades belong to Baklava Couture.

Baklava Couture Cake

Their semolina cake with hat tips to baklava’s sticky, crunchy texture was the perfect bite. They got my gold coin in the cake vote. You can find Baklava Couture products at FRESHFARM Markets (seasonal), Todd Gray’s Muse Cafe at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and The Mediterranean Way.

Bacon Candy

Finally, we’d like to call out the very best contraband at the party (those in violation shall remain nameless). The bacon candy on a stick was otherworldly. Mmmm – thick cut and covered in a syrupy, caramelized glaze. OMGet me some more. Bacon and other meat products were apparently banned, due to the stir it would create among the four leggers. Whoops.

Click here for more pictures from the event. Click here to learn about pet adoption.

Sweet Corn Panna Cotta not The Best Thing at the Party? Share your favorites in the comments section.

BLT Steak: Best Beef on the Menu

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BLT Steak Wagyu

If this isn’t the sexiest slab you’ve ever seen, you’re lying. In fact, look at it in black and white:

BLT Steak B&W Wagyu

BLT Steak has five different varieties of richly marbled, drool-worthy wagyu starting with the holy grail of beef: A5 Japanese Wagyu. There’s also American Wagyu Ribeye, American Wagyu Strip Pave, American Wagyu Top Cap and American Wagyu Skirt. The Best Beef on the Menu (BBM)? Step aside A5 and make room for Top Cap. There’s something special about the spinalis dorsi that’s unique, gamey, tender and buttery. It stood out from the herd.

BLT Steak Scallop

Stopping at steak would be a crime, however. So let’s look beyond the beef. BLT Steak’s brand spanking new, uber talented executive chef, Jeremy Shelton, brings a lot of technique to DC all the way from Miami. He builds layer upon layer of flavor in his dishes and his raw scallop rivals Komi’s (sorry Johnny!). A colossal scallop is dressed in the most elegant attire – shaved truffles and green apple slivers. But, the real burst of flavor comes from the yuzu butter, which packs a punch. We’re always appreciative of Japanese influences.

BLT Steak Rabbit

Another can’t miss dish is the rabbit. Though not yet displayed on the menu, this stunner is as shiny as General Tso’s chicken and super soulful. Sometimes it saddens me to see a protein plated with its favorite foods (carrots and other shaved veggies), but I got over it quickly. After the first bite in fact. I never knew rabbit had the capability to fall apart like a good short rib.

You’re in for an impressive evening at BLT Steak regardless of whether you go for the beef or stray to other corners of the menu. Click here for more photos.

American Wagyu Top Cap not the Best Beef on the Menu? Share your favorites in the comments section.

Alba Osteria: Mezzeluna

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Alba Osteria

No, we did not upload the wrong picture. This is in fact an adorable little bamboo steamer at an Italian restaurant – Alba Osteria. This newcomer, albeit located amidst endless construction (at 4th and I Street NW), is worth a visit. They win at pasta made with love, Neapolitan pizza with perfect crust, charcuterie, and adventurous proteins. How about a chestnut pasta that incorporates veal brains right into the dough for example?

You can find the Best Thing on the Menu: Mezzeluna nestled inside the aforementioned bamboo steamer. These (you guessed it) half moon-shaped morsels are delicately filled with a blend of cheeses and served with spinach. The kicker? They’re boiled in water that has been infused with hay. Don’t see this dish on the online menu? Don’t fret;  it just happens to be brand new and you can order two different portion sizes – dainty European or generous American.

Chef Roberto Donna, who was named “Chef of the Year 2012” by Esquire magazine, hails from the Piedmont region of Italy. There, a traditional dish incorporates ricotta cheese that has been aged with hay, making Alba Osteria’s take on the dish a shout out to the chef’s home cuisine.

Alba Osteria Rabbit

Another winner? The crispy rabbit Milanese. Under a golden crust, tender rabbit is lovingly wrapped with pungent fontina and salty prosciutto. Our one question: Where did they find a rabbit so big? We’re hoping it wasn’t a Flemish Giant. This is actually the second of two rabbit dishes available. The other involves thinly sliced shaved rabbit incorporated into a refreshing salad.

Save room for dessert and try their unique take on crème brûlée. It’s actually “Snow White” polenta that has been caramelized just like the traditional French dessert. Click here for more photos from Alba Osteria.

Mezzeluna not your BTM? Post your favorites in the comments section.

Barmini: Foieffel

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Barmini cocktail

For a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory meets Jose Andres kind of night, book some seats at Barmini. You’ll work your way through custom cocktails that incorporate everything from smoke, pumpkin and egg whites to cotton candy and edible flowers. The food at this Latin inspired drink den/speakeasy packs just as much creativity and whimsy.

Barmini Foiewaffle

Though it is nearly impossible to choose, the Best Thing on the Menu is the Foieffel: A palm-sized waffle stuffed with the silkiest foie gras we’ve ever experienced. It oozes out at the perfect temperature upon the first bite. Then throw in the fact that it’s topped with chocolate and peanut butter. You’ll wish you came with someone who hates (or is morally opposed) to foie gras, because sharing this bad boy is as painful as a flight cancellation, or baby shower.

Barmini Chicken Skin

A very close second is the fried chicken skin that you dip into a Buffalo-Tzatziki lagoon. It’ll make you forget crackers ever had a purpose. The skin is dotted with rotisserie salt and spices, making it delicious all on its own. But with that sauce. OMGet yourself to Barmini. Special thanks to our bar tendress and cocktail wizard Carlie for making sure we didn’t miss out on this dish. Oh and for the ridic cocktails, especially the sherry-based Adonis.

Click here for more photos.

If our evening at Barmini is any indication of what life is like on the other side of the glass at Minibar, we’re going to start saving up.

Foieffel not your BTM? Post your favorites in the comments section.

DCity Smokehouse: Meat Platter

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DCity Smokehouse

DC’s gearing up for a sweaty, smoky, artery-busting Meat Week 2014. One of the featured meat magicians is none other than BBQ newcomer DCity Smokehouse. This four-seat cubbyhole of heaven can be found right around where Florida Ave meets North Capitol Street NW. Use your nose to guide you the rest of the way.

As far as the Best Thing on the Menu, go all out and get the Smokehouse Meat Platter: 1/2lb of any sliced or chopped meat or combination of 2 meat with one side, house made pickles, & Texas toast. Select the hush puppies as your side if you know good food when it stares you in the face. We went with brisket and pulled pork, but there’s pork belly and turkey too.

You can trust Pit Mater Rob Sonderman with all your BBQ needs; he took the reigns at DCity Smokehouse after leaving Hill Country BBQ in Penn Quarter, and has really injected new life into the neighborhood.

Fried Chicken and Red Velvet Waffles

Those who prefer poultry also have a killer option: Crispy fried boneless chicken & red velvet waffle with bourbon syrup. A definite BTM runner up. This dish was a Revive Catering and Events original.

If you’re lazy when it comes to BBQ, not to worry. Rather than cruising down Florida Ave, just use your mouse to navigate to Seamless for delivery. Keep them in mind for Super Bowl orders!

Smokehouse Meat Platter not your BTM? Share your favorites in the comments section.

Toki Underground: Kimchi Ramen

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Toki Underground

Korea and Japan play nice inside of this bowl… real nice. Traditional ramen is elevated and enhanced by the distinct flavor of kimichi in Toki Underground’s Best Thing on the Menu: Kimchi Ramen. Their other flavors are top of the line too, especially the homey and comforting red miso or the subtly sweet (never spicy) curry. But those who like heat, and a little bit of funk, should go with our pick for BTM.

Each piping hot bowl at Toki Underground is adorned with a crisp sheet of nori, breath-busting green onion, incredibly tender pulled pork and our favorite: an egg softer than a Ritz Carlton pillow. Brave customers (who have already braved a heck of a long line) can invite even more guests to their party bowl, like deep fried shrimp heads, pork cheek or “Toki Endorphin Sauce.”

All of Chef Erik Bruner-Yang’s ramen dishes are inspired by a Hakata Ramen shop in Taipei. In a fun coincidence, I spent two years living in Hakata (Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan) and can say with confidence that I prefer Chef Yang’s piping hot, flavorful bowls to even the most secretive train station ramen shops.

On a final note, it’s nice that Americans haven’t adopted the slurping system of cooling noodles. Let’s keep it that way. That sound still haunts my dreams.

Kimchi Ramen not your BTM? Post your favorites in the comments section.