Friday, July 31, 2009

Cookie Carnival: Lemon Ricotta Cookies


This month's Cookie Carnival invites us to join the lovely Giada de Laurentiis in the kitchen (who I love!!). Ok, so not "literally" in the kitchen with Giada, but we bake up one of her dessert recipes -- LEMON RICOTTA COOKIES WITH LEMON GLAZE.

Now when I say cookies, I really should be saying CAKE here. These somehow decadent but light cookies came out to be more like cake (think...the top of a cupcake) -- which really, I don't mind. The lemon is fresh and really brightens the cookie, but is not overwhelming. The icing on the cookies came out a little bit thin for me, but added a sweet kick to the cookies.

Loved these. Would definitely make them again. And they were so easy to make! (Although I did cut myself on my lemon grater... oops.)

RECIPE: LEMON RICOTTA COOKIES WITH LEMON GLAZE
Ingredients:
Cookies:
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 lemon, zested
Glaze:
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 lemon, zested
Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cookies:

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the large bowl combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.

Glaze:

Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours. Pack the cookies into a decorative container.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

England: Where in the World Wednesday!

Nathalie's Raspberry Mess - Yum!

The FIRST Where in the World Wednesday brings us across the pond (or at least across the pond for me) to England. Today, we're featuring two lovely ex-pats who both reside in England's capital city of London. Both were kind enough to be the first features and definitely offered me some insight into the food side of London and England generally. I hope that you enjoy our first of many weekly trips... Enjoy!

Brief background on both ladies:

Elaine has lived in London now for over three years and previously lived in both Maryland and New York. After living in New York and growing up surrounded by the food industry, she's no stranger to good eating! Now she offers me weekly (if not daily :)) insights into all the food London has to offer (not to mention the delicious cookies and chocolates she brings me when she comes to visit).

Nathalie, although living in London now, has lived all over the place including Israel, Belgium, Florida, Paris, Toronto, and Frankfurt. She shares my love for food and cooking and welcomes any cooking challenge (feel free to send her a recipe or two and she'll show you how it turns out on her blog! ... I'm working on picking out the right recipe for the challenge!). She also makes beautiful jewelry, which is actually how we first met.

Now, for your brief tour of British eats (on a sidenote, quite interesting to get two points of view... every week will be slightly different, so some weeks we'll have more input and some less):

Are there any dishes that you think are traditionally British? Do you have a favorite (include a recipe if you'd like!)

Elaine: There are tons of traditionally British dishes: Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash, Steak and Ale Pie, and let's not forget the yummy desserts - Trifle, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Bakewell Tart, Bread Pudding, Mince Pie.

Nathalie:
Oh there quite a few: fish and chips, Lancashire Hotpot, Yorkshire puddings, bangers and mash, Shepherds' Pie, and of course the typical full English breakfast. As meat features rather heavily in these meals and as I don't eat meat I never got to sample most of them.

I do have a sweet tooth so I like most of the local desserts (or pudding as they call them) such as shortbread, treacle tart and even the Christmas pudding. One of my favorites desserts is this version of the Eton mess (see above!) -it's really easy to make and if you suck in the kitchen or in a rush you can buy ready made ingredients and just assemble it. (I stole the recipe from Ruth Watson).

Ingredients
250g mascarpone
600g fresh raspberries
350g creme fraiche

For the meringues
3 large egg whites
175g sugar

For the custard
425ml full fat milk
1 vanilla pod, split lengthways
6 large egg yolks
115g caster sugar
1 tbsp cornflour

In the easy version (where you buy ready made ingredients) you just mix ready-made custard and mascarpone, then layer the ingredients in wine glasses in the following order:

1. 50g raspberries
2. 3 tbsp custard & mascarpone mix
3. crumbled meringue
4. 1 tbsp of creme fraiche
5. 50g raspberries
6. 2 tbsp custard & mascarpone mix
7. crumbled meringue
8. 1 tbsp of creme fraiche
9. A few raspberries for decoration

If you're doing it the hard way:
1. Preheat oven at 100C
2. make custard: heat milk and vanilla pod in a saucepan until just below simmering point.
3. Meantime whiz egg yolks, sugar and cornflour in food processor until thick and creamy
4. Take milk off heat and let it infuse 15-20 minutes.
5. Remove vanilla pod and add it to the egg mixture - blend but not too much
6. Rinse pan and pour the mixture back in. Return saucepan to a medium-high heat and bring to the boil whisking continuously
7. Still whisking, reduce heat and simmer for one minute.
8. Remove pan from heat and plunge the base of the pan in ice cold water
9. Continue whisking 2-3 minutes until the custard cools a little, then leave to chill stirring occasionally.

Meringues
1. Whisk egg white until you get glossy peaks that don't fall when you turn the bowl upside down. 2. Whisk a large spoon of sugar then fold in the rest - about a fifth at the time.
3. With a tablespoon dab small evenly sized mounds of meringue on a baking sheet
4. place baking sheet in the oven for 90 minutes then turn off the heat and leave in the oven for another hour.
5. Remove from oven and leave it to cool completely.

Assembly
1. Just mix custard and mascarpone, crumble the meringue and assemble as described above.

If you were putting together a food gift basket representative of your country for a friend that was visiting you from overseas, what would you include in it?

Elaine: Tiptree Strawberry and Champagne Conserve (this is my favorite jam but the other flavors they make are excellent), Fortnum & Mason Chocolate and Macadamia Biscuits, a selection of Cadbury Chocolates, McVities Caramel Digestive Biscuits (don't be put off by the word "digestive, these are basically cookies covered in caramel and chocolate), English Scones, and Scotch Eggs (a shelled hard-boiled egg, wrapped in a sausage meat mixture, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried).

Elaine later shared with me that she wanted to add a few things that would likely go bad in a gift basket, but if she COULD include them, they would be strawberries and cream or yorkshire pudding (um, yum!).

Nathalie: Let's just make one thing clear here *looks severely a Jackie* England is NOT my country - it's just where I live right now :). And I'm ashamed to say I take perverse pleasure in making fun of their 'cuisine'.

But I do do the 'gift' basket whenever I go abroad (to horrify my friends more often than not...) (For more information on Nathalie's gift basket, check out her blog! She provides more details about each of these items...)

It usually includes the following:
Marmite (yeast extract),
Mint Kit-Kat (yes, they dared)
Twiglets (snack that tastes like Marmite),
Cheese and onion chips (or crisps as they call them here)
Jaffa cakes (orange chocolate cookie)
Hobnobs (a type of cookie - very dry!)
Roses (a type of Cadbury chocolate)
Terry's orange (very cool chocolate in shape of an orange)
PG tips (tea)

Do you find that the food in the UK has been greatly influenced by certain ethnicities? If so, which ones?

Elaine: The UK is certainly influenced by the Commonwealth countries, most notably India. You can get some amazing Indian food here.

Nathalie:
Yes, it most definitely has (and it's a good thing otherwise I would starve....). I think the biggest influence is probably Indian/Pakistani and curry regularly feature on the list of the most popular British foods (and some years it even tops the list). Where I live there is a big concentration of Poles so there are quite a few Polish groceries stores. Supermarkets in general are quite good in stocking food from different countries. In my local supermarket I can find anything from Jamaican to Vietnamese food.

What is your favorite “local” restaurant and why?

Elaine: Sakura, is this little Japanese restaurant near Oxford Circus that serves really authentic food at very reasonable prices. It's always busy, usually packed with Japanese people which is always a good sign! The sushi is particularly good plus they have a lot of items on the menu that you wouldn't normally see, ie. Nasu Dengaku (Japanese grilled eggplant with sweet miso paste and sesame).

Nathalie: It's probably my local noodle place - I like Thai food and this restaurant is conveniently close and relatively cheap. They also have a good selection of vegetarian dishes.

Where was your last amazing meal in the UK and what was in it?

Elaine: Gordon Ramsay's at Claridges for my boyfriend's birthday. For my starter I had the Sautéed chicken livers, soft-boiled quail’s eggs, frisée and smoked bacon. My main course was the Cornish lemon sole, English asparagus, wild mushroom fricassée, citrus beurre blanc. The meal ended with a Valrhona chocolate fondant, mint ice cream and raspberries. YUM! (My commentary: Oh that Gordon... how I heart him as well).

Nathalie: Mmmmm.... let me think.... I don't go out very often.... And the places I go to offer good food but it's by no means amazing.

Where could you get a good meal and a drink for 15 pounds (or approximately $25) and what would you get? (Given the current economic times!)

Elaine: Aside from Sakura which definitely fits the bill, I'd say Waterloo Brasserie. In addition to their a la carte menu they also have fixed price menus for £12.95 (2 courses) and £16.95 (3 courses). There's also a website here called Toptable which has tons of restaurant deals like 50% off or cheap fixed price menus which change often and are well worth taking advantage of.

Nathalie: Wagamama would be a good place if you're an Asian food fan like me. For this amount you could get a main, a drink and either a dessert or a starter.

(My commentary: I LOVE Wagamama as well! The Wagamama in London was the first one I went to, and they're supposed to open one here in DC soon... here's hoping!)

Thank you so much to both of these lovely ladies for participating in the first "Where in the World Wednesday" ... stay tuned for next week which will jet us to a different part of the world. As always, if you'd like to take part, please leave me a comment letting me know! (On an aside, I'm quite happy to include other U.S. foodies on this, particularly because there are so many places I've yet to visit...).

Cheers!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

DC Restaurant Week 2009

Well people, it is that wonderful time of year again - DC Summer Restaurant Week! Restaurant Week is August 24-30 -- BUT the list is out and restaurants are beginning to take reservations. Below are the list of participants :) Start planning ahead!

Would love to hear about your RW experiences... if you end up going, let me know, and I'll put together a round-up.


15 ria

Logan CircleLunchDinner
2941 Restaurant
Lunch only
Falls ChurchLunch
701 Restaurant

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
Acadiana

DowntownLunchDinner
Adour at St. Regis Washington DC
Dinner only
Downtown
Dinner
Agraria Farmers & Fishers

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Ardeo - Bardeo
Dinner only
Cleveland Park
Dinner
Art and Soul

Capitol HillLunchDinner
Asia Nine Bar and Lounge

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
Bastille
Dinner only
Alexandria
Dinner
Beacon Bar and Grill

Dupont CircleLunchDinner
Belga Cafe

Capitol HillLunchDinner
Bezu

PotomacLunchDinner
Bistro Bis

Capitol HillLunchDinner
Bistro Francais

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Bistrot Lepic & Wine Bar

GeorgetownLunchDinner
BlackSalt
Lunch only
Palisades NorthwestLunch
Bobby Van's Grill - New York Ave.

DowntownLunchDinner
Bobby Van's Steakhouse - DC

DowntownLunchDinner
Bodega Spanish Tapas & Lounge

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Bombay Club

DowntownLunchDinner
Cafe Atlantico

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
Cafe Bonaparte

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Cafe Du Parc

DowntownLunchDinner
Cafe Dupont

Dupont CircleLunchDinner
Cafe Promenade

DowntownLunchDinner
Cafe Soleil

DowntownLunchDinner
Capital Grille - Washington DC
Lunch only
Capitol HillLunch
Casa Oaxaca
Dinner only
Adams Morgan
Dinner
The Caucus Room

DowntownLunchDinner
Cedar Restaurant
Dinner only
Penn Quarter
Dinner
Ceiba

DowntownLunchDinner
Charlie Palmer Steak - DC

Capitol HillLunchDinner
Chef Geoff's

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Chef Geoff's Downtown

DowntownLunchDinner
Chef Geoff's Tysons

Tysons CornerLunchDinner
Co Co. Sala

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
Coeur de Lion

DowntownLunchDinner
The Columbia Firehouse

AlexandriaLunchDinner
Cure Bar & Bistro
Dinner only
Penn Quarter
Dinner
Darlington House

Dupont CircleLunchDinner
DC Coast

DowntownLunchDinner
Del Merei Grille
Dinner only
Alexandria
Dinner
Dino
Dinner only
Cleveland Park
Dinner
District Chophouse

DowntownLunchDinner
El Manantial

RestonLunchDinner
Enology Wine Bar
Dinner only
Cleveland Park
Dinner
Filomena Ristorante

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Finemondo

DowntownLunchDinner
Fire & Sage

DowntownLunchDinner
Firefly - DC

Dupont CircleLunchDinner
Fourth Estate Restaurant at the National Press Club

DowntownLunchDinner
Fyve at The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City

ArlingtonLunchDinner
Georgia Brown's
Dinner only
Downtown
Dinner
Geranio

AlexandriaLunchDinner
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant - DC

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
The Grill from Ipanema
Dinner only
Adams Morgan
Dinner
Grille at the Morrison House
Dinner only
Alexandria
Dinner
Harry's Tap Room - Clarendon

ArlingtonLunchDinner
Harry's Tap Room - Pentagon City

ArlingtonLunchDinner
The Heights

Columbia Heights / BrightwoodLunchDinner
Hook

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Hudson Restaurant & Lounge

West EndLunchDinner
Ici Urban Bistro

DowntownLunchDinner
Il Mulino - Washington DC

DowntownLunchDinner
Indigo Landing

AlexandriaLunchDinner
Indique
Dinner only
Cleveland Park
Dinner
Indique Heights
Dinner only
Friendship Heights
Dinner
Jackson 20

AlexandriaLunchDinner
Jaleo - Bethesda

Bethesda / Chevy ChaseLunchDinner
Jaleo Crystal City

ArlingtonLunchDinner
Jaleo DC

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
The Jockey Club - The Fairfax at Embassy Row

DowntownLunchDinner
Johnny's Half Shell

Capitol HillLunchDinner
Juniper at the Fairmont Washington DC

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Kaz Sushi Bistro

DowntownLunchDinner
Kinkead's, An American Brasserie
Lunch only
Foggy BottomLunch
La Bergerie

AlexandriaLunchDinner
La Chaumiere

GeorgetownLunchDinner
La Sandia

Tysons CornerLunchDinner
La Tasca - Alexandria

AlexandriaLunchDinner
La Tasca - Arlington

ArlingtonLunchDinner
La Tasca - Downtown DC

DowntownLunchDinner
La Tasca - Rockville

RockvilleLunchDinner
Laporta's Restaurant

AlexandriaLunchDinner
Lavandou Restaurant

Cleveland ParkLunchDinner
Le Chat Noir
Dinner only
Friendship Heights
Dinner
Legal Sea Foods - 7th Street

DowntownLunchDinner
LIA'S

Friendship HeightsLunchDinner
The Liberty Tavern

ArlingtonLunchDinner
LIMA
Dinner only
Downtown
Dinner
M Street Bar & Grill

Dupont CircleLunchDinner
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood - Arlington

ArlingtonLunchDinner
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood - Washington DC (F Street)

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood - Washington DC (K Street)
Dinner only
Downtown
Dinner
Me Jana

ArlingtonLunchDinner
The Melting Pot - Arlington
Dinner only
Arlington
Dinner
The Melting Pot - DC
Dinner only
Dupont Circle
Dinner
The Melting Pot - Gaithersburg
Dinner only
Gaithersburg
Dinner
The Melting Pot - Reston
Dinner only
Reston
Dinner
Mie N Yu

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Morrison-Clark Restaurant

DowntownLunchDinner
Morton's The Steakhouse - Downtown DC

DowntownLunchDinner
Morton's The Steakhouse - Georgetown
Dinner only
Georgetown
Dinner
Nage Restaurant

Dupont CircleLunchDinner
Napoleon Bistro
Dinner only
Adams Morgan
Dinner
New Heights
Dinner only
Woodley Park
Dinner
Neyla
Dinner only
Georgetown
Dinner
Notti Bianche

Foggy BottomLunchDinner
Occidental Grill and Seafood

DowntownLunchDinner
The Oval Room

DowntownLunchDinner
Oya Restaurant & Lounge

DowntownLunchDinner
Oyamel

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
The Palm - Tysons Corner

Tysons CornerLunchDinner
The Palm - Washington DC

Dupont CircleLunchDinner
PassionFish - Reston

RestonLunchDinner
Perrys
Dinner only
Adams Morgan
Dinner
Petits Plats
Dinner only
Woodley Park
Dinner
Pinzimini at The Westin Arlington Gateway

ArlingtonLunchDinner
Policy
Dinner only
U Street Corridor
Dinner
Posh Restaurant & Supper Club
Dinner only
Penn Quarter
Dinner
Poste

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
Potenza

DowntownLunchDinner
The Prime Rib

DowntownLunchDinner
Primi Piatti

Foggy BottomLunchDinner
PS 7's

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
Rasika

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
Redwood

Bethesda / Chevy ChaseLunchDinner
Restaurant 3

ArlingtonLunchDinner
Roberts Restaurant at the Omni Shoreham

Woodley ParkLunchDinner
Rosa Mexicano - DC

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
Ruth's Chris Steak House - DC - Connecticut NW
Dinner only
Dupont Circle
Dinner
Ruth's Chris Steak House - DC - Convention Center
Dinner only
Downtown
Dinner
Sam & Harry's - Washington DC

Dupont CircleLunchDinner
Sea Catch

GeorgetownLunchDinner
SEI restaurant & lounge

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
Sequoia

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Siroc Restaurant

DowntownLunchDinner
Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse - Washington DC

DowntownLunchDinner
Spezie

DowntownLunchDinner
Sushi Ko

GeorgetownLunchDinner
Sushi Ko - Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase, DCLunchDinner
Tabaq Bistro
Dinner only
U Street Corridor
Dinner
Taberna del Alabardero

DowntownLunchDinner
Tallula
Dinner only
Arlington
Dinner
Teatro Goldoni

DowntownLunchDinner
TenPenh

DowntownLunchDinner
Tosca Ristorante
Dinner only
Downtown
Dinner
Tuscana West

DowntownLunchDinner
Ulah Bistro

U Street CorridorLunchDinner
Urbana Restaurant

Dupont CircleLunchDinner
Vermilion - Alexandria

AlexandriaLunchDinner
Vidalia

DowntownLunchDinner
Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro

RestonLunchDinner
Vinoteca
Dinner only
U Street Corridor
Dinner
Westend Bistro DC
Lunch only
West EndLunch
Willow Restaurant - Arlington

ArlingtonLunchDinner
Zaytinya

Penn QuarterLunchDinner
Zengo - D.C.

DowntownLunchDinner
Zola

Penn QuarterLunchDinner



More information to come...

Monday, July 27, 2009

BB: Sundried Tomato and Fresh Mozzerella Pasta


The month of July brought us Barefoot Bloggers a very tasty recipe... actually, one of the best recipes I've tried yet! Thank you to Cat from the blog Delta Whiskey for selecting the Barefoot Contessa's Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes ... or as I refer to it "Sundried Tomato and Fresh Mozzerella Pasta" (because really, how could you omit the fresh mozzerella from the title?).

I was thrilled to try a dish that I would have tons of leftovers from to bring for lunch. And this was the perfect dish for it (although I wasn't a fan of re-heating ... better to have it cold!). My husband also raved about this dish -- he too agreed that this was one of the best dishes we've made yet in the Barefoot Bloggers. The flavors -- with the mix of the salty and sweet of the sundried tomatoes, the richness of the cheese, and the freshness of the vine ripened tomatoes and then the almost sour taste of the dressing -- all balanced each other very nicely. Originally, my husband prepared a side of turkey for himself, but found that the pasta stood on its own as a meal.

I definitely urge others to try this recipe! Although, I will let you know, that my pasta didn't warm up well. I think the vinegar in the dressing in particular didn't take to warming up...

RECIPE: Barefoot Contessa's Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound fusilli (spirals) pasta
Kosher salt
Olive oil
1 pound ripe tomatoes, medium-diced
3/4 cup good black olives, such as kalamata, pitted and diced
1 pound fresh mozzarella, medium-diced
6 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

DRESSING:
  • 5 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 6 tablespoons good olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, diced
  • 1 teaspoon capers, drained
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1 cup packed basil leaves, julienned
DIRECTIONS

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water with a splash of oil to keep it from sticking together. Boil for 12 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain well and allow to cool. Place the pasta in a bowl and add the tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.

For the dressing, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, capers, salt, and pepper in a food processor until almost smooth.

Pour the dressing over the pasta, sprinkle with the Parmesan and basil, and toss well.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

ALERT: 3-Course and 5-Course Specials @ DC Restaurants

Well, this is a pleasant development! Even BEFORE the Summer DC Restaurant Week begins, a few DC restaurants are offering special prix fixe menus for everyone to enjoy. I definitely plan to check these out and hope you will too! Please let me know if you hear of other great deals like this and I'll post here.

Limited Time
LIMA, 1401 K St. NW
The Tastings Journal is offering a 5-course menu with wine at Lima Restaurant for $45! This is ONLY through Saturday, July 25th, so hurry on to Lima. Be sure to tell them that you are having the Tasting s Journal's fixed price menu when you call for a reservation. The menu includes:

FIRST: Choice of Whitefish Ceviche, Salmon Chipotle Ceviche, Tuna & Ginger Ceviche
SECOND: Choice of Empanadas, Chicken Croquettes, Cod Fritters
THIRD: Choice of Mixed Field Greens Salad, Jamon Serrano, Manchego Cheese Plate,
MAIN: (Paired with wine!) Choice of Wild Salmon, Cuban Chicken, Steak Churrasco, Vegetarian Dish
DESSERT: Choice of Warm Chocolate Cake, Fried Churros, or Ice Creams and Sorbets

Continuing
OYA, 777 9th St NW
LUNCH- $19
FIRST: Choice of 13 different dishes including Cod Chowder, Tuna Tempura Roll, Parmesan Flan, Crab Cobb Salad, and Asian Style Shrimp Scampi.

SECOND: Choice of 11 different dishes including Scallops on pad thai noodles, Tuna Sashimi Salad, Tempura Chicken Sandwich, Atlantic Salmon, and Grilled Beef Sirloin,

DESSERT: Choice of Banana Bread Pudding, Bittersweet Molten Chocolate Cake, and Ice Cream or Sorbet

DINNER - $29
FIRST: Choice of 10 different dishes including Salmon Tempura Roll, Chilled Pea Soup, Spicy Crunchy Shrimp, and Bar B Que Shrimp, and Calamari.

SECOND: Choice of Fish n' Chips, Pad Thai Scallops, Ramen Noodles, Grilled Beef Sirloin, Atlantic Salmon, Roast Chicken, Shiso Crusted Cod

DESSERT: Banana Bread Pudding, Bittersweet Molten Chocolate Cake, Port, Flare Espumoso de Moscatel, Ice Cream or Sorbet


The Source, 575 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (at the Newseum)
LUNCH - $25
FIRST: Choice of Tiny Pork Belly Dumplings, Velvet Corn Soup
SECOND: Choice of Chinois Style Chicken Salad, American Style Kobe Cheeseburger
THIRD: Passion Fruit Cheesecake

DINNER - $45
As per the DC This Week blog, "Beginning today [July 21st], The Source by Wolfgang Puck is introducing a new Chinese banquet-style tasting menu available Monday through Thursday during regular dinner hours in the upstairs main dining room. Inspired by the traditional Chinese custom of friends and family convening over a family-style feast, The Source’s special prix-fixe menu is served in the same fashion and priced at $45 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity."

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Where in the World Wednesdays...

(From my little corner of the world)

My poor blog has been rather neglected as of recent, other than the random recipe post! So to get myself back on track, I'm launching "Where in the World Wednesdays"! I sadly have been unable to do any extensive travel this year due to work constraints and miss it greatly. So, to vicariously experience food from different parts of the world, every Wednesday I'll feature food interviews (!) from different parts of the world! Every Wednesday will be a surprise, so keep on coming back :)

Cheers!

(On a sidenote, if you are reading, and are interested in sharing some of your favorite food thoughts from your corner of paradise, leave a comment here that lets me know that you would like to take part and I'll be in touch! I'll be happy to feature your blog in your interview.).

Monday, July 6, 2009

Cookie Carnival Round-Up!

June's Strawberry Shortcake cookie carnival round-up is now posted! Check out how everyone else did with these yummy cookies.