Avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro, chile serrano. $10
El Centro D.F., Washington DC
I did not like this guacamole at all! There was a sharpness and odd flavor that I couldn’t identify. I appreciated that they finished the guacamole tableside, but I would have preferred less of a show and more of a better product.
US Botanic Garden Conservatory.
Blue Bay mussels from Maine, golden pineapple. $14
District Commons, Washington DC
I liked the flavors of this dish, but the mussels were tiny, dry and chewy. It was like eating raisins! Omg, I’m used to the large meaty mussels we get on the west coast. This was pathetic.
Night view from the Kennedy Center.
Pain d’epice, huckleberry mustard. $15
Le Diplomate, Washington DC
Mmm, this appetizer was heaven! The foie gras parfait was whipped to an light, silky texture and it was so delicious with the toast and huckleberry. It was very rich but I tried my best to finish it throughout the meal. Noms!
Ventoux: old overholt rye, lemon, egg white, red wine float. $12
US Botanic Garden Conservatory.
Braised wagyu beef belly, smoked chile. Happy hour $5
Rural Society, Washington DC
This empanada was delicious! The shredded beef belly was SO tender and juicy and flavorful, and the crust was flaky and perfect. I wish I had stayed and tried more food but I was in a rush and just ducked in for a quick snack.
Gaucho: Tito’s handmade vodka, Domaine de Canton, lime, mint. $7
Aspiration and Literature statue, Arlington Memorial Bridge.
Tortilla chips topped with she-crab soup, backfin crab, shrimp, melted mozzarella cheese, lettuce, diced tomato, Old Bay and scallions. Served with sour cream and Hell sauce. $10
Hell’s Kitchen, Norfolk VA
This was certainly interesting. I wanna say that I liked it, but here was also something about it that wasn’t fresh tasting. It definitely wasn’t healthy but I didn’t expect it to be either. The bad eater in me says “Yes” while the common sense side says this was “disgusting”!
Bulleit bourbon Manhattan. $7.75
Battleship Wisconsin.
Egg yolk, pissaladiere lavash. $16.50
Monsieur Benjamin, San Francisco CA
This dish was good, but lifeless. I liked the lavash bread. It was super thin and crispy and it had a flavor and texture that I haven’t had with lavash bread. It was new and interesting. I also like the treatment of the yolk in the tartare. They were fun and novel, but the dish fell flat overall. It was trying to be too fancy and it lost its soul.
Bernal Heights Park.
Pine nut, beurre rose. $17.50
Monsieur Benjamin, San Francisco CA
Ugh, I can now say I’ve had seafood sausage (but I actually think I’ve had it prior somewhere else), and it wasn’t that great. It had a different texture (softer) and it tasted fine, but I literally paid over seventeen bucks for a small sausage that I didn’t love. I make poor decisions sometimes…
Christmas house gone overboard, Noe Valley. Love it!
Pistachios, cherry. $18
Monsieur Benjamin, San Francisco CA
I liked this duck terrine. The flavors were great and I loved the variable chunks of tender duck within it. The pickled onions were also a great garnish for this rich dish. Mmm…
Pickle store sign, Mission.
Garlic, lemon. $12.50
Monsieur Benjamin, San Francisco CA
I love frog legs, but this preparation didn’t impress me. Actually, I didn’t like it very much at all. The batter was heavy and the frog legs were somehow limp and soft. It was in between greasy and left under saran wrap to steam and soften. It was an unpleasant texture, and the flavor wasn’t very exciting either. I was missing the “sour-sweet”.
Yerba Buena Park.
Gruyere, herb creme fraiche. $7.50
Monsieur Benjamin, San Francisco CA
Mmm, these were delicious. They were light and fluffy, but packed with flavor and not at all greasy. Noms!
The Ace: rye, calvados, sloe gin, honey, lemon, rosemary. $11.50
Dolores Park.
Corn puree, caramelized figs, pickled watermelon rinds. $15
Boxing Room, San Francisco CA
I liked the flavors in the dish, and the pork belly was tasty BUT it was way too fatty! The pieces of pork belly were pretty much slabs of fat with very little meat on them. I think this is the first time that I couldn’t finish pork belly. I just left the huge chunks of fat on the plate.
Fabaceae family, Noe Valley.
Creole remoulade, lemon. $13
Boxing Room, San Francisco CA
I thought maybe the alligator would be tough and dry, but it really wasn’t. The breading was delicious and it was fried perfectly. I’m not sure that I could really taste and describe the gator apart from the breading and frying oil, but the whole thing tasted great to me.
Gamay Noir, Champier Buissonnate, Beaujolais Villages, France. 2012. Glass $11.50
Cabernet Franc, Filliatreau Grande Vignolle, Saumur Champigny, France 2011. Glass $10
March 25, 2015. $14
Sidewalk stencil.
Vittle Monster 