Alia Said...

I think there's something floating in my drink

2011-03-06T17:14:00.000-08:00

So my love of food routinely got me made fun of at the office, but it got people talking about food, and wanting to try out some of the deals in the area that I had found.

I've already mentioned Proof.

This one is Ping Pong Dim Sum. They do a set lunch menu with a bunch of different things you can try. There is a seafood, vegetarian, and dumpling fix option. The price ranges from $10 - $18, and its a pretty good amount of food.

We ended up ordering all three of them, and they were all delicious.

We also got these crazy flowering teas. It starts out as a hot water in a mug, with a little ball of what looks like hairy weeds. As it steeps it unfurls into this big pretty flower. SO cool.

Alia says... "Um.. I think there's something floating in my drink..."

Proof is in the Food

2011-03-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Aaaaannd back to Proof.

This is the Grilled Garlic Chicken, with steamed rice, cabbage salad, and a yogurt-cilantro puree. Its a tough choice, but I think this is my favorite of the four entrees at Proof. I think its the yogurt-cilantro puree and the rice. So many places do mashed potatoes, but not rice. Rice is good. So is the tasty white wine (I wish I knew what it was) that came with it.

**Sigh** I miss chinatown lunches.

Alia says..."Life, is good."

Don't worry, I still had room for the Panna Cotta afterwards ;p

Wonder-Pho-L

2011-03-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

There is no better winter dish than Pho. IT IS SO GOOD! All hot and spicy (if you want it to be) and not really bad for you.

Beef Pho from Asian Bistro, inexpensive, filling, and delicious. I was so happy leaving that place.

Also, I pronounced it Fo for years, until someone recently told me its actually fuh. well pho-k, I sounded dumb huh?

Alia says... "Wonder-pho-l"

Brussels Sprouts???

2010-10-19T06:53:00.000-07:00

For those who know me, I tend to pick one thing and obsess over it. For a while it was asparagus. Then spinach. Now it's brussels sprouts.

Overwood, in OTA (Old Town Alexandria), has the best roasted brussels sprouts(along with a pretty sweet $10 steak night, and a half-priced bottle of wine night).

One week, I think I went four times. My friend, who loves them almost as much, figured out how to make them the same way, and its really easy. Also, I keep telling random strangers about this place It usually goes something like this:

Girl: I'm in town to run a marathon.
Me: That's awesome, hey random question. Do you like brussels sprouts?
Girl: OMG! YES they are my favorite! I usually eat them before I run but I don't know this area.
Me: Well let me tell you...

This exchange actually happened.

Alia Said... "Ohh baby do you know what thats worth. Ohh heaven a place on earth"

Math Nerds, Really Bad Jokes and Not a Care in the World

2010-10-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

I obviously love food. And I don't mind paying for it. That doesn't mean I don't love a good deal.

Now that school is back in, I'm spending more and more time in Fairfax. Thursdays have been my unofficial night to NOT do homework. This, fortuitously, also happens to be wing night at Buffalo Wing University. 25 wings for $15, paired with dollar domestic beers?

Nothing could be finer. They've got about 30 different sauces, with 5 levels of buffalo: Mild, Hot, Extra Hot, 911, DOA. I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to order the DOA, but if you do, you may need a new stomach lining. The service, not so hot. Even so, its worth it.

Alia says... "Feelin hot hot hot"

A Taste of Lord of the Rings in Alexandria

2010-09-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

There are no Hobbits at Bilbo Baggins in Old Town Alexandria but the food and drink grabbed my attention. I ordered the Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich with the house salad rather than the fries. The barbecue sauce looked and tasted more tomato based than vinegar but good none-the-less and topped with some great coleslaw. The house salad surprised me and I loved it.

The beer menu was extensive but I was disappointed there was no Flying Dog, which is a new local favorite of mine. I did get the Dogfish Head Punkin Ale and so did Boricua.

My favorite must have been the bread they brought out. It had a lot of fall spices that gave it a nice kick. I wish I could have eaten more of the bread but it was heavier than my right tit.

Bilbo Baggins is a great place to eat and I would suggest exploring their specials, which is what I plan to do next time I'm there. Just leave yourself enough time if you are there for lunch. The servers were wonderful... but slow.

Alia Said... "Heavy Man!"

Rustic-O

2010-09-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

OMG! I LOVE Rustico.

I checked out their website prior to going and was immediately impressed by their beer selection.

It was suggested we sit at the bar because the chairs were more comfortable and they were Deciding on the food was torture because I wanted it all!

I kept changing my mind on what I wanted and our hot waiter wasn't helping since he loved everything. In the end I decided on the Cheddar Burger and even splurged and got the fries with it.

So back to the beer selection... FANTASTIC! Red and Boricua went with the Brooklyn Lager and Alia had the Bluegrass Brewing Company's Jefferson Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout.

Bourbon Barrel Smoked Stout

A standard American stout by style, however aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels for 90 days. This full bodied stout presents woth a black opaque apearance due to the heavy doses of dark malts and roasted barley. A blend of the dark grains, a portion of smoked malt, and a generous amount of pale malt lends to a filling and warming beer with notes of bourbon, caramel, coffee, toffee and smoke. With the comlplement of conditioning on a Woodford Reserve Barrel for 3 months the stout finishes with a deliciously balanced melding of barrel aged character and the smooth silky flavor of a well made stout.
ABV: 6.4 • IBU: 36.9

We took a bunch of pics here:

The Cheddar Burger

Alia wants a bite of Boricua's Meatball pizza

Licking her fingers and getting ready

Now pulling her back back in preparation

Ahhhh

The Crew

(Boricua, Red & Alia)

Alia said... "So many beers so little time."

Red said... "I can run this off, right?"

Boricua said... "Hehehe"

Rustico is celebrating October with Octobeerfest on October 9th. There will be something for everyone. Check out their website for details.

What Austin's Grilling

2010-07-29T10:16:00.002-07:00

Photo Credit: Bereket

I was copping a squat and chowing on some chips and salsa at Austin Grill in Alexandria when a manager came and pulled a chair near us to take a picture of the dish above. I accused her of trying to take a picture of my co-workers butt and using the dish above as her excuse.

Seems the menu is changing a bit for Austin Grill and this is one of the newest additions starting tomorrow (Friday July 30th). The manager had her kitchen staff making the newest dishes and testing them out before tomorrow and this one is the Tombstone Tacos. She rattled through some of what is entailed but I missed it. Be sure to check it out cause it looks spicy yummy.

Oh and be sure to check out their limited "Big Bites , Small Bucks" Lunch Menu. I had the Chicken Fajita Wrap and I'm thoroughly stuffed for $6.99.

Alia Said... "This almost makes up for not being able to have a margarita at lunch... Almost!"

Belly Bustin in OC Maryland

2010-07-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite places in Ocean City Maryland is a place called Belly Busters at 45th Street. It's a tiny little place and there's no a/c but even on the hottest of days it's still packed. That's cause they got a little bit of everything from subs to crabs. Seems they are the only place in town that delivers crabs.

They will let you know in as many ways as possible, including the sign outside... THEY HAVE CRABS!!!

My favorite is the Jerk Chicken Wrap, as seen above. It's not too big and has an amazing kick to it.

This place is so small and such a tiny operation that they don't even have a website. They support all sorts of local bands and skaters. The owner, Scotty, seems to always be there running the show. Stop by, check it out, and say hi to Scotty. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Alia Said... "Belly bustin good!"

JUMBO Slice

2010-07-18T01:54:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gone to Jumbo Slice Pizza? I went Sunday Morning about 2am and this hit the spot! I got ONE slice of pizza and it was so big it covered two paper plates. To take this picture I had to stand on my chair.

This is the BIGGEST slice of pizza I have ever seen in my life.

Alia Said... "Jumbo. Slice. Oh yeah"

California, Earthquake, Tortilla Friday

2010-07-16T09:48:00.001-07:00

The other day when I was at City Sports the cashier suggested California Tortilla and spoke of the Southwestern Chicken Salad. She said she would just squeeze a lime on it instead of dressing. Well that day the line was out the door so I skipped it but it's been on my mind ever since.

Since California is big for earthquakes and today we had an earthquake, California Tortilla seemed fitting. So Alia and I grabbed The Creole Sistah and headed over.

I got the Southwestern Chicken Salad with the Honey Lime dressing, Alia got the Taco Salad and The Creole Sistah got the fish tacos.

Yet again we all enjoyed our food. My salad certainly fit the yumminess I was expecting. None of us could finish our food but where The Creole Sistah and I took home our leftovers Alia just didn't feel like hanging on to hers. I have to wonder if the Taco Salad was too heavy for a hot day like today. Hmmm?

Alia said... "Me gusta taco salad"

Fado's in Chinatown

2010-07-14T20:08:00.001-07:00

This is Fado's lunch Fish and Chips for only $6.95. So inexpensive you can have, at least, one beer without breaking your bank.

Alia Said... "Mitten, Yummm"

Clyde's at Gallery Place

2010-07-09T18:32:00.001-07:00

We had a working lunch at Clyde's at Gallery Place. Alia got the Carolina Barbecue because Carolina barbecue is usually vinegar based. I suggested she put the slaw and fries on top. I always put my slaw and chips on top and fries if you don't have the chips.

Alia said... "Yummmy"

Acadiana

2010-07-08T18:42:00.001-07:00

I was in the mood for spicy and Alia and I work with a Creole girl so when we found Acadiana was really close to where we work it was a no brainer.

We walked in and noticed it is very fancy and prices are reasonable considering how nice it is. Prices for lunch were especially good.

First we were brought biscuits with some butter in a jam that had a little kick to it. I got the Chicken and Smoked Andouille Sausage Jambalaya, which was fantastic. BB got the Smoked Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo because she wanted a taste of home. Alia got the Southern Shrimp & Grits.

We all took a taste of each other's food. All of it was amazingly good. Personally, I would have shied away from the shrimp and grits just because grits never seemed appealing to me but that is probably what I'll order next time we go.

Acadiana will be participating at Washingtonian's Best of Washington on July 21, 2010.

Alia said... "Shrimp and grits makes me happpyyyy"