Mango & Tomato: DC

5/27/21

Staycation in DC: Dupont Circle

Back at the end of March I treated myself to a staycation in Dupont Circle for my birthday. Here are some of the highlights!

WHERE TO STAY

Royal Sonesta in Dupont Circle was a short Uber ride from Arlington and less than ten minutes walking distance from the Dupont Metro, if you choose to use public transportation. The hotel took all the needed measures to make me feel safe and comfortable. Mention it’s your birthday, and you may even get an upgrade. Plus, with the occupation rates still relatively low, you may be able to check in early as well as ask for a later check out. Surrounded by a variety of restaurants (everything from Chiko to Bagels Etc), you’ll not miss the fact that the hotel restaurant is closed.

WHAT TO DO

Freshfarm Market is open on Sundays next to the Dupont Metro station from 8:30AM to 1:30PM: a perfect place to grab coffee, treat yourself to fresh flowers for your room, and pick up seasonal produce. When I visited in late March, there was a line to get into the market, but it moved quickly. Check for masks requirements.

Kramers: stroll through the bookstore and buy a book to read during your brunch outside. I highly recommend smoked pork hash.

Brunch with coffee, avocado toast, potatoes, toast, eggs

Rock Creek Park: no need for heavy duty hiking boots. You’ll feel like you are hours away from the city! Get your steps in while listening to the birds and the stream, taking photos of flowers, and getting your Vitamin D. (And yes, I'm wearing my leather Feather earrings while hiking!)

Woman in sunglasses and leather earrings

Embassy Row: test your knowledge of country flags while admiring diverse architecture of the embassies.

Phillips Collection: make sure to get your timed ticket in advance and experience the Rothko Room. (Alas I did not get tickets in time and could not go.)

In Room Yoga: start or end your day with a yoga practice—I recommend Yoga With Adriene. If you did not remember to bring a yoga mat from home, a large towel will do.

WHERE TO EAT

Anju: Korean food has been one of my favorite cuisines for quite some time, and my birthday dinner at Anju did not disappoint. Start your meal with pork and kimchi mandu, move onto battered rockfish, and end on a sweet note with yuzu and pomegranate sorbet. Alas, it looks like the doughnuts I had in March are no longer on the menu.

7/30/20

Sumac Marinated Tomatoes, Tahini & Pine Nuts Hummus Bowl

I've been dreaming about Sumac Marinated Tomatoes, Tahini & Pine Nuts Hummus Bowl ever since I saw Little Sesame post about it on their instagram. Finally today I ordered it!

They had me at tomatoes ;) The hummus is one of the best I've ever had: smooth, with the perfect amount of tahini, and not screaming of garlic or lemon.

I added a side of crushed cucumbers and am mad at myself for not adding an extra pita to my order.

hummus bowl, pita, cucumber, hummus, lunch, harissa

5/17/19

TGIF: Let There Be Cake

I'll be honest: sometimes I choose books by the cover and wine by the labels. More often than not, these decisions are actually pretty good.

Last night at a dinner at Brothers & Sisters, my friend Sangeetha and I chose The Next Vacation cake because both of us are looking forward to our respective vacations. This strawberry and cream cake was the perfect way to end our dinner: not too sweet with slight sour and salty notes and with strawberries from California.

TGIF friends. Wishing you a sweet weekend.

4/11/19

Cocktails Around DC: Hazel & Mi Vida

I wanted to share with you two cocktails at the new-to-me restaurants I had while celebrating my birthday in March (and belated birthday yesterday).

First up, above, is a gorgeous, refreshing, and easy to sip Citrus G & T from Hazel with blood orange gin and winter citrus tonic. Despite the name, this is the perfect warm weather cocktail. Of course you'll not be able to find blood oranges for much longer to use as the garnish, so hurry up and replicate this beauty at home as soon as possible.

Below is the Ceilo Rojo Margarita from Mi Vida with spicy serrano-infused watermelon, lime, and chile salt. I had two. I usually prefer a sugar rimmed margarita, but the flavor combination in this cocktail was perfection. Don't worry, the spice level will not kill your taste buds.

Tell me what your favorite cocktail has been lately!

10/26/17

The Tale Of Two Burgers in DC: Duke's Grocery and DBGB

Do you ever have a craving for a burger but don't want something that's a simple patty on a bun with ketchup and a few slices of pickles for $3 or some extravagant concoction that's served on a silver platter and will cost you $40? Well, I have two candidates that will satisfy your taste buds and not cost you an arm and a leg.

First, featured above, is Proper Burger from Duke's Grocery. It's made from Angus beef with melted Gouda, dill pickles, charred red onion, Thai sweet chili, rocket (arugula!), and garlic aioli on a ciabatta for $12. You can add a fried egg, but it's not necessarily.

I like my burgers medium rare. This was a juicy, delicious mess in the best way possible. The only negative thing was that it did not come with fries. AND I could not order fries because Duke's Grocery doesn't have a fryer. Why??? I ordered elote instead. My friend Emily shared her pickled vegetables with me which were a great counterpart to the rich burger.

The burger below is from DBGB. The Frenchie is made with a 7 ounce beef patty, pork belly, arugula, tomato-onion compote, and morbier cheese on a potato bun and comes with fries for $19. If you are ordering this burger for brunch, like I did, get the Bloody Mary on the side and then make sure you have time for a nap.

Where are some of your favorite places to get a burger? How do you like yours cooked?

9/18/17

Meatless Monday: Beefsteak Burger At Beefsteak In DC

Are you looking for a vegetarian burger that's light, has no beans or lentils, and is beyond satisfying? Well, then you either must go to Beefsteak, or make one at home.

Over the weekend I took myself to lunch at Jose Andres' Beefsteak and absolutely loved his tomato burger. This was my second time at this restaurant and each time I've ordered the same thing. Go before the tomato season is over.

Beefsteak Tomato Burger
thick slice of beefsteak tomato
pickled red onions
sprouts
caper herb mayonnaise
olive oil brioche bun
extras: avocado and fresh mozzarella

What's your favorite meatless burger?

9/14/17

Chiko DC: 10 Things To Know Before You Visit

It took me a while, but I finally had dinner at Chiko in Eastern Market.

CHIKO is the first restaurant from The Fried Rice Collective. Chef’s Danny Lee and Scott Drewno pair modern cooking techniques with traditional Chinese and Korean flavors, while Drew Kim provides his passion for hospitality ensuring a unique dining experience.

Here are 10 things to keep in mind before you go:

1) Show up on the early side because by 7 pm, they are super busy.

2) Chef Scott Drewno is actually IN the restaurant and doesn't simply has his name on the website. {Thanks for sending out a tray of snacks!}

3) If you can, bring friends because you'll want to order pretty much everything on the menu.

4) The name is pronounced CHAIKO not CHEEKO :) Chi as in Chinese, Ko as in Korean.

5) There's a sense of humor when it comes to the menu: the restaurant has Meatless Tuesday specials unlike the well
established Meatless Monday.

6) You mix your own cocktails! Well, at least the Gin & Tonic that I tried (pictured below) that had lemongrass infused basil seeds in it!

7) My favorites: Wagshal's Chopped Brisket with Soy Brined Soft Egg, fuikake butter, and rice; Potato and Egg Salad, Sichuan Spicy Cucumbers; Chiko's version of street corn.

8) Leftovers make for a great lunch: make sure not to microwave kimchi.

9) Make sure to check out Chiko's specials: on Tuesday they had a great combination of corn, asparagus and pea shoots.

10) Superb service. Even better food.

4/27/17

A Taste Of Hong Kong In Washington DC: Tiger Fork

There is no end in sight to new restaurants opening in Washington DC. How to even choose where to go? And once you settle on a new place, would it live up to its hype?

In the case of Tiger Fork, the answer is yes! Last night was my second attempt at having dinner at Tiger Fork, and this time there was no wait! I guess sometimes it pays to be patient and also showing up at 6 pm on a Wednesday works better than 7 pm on a Saturday!

Because I've never been to China, I can't attest to the authenticity of Tiger Fork, but I can tell you that the food was fantastic. The cocktail was strong, and the service was top notch.

I chose the seasonal cocktail made with the variety of citrus juices with a bit of bitters. It was almost like drinking punch, but not too sweet and definitely very refreshing. My friends and I also shared a bottle of rose. I was a bit tipsy by the end of the meal. Shocker!!

I knew I would have to try one of the most instagrammable dishes from Tiger Fork: Cheung Fun. It's hard to tell what I liked the most: the rice noodles stuffed with shrimp or the aromatic sauce. I was tempted to tell the waiter not to take the plate away before I could lick the remaining sauce, but managed to control myself.

Turns out the name Cheung Fun comes from the fact that these noodles look like pig intestines!

Calla, Laetitia and I also shared a side of cucumber salad which offset the heaviness and fattiness (in the best way possible) of Beef Chow Foon: noodles with brisket and bok choy. I could probably eat that dish daily!

Another highlight was an order of beef patties with spicy dipping oil. Meat stuffed in dough and crisped up in a skillet? Yes, please.

We also tried the over the top dessert of two types of ice cream in freshly made waffle bowl. It was quite something ;) Have you ever tried green curry ice cream? I wasn't a fan of the savory and spicy flavor, but did appreciate the playful nature of the dish.

Basically, go get yourself to Tiger Fork!

2/9/17

TBT: Jose Andres' Minibar In Washington DC

If you live in Washington DC or follow its food scene, you have without a doubt heard of Minibar, one of Jose Andres restaurants that focuses on creativity, ambiance, experience and avant-garde cooking.

This is not the type of restaurant you walk casually into on a random Wednesday night. You need to plan ahead, make reservations, and make sure you have $275 in savings. I've never dined at Minibar even though I've lived in DC for 15 years.

All that changed when my friend Emily was visiting from Chicago and asked if I'd join her for dinner at Minibar to celebrate her big birthday.

I said yes. I was a little apprehensive. Will the meal be impressive? Will I still be hungry after? Will it be worth the splurge? Will we be well taken care of?

I'm happy to report that from start to finish we had an unforgettable meal. The service, the food, the atmosphere {they had orchids everywhere!}, and the theatrical way the food was plated were truly superb.

Some of my favorite bites included gnocchi, ceviche, caviar and broiled cabbage! There were more than a few instances when I definitely would have taken a second helping, such as in the case of a fried doughnut stuffed with ice cream, but alas this was not that type of a restaurant.

As the meal was coming to an end, we tried what is called a dragon bite. See for yourself ;)

A video posted by Olga Berman (@mangotomato) on Jan 27, 2017 at 5:40pm PST

If you have am opportunity to splurge and treat yourself, or are lucky to have someone else treat you, definitely go!

10/24/16

Meatless Monday: Chaia Vegetarian Tacos in Washington DC

Over the last year I've heard a lot about vegetarian tacos at Chaia. They started selling their creations at farmers markets, but I rarely wake up early enough to visit the markets on the weekend. Or even if I do wake up early enough, I'm too lazy to get dressed and wash off the makeup after a night of dancing to metro over to a farmers market.

But then Chaia opened a location in Georgetown! This, I could do. I waited, however, for the weather to cool down a bit and for Uber to have one of their specials where I would pay only $3 to pool from my condo to Georgetown (instead of taking the metro, which is especially a mess on the weekends, and then walking).

Anywayssssssssssssssssssss. I finally made it to Chaia a few weekends ago to meet with my friends Alyssa and Nazilla. The restaurant is adorable. Great music. Welcoming decor. I liked that there were only 5 tacos to choose from because sometimes I get overwhelmed by the choices.

From the menu below I chose the mushroom taco, creamy kale & potato taco, and an eggplant taco. I liked them all. They were filling, delicious, and creative. I also liked the hot sauce available at each table. You get 3 tacos for $11, which is a pretty good deal.

mushroom feta, red sauce + cilantro

creamy kale + potato pepper jack, poblano crema, green sauce + pickled onions

smoky eggplant ricotta salata, parsley sauce + cilantro

moroccan carrot goat cheese, chipotle yogurt + mint

garlicky lemon greens queso fresco, roasted tomato + smoked paprika salsa

So if you are looking for a Meatless Monday dinner, check them out for sure! Or you can use the ingredient combination as an inspiration for your next meal.

5/12/16

Dine-N-Dash 2016

Live in DC? Love good food? Want to support a good cause? If you answered yes to all these questions, you will want to check out Dine-N-Dash event taking place on June 15th.

I was lucky to have a chance to preview a few of the restaurants participating in the event and am happy to share some information with you.

Dine-N-Dash is organized by Jose Andres, and this will be the fourth year the event is taking place. Once you purchase a ticket, you'll be able to sample food and drinks at over thirty DC restaurants and food trucks in Penn Quarter and on 14th Street.

To receive $20 discount on your ticket, use code PREVIEW when checking out.

If you get a VIP ticket, you'll have a chance to meet Eric Ripert (!!!!) , Jose Andres and Erik Bruner-Yang, as well as attend an after party.

More importantly, the proceeds will benefit World Central Kitchen, a non-profit organization working on eliminating poverty and hunger in countries such as Haiti, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

Below are a few photographs from participating restaurants: Oyamel, DBGB, Ghibellina and Masa 14,

5/5/16

New Plant-Based (Vegan) Restaurant in Washington DC: Shouk

Do you ever want a quick lunch or dinner that doesn't require any effort on your part, but is still healthy, delicious and easy on your credit card!? Well, the newly opened Shouk, which means market, on 5th and K is exactly what you are looking for. I was invited to check out Shouk for lunch and after just one meal, know I'll be back.

First, I love the exposed brick wall in the restaurant and the fact that you can purchase some of the products used in their kitchen for your own kitchen.

Second, the menu takes up only one page, which is good for someone who is as indecisive as I am. There is no tofu, or fake meat: everything is plant-based and whatever your diet is friendly! What a cute slogan.

And, finally, the food. You can get a pita, a salad, a few snacks or a soup. I learned that each dish is named after its main ingredient {think cauliflower, mushroom, black bean, etc}.

This time around I tried Black Bean pita that included sweet potato, red pepper, tomato, arugula and spicy harissa. The harissa gave this dish quite a kick! I loved that the pita was fluffy and warm. In case you aren't able to finish the entire pita, they have awesome to-go containers specifically designed for the pita: make sure to ask for one!

I also tried Beet Salad with sweet potato, arugula, cashews, cashew labneh and pomegranate vinaigrette. I think from now on I'll want cashew labneh and pomegranate vinaigrette on everything. If you love roasted beets as much as I do, you will love this salad. If you want to recreate this dish at home, may I suggest adding an avocado?

I also tried one of Shouk's made to order market sodas which was sweet. spicy and refreshing. They actually make a syrup from spices and fruit! The rosemary lemonade was a bit too much for me, so I was happy the staff was willing to give me a little sample before I bought the entire glass of it.

The food is inventive, non-fussy, and something you could make at home: check out the menu for inspiration for your own cooking adventures!

This is a great place for a quick bite to eat if you are going to an event at 6th & I Synagogue or catching a movie.

I am looking forward to coming back and trying polenta fries with tomato tahina as well as cauliflower pita with tomatoes, scallions, tahina and jalapeno oil.

Disclosure: I was treated to lunch, but all opinions are my own. I'm not being compensated for this post.

4/15/16

Al Fresco Dining In Washington DC: Blue Duck Tavern

TGIF! It finally feels like spring. I'm soaking up as much of this lovely weather as possible before the temperature goes above 70 ;)

If you are like me and are dreading the humid weather that will soon be here and are looking for a great al fresco dining spot this weekend, check out Blue Duck Tavern. This past Wednesday I was invited to attend a media preview of the new menu on the patio of Blue Duck Tavern, and as always it did not disappoint.

Out of the three cocktails in the photograph above, Strawberry Gin was my favorite. This pretty drink was the perfect way to start as strawberry themed dining experience. Strawberries go great with rhubarb, and this cocktail had both.

Continuing the strawberry theme, I tried the Strawberry Salad. One of the fun ingredients in the salad were thinly sliced raw almonds. I actually really liked them: they added a great crunch to the salad, as did the radishes.

If you love buttermilk as much as I do, you will love Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Maine Scallop Crudo. I really liked the presentation and the flavors of this dish. The smoked trout roe was a luxurious touch...fitting of Blue Duck!

If you are looking for a fully cooked appetizer, try Goat Milk Ricotta Gnudi with baby spring vegetables. This dish screamed comfort food and I'd happily eat an entire soup bowl of these lovely pillow creations.

The star of the dinner, for me, was Elysian Fields Rack of Lamb with lemon yogurt and baby spring vegetables. The dish was grilled to order by Executive Chef Franck Loquet with whom I exchanged "where's your accent from?" chit chat. I'm not shy to admit I had seconds of the dish and would have been happy to take a few slices home. It's hard to tell from the photo below, but the lamb was medium rare inside with a crusty outside.

Out of several desserts, I chose Strawberry and Rhubarb Shortcake: perfect way to end a lovely dinner. First, I love the presentation. Second, I love that it wasn't a huge portion. This dessert was prepared by Pastry Chef David Collier and was refreshing and not overly sweet.

Thank you to Heather Freeman for the invitation! As always, all opinions are my own.

9/18/15

Where To Have Brunch In Capitol Hill: Hank's Oyster Bar

It's almost the weekend! There is no secret that I love a weekend brunch. Sometimes I stay in and cook, sometimes I go out.

Today I wanted to give a shout out to an awesome brunch I had at Hank's Oyster Bar last month. It all started when a friend told me her friend will be visiting DC and wanted me to give a few suggestions for touristy things to do. I love showing people around my city and sharing my favorite places to check out. Priya's friend Francesca was visiting DC for the first time and had scheduled a tour of the Capitol building late Saturday morning. I thought brunch in the Eastern Market area would be perfect. We met. Ate. Strolled around Eastern Market. Perfect!!!

I love that Hank's Oyster Bar starts each meal with a bowl of gold fish crackers. For free.

I had a Bloody Mary to start my brunch and it was awesome. Not too boozy. Spicy. Delicious.

We then ordered a few oysters to share. This was Francesca's first time eating oysters and I have a feeling it will not be her last.

For my main entrée I ordered smoked trout hash in dill sauce. I had to hold off from licking the plate.

And for dessert, each person dining at Hank's gets a free bowl of dark chocolate chunks. What a great idea!!! I wish every restaurant did this ;)

Where have you had brunch lately?

7/31/15

Where To Dine In Mosaic District: Dinner At Brine

Are you trying to make weekend plans or looking for a fun Friday dinner? If so, I highly recommend dinner at Brine. Last Friday I took the metro all the way to Dunn Loring station where my friend Mary picked me up and we drove to Mosaic District for dinner at Brine. I've been to the Mosaic District multiple times, but this was my first time checking out Brine. Ever since I've heard of Brine and that they serve oysters, I've wanted to go. It's a perfect place for a date, a girls night out, or a family dinner.

The restaurant is GORGEOUS! I loved the reclaimed wood tables and chairs, open kitchen, high ceilings and stunning plates. The only thing I wish they'd change are the tacky fake flowers in the bathrooms.

Apparently this restaurant has had mixed reviews, but everything Mary and I ordered was amazing. Yep, amazing.

Here's what we had (not counting the clam bucatini dish which although was good, wasn't stellar):

Oysters! Get the oysters!!! We ordered two of each on the menu.

Oh, and you get a bucket of the most buttery, pillow'y and decadent rolls with flaky salt on top. Let's just say that when we were asked if we wanted another order, we said YES!

For the shared appetizer we chose Yellowfin Carpaccio with ginger, sweet onion, sesame oil and puffed tendon. I could eat this dish daily. The fish was sliced thinly, and the Asian flavors marinated it perfectly.

And then there was the burger....oh the burger! Please get it medium rare! The red onion jam on the bottom bun was sweet and a perfect counterpoint to the sharp cheese and the slaw. I wish we could have had a few more garlic pickles. NOTE: the burger comes with fries. Do not order fries. Do order the corn side though!

Was there room for dessert!? Of course! We got the Creamy Goat Cheese Panna Cotta with blackberries and pound cake. What a perfect way to end a meal.

And then I went salsa dancing ;)

Have a great weekend!

12/29/14

Best Burger in DC: Brunch at Duke's Grocery

It's almost 2015!!! Many people are writing "the best of" lists" which I wasn't planning on doing until I had brunch at Duke's Grocery with my friend Mary and her adorable 3 year old daughter this past Sunday and discovered THE BEST BURGER I've had in a very long time!! So I had to share with you.

Duke's Grocery is "a neighborhood pub and supper spot located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The idea is simple: create a fun spot that our friends (you!) can come in anytime and have a fulfilling meal, a tasty drink and great time in an atmosphere that is unpretentious and laid back. Tuck in, drink up and enjoy!"

Our waiter recommended we get a Full English Brekkie which you can see below. It had toast, beans, eggs, sausage, tomatoes, arugula and blood sausage. It was a spectacular dish, but the winning order was the burger (scroll down).

What a beauty!!! And trust me, the taste was way better than the looks. This brunch burger included Gouda, house dill pickles, two perfectly medium rare cooked beef patties, grilled onion, garlic mayonnaise, rocket (aka arugula) and house made chili sauce. Mary and I split the burger down the middle and devoured it in minutes. Apparently some people add fried egg or avocado, but I can't imagine fitting those in my mouth. More importantly, those would not even be necessary: the burger was so good as is.

I'll definitely be back! Plus, props to our waiter for being patient and accommodating.

10/16/14

Menu MBK: Chef's Table. Russian Menu.

Earlier this week I had a chance to dine at Menu MBK and try this month's chef's table menu that was inspired by Russian cuisine. The meal was graciously covered by the restaurant, but as always all opinions are my own.

I spent the first 13 years of my life in Moscow, Russia where I was born and where both my parents and grandparents cooked food. Russian food. Ukrainian food. Jewish food. Good food.

I still make Russian food at home, and last year featured quite a few recipes in my Russian Recipes Revisited series. Whenever I visit my parents in Seattle, I have a big pot of borsch waiting for me lovingly prepared by my dad.

The menu from the executive chef Frederik de Pue at Menu MBK was based on some of the most popular Russian dishes, but reimagined, decomposed, and modernized. This was not your grandparents' Russian food, but it was equally delicious and lovingly prepared.

Below are some of my favorite courses.

Above is chef Frederik plating his take on Salad Olivie. His version included potato foam!!! And red caviar. And a poached egg. And a pea puree. The dish was beautiful and well thought out, but I'll take the original version of the salad any day.

The second course, borsch, was a play of textures and colors. The white roasted beets were pureed to the smoothest consistency and were contrasted by the crispy potatoes. There was a puddle of pureed red beets in the middle of the bowl and a roasted beet on a skewer. I loved it. I am also very happy the name of the dish was spelled without a t. Here's my version of the soup.

It's hard to believe, but I've only made Beef Stroganoff once. I loved the combination of noodles, mushrooms, beef and a creamy sauce in the recipe my friend Sylvie and I made. Chef Frederik's dish did not disappoint. My favorite component of his dish was the mushroom cappuccino, as the chef called it. It was the essence of mushrooms mixed with cream and it was divine. Sweet and savory. Satisfying. Foamy. I could have drank an entire big bowl of it.

For dessert, there was Tort Kiev: pastry cream, meringue, jam and cassis sorbet. I loved seeing the chef plate every dish, but especially this one. It was pretty without being pretentious. Filling without being overwhelming. I don't remember ever having this dish growing up, instead we had sour cream cake. Both are winners in my opinion.

I loved sitting at the kitchen bar and seeing each plate being plated and explained by the chef. This special menu comes paired with drinks (as an option), but alas those did not do much for me because I'm a light weight. I've much more enjoyed the complimentary champagne that was served before the meal.

I'm looking forward to returning to Menu MBK and trying out their regular menu and their brunch!

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