DMV Dining

We first visited The Salt Line back in November for Rachel’s birthday and recently returned for brunch, leaving both times with a smile on our collective faces. Chef Kyle Bailey, formerly of Churchkey and Birch & Barley, helms the Navy Yard kitchen that’s directly across the street from Nationals Park. Focusing on classic New England fare, The Salt Line is one of the best additions to the Washington dining scene in the past year.

We started Rachel’s birthday dinner with their Peconic Bay scallop crudo which was topped with pickled cranberries and spiced pecans.

The next selection from the raw bar was their razor clam ceviche. Prepared with charred tomatillo, jalapeno, and cilantro, the ceviche was another worthwhile appetizer.

The Stuffies, a trio of baked middleneck clams, smoked linguica, lemon, breadcrumbs, and parmesan, was a standout dish. A whimsical take on Casino Clams, I can see why this is one of their more popular menu items.

For our entrees, I opted for the eel cacciatore buccatini. Prepared with barigoule artichokes, hen of the woods mushrooms, and idiazabal cheese, the meaty pieces of eel wonderfully complemented the thick, freshly-made pasta.

Rachel went for the classic lobster roll, and how could you not? Dressed with just the right amount of mayo, the roll is generously stuffed with an abundance of lobster sandwiched between the warm, toasty bun.

We also shared an order of roasted brussels sprouts. Prepared with maple syrup, sriracha, fish sauce, and peanuts, this is one of the best preparations of this popular side dish in the area.

Just a few months later, we took friends that were visiting from out of town to Salt Line’s weekend brunch service which was equally as delicious as our previous dinner here.

First of all, be sure to order a batch of Parker House Rolls. These freshly baked, flaky rolls are a delight to share amongst your party.

The crispy duck confit is what a decadent brunch dish is all about: a slice of French toast topped with a crisp leg of duck and accompanied with cranberry orange sauce, honeyed walnuts, and whipped mascarpone.

Rachel’s Eggs in Purgatory was a New England interpretation on Shakshouka as the baked eggs were blended with clamato, middleneck clams, linguiça sausage, and a creamy polenta. My favorite dish, however, was the New England Smash Burger.

I tend to stray from superlatives but this is one of the very best burgers you’ll find in the District. Featuring two ground chuck patties, two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and mayo and sandwiched on a crispy potato bun, this is the quintessential burger.

The Salt Line is an outstanding addition to the D.C. dining scene, and given that they excel at both dinner and brunch, we’d recommend Kyle Bailey’s homage to New England cuisine in a heartbeat.

Photo credit: Greg Powers

We’re also very excited about the new outdoor lounge they’ll be adding just in time for MLB Opening Day. It’s going to be quite the happening spot come baseball season.

I still can’t believe it was eight years ago when we celebrated our engagement with a wonderful dinner at Eric Ziebold’s CityZen at the Mandarin Oriental. So it was only fitting to celebrate seven years of marriage (and two kids) with an equally excellent meal at his latest restaurant, Kinship.

We started the evening off with their lentil rasam. Prepared with roasted garlic custard, mango, coconut, and a sweet and savory tamarind broth, the rasam was terrific and rivaled Indian dishes we’ve had at local restaurants in the D.C. area.

Up next was arguably one of the best dishes you will find in the District: the Maine lobster French toast. Quintessentially indulgent and topped with a sesame mousse, the buttery lobster is worth the hefty $30 price tag (it was a special occasion, after all).

For our entrée, we decided to share the Kinship Roast Chicken. In fact, we ordered this right as we sat down since it takes an hour to cook as our waiter had informed us, and boy was it worth the wait!

First of all, this might be one of the best fine dining values in the city. For $56, you receive a beautiful whole-roasted chicken, a side of crispy roasted potatoes, a frisse salad, and the legendary Parker House rolls that first made their debut at CityZen.

But back to the chicken itself – this is the stuff that dreams are made out of. Remember the fabled Palena chicken? This is better. Incredibly juicy with an oh-so-crispy skin, you’re guaranteed to leave with leftovers. In fact, we were so full that we had to unfortunately pass on dessert. Little did we know that they would give us a wonderful complimentary treat in honor of our anniversary. It was such a nice touch and a great way to the end the evening.

It’s great to see Eric Ziebold continue his outstanding cooking at Kinship. Between the exceptional food and service, I’m so glad that Rachel and I decided to spend our anniversary dinner here. It really is one of the best restaurants going in D.C. right now.

During our anniversary staycation in D.C. a few months ago, Rachel and I got to enjoy brunch at The Bird, the relatively new restaurant from the EatWell DC group. It might be their best addition yet.

We started things off with their Korean-style fried wings and I honestly could have eaten these all morning. The triple-fried wings are smothered with black sweet chili sauce and topped with cilantro, making for a very messy yet incredibly satisfying appetizer. It’s easily a contender for our annual roundup of best dishes.

The chicken and waffles were no slouch either. The Tennessee-style hot chicken leg quarter is placed upon a crisp buttermilk waffle floating in a sea of maple syrup. It’s a sweet and savory classic that doesn’t disappoint.

Rachel passed on another round of fried chicken for her course and instead opted for the shakshuka. Prepared with duck eggs, the shakshuka proved to be a hearty entrée with just a slight kick of spice.

Between the filling portions, affordability, and friendly customer service, The Bird is a great addition to the Shaw brunch scene. I’m already looking forward to my next batch of triple-fried wings.

I’m just going to keep this brief and say this: order the seafood tower. No, seriously. Skip whatever plans you had for dinner tonight, head to Navy Yard, procure a table at Whaley’s, and order a damn tower.

Opened by the same guys who brought you the great DGS Delicatessen, Nick and David Wiseman were inspired by the oyster bars of yesteryear as well as childhood visits to Crisfield’s (which we still haven’t been to since moving to Silver Spring nearly three years ago – something that needs to be rectified soon!) and introduced Whaley’s to the District.

And while we visited prior to the opening of their highly anticipated rosé garden, chef Daniel Perron has whipped up a handful of fantastic house cocktails that both wowed us.

We started the evening off with their day boat scallop crudo. Beautifully presented, it was light and refreshing while leaving plenty of room for our next course.

And back to that seafood tower. That glorious, glorious tower. It was a sight to behold. While we opted for the small version, Whaley’s also offers medium and large towers, the biggest of which will accommodate up to six people. But still, between the two of us, this was plenty.

A smorgasbord of treasures from the sea and priced at $65, the tower included smoked catfish, squid salad, clams, mussels, shrimp, artic char crudo and tartar, and last but not least, lobster tail.

So yeah, it was great. Like really great. I can’t remember the last time we’ve split a seafood tower let alone had so much great seafood in one sitting.

We closed out the evening with their chocolate tart. Topped with peppermint mouse and hazelnuts, it was a sweet ending to a very satisfying meal.

It’s a shame we’re not closer to Navy Yard because we would be taking advantage of their dollar oyster happy hour on a very frequent basis. But regardless, just go and order that tower already.

Rachel and I have always been fans of Belga Café, Bart Vandaele’s Belgian restaurant in Barracks Row since it opened back in 2004. His second restaurant, B Too, is located on 14^th Street and offers a more modern take on the original both in regards to the food and décor. With both kids in tow, we made our way down to the District for Sunday morning brunch.

While we love Belga Café’s intimacy, it’s a bit tight when you’re arriving with a stroller and carseat. B Too, on the other hand, is much more spacious as we had no problem navigating the dining room with our five-month-old in the Snap n’ Go (parents, you know what I’m talking about).

After reenergizing ourselves with some coffee, I decided to be a bit daring and order the Green Egg McWaffle. The waffle muffin (yes, you read that right) was stuffed with green eggs, smoked salmon, cheddar cheese, and avocado cream. Certaintly one of the more unique brunch items I’ve encountered, my adventurousness paid off in what was a very savory, satisfying entrée.

Rachel one-upped my savoriness by ordering the lobster waffle, one of their signature dishes, which featured lobster bisque, tomato, and an herb salad.

When your brunch is that savory you need to balance it out with just as much sweet, and we did just that by capping our meal off with their decadent crepes.  The four miniature crepes were stuffed with banana, complemented with Chantilly cream, and drizzled with Nutella that nearly covered every portion of the plate. This honestly could have been a meal in itself as “decadent” would be an understatement, but it made for a fine ending to a very filling meal.

B Too is a great brunch option for those looking for options in the 14^th Street corridor, and we hope to come back for dinner soon for some mussels, frites, and of course more of their amazing crepes.

Last Friday, I was invited by Living Classrooms to participate as a food judge at their annual Night at The Yards event, benefitting the Foundation’s work of educating disadvantaged youth in the Baltimore-Washington region.

Night at the Yards featured over 30 food and drink vendors as well as four amazing musical acts including the Queez Beez, Living Classroom’s own program that gives young girls a platform to sing and dance and generated a great response from the crowd.

Meanwhile, the selection of food vendors was outstanding. Ranging from local breweries such as nearby Bluejacket to soon-to-open restaurants such as Farmers and Distillers (from the team of Founding Farmers), attendees had a wide array of food and beverage to choose from.

So without further ado, here are this year’s winners from the 2016 Night at the Yards:

Best Food: Capital Crab Company

This local food truck and catering company hit it out the park with their jumbo lump crab balls and crunchy, savory hushpuppies.

Crab ball from Capital Crab Company

Best Food Presentation: Farmers and Distillers

This upcoming restaurant from the Founding Farmers team not only offered the most generous portion of the event, but also the best presented with its barbecue pulled pork shaobing slider.

Barbecue pulled pork shaobing slider

Best Booth Setup: Ice Cream Jubilee

The ice cream parlor, which is a just a stone’s throw from The Yards, dazzled with its table presentation with lights, cones, and scoops.

Best Brew: District Chophouse

A pioneer in the District brewery scene, District Chophouse was serving a seasonally appropriate Dunkelweizen that was a hit amongst the crowd.

Best Cocktail: Lavagna

The Capitol Hill establishment warmed patrons up with their autumn maple bourbon cocktail.

Congrats to the winners as well as Living Classrooms for putting on a very memorable event!

Over the past year, we have seen the debut of several chef-prepared delivery services in an effort to simplify meal planning when time is limited. Given that both of us work and have two children, dinnertime tends to be stressful, so it’s great to see more options become available.

Strong Fit Meals offers diners a healthier alternative, aimed at those with an active lifestyle or looking to watch calories. The meals, which are made to order and prepared with fresh ingredients, are rather straightforward.

Their “clean menu” offers a rotating selection of entrees featuring a protein, vegetable and starch, such as blackened steak with mashed sweet potatoes and fresh veggies.

Strong Fit Meals also offers a build your own menu “lean menu” where customers can pick and choose not only the kind of protein/veggie/starch, but also the portion size, too.

We had the opportunity to sample some of their offerings and really liked how the nutrition information was clearly presented on the packaging. The directions are rather simple: just microwave your freshly delivered meal and you’re done.

Strong Fit Meals delivers to D.C., Maryland, and Virginia

DMV Dining readers: Use code DMV10 to get 10% off your order!

In what is a really overdue post, Rachel and I dined at Cedric Maupillier’s newest restaurant in Shaw a few months ago and were wowed by every facet the French-American bistro had to offer.

From the modern interior that seeped in an abundance of sunlight to the straightforward menu (actual entrees!) to the impeccably executed food, Convivial is a gem in Shaw and rightfully deserves its #4 ranking in Washingtonian’s “100 Very Best Restaurants 2016.”

As fans of Mintwood Place, where Chef Maupillier first made his mark in the District, it was great to see a refreshing take on his beloved escargot hushpuppies with escargot in, well, a blanket. Crunchy and delectable, this is the appetizer you need to start your meal off with.

The socca, however, is an absolute must-order just on presentation alone. The chickpea pancake sets the foundation for a tower of beets, citrus fruit, shaved fennel, and picholine olives. The combination, as eccentric as it sounds on paper, works so effortlessly well and is the epitome of a summer dish – light, refreshing, and full of flavor.

Rachel’s soft shell crab meunière was a delight, which was complemented by sweet corn and hazelnut grits.

Naturally I had to try the fried chicken “coq au vin” which was just as good as it sounded. The doubly fried and braised chicken was incredibly juicy, bursting with notes of red wine, yet maintained a satisfyingly crunch after each bite.

The key lime pie with speculoos crust was an outstanding dessert and rivaled any slice originating from Key West. Topped with slices of kiwi, Rachel and I would buy an entire pie if we could.

And while the food was incredible, the service was top-notch as well. Our friendly waitress helped us navigate the menu and was continually checking up on us.

Furthermore, given the quality and size of portions, I honestly think Convivial is one of the better values in the city. Both of our entrees were under $20, and considering the work Chef Maupillier and Co. are doing in the kitchen, I tip my hat to them for offering five-star food at such an affordable price point in a city that’s getting more expensive by the year if not month.

Convivial is an exceptional restaurant and both Rachel and I are comfortable in saying in that it’s been our best meal of the year so far.

As working parents with two young children, we’re always on the lookout for trying new ways to handle the logistics of having dinner ready between picking our kids up from daycare and getting them ready for bed in hopes of avoiding a late night meal after the dust has settled.

And while we’re fans of meal delivery services such as Blue Apron and Home Chef, those recipes are still time-consuming and involve a good amount of both prep and cleanup.

Enter Mezze Box; a local startup that offers freshly prepared Mediterranean meals to your doorstep. Founder Johnny Seikaly, originally from Lebanon, cooks traditional Mediterranean fare using recipes passed down from his family that are both hearty and healthy.

Mezze Box offers a rotating weekly menu featuring four individually sized main dishes as well as a handful of sides. And if you’re dining for two or more, they also offer Mezze Boxes, which mix and match entrees and sides that can accommodate four to up to ten people.

Last week, we had the opportunity to try their okra stew, lentils & rice, and cauliflower. Prepared with whole ingredients, all of which were listed on the packaging, the food tasted incredibly fresh and was bursting with Mediterranean flavor.

The best part is that Mezze Box delivers not only to D.C., but also Maryland and Virginia, and the delivery is free if your order is over $25. And while they exclusively deliver on Mondays, they will be introducing daily delivery starting August 22!

DMV Dining readers can get 10% off their entire order by using code “DMVDINING”

Let’s face facts – Rachel and I don’t go out nearly as much as we used to before we had kids, and now that we have two, expect that frequency to dip even further.  But then there’s the sacred “date night”, a time where Rachel and I hire a sitter, have a glass of wine, and enjoy each other’s company at a restaurant that’s either a staple of ours or has garnered some recent buzz.

Tail Up Goat, which opened earlier this year amidst much fanfare, boasts staff from the outstanding Komi and, perhaps one of my favorite restaurants, Little Serow. Located in Adams Morgan, Tail Up Goat is situated in the ground floor of a The Adamo; a condo building I didn’t even know existed that demonstrates how long it’s been since I’ve last visited this particular D.C. neighborhood.

We kicked off the evening with the Stracciatella. The texture of the cheese resembled that of burrata, but was even creamier, and was accompanied by crispy artichokes and salsa verde. It was a very pleasing summer appetizer.

Up next was arguably the most unorthodox dish of the night – the charred chocolate rye. The freshly baked bread was generously smeared with a pea pesto and then topped with pickled tomatoes and salt-crusted sardines. Yep, sardines. There was a lot going on with this dish, and while I appreciate how the kitchen tried to create a balance of sweet and salty, the complexity of flavors was slightly overkill.

On the other hand, the carrot ravioli demonstrates how Tail Up Goat excels in its pastas. The carrot-stuffed pasta, accompanied with baby leeks, apricots, and topped with pistachio breadcrumbs, was one of our favorite dishes of the evening. Just an incredibly unique dish that was perfectly executed.

And then that brings us to the crown jewel of Tail Up Goat: the lamb ribs. Quite reminiscent to the family-style main event goat platter at Komi, the ribs are meant for sharing, and Rachel and I went to town on this Mediterranean-style dish, complete with sumac onions, beets, and a wonderful yogurt sauce. Between the incredibly tender meat and generous portion (roughly 8-9 ribs), the visit is worth it alone just for this entree. Trust me.

For dessert we decided to order a pair of lemon curb-stuffed cannoli. Topped with pistachios and placed on a dab of citrus marmalade, it was a playful interpretation of the classic Italian dessert.

Another highlight of the meal was the outstanding service. You could tell that the staff was disciples of Johnny Monis’ attention to detail, from the food, to the atmosphere, right down to the interaction between waiter and customer. Our server was incredibly helpful, attentive, and just all around pleasant.  I’m glad we had the opportunity to enjoy one of the rare nights Rachel and I get out at an establishment like this.