Posts Tagged Washington DC
Washington DC Baristas Rock The Mid-Atlantic Regional Barista Competition
Posted by Justin Thorp in Coffee, Coffee Shops on March 9th, 2010
Well the word is in. Washington DC baristas took the top 4 spots at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Barista Competition. The top prize was won by Peregrine Espresso’s very own Jeremy Sterner. He’ll go on to compete in the US Barista Championships.
Mega congrats to our contingent who went. It’s kind of awesome to see the region recognize the immense amount of talent that we have in DC’s growing indie coffee culture.
w00t!
Enjoy Peregrine DC’s Signature Competition Drinks Saturday Night
Posted by Justin Thorp in Coffee, Coffee Shops on February 26th, 2010
Tomorrow (Saturday) night, at 8pm, Washington DC coffee shop Peregrine Espresso is going to be throwing a send off party for their baristas that are headed to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Barista Competition.
At the party, you’ll be able to try their signature competition drinks, which will be pretty awesome.
Here’s the tweet about the event.
Hey, DC coffee lovers! Come join us Saturday night for a MARBC send-off party. Taste their signature drinks, drink some beer, etc. 8-10 PM
I plan on going. Hope to see you there.
Crumbs Bakery Cupcakes Coming to Washington DC
Posted by Justin Thorp in Cupcakes on February 18th, 2010
According to the Washingtonian, Crumbs Bakery and their amazing cupcakes are going to be making their way to Washington DC this March 2010.
The New York-based bakery chain Crumbs will roll out seven stores here starting in May. The two-fister confections come in such sugar-shock-inducing flavors as cookie-dough—which is filled with chocolate fudge and topped with chocolate-chip-cookie-flecked cream-cheese frosting—as well as vanilla topped with M&Ms and chocolate cake with strawberry-jam filling and chocolate-buttercream icing. Our favorite is an oversize riff on the Hostess cupcake with a vanilla-cream filling, which thankfully doesn’t taste like it was created in a Midwestern chemistry lab. The outposts will spring up in DC—Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, downtown, Cleveland Park—plus Reston, Clarendon, and Rockville.
I’d usually say, “Ho hum another cupcake place in DC” but these cupcakes are frickin’ awesome. I’ve had them in my various travels to LA and New York City.
Will let you guys know when they officially open their first store in the District.
(Photo by Rachel from Cupcakes Take the Cake)
Magically Delicious
Posted by Justin Thorp in Coffee on February 6th, 2010
You’re going to want to run out and get one of these. Go now.
Want more latte art? Check out Art In My Coffee. Have submitted a few photos there.
Washington DC’s Bell Wine Shop Holds Bell’s Brewery Tasting Tomorrow
Posted by Justin Thorp in Beers on January 14th, 2010
Michigan’s Bell’s Brewery is probably one of my favorite breweries. Excited that there’s going to be a tasting of Bell’s Brewery at Bell Wine Shop (1821 M Street, NW) here in Washington, DC from 5-8pm. Will I see you there?
Mezcal – My First Experience
Posted by Justin Thorp in Liquor on January 2nd, 2010
As you know, I’ve been enjoying the television show Three Sheets. It explores the world’s drinking cultures. In a recent episode, I was introduced to a liquor that I had never heard of before or had the opportunity to try, Mezcal.
Like tequila, Mezcal is made from the agave plant, which is mainly grown in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. It’s not commonly used for mixed drinks. It’s just a shooter. The common misconception is that tequila has the worm but it’s actually Mezcal bottles that more commonly have the worm in them.
In terms of taste, Mezcal is known for having an especially smokey flavor.
Was out having dinner this weekend with some friends. We weren’t looking for the night to end so we hit up Rosa Mexicano in Washington DC’s Chinatown neighborhood. I was told that the restaurant was known for it’s tequila varieties. When we looked on the menu, we also noticed that they had Mezcal. It was something I definitely wanted to try.
Maybe I just haven’t developed my taste for the more potent alcohols but when I tasted Mezcal all I could taste was the alcohol. Might experiment more with it and report back.
Have you had Mezcal? What did you think?
Washington DC’s Next Restaurant Week from January 11th – 17th, 2010
Posted by Justin Thorp in Restaurants on December 26th, 2009
I’m excited. Restaurant Week in the Washington DC area is coming up again and is running from January 11th to the 17th, in over 200 DC area restaurants.
Restaurant Week is when you can go to any of these restaurants and get a 3 course dinner for $35.10 or a 3 course lunch for $20.10. This is a great opportunity to try something new or try something that may have been outside of your typical price range.
I know for me that all too often I just go out and eat all the same places. I eat the things that I know. It’s easy to get sucked into a routine. I love things like Restaurant Week because it gives you an excuse to try something new. For example, I’m not a big red meat & steak guy so we’re going to be using Restaurant Week to hit up Morton’s and get a BIG steak. 
Check out the article from the blog DC Foodies. They have some great tips about how to get the most out of Restaurant Week.
Washington DC’s Peregrine Espresso Gets Named a Top 10 Boutique Coffee Shop by Bon Appetit Magazine
Posted by Justin Thorp in Coffee Shops on December 19th, 2009
Congrats to my friend at Peregrine Espresso. The coffee shop has been named one of the Top 10 Boutique Coffee Shops in the country by Bon Appetit Magazine.
Peregrine Espresso
Washington, D.C.
You’ve heard of microbrewed beer, but what about coffee? On Capitol Hill, you can get one of several single-origin coffees—for example, La Golondrina from Colombia—made to order just for you. 660 Pennsylvania Avenue SE; 202-629-4381; peregrineespresso.com
I think this is very well deserved. Between their great coffee selection, amazing latte skills, great pastries, or incredibly cool staff, this is one of my favorite places to hang out in the city.
You know it’s true because, amidst one of the biggest snow storms in the city today, the coffee shop was packed, while every other store and shop within Eastern Market was practically empty. They’re doing something right.
The Art of Fine Vodkas at The Russia House
Posted by Justin Thorp in Liquor on December 19th, 2009
When I think of vodka, the first thing that comes to mind is my friends in college buying the big bottle for $10 and using it to make Jello shots. That stuffed tasted horrible. It probably would have taken the rust off of a car.
Well, like with any other type of alcohol that I consumed during college, there is a whole another world out there of much finer alcohols that allow you to see the depth of what it’s able to do.
Well, the other day I was out to dinner with some friends. When we finished, we weren’t ready for the night to end, so we looked for an after dinner drink. So we stopped by The Russia House, which is in Washington, DC’s Dupont Circle neighborhood.
When we got in, I felt like I had been transported to somewhere in the middle of St. Petersburg. It was pretty awesome. Probably the most impressive was their list of vodkas. It went on for a page and a half in really tiny font. You could tell that there was something more to this beverage then what I had had in college.
I tried an espresso vodka that was wonderful. It’s not the kind of thing that I had thought that I had like but it was really good. It’s something that I could see myself enjoying again.
I definitely want to go back and see what other types of flavors come from and compliment that of vodka.
Mussels, Fries, and Good Beer at Granville Moore’s… One of My Favorite Meals in DC
Posted by Justin Thorp in Restaurants on October 18th, 2009
I have been in DC over 3 years now and I’m quickly starting to develop a list of my favorite meals if I’m going out. These are the meals that, as you leave the restaurant, can’t help but make you in a great mood.
Quickly rising to the top of that list is getting mussels, fries, and a couple good Belgian beers at the restaurant Granville Moore’s in Washington DC.
Tucked away back on the H Street Cooridor near 12th street is this gem of a restaurant. Don’t try to get to Granville Moore’s by the subway because there isn’t a Metro stop down there. You have to drive, walk, or find a bus.
Yet, if you go there and aren’t there right at 5pm when it opens, you’ll most likely be stuck with some kind of wait to get a table. That’s because the patrons know what they’re about to experience… pure and utter deliciousness.
For me, there might as well be only one thing on the menu because that’s all I’ll ever order. That’s moules and frites, which is French for mussels and fries. Within a few minutes of ordering, our tiny little mollusc friends are places in front of you emitting an array of amazing smells. My favorite preparation is called Formage Blue, which includes blue cheese and bacon, although the curry mussels are slowly becoming my new favorite.
In addition to the mussels, grab yourself some really great fries, a good Belgian beer (which are kind of expensive), some bread, and you’ll be all set. The bread is so that when all the mussels are gone that you can soak up all the soupy goodness that sits at the bottom of the bowl.
The decor of the place just kind of adds to it all. It’s this old kind of run down-ish looking town house where there’s all this exposed brick and exposed ceiling. They use church pews for booth benches. It’s pretty fun.
All in all, if you haven’t had a moules and frites experience, it’s something I’d highly recommend. If you don’t live in the Washington, DC area and can’t make it to Granville Moore’s, check out this online video by their chef on how to make their signature Formage Blue moule.
(Photo at the top by Phillie Casablanca)
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