Spork and Knife

Summer has come and gone and Labor Day weekend is actually upon us.  Most people are either looking to relax or take a weekend trip.  One of my favorite spots on the east coast is St. Michaels, Maryland.  It’s a quaint little town on the Chesapeake Bay, just a short drive from D.C.
There are cute little […]

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 Photo by LynnInHK
Every August the world waits for tomato season to arrive, and if you’re like many, Caprese salad is on the menu every night, from the first ripe tomato to the last.  
Yesterday I decided to shake things up, and make a Panzanella, or Italian Bread Salad.  Some call it the “left over” salad because it consists of […]

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Combining good fresh fish with low cost is usually not an option, so when I heard about a sushi restaurant that displayed both qualities I grabbed D and we headed out for what was hopefully going to be a delightful and inexpensive dinner.
Kotobuki is a tiny Japanese restaurant across from Black Salt in the Palisades neighborhood of NW D.C..  […]

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Whether you whip up something homemade every night or every few months, there is one thing that every kitchen needs.  Yes, NEEDS is the key word. 
When I first moved out on my own and began cooking I noticed something.  It took me forever (I’m talking 5-7 minutes) to chop a simple onion and I had one […]

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The Washingtonian Best Bites Blog has a feed/back (a restaurant critique from the street) on the new Rock Creek restaurant in Friendship Heights.  I’ve been intrigued by their concept of low-fat, low-calorie cuisine where they use grapeseed and olive oil in place of butter and cream.  Check out the Best Bites Blog for reviews, and check back here for my […]

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Everyone has that one restaurant they consider to be their ol’ reliable.  The place where, without fail, you have a great meal with a setting that lends itself to all kinds of situations.  A meal with the parents, the significant other’s parents, groups of friends or even a business meeting. 
While its been a few months since […]

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Yeah, the phrase WTF ran across my brain when I first laid eyes on the tiny pink cans from the Rubicon Estate Winery.  Sparkling wine in a can?!  The next phrase to hit me was, how perfect and compact!  If Napa can embrace screw caps, then I can give cans a try. 
While the flavor of […]

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If I feel the urge to relive my study abroad days, a glass of wine and a crepe nutella from Le Chat Noir does the trick. The atmosphere is quaint, with a covered porch surrounded by white lights, and tables so close you feel as if you are dining with the person next to you. […]

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One of the smartest and most useful things that I did in my college career was sign up for Botany & Viticulture, AKA wine tasting. 
I know what you’re thinking.  Wahoo, wine tasting for college credit!  Not quite, but the class was 3 hours long, and each session we tasted 6 wines,  3 red and 3 white.  $100 […]

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All About the Atmosphere 
This past Saturday D and I ventured to the Penn Quarter for dinner at Oya and discovered a great place to meet friends for drinks and appetizers, but NOT for main courses. (Click on the Oya link to see pictures) 
We walked into the restaurant at 8pm and I became giddy with excitement.  The setting was […]

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PS7’s Happy Hour
As a person who likes top shelf drinks, but can only afford to pay bottom shelf prices I’m always on the look out for deals.  
Long gone are the days of rum & cokes or cranberry juice & vodkas.  If I’m going to drink I want something good.  I’m taking dirty martini, manhattan, or a concoction of […]

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned from growing up in an Italian family, it’s that we hold food to a high standard.  This is especially true when it comes to Italian food.  
I pity the person who tries to bring prepackaged sauce in a jar to my home.  We all have our vices, and this is one […]

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While many people are aware of the wonderfood Nutella, it has come to my attention that there are quite a few still living under a rock!  Allow me to shine some light beneath that boulder and introduce the greatest product to come out of World War Two Italian chocolate rationing.
I was recently at a party where […]

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El Pollo Rico ladies and gentlemen.  You can stop squinting now, appearance is not what this place is about.   
Since August in D.C. is a bit slower than the other 11 months of the year (this may be a slight understatement), some co-workers and I decided we could take a quick trip over the river for lunch. 
I […]

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If you want to get a sense of the excitement I had building up to my Corduroy visit, just read a few of the glowing reviews online.  
D and I made our way towards 1201 K street, through the Sheraton Hotel lobby, up the stairs to the second floor and arrived 5 minutes before our 8pm reservation. […]

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Working off of yesterday’s post, I thought I would share one of my favorite and easy party dishes…
Think creamy and buttery, and you might picture brie cheese.  Add bourbon with brown sugar and you’ve got a little slice of heaven! 
I’m getting hungry just writing this post.
You will need the following:
1 oven proof dish with sides.  (I […]

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Everyone has run into that situation where friends show up at your door and you find yourself in the midst of an impromptu party.  Suddenly you’re scrambling around for something to serve, and the only things visible are the last few drops of Bombay Sapphire  (shouldn’t have had that second gin and tonic) and that bottle […]

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For 2 years, I have been searching far and wide for a fun, friendly and satisfying Thai restaurant in Washington.  On Friday night I may have found just that.  The Regent on 18th street in Dupont is an oasis on a block of been-there-done-that dining experiences. 
From the outside it has the appearance of a trendy bar, but […]

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Nothing says good morning like the perfect cup of coffee!  I was browsing around one of my favorite coffee knowledge websites and came across this picture.  Such a sight for sore and uncaffeinated eyes!  I couldn’t help but share the wealth.
Now I know that everyone can’t produce the perfect espresso shot at home in the 3 […]

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I met a friend for drinks last night at Cleveland Park Bar and Grill and much to my delight, found that on Wednesdays they offer half price bottles of wine. 
To me, this is the best deal, and also the only way I will order a bottle while out.  Paying $40 for a 2003 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, […]

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