New Truck on the Block

Normally I wouldn't cover the launch of a new food truck in D.C. But the folks at Eat Sâuçá made it very difficult for me not to. First, they chose to stop a few blocks away from my office on their inaugural day. Secondly, the menu features merguez-frites and toffles. Merguez are basically French hot dogs, they're our street food par excellence and toffles... well... that's just a fancy word for waffles and Eat Sâuçá serves them with Nutella so I just had to order one!

 

 

Food truck fever hasn't quite reached the same level in D.C. as it has in New York or Los Angeles, but the city is trying to catch up. No, don't except D.C. Restaurant Week Truck anytime soon (though there's still time to catch New York's... it ends on the 5th) but do expect more food trucks roaming the streets of D.C. And don't expect me to complain ;-) 

Sâuçá is the new truck on the block and the brainchild of Farhad Assari, an Iranian restauranteur who arrived in D.C. a few years ago by way of Geneva. The menu offers global food from merguez to croque-monsieur and Mumbai butter chicken, all served in sâuçás, a hand held warm, griddled flatbread. Lunchers can chose from a wide selection of sauces then top off their meal with a small but tasty waffle. Sâuçá has a couple of marketing tricks up its sleeves, from the web-cam to the catchy world music. They also have a phone on the side of the truck. Buy two sâuçás and you get a token valid for 1 minutes of international communication!

 

Eat Sâuçá's first customer posing by the food truck.

To find out if the Sâuçá truck is coming soon to a neighbourhood near you, check out their website, follow them on twitter or fan them on facebook. Bon appetit!

Roar! It's the year of the Tiger!

It may not feel so to the golfer but 2010 is the year of the Tiger! According to the Chinese Zodiac, February 14th, 2010 is more than Valentine's day this year. It's also the beginning of the year of the tiger, a time of strength, determination and persistence, as well as stability and growth. As a Chinatown resident for the past 5 years, I always look forward to the limelight being on my neighbourhood!

Ping Pong Dim Sum kicked off the celebration in grand style last night. Executives flew in from London to welcome in the Year of the Tiger with a dragon dance, live music, dancers and gifts. A diverse crowd of guests and Penn Quarter residents gathered despite the snow to enjoy complementary cocktails from Ping Pong's long list of original creations (my favourite: the wasabi amaretto sour!) and small steamed bites. Caligraphers were at hand to show you how to write your name in Chinese characters and you could also watch he chefs carefully prepare the dim sums in front of you! Since there are very few places to go for dim sums in Washington D.C., the first US location of the British chain has quickly become a favourite of mine, and not just because I live two blocks away. I certainly wish them stability and growth for this coming year ;-)

The National Geographic is also helping joining in the celebration this year, which makes sense given that they are currently playing host to an "army" of Chinese clay soldiers. On February 6th, they are hosting a family friendly event, presented by P.F. Chang China Bistro. The free (yes, you read right) festival will include food from P.F. Chang (while supplies last... so you might want to get there right at 11am), film screening, activities for kids and live demonstrations of ping pong and martial arts. 150 tickets to the 12pm viewing of the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit will also be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

If crowds don't phase you, the main event to attend is of course the Lunar New Year Festival in Chinatown. Head to H street between 6th and 8th where the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association hosts a parade with Chinese Lion and Dragon Dances. Perhaps in order not to compete with Valentine's day, the celebrations will be held on February 21st starting at 2pm, with the giant firecracker lighting happening at 3:45pm. Book your table now at Tony Cheng for traditional dim sum or at visit the folks at Ping Pong to warm up with some blossoming hot tea.

As usual, a variety of Chinese or pan-Asian restaurants will be offering special menus throughout the two weeks that the Lunar New Year festival lasts, though most restaurants it seems are lumping that special menu together with their Valentine's day offerings. Nonetheless, from February 15-21, Ten Penh will be serving a $45 four-course ($65 with wine pairing) tiger-inspired menu and a Tiger Eye featured cocktail and the Mandarin Oriental is offering a special "Tale of the Tiger" package to its guests throughout February. 

Happy Crêpe Day!

Bring out the crêpe maker!! Today is la Chandeleur or Candlemas in English but more commonly known as Crêpe Day. This Catholic holiday commemorates the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of baby Jesus to the Temple. I don't think a lot of French people know that though... Today, La Chandeleur is synonymous with crêpes. Their circular shape and golden color is reminiscent of the sun, which itself makes people think of the springtime coming after a long winter. Or something like that... really, it's an excuse to eat crêpes!

If you are not the lucky owner of a crêpe maker (available on Williams and Sonoma's website) you can always use the old frying pan method to make your own at home. Or, you can head out and grab a crêpe at one of the many D.C. restaurants that serves them. Some of my favourite include Napoleon Bistro and Lounge (there, I always order the Dulce for dessert) and Café Bonaparte (I highly recommend the Lisbon or the Martinique), Crepe Away and Crepes a-go-go for more casual locations (the Fresh Aple, Brown Sugar and cinnamon crêpe is delicious... order it to go at their new crepes-on-the-walk location in Chinatown). Another favourite of mine is Snap in Georgetown. Though buble tea and crêpes may not seem like a natural match, they actually work surprisingly well together, especially when enjoyed on their quaint back patio (perhaps you'll want to skip the patio tonight).

So what would you rather do tonight? Mull over the fact that Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow or stuff yourself with crêpes? I'm going to go with the crêpes bien sûr!

Aide Haiti

Since the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti two weeks ago, Washingtonians and local business have stepped to organize a number of fundraising events. From concerts to restaurant deals or happy hours, there’s been plenty of options for everyone to help while engaging in their favourite activities. Here is a shortlist of events that are still going on and have caught my attention.

Many bars like The Passengers in Mount Vernon Square have donated a percent of the proceed from an evening’s happy hour to organization operating in Haiti. Vinoteca is taking it one step further with its Happy Hour For Haiti. Through Valentine's Day, the wine bar will give 15% of its total happy hour sales to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Relief Fund as part of its happy Hour for Haiti. In addition, for every $5 donated to charity outside of the happy hour tab, gets you a raffle ticket and the chance to win a $100 gift certificate. To this date, Vinoteca has already raised over $500.

Restaurant groups are also coming together to raise money for Haiti. The Neighbourhood Restaurant Group has selected a number of menu items at its different locations and marked them with a red cross on their menu. When you buy any of these items (cupcakes at Buzz bakery, wine at Tallula or Columbia Fire House Restaurant and select draft beers at Rustico, Birch and Barley or ChurchKey) the proceeds will go to the Red Cross and Haitian Emergency Rebuilding Operation (H.E.R.O.), which was founded by Frank Thorp, a former Rustico employee whose wife Jillian was stationed in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. The restaurants owned by restaurateur Ashok Bajaj (701, Ardeo, and Bardeo, Bibiana, The Bombay Club, Rasika and The Oval Room) are also donating $1 to the Red Cross every time certain appetizers and entrees are ordered between January 19 and February 19. 

For those who are more into performing arts than culinary arts, the folks at the Lincoln Theatre paired up with the Young Haitian Professional Society to organized a series of events benefiting Haiti. To Haiti With Love at the Lincoln Theatre will occur every Wednesday from 6pm-2am starting January 20 and ending February 10. A variety of musicians, DJs, poets and visual artists will perform and a $20 donations will be accepted at the door. And if you want to combine sun salutations with raising funds for Haiti, Long View Gallery is hosting just the event for you. Universal Relief: a Yoga Benefit for Healing Haiti will take place Sunday, January 30^th from 6:30-9pm and feature yoga practice, live music by Jonathan Stark on the cello and Feynman. After the yoga practice, you can explore the gallery and enjoy treats donated by Georgetown Cupcakes and Honest Tea. Space is limited and pre-registration is required with a $15-20 donation requested, all proceeds going to Haiti Lumière de Demain, an education organization based on the Haitian island of La Gonave where many refugees from Port-Au-Prince are now living.


Finally on Monday, L'Alliance Francaise is also hosting a fundraising event to benefit the victims of the earthquake in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders. Starting at 6:30pm, Maryse Burgot, US Correspondent for France 2will lead a discussion with Stanley Lucas of the Greater Washington Haiti Relief Committee and a representative from Médecins Sans Frontières on the work currently being done on the ground and the progress of relief projects in Haiti. The event will also feature Haitian music, French food and wine with 100% of all revenue going towards reconstruction efforts in Haiti. 
Reservations through Médecins Sans Frontières’ website. Please note, capacity has been reached for this event but you can still donate to Médecins Sans Frontières.

"Cupper's Choice" Cupping

If you've ever been to my hometown, I'm sure you couldn't help but notice that cafés are institutions at the center of social life, serving as neighbourhood hubs for Parisians to rendez-vous, leisurely read a book, or sip tiny espressos and demis while engaging in their favourite pass time: people-watching. Café culture is a little different in D.C., which boasts 77 Starbucks, but I've been encouraged by the recent openings of a number of independent coffee shops: Chinatown Coffee Co., Peregrine Expresso, Mid City Caffe and, more recently, Big Chair Coffee in Anacostia.

The appearance of these independent coffee shops sheds light on the gentrification of the neighbourhoods where they pop up, so it's not surprising to see them attract a crowd of young hipsters and yuppies. Not satisfied with being just wine or beer connoisseurs, they can now add Coffee Enthusiast to their resumé and attend cuppings or coffee tastings. I rencently attended one at Mid City Caffe.

Mid City Caffe serves drinks made with beans from North Carolina roaster Counter Culture Coffee, using either the french press or pour over brewing method. They also serve espresso drinks (including one with delicious homemade Nutella) as well as pastries and (this just in!!) macarons from Jacques Poulain's Cacao. Once a month, Mid City Caffe invites friends and customers for a tasting to help them settle on their next house coffee.


Cuppings are very similar to wine tasting, except you get a caffeine high instead of a sulfite buzz. There are a few specific steps involved in a cupping but before I carry on, I should issue a quick disclaimer: if you're not into hipsters who take themselves too seriously or slurping coffee from the same glass (and in some cases the same spoon) as perfect strangers, this type of tasting may not be for you. Typically, 3-5 coffees are sampled during a cupping and the first step involves sniffing freshly ground coffee to evaluate its aroma. The organizers usually provide you with a tasting note sheet where you write down what you smell, which may include chocolate, citrus or earthy. You are encouraged to use your senses and imagination to come up with your perception of the aroma. There is a "no rules" vibe encouraged by the bean expert. In the second and third step, boiling water is poured into each glass and after four minutes, the coffee will have developed a solid "crust" at the top. This time, you can evaluate the "wet" characteristics of the coffee first by smelling the crust then (step 3) by using a spoon to push back the crust from the edge of the cup and deeply inhale the aroma by placing your nose as close to the cup as possible. For the final step, the crust is removed and - this is where germaphobes might start having issues as there are usually not nearly enough glasses per tasters - slurp the liquid to evaluate the flavour and body of each type of coffee.


The wheel of flavours and aromas
During the cupping I attended, we sampled three different beans from 3 different regions of the world. The lighter sample came from La Golondrina from Colombia and was the least favourite amongst the tasters. The second, which was my personal favourite, originated from Teka, Burundi, an African country which is experiencing a rebirth of its coffee industry following recent market reform. The cupper's choice was the final offering, a Gayo from Sumatra, Indonesia, which will be featured as Mid City Caffe's house coffee for the next few weeks.

If you're curious to see how well you can evaluate a coffee's fragrance, aroma, flavour and brightness or just looking for something different to do, Counter Culture's DC training center, located in Adams Morgan, offers a weekly cupping at 10am every Friday. You can also fan Mid City Caffe on Facebook or follow them on twitter to find out when their next cupping will take place. Or if slurping with strangers isn't your thing, you can always engage in that very-parisian activity of people-watching the hipsters heading to their cupping while sipping a small espresso and eating a macaron just down the street at ACKC.

Le Diner d'Anniversaire

Number 90 on the list of stuff white people like is dinner parties and ever since I purchased a table that can sit 12 people, I have been looking for any good excuse to entertain! So when a good friend reached a milestone birthday the same week as me, his fiance Vlasta and I decided to treat some of our friends to a night in instead of a night out. Going out to a nice restaurant would have easier than slaving in the kitchen for hours, sure, but I actually like to cook and I didn't want to deal with a messy bill sharing situation like the one Muriel Robin joked about in her famous l'addition skit.


We kept things very simple with a black & white tablescape and a group friendly menu, dividing up the courses between the two of us. My grandmother made a delicious watercress soup and I wanted to integrate cresson in my dishes. As appetizer, I prepared a duo of watercress: a salad and a soup, served in a tall shot glass. The watercress salad was served with a simple tarragon vinaigrette. To make the vinaigrette, mix together 1 1/4 tsp Dijon mustarde (I typically use the Moutarde de Dijon a l'ancienne, with whole grains, but the traditional moutarde works as well); 2 tbsp white-wine vinegar; 1/2 tspn dried tarragon, crumbled; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper & 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil. The vinaigrette can be made in a blender or not and sprinkled evenly over 2 bunches of watercress divided between 12 plates.


For the main courses, Vlasta prepared a delicious Herbs & Garlic Roasted Leg of Lamb served alongside an Herbed Potato Gratin with Roasted Garlic & Swiss Cheese. The thyme and rosemary in both dishes ensured that they perfectly complemented each other. We paired the meal with a 2007 Catena Malbec, which retails for approximately $18.

To wrap the dinner, I wanted a simple dessrt that could be served individually and prepared ahead of time. I settled on verrines of Grand-Marnier soaked strawberries with crème faîche ice cream. Verrines are sweet or savory dishes served in indivual glasses (verre = glass in French) where all the components are artfully layered for an elegant presentation. They have been the rage in France for years and so I liked the ideas of serving verrines as dessert. The crème faîche ice cream was also a nod to the dollop of crème faîche served with the soup (and it was delicious!).

Joyeuse Saint Valentin!

There's lots to love about celebrating Valentine's day in Washington D.C. Here are a few of my picks for this year:

1) Celebrate La Saint Valentin in France (sorta)
Can't quite afford a romantic getaway to the city of love this year? Well, you can try the next best thing and treat your sweetie to an evening of French food and champagne at La Maison Française on February 13th. The $75 ticket includes valet parking, live music, a Parisian-style buffet complete with sumptuous patisseries and an open bar. In addition, you can have your picture taken in front of the Eiffel Tower and participate in a silent auction of one-of-a-kind items ranging from the moderate to the luxurious.

2) Wine and Dine... or skip the dine, just wine!

It is kind of perfect timing that this year, Valentine's Day falls not only on a 3-day weekend, but also also at the same time as the DC International Wine & Food Festival. From the opening reception at PS'7 on Thursday, February 11 ($50) to TastePost's wine and cheese pairing session on Friday evening ($25), the grand tasting events on February 13-14 ($85 Saturday, $75 Sunday, $140 both days) and the Sunday Champagne brunch at Ris ($55, benefiting D.C. Central Kitchen) as well as film night at the Ronald Reagan Building featuring Bottle Shock ($20)... you could easily keep your date drunk all weekend!

3) Take a cooking class (or make your man take one)
They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Well, if that's the case, why not take a cooking class this Valentine's Day? Learn to make Oyster stew with Pancetta at CulinAerie ($190 per couple, Feb. 14th, 6pm) together, decorate cupcakes at Hello Cupcakes ($50 per person, Feb. 13th, 10-12) or even better, send your man to a cooking class so he can treat you to a home-cooked meal. DC Coast is hosting a "Cupid’s Cooking Class"($75 per person, Feb. 6th, 11am-1pm) and Art & Soul's Chef Timberlake will demonstrate how to make a four course meal ($50 per person, Jan. 30th noon–2p.m). With those classes, your sweetie can learn to be not only the man of the house, but also of the kitchen! Afterall, the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach, too!

4) Fall in love... with the District of Columbia

Don't think D.C. is much of a romantic destination? It might be time for you to rekindle your love affair with the District. Head to the Goethe Institute on February 14th for the 3rd Annual Our City Film Festival which will feature documentaries and narratives ranging in topic from the history of Go-Go music, to a man’s love affair with the Anacostia River or life for Jews in old Washington.

5) Say non to Valentine's Day!
Unattached? A couple of local restaurants are planning special evenings with just you in mind. On February 13, AGAINN will feature a 3-course anti-Valentine’s Day menu inspired by the cuisine of the British Isles, priced at $39 per person. Alternatively, you can have a "sweet" anti-Valentine's day at Coco Sala which is teaming up with Red Door Spas to bring you a night of treatments, chocolate and bubbly. On Wednesday, February 10th between 6-8:30 p.m. enjoy a variery of "anti" treatments (Anti-dehydration Eye Treatments, Anti-Oxidant Citrus Polish Changes, & Prevage Anti-Aging Hand Treatments) while sipping 'Sex' Brut Rose and savouring chocolate dipped strawberries injected with Amaretto. Miam... do you really have to be single to attend this one? Tickets are $85 per person and space is limited. Reserve your spot by Wednesday, February 3rd by emailing homer@quackit.com There's also a couple of other fun activities for single ladies, from going to the movies to see Valentine's day to attending the DC RollerGirls Double Header at DC Armory pitting the DC All-Stars against the Pittsburgh's Steel Hurtin' and the  Cherry BlossomBombshells versus Scare Force One.

6) Explore the sexual behaviour of other... species.

I had a blast last year learning about animal mating, dating and reproductive habits at the inaugural Woo at the Zoo event. On February 12, join the National Zoo's charismatic animal experts for a frisky presentation on the sexual behaviour of your favourite zoo animals. This Valentine's Day event at the Zoo is $7 for FONZ members (Click here for information on becoming a FONZ member) and $10 for non-members with a choice of two presentation time slots: 6:30-7:30 p.m. or 8:30-9:30 p.m. Open to singletons and smug-married-couples over the age of 21, all guests will be treated to complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a free long-stemmed rose courtesy of Whole Foods Market. A cash bar will also offer a "My Tai" specialty drink in a commemorative glass.

7) Get half-naked... and run!

Being half naked in public places in D.C. seems to be a new trend! First, there was the no-pants-metro-ride on January 12th. Now just on time for Valentine's day, you can run around the capitol building in your skivvies! Hosted by The Pour House and benefitting the Children's Tumor Foundation, the first annual Cupid’s Undie Run will take place on February 13. My favourite local lingerie shop, Coup de Foudre, will be raffling off some prizes at the pre and post run bash at the Pour House. And if running in your undies in the middle of February isn't your thing, the Pacer’s Running Store is kicking off the Pacers Events 2010 Race Series with the inaugural Love the Run You’re With 5k race on the 14.

8) Skip dinner and opt for brain food instead
Since Valentine's Day is on a Sunday this year, you may want to start with brunch. The Corcoran Gallery of Arts allows you to escape to France with a French-themed menu inspired by the works in the exhibition Turner to Cézanne.  From there, you can head to the Kennedy Center for the 1:30pm performance of the Mariinsky Ballet's Sleeping Beauty or the 3pm representation of Shear Madness (less romantic, but more guy friendly!).  The Newseum is also inviting you and the co-anchor of your life (*le cheese*) to indulge in your passion for news with an enticing buy one get one free deal Feb. 8-14. In addition to visiting DC's most interactive museum, you can also record your love message at the "Be A TV Reporter" station and get a free download to share with family and friends. And if you think an autographed copy of "Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime" is just the gift your Valentine dreams of, you're in luck, authors John Heilemann and Mark Halperin will be around at 2:30pm on the 13th to talk about their book.

9) Find that special (purring) someone

I personally adopted my furry baby Chloe from the Washington Animal Rescue League almost two years ago and the shelter currently has dozens of felines available for adoption. On February 14th, between 2-5pm, the Washington Animal Rescue Leagueis hosting Catapalooza, a special cat adoption celebration with complimentary mimosas and cake, and no adoption fee on all kitties. Once you've seen the beautiful (renovated) space where the cats live, you may feel a little guilty bringing one back to your small condo with no water fountain or playground ;-)

Still can't figure out what to do for V-day? Luckily for you, Dr. Ruth was just sworn in as honorary secretary of the D.C.'s Department of Love and Relationships. Along with a corny "stimulus plan for love and relationships", the Date Night D.C. website has a nifty little tool called create a date where event the least imaginative person can design a special night for every budget!