Little Serow. Big Taste.

Spice attacked, and we gladly gave right in.

There's a good reason why Little Serow's staff recommends coming on a Tuesday or Wednesday night around 9 pm to get in quickly, and why weekend night waits can be up to 4 hours.

Little Serow is a new, hidden gem (literally, you enter through an unmarked door of a basement apartment) that recently graced the Dupont neighborhood.  Well, 'graced' in the sense that its ambiance is peaceful: low lighting, turquoise blue walls, friendly, engaging waitresses in dresses, and great - GREAT - music.  But the food probably shouldn't be tagged as 'graceful' - it packs the punch of a prizefighter with Thai spice that'll knock your socks off.

Nestled below DC's #1 ranked restaurant, Komi, it's clearly a great place for a new winner to move in to the neighborhood. Serow has an ambitious menu that changes weekly, all with awesome twists on Thai staples. You start out with pork skins to "get your palatte ready," which it's going to need to be. The spice progressively rises, starting with a milder green curry shrimp dish, moving on to a chicken that really gets the kick going, and you reach the pinnacle at their "nam tok tow hu," a majorly spicy tofu dish. Luckily, you're given a big plate of sticky rice and an herb basket. They double as side dishes and a coolant for your mouth. Things start cooling off a bit with the curry topped with a sunny-side-up duck egg, and then the pork rib dish which is delectably topped with dil and Mekhong whiskey: what a great finish.

Balancing the food (or enjoying your wait time to get seated) with a great drink is no problem.  They also have a great drink list, with intentionally paired wines, Thai beers, and fun cocktails.  I got a glass of their off-dry champagne (blanking on the name!) that cooled off my tongue in a delicious way.

Part of Serow's draw is the surprise and experience it offers to patrons. The menu is prix fixe and a bit pricey, $45 a person, but don't let the "small plates" fool you.  This is the kind of place that leaves you no room to go get dessert after because you're so happily - almost painfully - full.  Except, ice cream could be helpful to your spiced-out taste buds who will most definitely need a cool-down, or at least a nap.

Check out Washingtonian's Serow love here, where they made the "100 Very Best" list.

Little Serow's hours are Tuesday-Wed 5:30-10, Thurs-Sat 5:30-10:30.  No reservations.
1511 17th Street, NW.

District Kitchen: a warm welcome to Woodley Park!

District Salad & a little ginger squash on the side

Woodley Park’s restaurant scene is full of great choices from all ethnic food varieties to meet every palette where it is.  There are choices galore for all kinds of food lovers.

District Kitchen is its newest gem, and it sparkles brightly on Connecticut Avenue.  With all the bright lights of the food choices and shops lining Connecticut, District Kitchen offers a muted down feeling from the street. Its inviting by sight alone, and then you lay eyes on the somewhat up-scale, yet still un-messy menu – and you’re sold.

The ambiance is calming, despite the boisterous, menu-savvy patrons that fill the space.  It has internal brick walls, simple yet cozy tables, a plain stone floor, low lighting, and an inclusive bar that easily sweeps into the restaurant as a whole.

Amish chicken, a-la-king

My husband and I already have healthy obsessions with a few dishes: for a starter, the lamb chili, done Cincinnati style, poured atop long strands of fusilli. It’s equal parts comforting and filling, and could stand-alone paired with a glass of hearty red wine.  For entrees, we love the roasted Amish chicken, which comes with whole beech mushrooms and carrots – almost stew-like – and is served on top of grilled farm bread (an awesome touch, it makes the dish like a huge open-faced sandwich) with a hearty gravy overall. It’s fancied up Southern comfort on a plate.  Then, (drum roll, please) their cider-braised pork shank with a kohlrabi kraut, which eats like a long-grain risotto (wow), and house-made dumplings that soak up the saucy gravy that helps the meat fall right off the bone.  For reals, so tender.

If you want to add some freshness to the meaty entrée choices, the salads are all desirable, too, with seasonal vegetables and local additions that are appealing to carnivores and vegetarians alike.  We tried two: their house salad, which was fairly standard but topped with a great Dijon vinaigrette; also, the wild cress and arugula salad with black walnuts, sliced dried apples, and a bleu-cheesy dressing. This one packed a punch that was both sweet and cheesy in the right balance.

The biggest hit of the evening was the mashed gingered squash puree – truly, outstanding.  Sweet and savory with buttery flavors that met with the subtle sweetness and strength of the veggie’s natural ways of being delicious. It was an awesome side dish, but could almost pass for a sweet treat at the end of a meal, maybe sided with a port to sip on or something like that.  Worth a try, anyway.

Pork shank with kohlrabi and dumplings

Whether you pop in for one of their hearty starters and a cocktail, sip on a brew while you wait for your table, or get a bottle of wine with dinner, their bar has what you want. First of all, the bartenders are friendly, pour generously, and are excited to help you navigate the menu if you decide to dine at the bar.

How can you resist a new, cozy and delicious spot, right off the red line metro (Woodley Park), on your way home from the zoo?  Oooo, now that’s a good Valentine’s Day date waiting to happen. 

For now, DK is closed on Mondays, but they plan to eventually be open 7 days a week.  Their current hours are Tuesday-Thursday 5-10pm, Friday-Saturday 5-11pm, and Sunday 5-10pm. They are located at 2606 Connecticut Ave., NW.  I recommend a reservation at District Kitchen (uh, not the zoo) and you can do that here, through OpenTable.

The lunchtime rush takes a lot of heart & Seoul

 Food carts are gaining popularity, popping up all over the DC Metro area.  On any given day of the week, you can find food trucks a-plenty parked on N. Lynn Street, prepared for the hungry Rosslyn lunch crowd.  Crepes, Hallal food, cupcakes - all sorts of delicious options.  I had always been drawn to the SeOUL FOOD truck that I’d seen carting around Korean delights with a twist.  I got lucky today when I ventured into Rosslyn on the hunt for this truck, and there it was, serving the masses.

From all the lunch-goers in line, I could tell that it was popular – but when I heard the truck owners greeting patrons personally, I knew that this truck was worthy of earning loyal regulars.  The questions asked were not, “do you know what you want?” but more, “will you have the same thing today?”  This was a good sign.

The Seoul truck has a fun menu, sort of a healthy Korean fusion collection of choices to please vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.  Take, for example, the Kalbi Burrito, a mix of rice, avocado, fresh kimchi, and your choice of chicken or beef wrapped in a four tortilla ($7).  Or try the Korean Superbowl: sticky rice, jalapeno and Serrano relish, caramelized kimchi, scallions, cheese, Korean salsa roja, and chicken or bulgogi marinated steak ($8).  Wow. Their special soup, made of curried chickpeas and potato, can remain vegetarian or supplemented with a choice of meat.

The online menu has more options than the truck serves on a day-to-day basis because Seoul Food offers what is seasonably fresh and appropriate for the day’s weather.  For example, when I visited on a rare warm day, getting a hot soup was not an option and some of the warm rice bowls had been canceled for the day. Instead, they offered things like the Seoulfood Smoothie, which is a blend of Korean sweet potato, Greek yogurt, honey, and milk.  It was perfect for a sunny, unseasonably warm day and it totally hit the spot.  I’ll be going back on a day that feels more like February to get a Bibimbop or pork stew.

Their weekly schedule is consistent and they have an active twitter feed (@SeoulFoodDC) that can keep you up to date on where they’re servin’ up some Seoul in your neighborhood.

Artisan Confections: A Sweet Treat in Arlington

So many choices.

The smell upon walking in the door of Artisan Confections is enough to solidify a craving.

Chocolate wafts in the nostrils, but so do notes of fruit, spice and coffee. The shop’s décor is simple yet inviting. It’s a modern take on an old-school candy shop, mature enough for adults while still succeeding to create that kid-in-a-candy-store kind of anticipation.

With flavors like salted caramel, Tahitian vanilla, and peanut butter and jelly, it’s tough to make a choice. Especially when the chocolates are “painted” beautifully with their own distinct design according to flavor. A seasonal artist series is offered, featuring special designs and flavors.

Overall, the presentation is gorgeous and adds to the allure of making a choice. Luckily, they have several customized box options: You can choose to buy pieces individually, or gather four ($8), nine ($17), 15 ($26) or 30 ($48) candies that meet your fancy. All candies are cuddled up together in a gold box and tied with a dark red ribbon – again, a presentation that feels both mature and exciting, creating the chance to go home and relive the joy of opening the box to enjoy your indulgence. (That is, if you even make it home before you crack open the box.)

After much deliberation, I chose my four candies: lavender-honey, caipirinha, chipotle chile, and malted milk (the personal favorite of the woman who helped me). After my next four meals, I looked forward to the tiny chocolate treat that I knew would be packed with huge flavor, each one different and fun. And they did not disappoint.

The lavender-honey was subtle and light, not soap-like and overly fragrant like some herb-based foods can seem. Neither lavender nor honey overpowered the flavor. Of all the pieces I sampled, I actually would have wanted a little bit more of a distinct flavor from this one. But, it was well balanced, almost fruity, and certainly creamy. It seems like this candy would make a nice pairing with port for an after-dinner sweet.

I couldn’t pass up caipirinha. An Argentine cocktail in a piece of chocolate? Yes, please. This little piece of wonder was painted in greens and creams to reflect its ingredients of lime, mint and rum, just like the cocktail. I could taste each element and it hit my tongue with lots of tangy flavor. Now I realize that bartenders would be wise to incorporate some chocolate in their caipirinha for the perfect compliment.

Chipotle chile was phenomenal and provided that kick you expect from a spicy chocolate. Chile-based chocolates have become more popular recently, with companies like Lindt and Ghirardelli producing varietals that can be picked up at most grocery stores. Artisan’s version is a juiced-up edition of the trend, packing a lot into a little.

It’s no wonder that the woman’s favorite selection was malted milk. It had a classic, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth flavor to it, but in a richer, more refined way then say, a malted milk ball. It was like tasting perfectly creamed coffee; you know when it’s just right. I enjoyed it with a glass of cabernet, and it seemed to make a great pairing.

Artisan Confections also offers classes for tasting and making chocolates. Classes fill up quickly as chocolate tasting is gaining popularity along with wine and coffee.

After you enjoy a meal in the neighborhood, head over to finish off strong with your choice of the perfect sweet treat.

Artisan Confections is located at 1025 N. Fillmore St. in Clarendon.

This article can also be seen on Patch.com  http://patch.com/A-pTVq

Medium Rare is Well-Done

Simple, meaty beauty.

Cleveland Park has a lot of eating gems to take part in.  After much anticipation and delay, my husband and I finally went to Medium Rare, a prix fixe steak restaurant at 3500 Connecticut Ave.  Wow.  We loved the food - and the concept: for $19.50, you get a hearty baguette and creamy butter, a simple but great salad, and steak (drizzled with their secret house sauce, witch tastes mushroomy) and steak frites.  Yes, for $19.50.  Every day, all the time.  But that's not all...they bring out a second portion of steak and fries half way through the meal.  If you act dainty and refuse, they give it to you anyway.  You paid for it! $19.50.

There's a short list of wines and beer, moderately priced and specifically chosen to go well with the menu.  So, again, you can't go wrong.

They also have a dessert list, all for $8, which consists of treats like apple pie, layered carrot cake, and NY cheesecake. They serve fantastic coffee and espresso drinks, obviously to recover from the huge meal you just had.

The ambiance is plain and beautiful, white paper table cloths (where they write down your order with crayon), low lighting, wood floors and internal brick walls.  Like their menu, simple but substantial.  And just for fun, French language lessons are playing in the bathroom.  What a nice touch!  By the time you've freshened up, you'll know how to ask for more water and how ask someone out.  Do with that what you will.

They take reservations (but they're not required) and can seat a few big parties.  Hours: 5-10:30 daily; 11-2:30 Sunday brunch.

Woodley Park's Hidden Gem for Brunch

$9. Yes, $9.

Woodley's best kept secret for Sunday Brunch is Murphy's, a great little Irish bar on 24th Street and Calvert. Right around the corner from the hustle and bustle and hour-long-wait for Open City (which mind you, is also a good choice), Murphy's is keeping a secret that's sure to eventually get out and get huge. Their Sunday brunch menu gives patrons a coffee or tea, a glass of champagne or a mimosa, and 1 choice out of 5 hearty menu options - all for 9 bucks.  It's hard to believe in the popular (and sometimes expensive) DC brunch scene, but it's true.  As if that wasn't enough, you can get additional champagne and mimosas for $1 each.  That makes for a nice Sunday morning with friends.

The Sunday brunch menu options include: a 3 egg omelet with home fries, steak and eggs, pancakes with sausage, french toast with bacon and home fries, a hamburger platter, or the Irish country breakfast: eggs, sausage AND bacon, home fries, and a biscuit.  That's what I always order as the best of all worlds kind of choice. I'm not even generally a home fries fan, but these are tasty. Regardless of what meal you choose, it's hearty, and with a mimosa, it all goes down smooth.

Murphy's has other great specials to check out, too: http://www.murphysofdc.com/index.php

Rocklands BBQ Rocks!

Rocklands is smokin'. (Get it?)

Rocklands BBQ has it all: great food, a fantastic drink selection, indoor and outdoor seating, and deals every day of the week.  Their regular menu is full of fair prices, too, with meaty delights such as The Belly Buster and the Three Meats Platter.  You get side dishes, a roll, grilled onions – and of course, a bunch of meat.  And while you wait (a short time) for your food, you can munch on free peanuts and watch whatever game they’ve got playing on their flat screen TVs. Maybe you sip on their homemade sweet tea or lemonade while you enjoy one of Rocklands’ Caps or Redskins viewing parties. It’s just good, yummy fun.

It can be difficult to decide which night to go to Rocklands with so many awesome steals on a daily basis.  My husband and I frequent Tuesdays, when one can enjoy half price wine (coming out to just over $3 for a generous glass), or, one can have a bourbon with a side of a can of PBR.  Mondays – all day long – give you a free pulled pork sandwich when you buy a beer (and while you watch Monday night football).  Wednesdays offer 1 pound of wings and a beer for $5.99. Thursday lures you in with $4 Stoli cocktails and $6 Stoli Bombs. Fridays tempt by giving you half-price drafts.  Saturday beckons with the “Working Mans Bucket” from noon to close (and college football on all day.) Sunday’s offer is a doozy: $3 shots and $4.05 drafts. 

And oh – be still, my beating heart - the cornbread.  It’s heaven in bread form.  Subtle flavors of honey and jalapeño. Bonus: it’s available 7 days a week.

And for all you bourbon aficionados, you may want to check out their Bourbon Club.  A little known fact is that Rocklands boasts about 80 bourbons behind their bar.  As a club member, you sign up to defeat the odds and try all of them – keeping a list going as you move through their selections.  Each time you achieve the goal (yes, people have done it many times over), you win various prizes like a Rocklands gift certificate or a chance to bartend for the night.  The most exciting part (other than trying almost 100 fantastic bourbons): they put up a plaque behind the bar with your name on it. Props forever.

Rocklands has locations in Glover Park on Wisconsin Ave., and Arlington on Washington Blvd.

Lyon Hall: a French Brasserie in Clarendon

Lyon Hall is the place you want to be on a chilly fall day.  It is warm, inviting, and full of cozy booths.  The subtle lighting is calming – it’s a comfortable retreat at the end of the day, and not to mention, a delicious one.

The Schweitzel, with pomegranate dijon

While I visited with my friend Steph, we were surrounded by all kinds of visitors: an 8-person birthday party group, an office party who rented out all the high tops, two friends next to us at the bar, and a man having a cheap beer by himself.  And Lyon Hall is equally as fitting for any of those kinds of patrons – it is suitable to larger parties and more intimate gatherings, but comfortable enough to visit on your own.

One of the best things about Lyon Hall is its happy hour specials from 5 to 7 pm, seven days a week, which is a rare treat.  Select beers and wines are half price by the glass, and at least one cocktail is featured for $5. But they also boast a great happy hour food menu with specials like the house burger ($8) with a (a bit too strong of a stinky cheese for me, personally,) and Dijon mustard, sided by a generous helping of house-made fries.  Two different brats are offered – I highly recommend the “Schweitzel,” covered with a pomegranate Dijon, relish, and sauerkraut.  Bursting with flavor, this upscale dog can stand a lone as a hearty snack.  And it’s just $6. 

The main menu offers variations on their signature dish, mussels.  Choose from….  Their entrée list is bursting with meaty meals and savory dishes, including

Whether if you’re looking for a place to read a book and get a good delicious deal by yourself, looking for a place to catch up with friends over reasonably-priced treat, or watch the football game with fancier hot dogs than you’d get at the stadium, Lyon Hall can serve as your neighborhood meet-up spot.


This article can also be found here: http://patch.com/A-mLm4