Yo-what?

The only question you'll be asking at D.C.'s Yola ($) is for seconds.  This new café is a twist on the typical coffee shop.  There are muffins, coffee, and Wi-Fi.  The biggest draw to Yola is their yogurt bar.  Don't worry- it's not yet another frozen yogurt shop. Yola only serves fresh, seasonal yogurt.

Choose between the all organic yogurt flavors, including strawberry, black cherry, peach, maple, natural Greek, or plain.  Servers scoop up your choice of flavor into a tall plastic cup.  Now, for the fun part...toppings. The best part? You get an unlimited amount (as long as it all fits into the cup).

I chose natural Greek yogurt with agave nectar, blueberries, coconut shavings, kiwi, raspberries, strawberries, granola, and dried dates.  I would've chosen more had there been room! Other toppings include bananas, mango, almond slices, muesli, walnuts, and even savory flavors such as cucumbers and dill.

Greek yogurt with Granola, Fruit, & Agave Nectar

The café itself is very charming, with exposed brick and wooden tables strewn throughout for the ultimate coffee-shop vibe. Yola offers other tasty treats, such as pumpkin muffins and veggie pesto sandwiches on foccacia. It's definitely worth a visit if you are in the Dupont area!

Siroc's Sister: Vento Restaurant

Vento ($$), a restaurant owned by the same people as one of my favorite's, Siroc, is a cozy Italian trattoria in West Dupont.  Like Siroc, Vento is known for their homemade pasta.  The pasta is made on-site at Vento for both restaurants. Vento is dimly lit with dark mahogany furniture- perfect for a romantic night out. 

The food did not disappoint. Fresh focaccia and olive oil hit the table first.  I couldn't help munching on the fluffy bread while I waited for my appetizer. The hand rolled gnocchi were out of this world.  At first, I was apprehensive about the Gorgonzola sauce the dish comes with because sometimes Gorgonzola can be overpowering.  The sauce was light and not at all what I expected.  It perfectly complemented the baked Bosc pear, which sat on top of the pasta.  One great deal that Vento offers is half and half portions of their pasta. If you are like me and cannot decide which one to order, this deal allows you to try more than one for the same price.

Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Sauce and Baked Bosc Pear

The Lamb Steak with a Roasted Garlic Aioli was perfectly tender and seasoned. It was some of the best lamb I've had in a while. Vento does not hold back on portion sizes here, so come hungry! The lamb came with roasted fingerling potatoes.  The strip steak was also great, although next time I would order it medium-rare instead of medium for more flavor.  The steak was served on a bed of arugula alongside roasted red potatoes.

Lamb Steak with Roasted Garlic Aioli

Strip Steak with Cracked Pepper, Marinated Tomatoes and Arugula

For dessert, I was tempted by the spoonfuls of homemade Tiramisu, but with the recommendation of the waiter I ordered the Chocolate Ganache layered with Crushed Biscotti and a Raspberry Cream.  This hit it out of the ball park.  The ganache was so rich and the crushed biscotti cookies were a nice crunchy surprise. The dessert came with fresh raspberries on top.

Chocolate Ganache Layered with Crushed Biscotti and Raspberry Cream

I will without a doubt be coming back soon (they can't keep me away from that Gorgonzola gnocchi!) Their brunch menu also looks appetizing, with Pancakes with Roasted Bosc Pear with Ginger-Pear Syrup or Poached Eggs with Crabmeat on Brioche with a Spicy Hollandaise Sauce.  The brunch prices are very reasonable, which is a relief in D.C., ranging from $4.00- $16.00.  Vento is conveniently located near the Dupont metro.  It is in an up and coming area on P St., where a lot of new restaurants are moving in.  Reserve quickly before word spreads about this new Italian hot spot!

Fish Lovers Unite for Black Salt

Black Salt ($$$) sold me at its name (who needs love at first sight when you have restaurant at first name?).  This fish restaurant is tucked away in the Palisades of D.C. I never would have heard of it had it not been for a friend who visited D.C. and gave it rave reviews.  As a fish lover, I was excited to find a place that specialized in seafood dishes.

You would never guess how nice of a place Black Salt is upon entering.  There is a big fish counter and a hoard of wooden tables casually thrown together. Ten feet behind this room is their dining room, with white table cloths and all.  The room is bright and beautiful, with very spaced out tables (this always wins me over). Even the chairs are comfy.  The funny thing is that the menu is the same for the upscale dining room and the casual eating area.

This was my last Restaurant Week stop, but it was the restaurant I was most excited to try.  After taking a good twenty minutes to decide what to order (everything sounded so good!) I decided on a Squash Soup with Spiced Mascarpone and Toasted Sunflower Seeds. Soup seemed like a silly choice to order in a seafood restaurant, but I decided that it matched best with my entree. Boy was I glad I ordered it- this has to have been the most incredible soup I ever tasted (Sorry, mom!).  It was sweet, but savory, and the sunflower seeds gave it a nice crunch. I could easily eat that soup every day for the rest of my life.

Squash Soup with Spiced Mascarpone and Toasted Sunflower Seeds

Next up was their Provencal Seafood Stew, which came with shrimp, fish, mussels and a saffron white wine broth. It was equally delicious as my appetizer soup.  The broth was really light and the saffron highlighted the fish flavor.  The seafood was moist and only had a simple seasoning. My only wish was that there were more shrimp!

Provencal Seafood Stew

My friend had Louisiana Poached Eggs with crab meat and a spicy cayenne hollandaise sauce.  Just when you thought it couldn't get any better than poached eggs and crab meat- it was on top of toasted corn bread. I have to say that the combination was incredible.  The sweet corn bread balanced out the spicy hollandaise sauce.

Louisiana Poached Eggs with Crab on Cornbread

For dessert, we split the Chocolate Chambord Truffle Cake with a raspberry compote and a Key Lime Pie with blueberry compote. While the Key Lime Pie was tart and tasty, the chocolate dessert took the prize. It was so rich and moist- I was licking the plate clean.

Key Lime Pie

Chocolate Truffle Cake with Raspberry Compote

Overall- A+. I hate to bump Zaytinya out of the number one spot for restaurants in D.C., but Black Salt definitely won me over. Their normal menu can be a bit pricey, but they have lunch specials, which includes a 18$ three course meal during the week.

Cream + Butter= La Chaumiere

This homey French bistro was my second Restaurant Week stop.  La Chaumiere ($$$) is a classic French Country style restaurant in Georgetown.  It is upscale and attracts an older crowd, but is still a great spot to eat on a cold night.  There is a fireplace in the middle of the restaurant and empty old wine bottles line the wooden beams.  It's a cozy space because all of the tables are so close together.

Top of Fireplace at La Chaumiere

To start, I ordered the baked mussels.  Anything covered in melted parsley butter and garlic is a winner in my book.  I was hoping that the taste of the mussels would be more highlighted, but nonetheless ce sont magnifique!

Baked Mussels with Parsley Butter and Garlic

For the second course, I split Marinated Salmon in Puff Pastry with a Champagne and Dill Sauce and a Spice Crusted Cornish Game Hen.  The salmon was very rich and filling.  It was cooked very well and was not soggy or overcooked in the pastry.  The game hen was not my favorite dish because the breading was overwhelming.  The sauce that was served with it, though, was excellent. Both dishes were served with some of the creamiest mashed potatoes I've ever had- so how could they be anything but amazing?  Butter and cream seemed to be the theme of the night.

Salmon Marinated in Puff Pastry, with Spinach & Dill Sauce

At last, dessert! I had the profiterole, which is undoubtedly one of my favorite desserts so I could not resist ordering it. The soft vanilla gelato melted into the puffed pastry.  I scooped it all up with their homemade chocolate sauce and it was perfection! My only complaint was that it was too small.

Overall, La Chaumiere was great. Their wait staff was a little rude- but perhaps they are trying to truly imitate the French demeanor. If you decide to go, prepare for one rich and heavy dish after the other. But, if you can handle your butter and cream, go for it!

Southern Comfort is Good for the Soul

At last, I am able to delete Vidalia ($$$) from my list of "Restaurants I Want to Try" (to the right). Vidalia has graced the Washingtonion Top 100 list, among many other publications, so it would be a shame for me to leave D.C. without going. This upscale Southern restaurant satisfied my comfort food craving.

I went for D.C.'s Winter Restaurant Week, which offered a three course meal for $35. I was impressed at the start with Vidalia's bread basket, which, in my opinion, is one of the most important parts of the meal. A vidalia is a type of onion, so Vidalia aims to include vidalia onions in most of their dishes. The bread was no exception as a warm, onion focaccia was promptly delivered to our table. A sweet onion butter was served alongside it and both were simply phenomenal.

To start, I had the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, with a sweet corn salsa. I have to tip my hat off to the chef for packing so much crab meat into the appetizer. Most restaurants skimp on the meat and overcompensate with bread crumbs. The meat was combined with a savory, salty seasoning, which complemented the sweet corn salsa.

Crab Cake with Corn Salsa and Crab Butter

For my second course, I had the Beef Short Rib with a root beer jus and potato purée. Initially, I was skeptical of the root beer jus because I am not a fan of root beer. I was happily surprised because the jus was very subtle and actually went well with the tenderly cooked short ribs. The ribs themselves were not as flavorful as I hoped, but the potato purée was creamy and delicious.

I ordered the Lemon Chess Pie for dessert, even though this choice seemed a bit on the boring side. Who can hate on a classic if it is done well? Fortunately- it was excellent. The pie was tart and creamy. It went perfectly with the sweet berry compote and chantilly cream that came with it. This was definitely the highlight of my meal. I also tried Vidalia's signature Peanut Butter Crunch cake, which was incredible. Then again, you can't go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate. The cake was layered with chocolate ganache cake, chocolate cream, peanut butter cream and topped with a milk chocolate feuilletine.

The ambiance of the restaurant was very nice. The tables were spaced nicely and the decor was simple and clean. Vidalia is always changing their menu so I plan on returning soon. Some other dishes I hope to try include their Shrimp & Grits, Spiced Crusted Duck Breast with a Fig & Duck Confit Bread Pudding, and their Baked Macaroni with smoked ham. I am also excited to try Chef Buben's other restaurant, Bistro Bis.

Busboys & Poets

Busboys and Poets ($$) is one of the must-sees in all of the D.C. tour books, so I thought I would give it a try to see what all of the fuss was about. This U St. restaurant is known for its clientele of writers and artists. There is a book store in the restaurant, with books pertaining to black history and culture. The restaurant is surprisingly spacious. There is a stage in the back of the restaurant where poets, authors, and musicians read or perform.

Hot Chocolate

Now for the good part..the food! I ordered a mixed green salad with poached pear, caramelized onions, pecans, goat cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette. It was delicious! I would definitely order it again. My only critique is that it was over-dressed, so maybe next time I will order the dressing on the side.

Poached Pear Salad with Goat Cheese, Pecans, Caramelized Onions, & Balsamic Vinaigrette

A friend ordered the Oaxaca Omelet, with black beans, cheese, pico de gallo, and guacamole. It looked very appetizing! Next time I visit, I want to try the avocado and havarti cheese panini or the peanut butter and banana with agave nectar sandwich. Agave nectar is one of my new favorites- it is similar to honey, but even better!

Busboys & Poets is an eclectic hang out spot that is definitely worth stopping by, whether it is for a coffee, a book reading, or a complete meal.

Try Tryst!

Hello again! Bella Bites is back!

The first post of the semester is of one of my regular coffee houses in Adams Morgan, Tryst ($). Think of Central Perk, from the TV sitcom Friends, but even better- with breakfast all day! The ambiance and set-up of the restaurant is the best part because of the big comfy chairs and couches. The only catch is that it is impossible to get a seat! Despite the informal array of chairs, Tryst is still a full-service café with table side waiters and all.

Granola with Fresh Berries & Milk (*also offered with yogurt)

Tryst offers a variety of pastries and quality coffee drinks. They also have waffles, bagels, salads, and sandwiches (including my favorite- the Chicken Salad Sandwich with apples and walnuts). They have fun small plates, including strawberries with nutella and apples with caramel sauce.

Last time I went, I ordered the waffle. Be warned, Tryst does not serve real maple syrup! This was a deal breaker for me so I do not think I will order the waffle again. The granola was tasty and served with strawberries and blueberries.

Waffle with Fresh Berries, Whipped Cream, and Maple Syrup

Tryst is a great place to meet your friends for coffee and a snack. Go on off hours so you do not have trouble finding a seat!

Hiatus

Bella Bites will be taking a 3 month hiatus because I am on summer vacation back in California. I will keep you posted if I decide to do Bella Bites California!
D.C. Bella Bites will be back in the Fall. Thanks for Reading!

-Ariana

Old Glory: A Taste of the South

Every once in a while, I get in the mood for some good ol' Southern cooking. My friend Jimmy is from the South, and he decided to take us all to Old Glory ($$) in Georgetown for his birthday. This restaurant embodies the South with its massive portions, unlimited Sweet Tea refills, and eight different types of Barbeque sauce.

Baked Potato stuffed with Pulled Pork, Cheese, Sour Cream, and the Works

I ordered the Pulled Pork Sandwich with a side of corn and Cole Slaw. Pulled Pork is my weakness. I was a vegetarian for several years until at a BBQ the host cooked Pulled Pork, and since then I've been a red meat fanatic. This sandwich lived up to my standards! I poured their sweet Georgia BBQ sauce all over it as well as my side of Cole Slaw (because really, what good pulled pork sandwich is without Cole Slaw?). I took bites of everyone's dishes, and everything was tasty. My friends ordered the ribs, pineapple glazed chicken, and pulled BBQ chicken. Everything came with sides of mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, or collared greens. I do have to say that I was not a huge fan of the rub on the ribs, but besides that Old Glory will be my new stop- that is when I am incredibly hungry and prepared for portions that could feed an army.

Pulled Pork Sandwich with a side of Cole Slaw and a side of Corn

Teaism

Teaism ($$) has become one of my regular stops in D.C. since I've moved here. There are three locations, conveniently all within 20 minutes from my dorm in Dupont Circle, Chinatown, and Penn Quarter (Note to tourists: the Penn Quarter location is close to all of the Smithsonian Museums so it is a convenient spot if you plan on going). Teaism is an Asian tea house, with full sized meals as well as smaller snack items. It is a great place to study or hang out for hours with a book because they have free refills which gives you a reason to be there for an extended period of time!

Iced Black Assam Tea with Lemon

Curried Chicken Salad with Apples, Celery, and Dressing on top of a bed of Lettuce with Tomatoes

My favorite dishes there are the Thai Chicken Curry (which is very spicy so make sure to grab at least two extra glasses of water when drinking), the Curried Chicken Salad, and the Salmon Bento Box which comes with brown rice, edamame, and a cucumber-ginger salad. They also have desserts such as Coconut Rice Pudding, Ginger Scones, and their famous Salty Oat Cookies. Okay, I know salt on a cookie may not sound that appealing- but there is a reason these cookies are their signature item. Now of course- the tea. Their Japanese Sweet Green Tea is my favorite, and the Assam Black Tea is a solid option. Their Ginger Limeade and Chai Shake are also great refreshing drinks.

Chicken Apple Sausages with a side of Naan and Raita (part of their Brunch Menu)

Thai X-ing

In my quest for a decent Thai place in D.C., I stumbled upon Thai X-ing ($$) on Yelp.com because of its rave reviews. I was intrigued and decided to check out the place with a few friends. We went to the restaurant and were happily surprised when we realized that this place is actually a man's home. There are two small tables, and the kitchen is visible where the owner, a Thai man, is the only chef. Unfortunately, the place was booked seeing as he could only cook one dish at a time and we would have had to wait hours, so we agreed to order take out in the future.

Tonight we made the trek out to Howard University to pick up take out (even though we would have loved to eat in his living room, we had to study). We ordered Shrimp Panang Curry, the Pad King Tofu, and a Chicken Stir Fry. We arrived and he poured out all of the dishes right from the stove, because he had just finished making them. The curry was so creamy and spicy, we scarfed it down. The Pad King Tofu came with fried tofu, fresh ginger,onions, black mushrooms, in a bean sauce. It was tasty, although light on the bean sauce. The Chicken Stir Fry with Chinese broccoli, onions, and sauce was also very good. Our take out was served in banana leaves, which was a nice touch.

Panang Curry (a spicy peanut, basil, and thai curry sauce) with Shrimp, Red Peppers, and Snow Peas

This authentic gem is well worth going. Next time, I hope to eat at the actual restaurant. It's right near the Howard University metro, so it's convenient!

Zorba's Cafe

Zorba's Cafe ($$) is a casual Greek restaurant in Dupont Circle. Located right on the circle, Zorba's has a fun atmosphere with a comfortable outside patio. While Zorba's may not have the best Greek food in town, it's inexpensive and pretty decent. The service is fast paced, as customers order at a counter and pick up the food. It is great for large parties and late night bites.

Spanakopita (Spinach, Feta Cheese, and Onions wrapped in Phyllo Dough)

After visiting an art gallery in Dupont, a few friends and I were wandering around looking for a quick place to eat and we stumbled upon Zorbas. I ordered a Greek salad and rice pudding, Kelsey ordered the Spanakopita, and Nikesh ordered the Souvlaki plate with pork skewers. While my salad was not the best I'd ever had, Nikesh's skewers were delicious. The marinated pork tenderloin was perfectly seasoned, and all of the juices from the skewers soaked into the pita bread they sat on top of. For 12 dollars, he got the skewers, pita, a side salad, and fries--a great deal! The rice pudding was not the best, and my greek salad was nothing great. I wouldn't order either again.

Souvlaki Platter with Pork Skewers (and a side of Greek salad and Fries)

The Latest Trend: Georgetown Cupcakes

Every few months a new food trend sweeps across the United States, such as tart frozen yogurt (seen at Pink Berry, Red Mango, and even Haagen Dazs) and cupcakes- the latest fad that has taken over D.C. Georgetown Cupcakes ($) takes the gold in D.C., as their mouth watering moist cupcakes with creamy frosting beat Baked and Wired and Hello Cupcake's selections.

Chocolate Cupcake with Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting

Georgetown Cupcakes is a small bakery on M St. that stands out because of the permanent line of people that circles around the corner. I could probably eat one dozen of these cupcakes in one sitting, but for the sake of my figure I refrain. I am a fan of the classics, so the chocolate cupcake with vanilla butter cream frosting is my favorite. I also love the carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting, and I am dying to try the coconut cupcake or the lava fudge one. The bakery has specials for every day of the week, which you can find listed on their website, but this little shop should be designated a D.C. landmark because it is THAT good!

All-American Restaurant: Clyde's

My friend Helen came down from Baltimore for Easter Sunday, so we decided to wander over to Georgetown to grab a bite to eat. We did not make reservations anywhere, but passed by Clyde's ($$) and I remember being pleased with a meal I ate there before so we decided to get some brunch.

Vegetable Frittata with Carrots, Asparagus, Onions, Jack Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, and Pico de Gallo (Salsa)

They had a special Easter Brunch menu which had a tempting Breakfast Burrito with eggs and Chorizo sausage as well as Strawberry Pancakes and Challah French Toast. I eventually decided on the Easter Vegetable Omelette with Jack and Cheddar cheeses, asparagus, carrots, onions, and Pico de Gallo. Helen ordered the Chesapeake Eggs Benedict, which is the classic Eggs Benedict with an English Muffin, poached eggs, bacon, and hollandaise sauce but with a twist- crab cakes on top. While we waited for our food, we received complimentary Hot Cross Buns which were delicious. They are moist buns with dried fruit inside, topped with sweet frosting. Our food arrived, and my Fritatta was good but did not blow me away. It was cute because it was prepared in its own individual skillet. Helen's dish looked very appetizing and she said it was delicious.

Chesapeake Eggs Benedict (Poached Eggs, Hollandaise Sauce, Bacon, and Crab Cakes on an English Muffin) with Spiced Potatoes

Clyde's is a fun, casual all American place that is good to go in groups. I've had the Lobster Bisque there before which was tasty, and I've heard overall good things. It's conveniently in Georgetown near Wisconsin & M St.

Le Pain Quotidien

Le Pain Quotidien ($$) is a popular French chain which is located in Georgetown. It is known for its common table, as it has one long table in the center of the restaurant where different parties can sit (although there are individual tables available). The restaurant has a variety of dishes ranging from tartines to soup to cheese platters. Le Pain has a seasonal Pear and Gorgonzola Cheese Tartine (an open-faced sandwich) which is out of this world, and a Praline Butter spread that they serve with the freshly baked brioche buns.

The Bakery "On-the-Go" section in the front of the restaurant

Le Pain is a good place to have a sit down brunch or dinner, but I frequently go for their bakery section ($) which is fast and convenient. My favorite dessert here is the brownie because of its rich chocolate flavor and moistness. They also have mini Belgian Waffles covered in sugar for on-the-go which are delicious. I want to try the granola they sell and the 8-inch wide chocolate chip cookie.

Chocolate Brownie

Manouch: The Legend

The famous hot dog stand on George Washington University's campus is home to the one..the only.. Manouch. Everyone knows his name because of his delicious late night hot dog stand. His stand, located on the corner of H and 21st St., is only open from 9pm-3am on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights to appeal to the wandering drunk students with munchies. There is always a line of 20 people or more outside the stand throughout the night, but it moves quickly. Manouch is a comic attraction himself because he talks to students offering them dating advice and inquiring about their lives. Of course, his hot dogs are the best around which also accounts for the lengthy line.

Hot Dog with GW Sauce, Ketchup, and extra Relish

He has a famous secret recipe, the GW Sauce, which I would best describe as a spicy relish. He pours on the sauce in addition to any other topping you prefer onto your 3 dollar hot dog, making the experience quite a messy one. Manouch clearly is an experienced hot dog maker as he can cook up five dogs in less than one minute to keep the line going. The GW Sauce and Half Smoke Hot Dog are must haves.

GW's very own celebrity is well worth a visit.

Zaytinya

Zaytinya is a Greek Tapas restaurant that was recommended to me by two different people in the same week- so I had to go check it out. This modernized Greek restaurant is located in China Town, and is always bustling with people. They have small slightly over priced (but worth it) plates of a variety of unique vegetable, meat, and seafood dishes.

The attentive waiters immediately brought the fresh, and most importantly free, pita bread to the table. The pita was warm and puffed up because it just came out of the oven, and it was absolutely divine. I think I had a good two baskets of the bread by myself. For dinner, I ordered two different dishes. I had the Kabak Köftesi, which are squash and golden raisin fritters with a walnut pistachio sauce. The dish came with four of the veggie fritters, and they were very tasty. The raisins on the inside gave the squash a nice burst of sweetness. I also ordered the Adana Kebab which was skewered lamb with roast tomatoes and sauteed onions. The lamb was shaped like a sausage, and had red pepper flakes inside which made it spicy. Delicious! The two little tapas were enough for a dinner, along with the baskets of bread, and Zaytinya is definitely worth the trip.

Sadly, I did not get photos, but I promise this place is worth the buzz.

Update (with photos!)

Fresh Complimentary Pita

I recently revisited Zaytinya, and it was even more fabulous than the last time. We ordered a Tzatziki, a yogurt and cucumber dipping sauce, for the table.

Tzatziki (yogurt & cucumber) Sauce

I ordered the special (which I sincerely hope they add to the menu permanently!) which was crispy brussel sprouts. The brussel sprouts were lightly fried and mixed with red pepper flakes and a garlic yogurt sauce. They were to die for. I also ordered the braised short ribs in a spiced tomato stew. The meat was so tender it melted in your mouth. The sauce was a perfect compliment. I was tempted to lick the plate clean!

Crispy Brussel Sprouts with a Garlic Yogurt Sauce

Street Food: Pedro and Vinny's

Pedro and Vinny's is a small burrito stand on a street corner in Farragut Square. Kelsey read about it online, and we instantly recognized the stand as we approached 15th and K St. from the 20 person line that stood in front of it. If that many people are willing to wait in this line during their brief lunch hours- then you know this place must be good!

John making the burritos freshly in front of you as your order

John Rider owns this stand, and he opens only during lunch Monday-Friday. The stand is worth going to just for him because he is very sweet and charming! He has dozens of different types of hot sauce, and he makes recommendations based on one's spice and sweet vs. savory preferences. Kelsey and I had the Georgia Peach Hot Sauce because we asked for something on the milder side that was fruity. This sauce made the burrito.

"Black and Tan" (Black and Pinto Bean) Burrito with Guacamole, Sour Cream, Jack Cheese, Salsa, and Georgia Peach Hot Sauce

Pedro and Vinny's is a vegetarian vegan stand, but don't let this scare you away! He has a plethora of toppings, including homemade guacamole and spicy salsa. You can get the "Black and Tan" which is black beans and pinto beans in one burrito. There are different flavors of tortillas, for example tomato or chili, and he piles on the cheese. The burritos are huge, and better yet cheap (4-6 dollars)! You can eat chips and try the hot sauces while you wait in line, and you get a free peppermint patty with your burrito.

Simple Menu at Pedro and Vinny's

Now, while nothing can compare to our authentic Mexican food in California, Pedro and Vinny's is a great option for burritos in D.C.

On-the-Go: Pret a Manger

The on-the-go British chain, Pret A Manger, just made it's way into the U.S. and happens to be right down the street from me in DC. Pret A Manger has breakfast and lunch items for people who are in the rush and want to grab something to eat quickly. Everything here is freshly made, and the staff is very friendly. Now for the food..surprisingly very tasty! I had a hard time choosing between the baguette sandwiches, the colorful salads, and the homemade smoothies Pret offers. I decided to get a Chicken, Walnut, Blue Cheese, Tomato, Dried Cranberry, and Apple Salad on top of Mixed Greens. For dinner later, I grabbed the Brie, Tomato, and Basil Baguette Sandwich.

Salad with Chicken, Tomatoes, Walnuts, Cranberries, Apples, and Blue Cheese
Brie, Basil, and Tomato Sandwich on Baguette

I want to go back to try the Egg Salad and Bacon Sandwich, the Honey Yogurt drink, or the Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Word on the street is that the coffee is superb in addition to their muffins and breakfast items. This place beats other on-the-go chains like Au Bon Pain and Cosi. The British know their stuff!

Second Weekend Trip to NYC

One of my best friends, Joyce, was coming from Berkeley to visit the East Coast so Ruth and I decided to go up to New York for the weekend. It was a brief trip- two long bus rides for less than 24 hours in the city, so we had to make it worth it by naturally squeezing in as many meals as possible.

We arrived past midnight on Friday due to a four hour back up at the Delaware Bridge, but fortunately I wrote down the name of a restaurant that was near where we were staying and was open until 3 am. Inoteca is a trendy Italian restaurant in New York that caters to the late night crowds. Their menu has a variety of original paninis, salads, and bruschetta (with fun toppings such as fig mascarpone, truffle oil and eggs, and fennel pepperonata). We all ordered paninis- Ruth and I had a prosciutto, mozzerella, and arugula pesto paninis and Joyce had a Mushroom, Spinach, Fontina Cheese, and Truffle Oil Panino. Perhaps it was from starvation from not being able to eat for 9 hours on the bus ride, but these paninis tasted like the best thing we had ever eaten. My panino came with a tomato and onion jam that went so well with the mozzarella, and Joyce's came with a cauliflower mixture that was also very delicious.

Prosciutto, Mozzarella, and Arugula Pesto Panini Mushroom, Spinach, Fontina Cheese, and Truffle Oil Panini

For dessert I ordered an Affogato (vanilla gelato with espresso poured over it), and Joyce ordered a Nutella Panino. Inoteca hit the spot- this place was fantastic, convenient, and everything we were hoping for.

Affogato (Vanilla Gelato with Espresso) Nutella Panini with Apricot Compote

The next morning, we woke up and headed over to the Lower East Side for brunch. I read about a place located in the Essex Market called Shopsins, which is known for it's never ending menu. We arrived and noticed a long line wrapping around the wall, which was of course for Shopsins. This brunch place had literally five tables, hence the line, but everyone around us assured us that the wait was worth it. One hour later, we were seated. I ordered the "Moe 2", which consisted of two pieces of French Toast filled with maple glazed bacon and topped with two fried eggs. It was insane- I think that meal goes into my top 5 brunches of all time. Shopsins had real Vermont Maple syrup and I happily drenched the sandwich in it. Joyce ordered the "Auntie" Omelet which came with blue cheese, avocado, spinach, and whole wheat toast. I had a bite of this, and the eggs were perfectly cooked. Ruth ordered their famous pancakes, with chocolate chips and toasted coconut. Some of the best I've ever had! Overall this place gets 5 stars. It was definitely worth the wait.

Moe 2- French Toast Sandwich with Maple Glazed Bacon and Two Sunny Side Up Eggs

"Auntie" Omelet with Blue Cheese, Avocado, Spinach, and Whole Wheat Toast Chocolate Chip and Toasted Coconut Pancakes

Shopsins happened to be two blocks away from the famous Il Laboratorio de Gelato, and I've always wanted to try it- so to make the day worth it we ignored our calorie limits and walked over. They had a range of unusual flavors, and I decided to try Cinnamon based on the recommendation of the worker there. Absolutely delicious! I finally got to see what the hype was all about. Ruth ordered Chocolate Amaretto Crunch and Mango Sorbet, and Joyce ordered Vanilla Saffron and Rosemary Ice cream.

Cinnamon Gelato

After doing some shopping in Soho, we stopped at the touristy but worth it Rice to Riches. This place is fun because instead of being an icecream shop, it is a rice pudding shop. There are dozens of different flavors of Rice Pudding, ranging from Rocky Road to Banana Coconut to the classic Cinnamon Raisin. Joyce had never been, so we went and all split a cup of the Pecan Pie. Yum!

Mascarpone and Chocolate Chip Rice Pudding

Retro To-Go Containers Rice Pudding is served in

After Rice to Riches, Joyce went to the airport to go back to California and Ruth and I headed up to Central Park. We ordered the most expensive latte I have ever had at Via Quadronno, and wandered around Central Park until making our way to dinner. After our nine hour bus ride, we justified an expensive dinner on the Upper East Side. My friend Maddie once recommended Park Avenue Winter, so we decided to go.

This restaurant was adorable with comfy white chairs, candles everywhere, and leafless trees inside. This restaurant changes the entire menu, name, and decor every season. We caught the restaurant on it's last night of Park Avenue Winter, because the following day they were going to remodel for Park Avenue "Spring". We sat down, and immediately received complimentary Parmesan Fritters which were cheesy balls covered in bread crumbs that melted in your mouth. The waiters were very friendly and made a bunch of recommendations until we finally decided what to order. I had the Scottish Salmon with Parsnip Puree and Pickled Red Onions, and Ruth had the Seared Yellow Fin Tuna with Avocado, Grapefruit, and Ginger.

Scottish Salmon with Parsnip Puree and Pickled Red Onions

A side dish was recommended because the fish plates were small, and one immediately caught our eye- Broccoli and Cheetos. It sounds like the strangest, and most disgusting, combination but the waiters assured us it was worth it. We figured an Upper East Side restaurant would not serve Cheetos unless the dish was perfected, so we were intrigued and ordered it. Every part of this meal was superb. The fish was so moist, and the parsnip puree had a unique flavor that worked very well on the plate. Now for the Broccoli and Cheetos.. they were unbelievably delicious. The broccoli was sauteed in garlic, white wine, and with some Gouda cheese. They were topped with the Cheetos, and frankly I could not stop digging in for more. Overall, this restaurant was incredible. It was worth the huge dent in my bank account.

Broccoli Sauteed with Garlic, White Whine, and Gouda Cheese topped with Cheetos

The number of meals we squeezed into this 24 hour period made the trip worth it! We had a fantastic time.