Lunchtime Links for September 30th, 2009

• Food Flag: V. awesome slideshow of flags made of the country's foods.
• Laguna/Hills: Trivia quiz from People Magazine.
• Photoshop Disasters: Cracks me up.
• Mmm: Crispy gooey mac n' cheese.
• Hills: Notable moments from last night's premiere.

Recipe: Martha Stewart's Chocolate Chunk Cookie Cupcakes

Mise en place

Moving onto recipe #2 from the Martha Stewart Cupcake book, this Chocolate Chunk Cookie Cupcake seemed easy and v. tasty.  I mean it's a cookie + cupcake, how can you go wrong!?

I halved the recipe, which was a little tricky because a lot of the original measurements weren't whole amounts (like 1 cup, 1/2 tbs, etc.) but it wasn't too bad.  I had only one substitution, which is using chocolate chips rather than chocolate chunks- I didn't really feel like buying a baking bar and cutting up myself, sue me.  Having a Kitchenaid stand mixer definitely helps to move things along, but this recipe is easy enough to make without one, really. 

 

All done!

These cupcakes are moist and delicious.  They reminded me a little of a pound cake- definitely rich and buttery, not a light airy cupcake if that's what you are expecting!  I was a little afraid all of the chocolate chips would sink to the bottom but I didn't really have an issue with that. I'm not sure if this is really a "cupcake", since there is no frosting, but who am I to argue with Martha?

Lunchtime Links for September 29th, 2009

• The Hills: It's back tonight!  And super expensive apparently, haha.
• "Mmm..Open-faced Club Sand Wedge (Simpsons)": Club Sandwich Recipe from Serious Eats.
• Fancy-pants Donuts: Some of the top "fancy" donuts in NYC, yum.
• Dear Food Network: aka Dear Food Network Humor. 
• Foodzie: Cute, tasty-looking treats from small food producers/artisans.
• Gossip Girl: Daily Intel Reality Index from last night's episode!

Review: Halloween & Peanut Butter Oreos

• 
  
  I Paid: $5.00 for both (2/$6.00 on sale, + $1.00 off coupon, at Giant)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Description: Halloween Oreo, 5 Boo-rific shapes, Same great taste; Peanut Butter Oreo
  
  
  

Oreos were never my favorite snack growing up- probably because we never really had them in our house.  Every once in a while I'd want them and buy a snack-pack of Oreos in high school or at the supermarket.  Nowadays though, it's warped into a full-on obsession for me.  I "had" to get these non-traditional Oreos to try them out, for the sake of blogging- riiiiiiiiight. 

First, the Halloween Oreos.  This won't be so much of a review since the basic Oreo taste is there- just orange coloring in the cream and different patterns on the cookies.  So they obviously taste great, if you like regular Oreos to begin with, haha.  I think these would be a fun variation to use for recipes that include Oreos, to switch up the color a little. 

Secondly, we have the Peanut Butter Oreos.  These were a little surprising based on what I assumed they would taste like.  I figured it was going to be the same cream filling, with a slight peanut butter taste to them.  These were more like, full-on peanut butter paste, Nutter Butter style.  Since they're both made by Nabisco, I wouldn't be too surprised if they just used the Nutter Butter filling for these Oreos.  I think these would be great crushed up on top of ice cream or used in a peanut butter cake/pie-type recipe.

Final verdict?  The Halloween Oreos are a fun change from the regular Oreos and I would definitely get them again.  I liked the Peanut Butter Oreos, but probably not enough to buy a whole pack again.     

Gossip Girl - Daily Intel Commenters

I found this after the Lunchtime Links were posted, so I guess more of a "Snacktime Link"?  "Afternoon Tea Link"? Whatever, it's way too important to not post immediately, ha.

Daily Intel's Commentor Reality Index of last week's Gossip Girl.

Lunchtime Links for September 28th, 2009

• Haha, cute: Dressing your kid up as Colonel Sanders.
• Pumpkin Pie Bites: YUMMMMMMM mini pumpkin pie!!
• Flipping Out: Recap of last week's episode.
• Lady Gaga: Performing on SNL October 3rd.
• Vendy Awards: NYC Vendor Awards, yumm.

Lunchtime Links for September 25th, 2009

• Fancy Fried Chicken: Fried chicken craving starting... NOW.
• The City: An interview with Whitney Port about season 2. 
• DIY: Pumpkin Spice Lattes at home.
• Top Chef: Grub Street recap.
• Pioneer Woman: Some insight into the woman behind the popular blog.

Love, Love, Love: All-Clad Measuring Cups and Spoons

A while back, I was with S at Williams-Sonoma because she needed to buy a wedding gift.  One of the items she bought was a set of these All-Clad measuring cups.   From the moment I saw these measuring cups, I was totally in LOVE.  They're cups shaped like mini All-Clad stock pots!!!!!!  Tiny little pots!!!  SO cute.  

These cups and spoons are sturdy little things, and from what I've heard/seen online, they will last a long time if handled and used properly.  I like how the 1-cup measure also has marks inside for other smaller measurements, which is handy.  I've also read online about how some people have used the cups straight on a burner, for melting things, like chocolate or butter. 

I decided to get the measuring spoons as well so I can have a full set- plus, buying them as a set meant a better deal ($39 total vs. $30 for just the cups/$16 for just the spoons).  Overall I know these are not CHEAP, considering that plastic measuring cups and spoons can go for under $10 at most stores, but I like how these are sturdy, look nice, can be used on a burner, and I don't have to worry about them bending or melting weird like some measuring cups I've had in the past.  LOVE!    

Love, Love, Love: Cheap JAP Blog

I tend to spend money on really random, mostly useless things (like all the snack food reviews I've done here), but when it comes to clothing, I like to think that I'm pretty good at spending wisely on clothing, relatively speaking.  I use coupons a lot, am pretty clear about what I like/what I think looks good on me, and generally wait to buy stuff on sale more often than not.

The Cheap JAP blog encompasses smart shopping, but with 298374982374923749823749832 times more intensity than what I've been doing in terms of clothes shopping.  I love her overall style and attention to detail when it comes to purchasing clothing.  This isn't just a blog about thrift store shopping- it has tons of great tips and advice on making every purchase worthwhile and fun!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.    

Lunchtime Links for September 24th, 2009

• Nutella: Enter to win a case of Nutella!!
• Cupcakes: Food Network Pilot?
• The Office: Wedding deets!
• Glee: Recap of the 1st episode.

Love, Love, Love: Imported (Italian) Nutella!

I'm a huuuuuuuuuge fan of Nutella, ever since I was little and would eat it on toast for breakfast (which probably isn't the greatest idea for kids, in retrospect, oh well).  I've heard about how the US Nutella (made in Canada) is different from the real European Nutella- various online sources say that the Italian Nutella has more hazelnuts, less sugar, and less or no hydrogenated oils, compared to the US version.  I never could find the glass jar version- UNTIL NOW, at the lovely Italian Store in Arlington, VA.   

At $4.99 for the small glass jar, it's definitely not a cheap everyday item, but Nutella's the type of stuff that you probably shouldn't be eating every day to begin with, as much as we'd all like to, haha.  The consistency of the Italian Nutella is v. soft and creamy, and there was no oil separation on top like I have seen before with the US Nutella.  It's great on toasted bread, fruit, cookies, pretty much anything you'd want to put chocolate on.  Plus, from reading up on this version online, the glass jar is also a great drinking glass after you've eaten all the Nutella! 

 

Lady Gaga + Kanye = Fame Kills Tour

It's been talked about for a while now- here is the info on the upcoming Fame Kills Tour, featuring Lady Gaga and Kanye West, including dates and locations for each show. 

Even if Kanye has a really obnoxious public persona, it definitely seems like it'll be a killer show, with the two of them together.

Lunchtime Links for September 23rd, 2009

• Rachel Zoe Project: This week's episode recap from NYMag.
• People Quiz: Desperate Housewives/Grey's Anatomy Trivia. 
• Sriracha Hot Wings: Mmmmmmmmm looks delicious.
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie: An oldie but a goodie, from Bakerella.

Bethesda Row Restaurant Week

A handful of restaurants along Bethesda Row (in Bethesda, go figure) are having their own Restaurant week, now through Sunday, September 27th.  Pretty limited options, but some might be worthwhile (Redwood and Mon Ami Gabi come to mind, based on non-RW priced meals I've had there before).

More details from Washingtonian Magazine here.

Review: Ritz Crackerfuls

• I Paid: $2.00 (with a coupon at Giant)
• Description: Crackerfuls Four Cheese. Made with Real Cheese & 5g Whole Grain per serving.

I bought these for a few reasons: a) I had a coupon; b) They are new; c) I wanted a non-granola bar option to keep in my office at work.

This product seems to be marketed towards a more mature/healthy option-seeking snacking audience, based on the packaging and presentation. Each of the cracker sandwiches are enclosed in their own paper sleeve to keep them from crumbling. Didn't work out so well though, because the one I opened had already been cracked on both ends. Well, it was worth a try, Ritz. According to the scary long list of ingredients, the 4 cheeses are: Cream Cheese, Parmesean Cheese, Mozzerella Cheese, and Cheddar Cheese. I guess I have to believe it, since the cheese is more like a cheese spread that doesn't really taste like the classy melding of four artisan cheeses like the box photo would have you think- haha.

I won't beat around the bush on this one- Upon my first bite I literally thought to myself "OMG it's that thing with the red stick". These cracker sandwiches taste EXACTLY like Handi-Snacks. Yes, Handi-Snacks, as in the cracker and "cheese" dip combo pack that came with the thin red schmearing wand from when we were little. This fancypants packaging cannot disguise that what you've made is literally an adult Handi-Snack!!

That being said, this Crackerful wasn't all that bad. It's portion controlled, the cracker itself is tasty for a whole-grain version, and it's office-cabinet-storage-friendly. It's a good mid-day snack option that beats paying for overpriced vending machine snacks, for sure. Also, if you're a fan of reliving childhood lunch snack items like the Handi-Snacks, this will be right up your alley, although sans red wand.

Happy First Day of Fall!

I'll take a hot summer day over any cold weather, but the start of fall is a nice in-between time where it can still be hot sometimes, but also allow you to bust out your new jackets and cute boots.



Since today is the first day of fall, here are some links/random things to get us all in the spirit:

• Try out Georgetown Cupcake's Fall flavors: Caramel Apple and Cinnamon (September); Chocolate Orange and Pumpkin Spice (October).


• Tailgate/Game-day recipes from Food Network.


• Halloween/Fall foods and tools from Williams-Sonoma.


• Ann Taylor Loft showcases some cute fall-centric outfits. Is it bad that I have about 99% of these pieces already?
• Fall = Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Lunchtime Links for September 22nd, 2009

• Top Chef: Recap of last week's episode.
• PB Chocolate Bars: With Special K cereal, so it's healthy, right? haha.
• Cakewrecks Interview: One of my favorite websites!
• Gossip Girl: NYMag's fabulous reality index recap.

Review: Georgetown Cupcake Caramel Apple Cupcake

"Bag tunnel shot" of the cupcake.

Um, in case you have been living under a rock, let it be known that I loooooooooooooooooooove Georgetown Cupcake. I could eat it every day if it weren't for the horrific consequences that would result from doing that. For now, I'll live with going there anytime someone visits DC for the weekend :0)

We went on the Saturday afternoon of B's visit, and I got the Caramel Apple Cupcake. It's one of the specialty flavors for September, along with Cinnamon (these two are offered on different days). Normally I would just get my usual Red Velvet, but I figured I'd try this one since it was a limited offering. I got this once last year, pre-blog, so I figured it was a good chance to "officially" review it.

There's no specific description anywhere that I could find, but it seemed to be an apple spice cake base with a squirt of caramel in the middle, their signature cream cheese-based frosting, and more caramel squiggled on top.

The cupcake is v... well, in-your-face-FALL. I'm usually not a fan of spice-based cakes, but this was good (probably also due to its relatively small size). It was moist and didn't have a lot of "stuff" in it, which I liked. It's got a strong caramel flavor thanks to the top squiggle and the inner caramel. But, the overall flavor is toned down a little bit thanks to the somewhat neutral cream cheese frosting. It would go great with a skim latte or even a mug of warm milk, to balance out the sweetness of this cupcake.

Final verdict? I wouldn't get this cupcake all the time (I'll always be devoted to the Red Velvet as my #1) but it was a tasty September treat and I'm glad I got a chance to try it while it was available.

Lunchtime Links for September 21st, 2009

• Emmy's: Everyone looked amazing!
• Harry Potter: Theme Park in Orlando.
• Awesome Idea: Thanksgiving sundae!
• Real Housewives of ATL: Recap of last week's episode.

Lunchtime Links for September 18th, 2009

• CCCC: Yummmmm. This almost seems too dangerous to make, haha.
• West Coast: Pink Bakery Box conspiracy, haha.
• Flipping Out: Recap from this past week's episode.
• Punny Restaurant Names: Who doesn't enjoy a good pun?
  

Review: Founding Farmers

Cornbread to Start. ($5.00)

During B's excellent adventure slash weekend visit to DC, one of the places we went to was Founding Farmers for brunch. It was my first time going there, and based on what I had heard from S, it's great food in a cool setting, so I was excited to try it out. We sat upstairs in a nice booth, and I really liked the decor and overall feel of the place. It was light, open, and had little touches that made it interesting. I particularly liked the white bird-shaped lamps that were hung above a communal table, v. cute.

For drinks, we each got something different- Cocktail of the Day (sweet and fizzy), Cranberry Cucumber Cooler (heavy on the cucumber, refreshing), Mint Limeade (Mojito-esque), and the Blood Orange Soda (a little tart, delicious). We ordered the cornbread (above) to share, and it was v. tasty, with a sweet honey butter on the side. I'm a fan of the presentation, plus baking it in the cast-iron skillet ensures crispy buttery edges, which is a big plus.

Prime Rib Dip Sandwich ($15.00)

After hemming and hawwing over the breakfast and lunch menus, I finally went for the Prime Rib sandwich. Quite a rich choice, but so so so so worth it. The meat was tender, the ciabatta bread held up even after being dunked in the jus, and overall a fantastic sandwich. The only weird thing is the amount of fries- it almost seemed like someone threw some leftovers on the plate at the last minute. It was pretty unnecessary considering the size of the sandwich, but the amount of fries was sort of this weird "not enough to count as a side dish" ratio.

Crab & Lobster Hash, House-made English Muffin, Grits ($14.00)

B got the Crab & Lobster hash above, which looked like a stuffed breakfast pancake. I tried a bite of it and thought it was good, but I imagine eating an entire skillet's worth of this might get a little much after a while.

Shrimp Roll with Chips ($10.00)

D had the shrimp roll with chips, I am assuming he liked it since he ate it all. Considering he forgets on a daily basis that I'm even blogging about this to begin with, I don't think he'd have much more to say other than that he liked it enough to finish it, haha.

Crab & Lobster Hash (with Cheese), Fruit Salad, House-made English Muffin ($14)

S ordered the above Crab & Lobster Hash, and was kind enough to provide some feedback on her meal. Take it away, S!:

"I really love the atmosphere at FFs. It's comfortable and homey, yet very modern. I've been to FF many times, and have always found the food to be excellent! The cornbread was delicious - sweet and tasty, especially with the honey butter. My hash was good - but not great. The flavors were very nice, but I felt that it needed something extra. The english muffin was so delicious that I could have eaten more than just mine. It was warm, soft and had a perfect texture."

Overall we had a great meal and there were no noticable Whammys among our choices, aside from B and S's "good not great" notes about the hash. I can't wait to try this place again!


Founding Farmers
1924 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
202.822.8783
Reservations available on Open Table

Lunchtime Links for September 17th, 2009

• Baked Ziti: Recipe via Serious Eats.
• Haha: Kermit speaks out re: Lady Gaga.
• Good to Know: Freezer-friendly dishes.
• Lady Gaga: So bizarre, and so amazing- performance at the VMAs.
  

Recipe: Cobb Salad Dip

Mise en place.

Cobb salad is one of my favorite dishes, and this CHOW recipe for a Cobb Salad dip sounded right up my alley. I decided to add chopped tomatoes to the recipe for some extra color, but otherwise I followed it as is.

I was a little annoyed at the idea of buying a pack of bacon just for this recipe- I like bacon, but I don't really eat full breakfasts at home, so it would essentially go to waste after I made this. I got a really helpful tip from an unlikely source- a vegetarian co-worker, haha. He suggested that I go to the salad bar at a supermarket and buy cooked/crumbled bacon from there, rather than buying a pack of bacon just for this. Perfect! I also noticed that they had blue cheese and a variety of other toppings also- good to know for any future recipes that require just a little bit of something I don't often use.

Mmm.. Salad Bar Bacon-y.

I brought this over to S & K's for the Steelers opening game party, and unfortunately the transit time affected this dip a little. The dip got a little runny by the time I brought it over- the taste wasn't affected, but the blue cheese/sour cream sorta mixed too much by that point, I guess. Overall though I like the flavors and it's definitely something new- it really does taste like Cobb salad, in dip form. Good for parties or football games for sure.

Recipe: Martha Stewart's Cookies and Cream Cheesecake

Mise en place.

A was nice enough to send me a copy of Martha Stewart Cupcakes for my birthday, and I was excited to try out a recipe from there. These cheesecakes looked easy and tasty- I think I was definitely looking for an excuse to buy a package of Oreo's anyway, haha. As you can see from the photo above, it really doesn't require too many ingredients, which is a plus.

You can find the recipe online if you Google Martha Stewart Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes, since I am too lazy to transcribe it all here. It's a straightforward recipe and probably the only thing you'd have to think ahead for is if something needs to be at room temperature before adding it.

One flipped upside down so you can see the bottoms.

These turned out really cute- if you use a light-colored paper liner you can see the full Oreo on the bottom. Or, if you wanted to remove the paper liners, they could look like mini cakes topped with Oreos which is also cute. I think they were a little salty so I may add less salt next time. Otherwise, an easy and yummy recipe for portion-controlled cheesecakes!

Thanks A for a fabulous birthday present!

Lunchtime Links for September 16th, 2009

• Chocolate Chips: A look at a few options for chocolate chip cookie-making.
• Ice Cream Mash-ups: Some interesting flavor combinations.
• A DC Cake Wreck: Never gets old.
• Giada vs. Garlic: Oh, how I love you, Food Network Humor.
• Food Magazine: Umm.. this is pretty rediculous, haha.
  

Lunchtime Links for September 15th, 2009

• It's Baaaack: NYMag's recap of last night's Gossip Girl!
• Top Chef Vegas: Recap of last week's episode.
• Gossip Girl: Hangman game from People.
• Rubber Duckie: Huuuuuuge.. so cute!!
  

Review: Art & Soul Restaurant

Buttery Pull-Apart Rolls.

I've wanted to try Art & Soul restaurant for a while now, but being lazy about it slash it being in the middle of nowhere for me prevented me from getting there earlier. T and I were finally able to try it out, on the tail end of their extended Restaurant Week.

Sweet Tea, Strawberry Blonde

Started off with some fun, summery drinks. The Strawberry Blonde was strong, but not overpowering. I especially liked how the ice was the "slushee" consistency, and not huge ice cubes.

Grilled Shrimp Appetizer: succotash, chili limon sauce

I picked the Grilled Shrimp Appetizer from the RW menu, and I loved it! The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the chili limon sauce was spicy and delicious. I would definitely like to recreate this meal sometime, lots of flavors that I really enjoyed.

Chicken Entree: goat cheese drop biscuit, roasted vegetables, chicken gravy

I chose the Chicken from the RW menu from my entree. I would have really liked to order Fried Chicken- mainly because Art Smith made some amazing looking fried chicken on Top Chef Masters - but unfortunately that wasn't a RW option. The chicken was flavorful, but I think the star might have been the goat cheese biscuit- so good! It was definitely a large serving- probably enough for 2 even.

Side Dish: fried green tomatoes with remoulade

These fried green tomatoes aren't part of the RW menu, but well worth the extra money. Crispy, hot, and delicious! This was my first time trying fried green tomatoes, and I'm glad we got them.

Dessert: Chocolate Cheesecake

And finally, the last item, dessert. This cheesecake was more like a mousse, not heavy at all, but still a full chocolate flavor. I was way too full to really enjoy this dessert but it was a nice sweet ending to a great meal.

Overall, I really liked the food here and I am excited to try it again even outside of Restaurant Week. The only "weird" thing I can say about this place is that the decor just doesn't seem to match the food, in my opinion. It's a bright red, modern dining room- and while the food is also refined, I expected more of a warm, comforting style that parallels the "Southern Comfort" vibe of the menu. I have heard good things about their brunch offerings so maybe then I can try the fried chicken :o) Also, for anyone with a dog, they are welcome to dine with you out on the patio - there's even a special doggie menu available!


415 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 393-7777

Lunchtime Links for September 14th, 2009

• Haus of Gaga: Her crazy looks from last night's VMAs.
• VMAs: More VMAs moments.
• Jaws Wired Shut: Probably one of my worst nightmares.
• Victoria Beckham: Looooooove her.

TV Tonight

BIG night of TV tonight! Be sure to watch, or set your DVRs!

The cast of Family Guy will be on Inside the Actors Studio tonight at 8pm on Bravo.

GOSSIP GIRL is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Third season premiere airs tonight at 9pm on CW.

Third, an all-new episode of The Rachel Zoe Project airs tonight at 10pm on Bravo.

Lunchtime Links for September 11th, 2009

• Chicago Custard: Some mmmmmmmm-worthy photos to brighten your day.
• Honey Chipotle Butter: Easy and delicious-sounding.
• Flipping Out: Recap from this past Tuesday's episode.
• NY Fashion Week: Celebrity photos from People magazine.
• "Ripert premieres 'Avec Eric', Almost Kills Martha Stewart": A fabulous post title if I ever saw one.

Food Network Prop Room

I could've put this in with the other Lunchtime Links from today, but this deserved its own posting just for the sheer magnitude of items the Food Network keeps in rotating storage. If my kitchen storage issues ever seemed problematic to me, I could not even IMAGINE trying to figure out where everything is/keep it in its rightful place. Luckily for FN, they seem to have some capable minds that keep this place in order. I want to be one of them!!

Lunchtime Links for September 10th, 2009

• Shake Shack #4: More the merrier, in my opinion.
• Goat Cheese Bread Pudding: Sounds sorta bizarre, but also delicious.
• MTV VMA's: Past moments from People magazine. The 2009 one is this Sunday.
• Top Chef Carla: Football in Foodie terms, cute.
• DC's Fall Openings: A look at some new restaurants slated to open this fall.

Also, Happy Birthday to B today, who shares my love for Simpsons/Family Guy, yummy foods like cupcakes, and is an all-around FUN FABULOUS FRIEND!

W Hotel DC

I've always enjoyed the aesthetics of the W Hotel chain: cool furniture, fun music, doesn't feel like your everyday chain hotel. The new-ish DC W outpost is no different, and I got a chance to check it out for P's birthday party recently.

Lobby slash Bar.

When you walk in, you'll see the requisite "bar that's also the hotel lobby" space that every W Hotel I've been to has. There was a DJ spinning at the far end of the lobby, and a good number of people meeting up and chatting in the area.

If you walk down to the end of the lobby, and take the spiral staircase down, you'll find the Bliss spa. I'm a huge fan of the brand, and although their spa store had a limited selection, it's fun knowing that the closest Bliss outpost isn't in NYC anymore.

To get to the POV Bar/rooftop area, you take an elevator that is guarded by strict but courteous W employees. Apparently it can get REALLY crowded with long waits- they keep a tight leash on occupancy on the rooftop so that people aren't packed like sardines, which is nice. If you have reserved a table, they require a certain number of people to be there before they will let you up - at least, that's what happened with us that night.

As you can see above, the view from the POV rooftop is awesome. On a nice night you can see clear out to pretty much every monument and building in downtown DC. Lots of photo ops for sure, and very pretty if you're there for the sunset.

Specialty drinks are fun, and pricey ($15 for house specials). I LOVED the Strawberry Lemonade cocktail that they have there. Nothing mind-blowing but a fun drink to go along with the atmosphere. It might sound dumb, but you're really paying for the view, the atmosphere, and for being at a W Hotel more than anything else. $15 for a drink is definitely cause for some sticker shock, but if you're there for a special occasion or something a little different from the happy hour down the street, I think you'll really enjoy it. Also, it's probably a strategic move on the W's part- with these high prices, they don't have people taking up tables for hours on end, getting wasted off their butts because it's $1 draft night, haha. It's more of a "let's get a drink and catch up" place really, for me at least.

I didn't try any of the food that others ordered but it looked like mostly tapas items on the menu. I would recommend this place for a special occasion or if you're trying to impress someone with the view (visitors, hot date, etc.).

(Photos courtesy of P- thanks! And Happy Birthday Again!)

W Hotel

515 15th Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

Review: The "New" Pizzeria Paradiso

Strangely enough, I never ventured over to the Pizzeria Paradiso at the old Dupont location- I've only ever eaten at the Georgetown spot. Sorta weird, given how much easier it is for me to get to Dupont, but I digress. The Dupont spot recently moved (about 10 feet down P street) to what I've heard is a bigger, more evenly spaced out area, so I figured it was time to give the Dupont branch a try.

B and I went at around 7pm on Friday, and the place was packed, with even more people filing in and out to put their names down on the list to be seated. It was a nice day out though so it wasn't really an issue. If it's raining or cold, I suggest grabbing some coffee next door at Le Pain Quotidien and checking on your table every so often from there.

We got a table that was 1/2 inside and 1/2 outside, which was actually pretty nice. I liked that they have the "enclosed" outdoor section for 2 reasons: 1) more tables are available and 2) you can enjoy the nice weather while you're eating.

Margherita Pizza: Tomato, Basil, Mozzerella.


Pizza di Mare: Tomato, Mussels, Garlic, Parsley, Parmesean.

I got the Margherita pizza above- great flavor, classic combination, pretty hard to mess up, to be honest, haha. It might seem like there's only tomatoes on one 1/2 of the pizza, but the other tomatoes were just hiding under the cheese, so there was an even distribution. The crust was a little undercooked/doughy for me, but still good. I liked the crust better when I re-baked my leftovers in the toaster oven the next day. B liked his mussels pizza, and/or was really hungry to begin with, but he said it was good, haha.

With a bottle of red wine, this was a tasty and not too pricey dinner out in Dupont. Definitely filling- I brought 1/2 of my pizza home and the leftovers were great. The place wasn't huge, and if you're a large group I'd recommend avoiding prime dinner hours cus you will probably be waiting a while. Highly recommended for a casual (but nicer than Jumbo Slice, ha) night out in Dupont!


Pizzeria Paradiso- Dupont Circle
2003 P Street NW
Washington, DC
202.223.1245

Glee Premiere Tonight

I've heard a lot about the FOX show, Glee, mainly for being a quirky, fun, different type of show. And I like their rendition of "Golddigger" that they've been showing in the previews. The series premiere is tonight at 9pm on FOX- I'll be checking it out, if only to see what songs they re-do, haha.

Lunchtime Links for September 9th, 2009

• Dangerously Delicious: UK's biscuits are tested for risk levels. I can say they're all delicious, btw.
• Freezing Foods: I do this, but not nearly as extensively as this article...will def use these tips.
• Troy!: Doing good deeds and showing off his mane, haha.
• Mini Maple Pancake Muffins: SOOO cute.
• A Day Without Cats: Haaaaaaaaaa.

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to D, who unfortunately didn't make the cut for why today is such a significant day.

Lunchtime Links for September 8th, 2009

• White Peach Bellini: Yummy recipe.
• Gossip Girl Fashion: Quiz from People magazine.
• Project Runway: NYMag's recap/slideshow of last week's episode.
• Real Housewives of Atlanta: Recap of last week's episode.

Lunchtime Links for September 4th, 2009

• Bagels Bagels Bagels: Info on... well, bagels.
• SIGG not-recall: Information on returning your Sigg bottle if you have the old model like I do.
• Free Chocolate: Still going on, every Friday from the Mars company.
• Top Chef Vegas: Eater's recap of Wednesday's episode.

Review: Wegmans' Marco Polo Bread

Trying to avoid buying bread after walking through the Wegmans bread section is pretty much impossible. Between the smell, the pretty cakes, the free samples, and the feeling of being virtually surrounded by baked goods, it will pretty much destroy anyone's determination.

Marco! Polo! Bread-o! (it had to be said).

Since I already have sandwich bread at home, I decided I'd try something different out. And hi, what could be more "different" than a bulbous crown-shaped bread that has a crackling rice flour shell on top, that's called MARCO POLO bread?!

Once I got home, I cut a small wedge of the bread and tried a few bites plain, then with the peanut butter I also bought. The crackly rice flour crust (or at least that's what I think the label said it was) doesn't taste much like anything, but provides an interesting texture that is different from a normal bread crust. The bread innards were fluffy but chewy, a nice neutral base for the peanut butter. I cut up the rest of the bread, wrapped them in plastic wrap, and froze them in a Ziploc bag. So far, so good. They defrost well and I haven't had problems with staleness yet.

Final verdict? An interesting bread to look at, but if you're expecting it to taste different/better than regular bread, you may be slightly disappointed. I've heard issues of the bread going stale pretty quickly, especially with the already crunchy crust, so I would recommend the storage method I wrote about above if you don't plan on serving it to a large family or at a party the day you buy it. I like this bread, it would go great with soup, mussels, stew, basically anything that could be sopped up with large chunks of this bread. If you're interested in trying it, I'd recommend getting the mini version, like I did- it comes in Mini and Regular sizes. The Mini was $2.75, not sure how much the Regular version is.

Lunchtime Links for September 3rd, 2009

• Flipping Out: TVGasm recap of Tuesday's episode. Team NOT Rachel!
• Gross. : But I appreciated the Book-it shoutout in this Pizza Hut review.
• Top Chef Vegas: Brief EW recap of last night's episode.
• Stupid T's: Stupid Slutty T-shirts from Pophangover.

Lunchtime Links for September 2nd, 2009

• Secret Menus: Some not-so-known menu options for fast food places.
• Flipping Out: Recap of last week's episode from TVGasm.
• Target Red Hot Shop: Cute shower curtain, plus some other unique items.
• Eat Like A Critic: Frank Bruni's methods for choosing what to eat.

Love, Love, Love: Wegmans!

Wegmans came into my life sometime during high school, when one opened up by my house to great fanfare. It's since become THE grocery store chain that can never be beat, #1 in my heart cus it is so so AMAZING.

Up until this past weekend, the only time I could go to a Wegmans was when I was home, or somewhere else in the NY/PA/NJ area. However, S and I braved the ever-annoying-always-crowded-I-hate-you-66 to go to the Fairfax Wegmans, and I am soooooooooooo happy we did.

Some highlights:

$1.50 for decent pasta sauce! Woo!

$2.79 for a yummy natural pb! Ingredients: Peanuts! Woo!

Plus, the bakery cookies are deeeeeelicious (got chocolate chip and swiss chocolate cookies on my visit), free samples are a plenty around the store, there's a seafood and regular bar/counter seating for "real" dining plus the food court area with comfy couches, and sooooooo much more. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhh. Can't wait to go back again soon!

Review: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino

As much as people might have personal vendettas against Starbucks for their evil corporate ways of taking over quaint neighborhoods and blah blah blah, I enjoy most of their seasonal/specialty drinks, and that's all that matters to me right now. I've had the Pumpkin Spice hot latte in the past, but never the Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. It being September 1st, marking the start of the fall flavors at Starbucks, I figured I'd give it a try. With my selectively frugal tendencies as they are, I got it at Barnes and Noble so that I could use my 10% BN member discount on it.

The Frappuccino is more or less what I expected, based on my experiences with the latte version. The flavors are very strong and hit you right away. If you're like me and like pumpkin pie flavored ice cream, or cold slices of pumpkin pie straight from the fridge, then you will not be fazed by the pumpkin punch to the nostrils.

What did faze me, however, was the redic amounts of nutmeg (slash pumpkin pie spice?) that was flung onto the top of my no-whip version. It literally covered the entire top of my Frappuccino with a thick crust of powder. Not so fun to look at or try to drink around. I'd recommend getting it without that topping.

Whatever size you get, it will probably be too much after a while (unless you're the pumpkin pie version of the Hamburgler or something). It's pretty cloying and sweet, good for the first 10 or so sips but then might get a little excessive after that. I'm glad I tried the Frappuccino version though, it was a much better choice than getting the hot latte version, especially since it's in the 80's today. If you like pumpkin pie flavored cold things, give it a try!

Lunchtime Links for September 1st, 2009

• Whitney Port: Whitney will be showing her new fashion line at Fashion Week this year.
• General Mills: Bakerella's photographed tour of General Mills.. looks like so much fun!
• Awww: Cute puppy pic.
• Food Network Safety Cards: Courtesy of Food Network Humor.
• Top Chef Vegas: TVGasm recap of last week's episode.

Recipe Review: Cooking Light's Cold Sesame Noodles with Chicken and Cucumbers

I tend to gravitate towards recipes that include a lot of items I already happen to have in my kitchen. This Cooking Light recipe for Cold Sesame Noodles with Chicken and Cucumbers is an example of that. This recipe is from the September issue of Cooking Light.

The ingredients.

If you read the recipe and then look at the faux mise en place above, you'll notice that there are a few changes that I made. First, I had bought chicken thighs from Wegmans this past weekend and used those instead of buying a premade rotisserie chicken. I just grilled the chicken on a cast iron grill pan with some salt and pepper, then shredded it as instructed in the recipe. Also, instead of the "sambal oelek or chile paste with garlic", I used Gojuchang, a Korean chile paste, since that's what I had. Finally, no green onions not a huge fan of them; besides, it's just a garnish.

Yes, there is chicken in there, but it's the same color as the sauce/noodles.

This was a pretty easy recipe, and I'm sure it'd be even easier if you had a cooked rotisserie chicken on hand, haha. I liked this dish a lot, it was pretty quick from start to finish, and the sauce is very tasty. It's a great dish for a hot day like the past couple days have been. I've brought in leftovers for lunch, and the only complaint is the cucumbers soaking in too much of the sauce after a day or two. I'd recommend keeping the cucumbers separate if the texture of the cucumbers bothers you. The sauce isn't spicy- if you want it to be, I recommend a little Sriracha sauce or red pepper flakes in the dish.