Gorgeous weather makes people do stupid things. Let me explain. Last weekend, my friend Ethan was visiting DC to do some truth telling on health care reform. On Sunday night, I suggested we head to the waterfront for dinner on the Potomac. I had been looking for an excuse to try Farmers and Fishers and weather being above 80 degrees seemed like an excellent reason. Here’s what I forgot: the waterfront is an ideal location for Jersey Shore’s casting director. That is, it’s completely over run by drunken students, particularly the outside seating. Further, the fountain in the center of the waterfront development is under construction, making it a total eye sore, and, unfortunately, even tasty food at Farmers and Fishers couldn’t make up for the company or the view.
Like I said, the food was tasty. We started with "no pump" shrimp sprinkled with old bay. Each piece was meaty and delicious. For his entree, Ethan ordered the crab cakes. They were quite good: not much filler, plus they were creamy. My chicken salad was decent in that the chicken was real chicken, and it was actually grilled. Unfortunately, it seemed to be lacking the promised jicama, but the house-made ginger dressing made up for it.
I'm not sure I would go back to Farmers and Fishers and, if I do, I'll avoid Snookie and "the situation" and sit inside. I like the idea of the place -- they make attempts at sustainable food practices (though as some have pointed out, much like their sister restaurant Founding Farmer's, they are not perfect, but even despite the criticism, I give them credit for bringing conscious food choices to the mainstream) and the food had a solid showing at a good price point. Now if they could only fix that fountain.
