the arugula files

Warm Golden Beet Salad with Feta and Cucumbers

I'm a sucker for golden beets.  Perhaps it's because of their unusual color.  Or maybe  its their disposition.  They taste a little different from red beets: more mellow, more laid back.  Beets are easy going, all right.  You pre-heat the oven to 375, wash them, wrap them in foil, and then bake them for about 30 minutes.  When they are done, toss them in the fridge, store them, and eat when ready (should be within two days).  Or you can peel the skin off, cut them, and serve them right away, like I did for this salad.  I added feta for creaminess, cucumbers for crunch, and basil for some bite, and then topped it off with a balsamic vinaigrette. 

Happy Hour: May 5 @ Restaurant 3

Happy hour this month is at Restaurant 3 in Arlington, a quick hop and a jump from downtown DC.  I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to trying those blue cheese chips and the scallops and grits. Oh my.

If you plan on attending, please RSVP to the DC Food Blogger Facebook page.

All food lovers and food bloggers are welcome to attend.

See you on May 5th.

Four Sisters: Vietnamese Food Done Right

 

For quite some time, I've been traveling around the Washington suburbs enjoying cheap eats from various ethnic restaurants. So much good food: Thai, Salvadorian, BBQ, Seafood, Lebanese and more.  As much as I enjoy ethnic food, I've never been sold on Vietnamese.  I'm not sure why.  Perhaps it's because my past Vietnamese dining experiences ran the spectrum from greasy to bland. 

A few dinners at Four Sisters restaurant in Falls Church and my thoughts on Vietnamese have changed dramatically.  I. LOVE. IT.

Last Night a Hydroponic Tomato Saved My Life

I have not eaten a tomato since last summer.  I was okay without them until the gorgeous weather showed up.  Then the cravings started—physically painful cravings.   I was craving a tomato like a pregnant woman craves pickles and ice cream: it was unstoppable.  So when I saw these heirlooms at Whole Foods, I was a little shocked, but also very, very excited.  Heirloom tomatoes in April?  From Ridgley, Maryland? It was then that I noticed the label "hydroponic," meaning that they were grown in a greenhouse in water-based nutrients.  Hydroponic crops use less water than mainstream crops and usually don't require pesticides, making an organic approach easier.  Organic?  Local?  Sold!

My Garden

I've been absurdly busy recently.  Moving into a new house takes a lot of work.  And even though I don't have time, I made a commitment to start a garden this year.  Just a little one.

Brunch at Domku: Lovely Setting, Unique Dishes

 
 Smoked herring scramble isn't a dish you will find on the menu at typical DC brunch spots.  And that's what makes Domku, a hipster joint located in DC's Petworth neighborhood that serves unique Scandinavian and Slavic, so much fun.  On a recent trip I started with a Domku bloody Mary; it was super spicy, just the way I like it, and it wasn't long before I ordered a second.  Add an olive and a bigger glass and you will have in your hand a near-perfect bloody mary.

Wild Mushroom Bruschetta

During college, I avoided a ramen noodle-based diet by working nights at an Italian restaurant.  I was a very clumsy waitress.  One night I dripped scalding cream sauce on a man's bald head.  But that's not what this post is about.  As an employee, I received 50 percent off all meals (plus anything my friends the chefs would pass us "under the table").  One of my favorite dishes on the menu was a simple tomato-basil bruschetta. Like most Americans we pronounced it broo-SHEH-tah.  In the last few years, though, I've heard people pronounce it broo-SKEH-tah.  At first, I thought they were pronouncing it incorrectly.  I had worked in an Italian restaurant, owned and operated by authentic Italians, why would they tell us to pronounce a dish incorrectly?  It's not like we were calling the NYOH-kee, GAH-notch-ee.  Turns out we kind of were.  After digging around on the internets, it seems that Italians actually pronounce it broo-skeh-tah.  Go figure, I'm always getting these things wrong.  The thing is, I still like the American pronunciation better.  But now every time I say bruschetta the American way, I look at the person I'm talking to, searching their face for a hint that they think I'm prouncing it incorrectly, which I suppose makes me more than a little crazy.

However you want to say it, this bread dish with wild mushrooms is delicious.

H Mart (My new favorite grocer)

 

Marcus and I are moving to the burbs.  Yup.  You heard me.  I have a hard time believing it too, but after a long search, we found our dream house in Falls Church, VA.  After years of living in the city--of walking to work, to restaurants, to...well, anywhere--we'll be about 12 miles outside the city.  That doesn't seem too far, does it?