the arugula files

Ray's the Steaks, Way Better than...

What?  You think I don't eat steak—that I only eat arugula around here?  No way.  I love a juicy steak as much as the next lady.  Usually, about once a month I start craving a medium rare steak topped with au poivre sauce.   When I crave steak, I only go to one place: Ray's (in Silver Spring or Arlington).

Michael Landrum, the mastermind behind Ray’s, gets more local press than Lindsey Lohan, so what can I say about Ray's that local food critics haven’t already written?  Should I talk about Landrum’s crab bisque, a soup so complex I need a Ph.D. in flavor to understand the formula?  Perhaps I should write about how when Marcus orders his steak "well done" the waiters at Ray’s refrain from giving him dirty looks.  I appreciate that (and he does too).  If I’m being really honest, I could write about how I think the corn-fed steak served at Ray's tastes way better than any grass-fed steak I've tasted, and, while I feel guilty about wanting it, I'm not going to stop eating it, even if the Food Inc. crowd is judging me.  STOP JUDGING ME. I only eat steak once a month.  I swear.  Did I mention the price for a dinner at Ray's?  A steak costs around $28 bucks and comes with creamy mashed potatoes and creamier spinach.  Most steak houses (those who shall not be named) charge a whopping $9 bucks for plates of bland potatoes and watery spinach. 

So what can I say about Ray's that hasn't already been written?  Not much.  Bottom line: Ray’s the Steaks (and Ray's Classics), way better than any steak house in DC.

8 Reasons to Attend the Adams Morgan Day Festival

1. Hang onto summer just a little bit longer.

Corn Quesadillas

Summer is just about over.  Actually, I hate to break it to you, it is over.  Done. Finished.  Kaput.   While I'm pleased that the weather is starting to cool down, I will be sad to see a few quintessential signs of summer disappear, most notably fresh corn. Nothing beats an ear of sweet corn, slathered with butter and liberally sprinkled with salt.  I would go so far to say that the experience of chomping on an ear of corn is well worth the nuisance of picking your teeth for hours after dinner. 

While I've certainly had my share of corn this summer, I'm not ready to say goodbye.  And taste is not the only reason: you can easily make an affordable meal out of a few ears.  This week my supermarket, the Soviet Safeway ("long lines and empty shelves"), had local corn on sale: eight ears for 88 cents.  Score! I placed eight in my basket, not sure what I would do with them when I got home.   Turns out I had tortillas in my refrigerator.  So I decided it was time for corn quesadillas.

Meatball Subs at Taylor Gourmet

I crave meatball sandwiches.  It all started when I was five years old.  I remember sitting on a bare floor, picnic style, eating a meatball sub from Sal's Pizza and Subs, which was across the street from our apartment.  My Dad and uncles had spent the previous hours taking away our furniture, and we were all enjoying lunch in an empty room.  I remember wiping the sauce from my mouth and feeling really, really happy, and it wasn't just the taste of the  sub. My Mom and Dad were giddy, and their excitement was palpable, contagious even.  We had just bought our first house. I felt excited, nervous, full.

Hey Ma, I like Beets (Beet Salad with Walnut-Cilantro Dressing)

This beet salad will change your opinion of beets, if you were a beet hatuh.  I was.  I can thank Mark Bittman for this dish.  It's an adaptation, based on what I had in my house, of his beet salad with garlic-walnut dressing.

Food Blogger Happy Hour: Photos

  

What a great night!  Approximately 60 bloggers (and friends of bloggers) turned out for the happy hour at Poste last night.  I finally matched blogs with faces, and met a lot of great people.  Looks like this will be a monthly get together, so stay tuned for more details.  For now, here are a few photos from the event.

Reminder: Food Blogger Happy Hour

 

Lots of food bloggers (and avid eaters) are coming.  You should too.
Here's a list of some of the bloggers who will be there.  {Update: Capital Spice was nice enough to create an updated list of bloggers who RSVPed.  Who knew there were so many food bloggers in DC!}

photo: flickr userrogersmj