I know. This has nothing to do with food or drink, and, for many, fun. However, I understand that importance of at least a little bit of exercise because I do enjoy food and drink quite a bit.
My problem is this: I am staying at home right now and am not willing to drop $$$$ on a gym just in case we move this year (we're looking to buy, if that is an earthly possibility right now). So, what do I do? PULLUPS AND PUSHUPS! Yay.
NOTE: If you cannot do one of either of these, that is a great place to start. Give it a shot. It's not that big of a deal. You would be surprised by how many people cannot do a legitimate pullup.
WORD.
24 April 2009
19 April 2009
Scallops! ...and Bacon! ...and Jalapenos!
Some friends were here today to have our kids play and eat some food. I tried scallops wrapped in bacon again, and they turned out much better this time around. I think the last time we had them, the bacon did not cook enough so it was too soft. This time, I definitely left them on the grill until the bacon was more crisp than last time. They tasted great and are quite easy to prep and cook.
I included a slice of fresh jalapeno with about 8 of the scallops. Talk about good. I loved having the crunch of the jalapeno, but these peppers were much more spicy than ones I've had lately. Thanks, Safeway, I needed some heat in my life today. Well, it was nothing that a good beer couldn't cool down!
For those of you in the area, we're looking forward to fajitas, homemade guacamole, and cold beer sometime this spring and summer!
I included a slice of fresh jalapeno with about 8 of the scallops. Talk about good. I loved having the crunch of the jalapeno, but these peppers were much more spicy than ones I've had lately. Thanks, Safeway, I needed some heat in my life today. Well, it was nothing that a good beer couldn't cool down!
For those of you in the area, we're looking forward to fajitas, homemade guacamole, and cold beer sometime this spring and summer!
16 April 2009
Breakfast Burritos
So, I completely forgot to write about the breakfast we had while my fam was here. The old lady and I previously ate at Anita's for breakfast, and, unfortunately, I was not that impressed especially with the $2 coffee.
Fortunately, we decided we wanted breakfast burritos to-go and settled on Anita's. I say "settled" jokingly because this is not Texas where I can pick and choose my Mexican breakfast. The burritos were excellent. Simple burritos with egg, sausage or bacon, and cheese are all you need. Plus, the green chile sauce is great. We ordered it on the side, and the green went well with my burrito. You also get a bag of chips and tons of salsa! Yay! The salsa is spicy but it's only ok.
All in all, I'm definitely down with Anita's again, but I'll stick just with a to-go burrito.
Fortunately, we decided we wanted breakfast burritos to-go and settled on Anita's. I say "settled" jokingly because this is not Texas where I can pick and choose my Mexican breakfast. The burritos were excellent. Simple burritos with egg, sausage or bacon, and cheese are all you need. Plus, the green chile sauce is great. We ordered it on the side, and the green went well with my burrito. You also get a bag of chips and tons of salsa! Yay! The salsa is spicy but it's only ok.
All in all, I'm definitely down with Anita's again, but I'll stick just with a to-go burrito.
12 April 2009
Fun Time with Family - Acadiana
OK. We did a lot of stuff this past weekend while we had family in town. It was a great time. We had lots of good food, good drinks, and fun roaming around the city. A highlight was definitely a good dinner at Acadiana on Friday night.
We went in for dinner at 7pm (a little early for a Friday, I suppose) but we had baby girl with us, too, so it was necessary. My old lady and I started with the same cocktails we had the other night - a Sazerac for me and bourbon fizz for her. Good stuff again.
Our starters were three in number: classic turtle soup, crispy "gas station" pork boudin balls, and a trio "pies". The soup was great, with some subtle flavors that really did not overwhelm me but tasted great. I don't know a damn thing about good turtle soup, so it was good to me. The boudin balls were awesome. They were served with some brown mustard (I think) and some hot peppers. I loved these and would go back to Acadiana just for boudin balls and a drink. The pies were tasty, but not necessarily something that I might have again. They were served with a black pepper buttermilk dipping sauce that definitely rounded it out nicely.
As for entrees, I went simple but good - grilled gulf redfish with seafood jambalaya risotto and smoked red bell pepper sauce. The fish was cooked well and was quite flavorful. I really liked the bell pepper sauce and the risotto. Definitely a good dish with solid flavor. The other diners had seared scallops, crabcakes, and "grillades and grits". I tasted them all but won't comment too much because I only had nibbles. However, they were all good.
To finish, I had a great rye whiskey that, unfortunately, I cannot even recall now. I ordered one rye but they didn't have it, so I got the second ordered one for free and it was a super double. Good job, Acadiana server and bartender, for correcting a mistake.
Acadiana was good food and great service. I will certainly go back for dinner here, and most certainly will go back for drinks. As you all know, I am no foodie, no drink expert, but I know things when I like them. I have enjoyed my two times at Acadiana, so, well done to them.
We went in for dinner at 7pm (a little early for a Friday, I suppose) but we had baby girl with us, too, so it was necessary. My old lady and I started with the same cocktails we had the other night - a Sazerac for me and bourbon fizz for her. Good stuff again.
Our starters were three in number: classic turtle soup, crispy "gas station" pork boudin balls, and a trio "pies". The soup was great, with some subtle flavors that really did not overwhelm me but tasted great. I don't know a damn thing about good turtle soup, so it was good to me. The boudin balls were awesome. They were served with some brown mustard (I think) and some hot peppers. I loved these and would go back to Acadiana just for boudin balls and a drink. The pies were tasty, but not necessarily something that I might have again. They were served with a black pepper buttermilk dipping sauce that definitely rounded it out nicely.
As for entrees, I went simple but good - grilled gulf redfish with seafood jambalaya risotto and smoked red bell pepper sauce. The fish was cooked well and was quite flavorful. I really liked the bell pepper sauce and the risotto. Definitely a good dish with solid flavor. The other diners had seared scallops, crabcakes, and "grillades and grits". I tasted them all but won't comment too much because I only had nibbles. However, they were all good.
To finish, I had a great rye whiskey that, unfortunately, I cannot even recall now. I ordered one rye but they didn't have it, so I got the second ordered one for free and it was a super double. Good job, Acadiana server and bartender, for correcting a mistake.
Acadiana was good food and great service. I will certainly go back for dinner here, and most certainly will go back for drinks. As you all know, I am no foodie, no drink expert, but I know things when I like them. I have enjoyed my two times at Acadiana, so, well done to them.
10 April 2009
Family Fun ... really fun!
We have family visiting for a few days, and we are having a great time. We've eaten great (some Wegmans snacks, Anita's breakfast burritos, Acadiana ... so far!) and traveled around a bit.
I'll write about some of the places we ate, especially our big dinner out at Acadiana, and maybe a few other things. Until then, suck it! I'm busy.
I'll write about some of the places we ate, especially our big dinner out at Acadiana, and maybe a few other things. Until then, suck it! I'm busy.
08 April 2009
Flank Steak, Skirt Steak, Round Steak - What?!?
I cooked beef fajitas tonight and used flank steak. They were great, and the flank steak really did work out well. However, I am used to cooking beef fajitas with skirt steak, but Safeway did not have any. So, my dilemma was - well, what do I want to use? They had some thin cut round steak which probably would have also worked well. Regardless, the meat was tender and flavorful with the usual, quick Italian dressing marinade. (Yeah, I know, go simple and miss out on creating your own marinade - whatever.)
Also, I like the meat to be tenderized because it cooks quicker and, in a way, makes more meat. Alas, I do not have a big, electric tenderizer like we used to use to tenderize venison at my dad's company land. So, I used my hand tenderizer (i.e. steel mallet) but I could only do so much. I'm not about to pound meat through the counters at our rental home. Stupid tenderizing. As a result, our fajitas were more like steak tacos...but whatever - suck it, Trebek!
Of course, homemade guacamole abounded, and we ate our fill. I love avocados. I love guacamole.
Also, I like the meat to be tenderized because it cooks quicker and, in a way, makes more meat. Alas, I do not have a big, electric tenderizer like we used to use to tenderize venison at my dad's company land. So, I used my hand tenderizer (i.e. steel mallet) but I could only do so much. I'm not about to pound meat through the counters at our rental home. Stupid tenderizing. As a result, our fajitas were more like steak tacos...but whatever - suck it, Trebek!
Of course, homemade guacamole abounded, and we ate our fill. I love avocados. I love guacamole.
07 April 2009
Step Something - Random Snacks on Connecticut Ave
This really has nothing to do with Steps One and Two from last Friday night. This post is about some snacks we had on Saturday afternoon after braving the gales at the Japanese street festival. Obviously, I'm exaggerating, but 30-40 mph gusts between the buildings on 12th St in DC were nasty.
After we snacked there (which was nothing of note at all) we headed to an area along Connecticut Ave that we knew had a few restaurants and some decent side-street parking. Well, after waiting forever in traffic (i.e. at least 30 minutes) to get past a dumbass wreck near the zoo, we parked and roamed a bit. We settled on some snacks and cheap wine at Yanni's. I don't know jack about the place, but we knew we could get some kalamata olives, feta cheese, and hummus - which my wife loves.
Yanni's was very laid-back, easy service, no one around but a few other patrons during this early Saturday afternoon. We ordered the cold appetizer plate - or something like that. It had hummus, feta, olives, tzatziki, etc, etc. It was good stuff and not that expensive for a lot of food. Plus, we threw in a large carafe of cheap house white wine and our afternoon was set.
So, whatever anyone else says about this place, if you're a)out on Connecticut Ave near Cleveland Park metro, b) like reasonably-priced Greek food, and c) also want cheap-ish wine, go to Yanni's. WERD.
MAP!
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By the way, I read a review on Yelp about this place that derided it for it's poor brunch. Really? You judge a restaurant based on brunch?!? Well done, my stupid reviewer, well done.
After we snacked there (which was nothing of note at all) we headed to an area along Connecticut Ave that we knew had a few restaurants and some decent side-street parking. Well, after waiting forever in traffic (i.e. at least 30 minutes) to get past a dumbass wreck near the zoo, we parked and roamed a bit. We settled on some snacks and cheap wine at Yanni's. I don't know jack about the place, but we knew we could get some kalamata olives, feta cheese, and hummus - which my wife loves.
Yanni's was very laid-back, easy service, no one around but a few other patrons during this early Saturday afternoon. We ordered the cold appetizer plate - or something like that. It had hummus, feta, olives, tzatziki, etc, etc. It was good stuff and not that expensive for a lot of food. Plus, we threw in a large carafe of cheap house white wine and our afternoon was set.
So, whatever anyone else says about this place, if you're a)out on Connecticut Ave near Cleveland Park metro, b) like reasonably-priced Greek food, and c) also want cheap-ish wine, go to Yanni's. WERD.
MAP!
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By the way, I read a review on Yelp about this place that derided it for it's poor brunch. Really? You judge a restaurant based on brunch?!? Well done, my stupid reviewer, well done.
05 April 2009
Step Two - Great Dinner
Brasserie Beck served up some great food for us on Friday night. Thanks again to our good friend LM for taking care of the little lady so we could go out and relax at dinner for a change.
We decided we would roll heavy at dinner and have a few drinks (even after drinks at Acadiana), some starters, and then two good entrees. So, let's move on to the goods.
First, we decided to have a beer named Bacchus that was a good Flemish red ale - as the menu says, light and easy and definitely with some cherry flavor. This was a great beer that I think would go well with many dishes. It was tasty.
Second, with those beers, we settled on two starters: fricassee of Burgundy snails with roasted garlic and herb butter and braised pork belly and rice beans. Both were excellent. My wife ate most of the snails while I did the pork in easily. They were both extremely flavorful and the pork belly was very moist and tender. Excellent starters.
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Third, for dinner, I went with the roasted rabbit loin in framboise beer and my wife had the choucroute "en croute". From what I just read, apparently the name means something along the lines of "sauerkraut in puff pastry" - and it was wonderful. For those of you that know me, I love sausage and sauerkraut. This dish had sauerkraut, homemade sausage, other pork pieces, a boiled egg, and general awesomeness. Can awesome come in puff pastry form? Of course, and this is just one way.
As for my dinner, the rabbit loin was tender, cooked great, and went well with the framboise beer sauce. The sauce made it all even better with its fruitiness. Another well-made and well-presented dish. The rabbit was served with a simple side of potatoes and some greens.
Oh yeah. We had a pinot noir blanc with dinner, which was good too, but I am no wine snob such suck it! if you have anything to say about that choice. Plus, our server did a good job but he did seem a bit frazzled at one point. He's got to slow it down!
Good stuff. I am a big fan of Beck and will return. You should eat here!
We decided we would roll heavy at dinner and have a few drinks (even after drinks at Acadiana), some starters, and then two good entrees. So, let's move on to the goods.
First, we decided to have a beer named Bacchus that was a good Flemish red ale - as the menu says, light and easy and definitely with some cherry flavor. This was a great beer that I think would go well with many dishes. It was tasty.
Second, with those beers, we settled on two starters: fricassee of Burgundy snails with roasted garlic and herb butter and braised pork belly and rice beans. Both were excellent. My wife ate most of the snails while I did the pork in easily. They were both extremely flavorful and the pork belly was very moist and tender. Excellent starters.
.jpg)
Third, for dinner, I went with the roasted rabbit loin in framboise beer and my wife had the choucroute "en croute". From what I just read, apparently the name means something along the lines of "sauerkraut in puff pastry" - and it was wonderful. For those of you that know me, I love sausage and sauerkraut. This dish had sauerkraut, homemade sausage, other pork pieces, a boiled egg, and general awesomeness. Can awesome come in puff pastry form? Of course, and this is just one way.As for my dinner, the rabbit loin was tender, cooked great, and went well with the framboise beer sauce. The sauce made it all even better with its fruitiness. Another well-made and well-presented dish. The rabbit was served with a simple side of potatoes and some greens.
Oh yeah. We had a pinot noir blanc with dinner, which was good too, but I am no wine snob such suck it! if you have anything to say about that choice. Plus, our server did a good job but he did seem a bit frazzled at one point. He's got to slow it down!
Good stuff. I am a big fan of Beck and will return. You should eat here!
04 April 2009
Step 1 - Cocktails
I'm really dragging right now, so I'll put out the info on our night out last night in baby steps, like my little lady learning to walk. We went out last night for drinks, dinner, and some downtime...or no-baby time.
Step 1: Acadiana, Washington DC. We stopped by Acadiana because I had read they had some good, old-fashioned cocktails. This place did not disappoint. Granted, I had never had a Sazerac, but I really like this drink. It hails from that sweet state of Louisiana and combines absinthe, rye whiskey, and two kinds of bitters with simple syrup. Great stuff, and I would love to learn myself how to make this great drink.
As for my other half, she went for the bourbon fizz - a great drink in it's own right. The bourbon fizz at Acadiana has Woodford Reserve, praline (!) liqueur, and club soda. The praline liqueur really made this one good and unique. Needless to say, I liked them both.
We will definitely try Acadiana for dinner sometime in the future. With a full bar and dining room on Friday night, something must be going right here.
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Step 1: Acadiana, Washington DC. We stopped by Acadiana because I had read they had some good, old-fashioned cocktails. This place did not disappoint. Granted, I had never had a Sazerac, but I really like this drink. It hails from that sweet state of Louisiana and combines absinthe, rye whiskey, and two kinds of bitters with simple syrup. Great stuff, and I would love to learn myself how to make this great drink.
As for my other half, she went for the bourbon fizz - a great drink in it's own right. The bourbon fizz at Acadiana has Woodford Reserve, praline (!) liqueur, and club soda. The praline liqueur really made this one good and unique. Needless to say, I liked them both.
We will definitely try Acadiana for dinner sometime in the future. With a full bar and dining room on Friday night, something must be going right here.
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02 April 2009
Dinner Out - Brasserie Beck
So, a good friend of ours volunteered to babysit this Friday night so that we could go out on the town for a bit. Our choice for dinner - Brasserie Beck in DC.
I'm very optimistic about this dinner. Everything I have read have been good to great reviews, and I am very much looking forward to a good dinner. Plus, they have a massive selection of Belgian beers, so perhaps I'll find a good one with dinner.
Is it Friday yet?
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I'm very optimistic about this dinner. Everything I have read have been good to great reviews, and I am very much looking forward to a good dinner. Plus, they have a massive selection of Belgian beers, so perhaps I'll find a good one with dinner.
Is it Friday yet?
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