New York Bites: Dos Caminos Brunch

Good Evening Nomsters,

Dos Caminos Rancheros @ Dos Cominos

I write to you today about a meal that is near and dear to my inner foodie and that was the focus of many of my best dining experiences in New York: Brunch!

After living in Georgetown for three years, brunch is without a doubt the favorite meal of students and the greater Georgetown community. The scrumptious pancakes, the eggtastic benedicts, the juicy burgers, the hangover hashes, brunch menus are endlessly filled with delectably decadent dishes ripe for your enjoyment. However, with such varied choices for culinary concoctions, the hardest decision is whether to go sweet or savory. Personally, I have a sweet tooth that typically leaves me at risk for bypassing the savory to indulge in griddle favorites, like french toast or pancakes. Regardless of sweet or savory, most brunch menus have options that are sure to please either tastes, which you'll see in the New York brunch spots highlighted in the coming posts.

While in New York I had the pleasure of brunching at several restaurants. In my next three posts Union Square Cafe, PS450, and Dos Caminos will be featured as highlights and are tops on my list of best brunches in New York City for taste, value, and experience. All three of these brunch spots serve up a classic brunch with a bit of a flare, each offering something slightly different based on the individual and group's social agenda. Dos Caminos is up first!

Dos Caminos was my first brunch upon arriving in the city. They have multiple locations in New York and are known for their extensive margarita list and weekend brunch special, which includes one complimentary drink selection with a brunch entree. Their Tex-Mex inspired menu boasts favorites like Breakfast Quesadillas (scrambled eggs, chihuahua cheese, bacon) and Dos Caminos Rancheros (fried eggs, pinto beans, ham, queso), but also offers some sweeter entrees such as the Lemon Blueberry Pancakes or Mexican French Toast.


Our table started out with the homemade guacamole. If you like guac, do not let the seemingly steep price tag of $24 for a 4-6 person serving dissuade you. The freshly made guacamole comfortably serves six, especially with the trio of salsas that accompanies the table.

Fresh Guacamole 

When the time came to order entrees, I succumbed to my sweet tooth and ordered the Lemon Blueberry Pancakes. The pancakes were thinner than I usually like, but the texture made up for the lack of fluffiness. A lemony sugar coated the outside the stack giving them a crisp exterior, which went perfectly with the melt in your mouth quality of the cakes. There weren't nearly enough blueberries, but the lemon glaze helped mask that fact.






Luckily I brunched with a group that agrees "caring is sharing," so I had the chance to sample other entrees. The Dos Caminos Rancheros was a great mixture of Tex-Mex flavors, the homemade tortillas at the bottom were nice and crispy. The Breakfast Quesadilla was also quite good and stuffed with fresh ingredients! With four overflowing quarters of a quesadilla, you'll be so overwhelmed by eggs and cheese you may forget about your drink, which is quite strong by the way.

Dos Caminos-Meatpacking

Overall, the three dishes offered more than enough food and with the complimentary drink, you really can't go wrong brunching here. Each location in New York offers a little something different. The ambiance of each individual restaurant is welcoming and very ornate. I dined at their Park Ave. location, which was indoors with high ceilings and decorative lighting fixtures. I also visited their Meatpacking district location, which has an outdoor patio and vibrant nightlife scene. So try out both if you have time!

Dos Caminos-Park Ave.

Look out for our next brunch post in the coming days!
-gf

Dos Caminos Menu

Dos Caminos-Park Ave.
373 Park Avenue South at 27th Street, 
New York, NY 10016

T: 212.294.1000

Dos Caminos-Meatpacking District

675 Hudson Street at 14th Street, 

New York, NY 10014

T: 212.699.2400

*photos borrowed from "http://www.missmenunyc.com/2009/03/dos-thumbs-up-for-dos-caminos.html"

Freshmen15: Georgetown + DC's top spots for freshmen foodies

Hello Nomsters,

This particular post is dedicated to the Freshmen who will be gracing our presence in the next two weeks and to all of the familiar faces we'll be seeing in our favorite food spots around G'town/DC.
If you're a freshmen at Georgetown, you've hopefully been following Vox Populi's freshmen features (the blog maintained by The Georgetown Voice) to get the inside scoop on what to expect. While Vox already covered some of the best food options around G'town, we figured we'd expand a bit and give you some more options and details!

With summer vacation quickly coming to an end, Georgetown and DC are about to be stupefied by a swarm of students once more. For freshmen, your battle with boxes, carts, and SWQ elevator frustrations will be stifling with the hot DC heat; but cool breezes, parent-paid dinners, and random floor meetings/parties will fill your nights. After your week long "welcome" onto the Hilltop, you'll no doubt want some insider information on where to get fed in the weeks following your parents' departure. So here we are to give you the skinny on the foodie culture around campus and in DC! Now, we're by no means encouraging gaining the "freshmen 15," but for the love of cake, be sure to explore your options. Up first, the basics around campus: Sandwiches & Pizza

Sandwiches: Nothing quite works as a the perfect combination of ingredients like a sandwich. Whether you're looking for a sub, croissant, pita, or bagel, you'll be able to find any of those options at one of these fine Georgetown establishments.

Wisemiller's Deli (36th & N. ) is a Georgetown favorite. With classics like the California Chicken (grilled chicken, honey mustard, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and sprouts, served warm on a croissant)
and specials like the "Hot Chick," (chicken fingers, cayenne ranch dressing, pepperjack cheese, and tomatoes) you'd be hard pressed to find a more flavorful sandwich. Wisemiller's (Wisey's) is home to fan favorites like the Chicken Madness and Burger Madness (both of which could easily send your body into a food coma), but they also play host to an array of sandwich options. So whether you're looking for a breakfast sandwich, cold cuts, or something that'll make your heart pound, you'll be sure to get your fix at Wisey's. Also, their cookies are pretty amazing, the most popular is the Oreo Cookie (a cookie with in a cookie!). Reviews/Number $5-$10
No delivery, you can call ahead though.

If you're looking for something a bit more green, "Healthy" Wisey's (Wisconsin and P) is also an option with smoothies, salads and wraps. Healthy Wisey's Menu $5-$10
Offers Delivery


Quick Pita: (Potomac & 33rd) Home to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, Quick Pita provides options for students looking for an atypical sandwich. Quick Pita offers small plates like tabouli (salad-like appetizer, $4.45), hummus/pita ($4.95), and falafel ($8.64))and a variety of sandwiches ranging from chicken shwarma to eggplant sandwich Besides their Mediterranean flare, Quick Pita offers a daily lunch special, sandwich, fries, and a soda, for $6.82. Quick Pita also has a series of meat and veggie pies that you can purchase as a light meal or small snack.  Quick Pita Menu. $5-$11 Offers delivery

The Miami Burger, Booey's

Booey's (32nd & Prospect): A bit further off campus then Wisey's, Booeymonger's is another frequented spot by both students and residents. Booey's makes a mean sandwich and has a larger variety of breakfast options if you're looking to avoid Leo's. The Miami Burger is one of my favorites, it's your standard Lox & Bagel with all of the trimmings; and without buying the ingredients yourself, it's probably the cheapest you'll find in the Georgetown area ($7.25). I also know for a fact that the Fifth Avenue ($6.50) is also delicious, with hot pastrami, grilled mushrooms, muenster cheese, on a french roll (which is perfectly crispy), you can't go wrong. If you're looking for something a bit littler/veggie, the Natural is also a good option with spinach, tomato, turkey, melted provolone, and Russian dressing (6.50). Along with sandwiches, fries, salads, and dessert, Booey's also has some of the cheapest pitchers of *hem hem* beer ($7.25) in the neighborhood. $5-$13 Booey's Menu No Delivery

2am Miracle

Pizza: Now, you have a couple of options for pizza. If you're looking to order in, a quick fix, or a post party late night slice then Tuscany's (Prospect & 33rd) is your best bet. Offering a quarter-pie slice of either cheese or pepperoni for about $3.75, you can't go wrong. Just make sure you ask for a side of ranch!! I know, I know, "why ranch." But have faith in this blog and the majority of the Georgetown student population, ranch-dipped pizza is like french fries dipped in a Wendy's Frosty: it just works (especially at 2am). Fun fact: If you're looking for more than pizza, Tuscany's Turkey Pesto Sandwich is a great choice. It's both fresh and gives the appearance of being healthier. Keep in mind though that the sandwiches are huge there, so sharing is caring. 4am on weekends, 2am weekdays.   Order Here $4-$10 Offers Delivery

Ledo's pizza is also a good option for delivery if you're in search of a full pizza. Their claim to fame is providing the public with square pizzas that are cut in the same shape. The overall taste and quality may be a bit better than Tuscany's jumbo slice, but you can't beat the convenience of Tuscany's. $12-$22 Order Here 

Ledo's, courtesy of Serious Eats

If you're in the mood for a sit down pizza option, there's both Uno's Pizzeria or Pizzeria Paradiso on M. Street. Being a Chicago native, I tend to shy away from Uno's and their claims to "Chicago-Style" deep dish, but they do have a good thin crust option. On the other hand, for those of you in the 21+ club Uno's has a phenomenal happy hour, which occurs twice daily in the afternoon and late-night. Pizzeria Paradio is home to more traditional Italian style pizzas. With very thin crust, light sauces, and fresh ingredients, Paradiso is usually a good option for a nice dinner out that won't completely rip through your pockets. Paradiso also has really good happy hour specials on both pizza and drinks. $12-$20 Uno's Menu  Paradiso Menu

Finally, if you're up for a walk, the Safeway up Wisconsin has a variety of cafe options, including pizza, sushi bar, salad bar, and sandwich station.

That's all for now and let us know if we were helpful! Comments always appreciated :)
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Happy Nomming,

The Georgetown Foodie

Restaurant Review: Tarry Lodge by Mario Batali

Black Fettuccine+Rock Shrimp

Hello Friendly Nomsters,

It's been a while since I wrote about the wonders of a dinner on the town and with my past post about bug eating I think it's high time I give you some pictures of things you would consider eating on the spot rather than as a "life experience." Prior to my travels to Beijing, I ended up with an impromptu layover and visited my roommate and her family in Westport, CT. The Westport and Greenwich areas boast a nice array of dining options due to their proximity to the city, which is why Mario Batali chose to open his second Tarry Lodge restaurant in Westport. With some strategic planning/pestering on my roommate's, part, and a bit of luck we ended up with a reservation during the restaurant's opening week (obviously I was practically jumping out of my seat with excitement when she told me).

The basic fact you need to know about Mario Batali: he's an Iron Chef praised for his impeccably fresh Italian cuisine and known for running around Kitchen Stadium in clogs (of the Dutch variety). From homemade gnocchi to stone oven baked pizzas, Batali prides himself on using the freshest of ingredients to satiate the tastebuds of his loyal critics and customers. He has a wide array of restaurants, mostly in New York, ranging from trattorias to seafood restaurants. Tarry Lodge Enoteca Pizzeria (crudely translated "an informal place to grab some delicious wine, pizza, and pasta"), is one of Batali's  culinary experiences that packs a flavorful and memorable punch.

Tuna Tartar

For dinner we sampled a variety of appetizers and entrees. I personally satisfied my foodie appetite with Tuna Tartar as a starter and a bowl of the Black Fettuccine with Rock Shrimp and Chilis as my entree. The Tuna Tartar was delicious if raw fish is your thing and if your first time going for raw fish (besides sushi) be sure to go someplace that you know uses good cuts and fresh ingredients. A nicely formed mound of raw tuna was placed atop a bed of arugula and mixed greens, finished with small cronstinis for dipping. The tuna mixture had a nice tangy flavor, probably from lime juice. Overall a satisfying small plate, but nothing to moan about.

On the other hand, the Black Fettuccine could have had me out of my seat screaming after the first bite. When I first saw the menu, I wasn't quite sure if I really wanted to try the Black Fettuccine, which is a homemade pasta that turns out black as night due to being made with squid ink. After perusing the rest of the menu, I decided to try something I was less likely to find at another Italian restaurant, than my typically gnocchi overdose. The Black Fettuccine was incredible. The pasta had a hint of seafood due to the squid ink, while the broth was enhanced by the lobster base and rock shrimp topping. There was also grilled corn and onions throughout the dish that added a bit of spice to the pasta. The overall dish was savory, but very light, making it a perfect entree.

Finally, we split an order of tiramisu, which was also quite tasty, but not overwhelmingly sweet, which made it a good ending to a lovely dinner out.

Enjoy Restaurant Week DC!

-gf

Pierogi Pilgrimage: East Village's Veselka (as seen on Gossip Girl)

Hello Fellow Foodies,

Veselka Assorted Pierogi

We hope the start of summer is finding everyone in good health. If you've been keeping up with the Nightly Noms' Twitter, you would know that I spent a weekend in New York mid-May. Of course I had to do some foodie exploring between my meetings, which resulted in  multiple walks throughout the various neighborhoods of Manhattan, my longest being from Grand Central to SoHo (a grand total of 5 hours of exploration when factoring the tasting breaks). My first New York post is a restaurant review for a Ukrainian restaurant in the East Village!

Veselka, a quirky restaurant made more famous by Gossip Girl, definitely delivered on their dining experience. Originally I had planned to make the pilgrimage to "pierogi paradise" by myself, but after finding some fellow friends that were in search of good shopping and food, I offered for them to make the long walk downtown with a detour at Veselka before going to SoHo. With two people who had little knowledge of pierogi and Eastern Euro food, I was taking two more sets of tastebuds into my hands and hoped that Veselka was as good as Dan and Vanessa boast on Gossip Girl.

Located on the corner of 2nd Ave. and 9th St., the medium-sized restaurant was clearly popular. With people packed in Veselka's outdoor area, we opted for a small window table inside to sample the pierogi. Veselka, described as "Ukranian Soul Food in the Heart of East Village, offers an array of Ukrainian noms, such as Borcht (a chilled beet soup), Veal Goulash (a veal stew served with mashed potatoes), Ukrainian Kielbasa (a type of sausage), and a wide variety of sandwiches. Along side the traditional Ukrainian fare, Veselka serves up a very tasty looking breakfast menu featuring Raspberry Pancakes, Challah French Toast, and Potato Pancakes served with sour cream and apple sauce. Download the complete menu on their website here!

Blueberry Seasonal Pierogi

The main focus of our visit was to sample Veselka's pierogi, which are dumplings stuffed with different ingredients. Veselka offers "Big Plate" and "Small Plate" options and allows the patron to individually select each pierogi, which really allows for you to taste each type if desired. We ordered a large plate with Meat, Goat Cheese & Arugula, Sweet Potato, Spinach & Cheese, and Sauerkraut & Mushroom (pan-fried); we also ordered a small plate of the seasonal pierogi, which were Blueberry (boiled). Both the savory and sweet dumplings highlighted the traditional flavors used, and the small sides of apple sauce, sour cream, and caramelized onions definitely added to the flavor. I would definitely recommend the Sauerkraut & Mushroom pierogi if you're a vegetarian, and the meat if you are not. Although I enjoyed the pan-friend texture, compared to that of what I had as a child, Veselka's pierogi were a bit to fried for my taste. In addition, the blueberry were very delicious; however, they could have used a few more berries. When eating the sweet pierogi, use any of the condiments desired, but I would definitely recommend a combination of sour cream and sprinkled sugar. Other than my prior comments, and a bias for my childhood nanny's homemade pierogi, Veselka's pierogi were pretty tasty and are a good option for dining, especially if you're a college student looking for some tasty late-night noms without having the time to explore some smaller neighborhood restaurants.

Next time I'm in New York it's definitely going to be tough to decide between going for breakfast or dinner. All in all I guess Dan and Vanessa were right to spend evenings watching movies and ordering in from Veselka, besides having a Eastern Euro deli next door or a family friend that makes homemade pierogi, you can't get much better than Veselka if you're looking for a gateway into Eastern European tastes. 

In addition to a sit down dining experience, Veselka offers a wide variety of pastries and to go orders.

Veselka
144 2nd Avenue & 9th Street, New York, NY 10003
Facebook
Ukrainian, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Late-night
$5-$18

xo,
-georgetown foodie
As always, comments are appreciated!
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Restaurant Week Feature: Decadent Brunch @ Co Co. Sala

Hello Nomsters,

As most of you know, this past week was DC's Restaurant Week, which means tantalizingly tasty 3- course meals for lunch ($20.11) and dinner ($35.11) at many of DC's finest restaurants. Of course living on a typical college budget, you don't normally want to spend more than needed on a meal, but a little self indulgence never hurt anyone and my roommates and I decide to partake by making a reservation at Co Co. Sala, a chocolate bar and restaurant on F. street and 10th (near the Verizon Center). Co Co. Sala was one of the few restaurants that was offering a brunch restaurant week special, and after perusing the menu and seeing items like "French Toast S'mores" and "Crispy Creole Crabcake" as options, it was hard to not run to the cutesy chocolate lounge.

Arriving at Co Co. Sala for our 11:30 reservation, we were seated in the chocolate and pink accented colored lounge to be handed our menus for the Restaurant Week Special. Needless to say, we couldn't go wrong with our options. Each of us started with the Amuse Bouche of the Day, which was a small artichoke tart with tomato confit. The tart was perfectly warm and the crust had an excellent taste, just a little sweetness to offset the taste of the artichoke. Following our tarts, Sarah favored a more savory entree, so she ordered the Aztec Cheese Enchilada with an avocado, guava, and fennel salad with chocolate ganache and guava-lime vinaigrette. Both Gina and I opted for the ultimate indulgence and ordered the "French Toast S'mores" as our brunch entree. After having the well-presented plate placed in front of me and taking my first bite, all I could think was "yum." The french toast was cinnamon brioche stuffed with melted marshmallows and warm dark chocolate, a graham shortbread layered with mousse and warm bananas in caramel sauce accompanied the entree. The french toast literally melted in your mouth as the flavors of each component melded together. I would order this item again in a heartbeat, and as an a la carte option you can experience the deliciousness for about $12. By the last couple of bites, both Gina and I were struggling, but there was no way we would leave a piece on our plate. Completely satisfied by each of our meals, our sever cleared our plates as we took a breath and prepared ourselves for dessert....yes, I know what you're thinking, "who could even contemplate dessert after all of that?!"

Both Sarah and I ordered the Onyx, a vanilla creme brulee encased in dark chocolate mousse with salted caramel on top, basically chocolate overload. The mousse was perfectly smooth and the creme brulee did an excellent job of preventing us from going into a chocolate overdose. Gina ordered the Stolen Heart, which was a white chocolate strawberry mousse with chocolate crispy pearls; naturally, all of these desserts found their way into our already fulls selves. We barely ate the rest of the day.

Co Co. Sala is a great place for brunch or dessert, they also offer dinner too (don't worry, not everything has chocolate in it!). Although some of the items are a little pricey, the brunch was definitely worth the commute and price. The presentation on each dish was flawless, and the overall tastes definitely give Co Co. Sala an edge over other restaurant's desserts. While I would definitely order the French Toast S'mores again, the Breakfast Flatbread looked like a pretty great savory option also. I may pass on the mousse though and opt for the PB Cheesecake instead, but that may have just been because I was coming out of a food coma from the french toast. This restaurant is great for dessert and drinks out with the girls (they offer a variety of cocktails and hot cocoas) or for a date. Either way you'll swoon for the flavors Co Co. Sala offers. They also have a "Chocolate Boutique" in case you was a box of chocolates to take home!

Co Co. Sala

MENU
929 F STREET NW,
WASHINGTON, DC 20004
P 202.347.4265

Transport:
1. g'town ->union station circulator, get off at about K st. and 11th, walk to F and 10th
2. Any train to Metro Center, walk to F and 10th