Chocolat Fromage Pocky
Mmm…fromage. I love cheese in any form, so I was sure I would love this Chocoat Fromage Pocky.
I actually didn’t. =/ It also had a splash of “orange Curaçao” liqueur in it, and that’s the flavor that really dominated the Pocky. I couldn’t taste any of this alleged “fromage.” I’m not really a huge fan of chocolate and orange, so this was a bit of a bust for me.
bakeries beverage brunch cafes: bethesda coffee juice pastries salad sandwiches
by Lindsey
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Le Pain Quotidien
My first encounter with Le Pain Quotidien was in Bryant Park, New York, a couple years ago. I loved it! Even the pesto sauce in my sandwich, which was unusual for me, since I had an inexplicable aversion to pesto. I was pretty excited when the chain finally made its way to the D.C. area, and I believe the first of their local branches was the Bethesda store. I’ve popped over there several times since it opened, but this would be my first time blogging them. (^__^)v This post combines a couple visits that I made there in the last few weeks.
The decor: I like the interior quite a bit. There are high ceilings throughout and a shiny counter filled with delicious looking pastries in the front. And of course, there has to be the signature communal table, a colossal slab of reclaimed wood that dominates the center of the room. The Bethesda store has two dining areas, each one with its own communal table. I like sitting at the communal table, as it’s more spacious and comfortable.
And now for the food: Pictured above is the grilled chicken and smoked mozzarella tartine “with arugula and basil pesto.” I’m not sure that I got any arugula, and I would know because I love arugula. There was definitely some kind of green leaf, but it might have been something else. Very tasty indeed, even the pesto. XD Although, I do feel like it’s a bit pricey for what you get.
More after the jump:
Häagen-Dazs Amaretto Almond Crunch
Spotted this new “limited edition” Häagen-Dazs Amaretto Almond Crunch at the grocery store and I had to snap it up! Almond liqueur has a sweet and distinct flavor that I absolutely adore, so I was very excited to try it as an ice cream flavor.
They added almond brittle in this Häagen-Dazs version, which I actually enjoyed. I usually prefer ice cream without much thrown into it, which is why Ben & Jerry’s usually is not my thing. (Too much to chew on…it makes my teeth hurt). But the brittle wasn’t so overwhelming here, and the caramel and almonds added a nice layer of sweetness. In short, I loved it! ♥
Picture under the cut:
dessert dinner restaurants: bistro comfort food d.c. pastries
by Lindsey
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1905: Part II
Whoa, long time no update. (^__^);; I should’ve put this post up a while ago…my friend’s birthday dinner at 1905! I’d been there once before, and enjoyed the food and atmosphere, so was really looking forward to dining there again. ♥
Since I already covered the basics in my previous post, I’m gonna just dive right in to the food! Pictured above is my main course, which was the special of the day: Chesapeake crab cake with vegetable slaw and black eyed peas. Delicious! It had lots of crab meat and wasn’t overwhelmed by fillers. I got a few tiny sharp bits in it though, which made it somewhat uncomfortable to eat.
As for the rest:
Zaytinya Easter Lamb
Some time last week, I heard a mention about the special Easter lamb sandwich they’re serving at Zaytinya during lunch time through April 16, and coincidentally, I Flip For Food blogged about it on that very same day! Of course, I took that as a sign that I ought to go. (^O^)v
I like Zaytinya a lot, and the only reason I haven’t posted about it yet is because I never seem to have my camera with me when I eat there. (I’ve had my iPhone with me, but the pics don’t turn out well). Hopefully one of these days, I’ll actually get around to doing a full-on post.
The lamb for the special was prepared right on the patio, which really brought out that outdoorsy, “spring has arrived!” sort of feeling. Although I have to be honest, seeing the whole lamb rotating over a roasting pit was a bit alarming. (O___o)
So the deal is, $7 for roasted lamb on a pita bread, topped with cucumber yogurt sauce, red onions, spring onions, and some leafy greens. You can also get iced tea ($2) or a box of Greek Easter cookies ($5).
I found the sandwich kind of messy and wet, so I did have to use a knife and fork to eat it. Granted, I did take it back with me to the office instead of eating it on the spot, which might be why the juices went running all over. I also found the portion to be pretty small. The lamb, however, was excellent. Loved it. ♥ If you’re in that area for lunch this week, you should pop over to check it out. You might even catch Chef Mike Isabella on the premises (though I didn’t see him when I went). =D
ACKC Chocolates
After dinner at Cork, my friend and I headed a few blocks down to ACKC (Artfully Chocolate Kingsbury Confections) to get (what else) chocolates! Part of their shop is a chocolate counter with an ever changing selection of various truffles. They’re $2 a piece, and of course, you can mix and match, which is all part of the fun. (The other half of the shop is a cafe, and they serve up some very rich and interesting hot chocolates!)
I got a box of six tuffles, and they were (clockwise from the bottom left) fleur de sel, honey ginger, amaretto marzipan, pomegranate, champagne, and white peach. I still haven’t tried the first two yet, believe it or not, but the rest were very tasty indeed. ♥ I expected a little more of that almondy flavor in the marzipan, and the pomegranate was just kind of tart and not really particular to pomegranate. I did think the chocolate was nice and smooth though, and not too sweet. The white peach was interesting, as it had a jelly-like center. (^__^)v
Cork
Cork is a little wine bar located near Logan Circle. I’ve wanted to try it for a while now, and last week, I finally had the occasion to go! I took my friend there for a birthday dinner, and it was quite lovely.
I ordered a drink at the bar while I waited for my friend, and by the bartender’s recommendation, I got a white sparkling wine – Domaine des Terrisses, “Cuvée Saint Laurent”, Méthode Gaillacoise. It was described as having a “caramel and apple nose” and “lightly sweet with flavors of apple and whipped cream.” It was definitely a sweeter variety, and you could really truly taste the apple! It was excellent!
Before I go into the food, a little bit about the interior: it’s definitely a cozy fit, and the lighting is fairly dark. We were sitting right by the bar, and by the time we got our meal, the dinner hour was in full swing, and it was LOUD. However, there are other tables in the back that might fare better in terms of noise level.
The food here is meant to be shared, which works just perfectly for me! My friend and I picked out 2 cold plates and 3 hot plates, all of which were tasty and fabulous.
First up is pictured above – roasted leeks with burrata, braised celery, bacon, and almonds. I loved this presentation! It looked gorgeous and tasted wonderful too, with the sweetness of the roasted leeks going perfectly with the salty burrata. The almonds added a nice crunchy texture.
The rest after the jump:
Häagen-Dazs Lemon Ice Cream
Aaah…Häagen-Dazs. Their ginger ice cream was my first ever blog post here. (^__^)v Last weekend, I discovered a new flavor from their “five” series…lemon. I was so excited to try this! I had seen lemon gelato or sorbet before, but never an ice cream.
This was heavenly! It was rich and creamy, as you can expect from their fabulous “five” series, and there was just the right amount of tartness from the lemon. It tasted a bit like a lemon curd dessert. The little bits of lemon peel added some nice texture. I hope this will be a permanent addition to their flavors!
A pic under the cut:
