Bites of My Life

A few travel delays, but made it home late last night after celebrating my oldest friend on her bachelorette party. It’s so wild living out moments that you only imagined as a kid. Getting old is w e i r d, but I wouldn’t change it! I got to spend about 24 hours in D.C (!!!!!) before heading down to Charlottesville for the scene of the crime (party)! I loved getting to explore this Virginia town that means so much to Anna.

-Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Brownie mix is unmatched compared to most grocery store brownie mixes. My friend Reid brought a batch to our Bach finale watch party last week. And thank goodness she did because sustenance was necessary during that episode…
-Flower Child chicken plate w/ yuzu brussels and currently the green goddess asparagus is my go-to pick-up order when I have a short week and don’t want to buy a bunch of groceries.
-Made it to D.C. to kick off Anna’s bachelorette party and got the party started with homemade Jungle Birds made by her fiance, who doubles as my old high school friend!
-Followed by dinner at one of all of our D.C. favorites, Lapis. It is an authentic family-owned afghan restaurant that I highly recommend.
-Drove down to Charlottesville to really get the party started. A walk around campus and a morning run for the infamous Bodo’s bagels was necessary.
-My Bodo’s order - whole wheat bagel, feta spread, tomato, and sprouts. Excellent!
-We spent Saturday doing a wine tour, making stops at Pippin Hill, King Family and Veritas Vineyards. I’m not a huge wine drinker, but I loved have sips at each stop and indulging in the bread and cheese :)
-Anna reigned in such a good crew to be a part of her bridal party, and I had the best time with them all weekend.
-#SeeYaSearcey! Time for Martins in the Mountains next month!

Annie

D.C Diary Reunited

It's baaaaack! I loved using my D.C. Diary posts to log my summer adventures when I lived there. Two years later and I was able to squeeze in a trip back to my favorite city. No better way to recap the weekend than with this Take A Bite original. 

Hoped off the plane Friday evening and metro-ed into town (super proud of myself for still being able to maneuver the metro) to meet my host/bestie at her apartment. Kudos to Anna for being patient with me. I sent her an itinerary of everything I wanted to do over the weekend a few weeks back and she happily played along. Friday night was all her though. First stop on the #dcdining adventure was Rasika. More palak chaat please!! This crispy spinach dish is unreal.

Indian food and passion fruit cocktails were the perfect way to catch up and start the weekend. 

Anna and I lived together two years ago, she's now back in the district and I'm living vicariously through her. Did I mention we've known each other since we were born?

After a summer taking classes at Barre3 Georgetown, I was so happy to come visit and try out the new 14th street location. Seriously gorg studio in one of my favorite areas of town.

Can't help but stop and stare at the quaint side streets full of row houses and brownstones.

Saturday afternoon we went back to my old hood for lunch and shopping in Georgetown. Why oh why did Chaia not exist when I worked there?

Quick stop by the waterfront, before a quick detour to Baked and Wired. 

And now comes the best part of the trip. After a failed attempt at trying to get into Rose's Luxury two years ago, I've been dying to try again. They don't take reservations and you have to get in line right when they open to just hope you get a spot. I've been gawking them on social media and the internet and knew that this had to be apart of the trip. They were named Best New Restaurant ranking No.1 on Bon Appetit's Hot 10 list and rank tip top on several other round ups. 

Two of our friends and current D.C. resisdents, Katie and Sarah were meeting us for dinner. They were more than down for the waiting game. I love friends who love food the same way as me.  We got there at 5, got our name on the list and they happily let us know we should be seated by 7:30/8. Rose's is eclectic. They use the most interesting combination of ingredients and serve everything on mismatched china and silverware. The head chef, Aaron Silverman has said he wanted Rose's to be like having a dinner party every night. Congrats Aaron, you did it. 

I also love when people are cool with me snapping away at each course and embarrassingly asking the waitress every item in the dish. Just so you know you are looking at coconut milk foam, pork sausage, habanero cream, red onion, lychee, basil mint cilantro, togarashi, lime juice, champagne vinegar, coconut powder, and garlic chips. Ya, woah. 

Next up was a grilled romain salad with duck egg and grilled veal. 

Then confit goat and rice with BBQ sea island red peas. Like how do you even come up with these things Aaron? Everything was insane.

This. This is what sent us over the edge. Bucatini with pesto, ramps, jalapeno, blue crab and crispy breadcrumbs. This may be the best thing I've ever eaten. We pretty much all threw in the towel on ever expecting to eat anything better in our lives. 

So many cheers throughout this meal to celebrate it's amazingness and experiencing it together. After a few cocktails and many bites of bucatini we decided we had formed some kind of bucatini sisterhood. 

More pasta because we had to try their famous strawberry tomato sauce. Bon Appetit has a recipe for it here. 

Absolutely not done without dessert. Rhubarb custard tart and tiramisu.

Thank you Rose's Luxury. Everything really is awesome. You heard it first here but this is my favorite restaurant of all time. The food, the service, the experience, everything is gold. I mentioned at one point in the night that I was a little sad to have found this at such a young age. What do I have to live for now? 

Sisterhood of the traveling bucatini: Marsha, Virginia, Heidi and Charlie. I think our amazing meal sent us into some kind of weird trance, but we weren't trying to get out of it. 

Sunday morning recovery at my (old) favorite spot, Le Diplomate.

I dreamed of the next time I would get to have this mushroom tart since the last time I had it. 

Post-brunch shopping at Salt & Sundry. 

Since I was in D.C. they have grown from their Union Market location and built a brick and mortar on 14th. 

Serious home good/gift coolness overload.

Sunday afternoon called for a serious cat nap after going going going and a touristy stop at the national archives. We got to see the Declaration, Bill of Rights and Constitution. Total Nicholas Cage/National Treasure move.  We found a pick me up later in the day at Baked and Wired's new sister A Baked Joint. 

Weekend coming to a close, but going out with a bang. 

Steamed buns at Momofuku.

And ramen for days. 

Followed by none other than my NYC fav, Milk Bar! This duo traveled south a bit and opened locations in D.C's new City Center. 

Cheers to this trip, this friend, this city, it's food, it's culture and so much more. Now get that internship next summer too so I can come back! 

Annie

Bites of My Life

Post vacation depression. Why must all good things come to an end? After 72 hours, it has me craving more. Cheers to you D.C. you really know how to put on a show! Besides the weekend in my favorite city, there was the bachelorette, work meetings, a fair effort at cleaning out the fridge and a birthday celebration for big daddy T.

-Quinoa Fried Rice: my ultimate clean out the fridge/haven't gone grocery shopping in weeks kind of meal. 
-This matcha obsession is getting a little out of hand. Evoke knows how to serve it up.
-Happy Birthday dad! I love celebrating you.
-Finally made it back to my favorite city with my favorite D.C. loving bestie!
-I loved taking Barre3 when I lived in D.C, but it was the perfect start to my Saturday getting to take a class at the new 14th St. location!
-Back in Georgetown for the afternoon, back to my old stomping grounds.
-Chaia took tacos to the next level. I've been stalking them on insta since they opened and they didn't disappoint.
-Amazing dinner, better company. Marsha, Virginia, Heidi and Charlie roll out.
-Oh Roses's. I went into this dinner knowing you'd be good, but I didn't know you'd be that good.
-Cappuccino and mushroom tart please! Le Dip still cranks out a delicious brunch!
-Sunday night ramen night. After so many Milk Bar treats, I can finally say I tried their big brother restaurant Momofuku. And I didn't even have to go to New York to get it!
-Cheersing to the best weekend with Milk Bar cereal milk ice cream.

Annie

D.C. Diary Part I

My plan is to try and make a "diary" entry every week or every other week to update you guys on all the exciting happenings of my life. Well at least I find them exciting, if you don't, just ignore my diary posts. My bites post just aren't enough to share everything I've been up to.  I'll be giving you a taste of what I've seen, done and most importantly, eaten. 

I've seen Memorial Day celebrations take place in the most appropriate city.

I've seen where Mr. President lives. And then proceeded to get the DCOM classic "my date with the president's daughter oooooh yaaaa" song stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

I've seen the capitol and walked more miles than I think I ever have. 

Olivia Pope are you in there?

I've seen the Supreme Court up close and personal.

I've seen the Capitol from the steps of the Supreme Court, all while the lady taking the picure couldn't wrap her mind around the idea of an intern.

I've seen Oklahoma's mark at the WWII memorial.

I've seen big 'ole Honest Abe perched on his chair. 

I've seen almost all of the monuments now so I can proudly check that one off the bucket list and stop acting like a tourist. 

I've seen the immense amount of names remembered in the Vietnam Memorial. And, even cooler, I've seen the Washington Monument in the reflection from the Vietnam Memorial.

I've seen the White house from both views, and yes I got the my date with the President's daughter song stuck in my head again. 

I've acted like a fool in awe of seeing a cart escalator for the first time. These two-story Targets are a new thing for me, so I think a freak out was acceptable. Now when I go across the street from my dorm to the two-story Whole Foods, I'm a little more relaxed with the whole cart escalator thing.

I've successfully cooked in our tiny little dorm kitchen. The roommates and I also attempted to make it feel a little bit more homie with some patterned plastic plates and a baby orchid!

I've explored the streets of Georgetown and think of it as my little hood now. I love getting to walk through the quaint neighborhood on my way to work every morning.

I've found my place at Barre 3 DC and have loved the few classes I've taken so far. 

I've done as the DCers do and indulged in happy hour. This town believes in two things, happy hour and brunch. 

In order to fit in, I successfully brunched my first weekend in DC. Happy hour and brunch are two things I can get into.

  Now for the food. I had the most delicious Crab Cake salad at Serendipity 3 in Georgetown.

I had the BBQ style oysters at Hank's Oyster Bar in Dupont Circle for a pre-first day of work meal with the greatest roommates.

I've downed the Unicorns & Rainbows cupcake from Baked and Wired, as well as (not pictured) the Dirty Chai cupcake. The cupcake pictured above was from everyone at work so it would be rude not to eat it all, right?...

 I've eaten the AMAZING Mushroom Scallops with Barley Risotto from Founding Farmers.

I washed it down with complimentary birthday cake from Founding Farmers.

I've had the best Watermelon and Arugula salad at the University Club.

I then scarfed down the Ahi Tuna and Tuna Tartar from the University club as well. 

I've eaten the Blazin' Barn burger and THE BEST FRENCH FRIES everrrrr from Good Stuff Eatery in Capitol Hill. I even got regrammed from Good Stuff themselves.

I had the Smoked Salmon Scramble for brunch at Kramer's Books in Dupont Circle. My favorite restaurant from my last visit in DC and it still reigned supreme!

I treated myself to Fro.Zen.Yo after our grand tour around the monuments. Coconut, Pistachio, Strawberry Shortcake and Cookies & Cream topped with oreo crumbs, banana chips, granola, almonds and yogurt covered pretzels.

I ended my first week in DC by fulfilling my asian food craving with Lemongrass Chicken Curry from Asia Nine. 

So there is a glimpse at my first week in the district. Come back in the future weeks for more D.C. Diary posts! 

 Annie

p.s. In between my posts, check out the work I'm doing on the  Yo Deb! blog.

Re-Districting

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I've vaguely mentioned, but this Sunday I'll be getting on a plane to spend my summer interning in the wonderful Washington D.C!

I first visited D.C. in 2011 on a family vacation. I fell in love with the city and knew I had to find a way to get back. Now a few years older, and with professors breathing down my neck to get real world experience, I landed an amazing internship in one of my favorite cities!

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I have been consistently day dreaming about what's ahead. I can't wait for numerous Baked and Wired cupcakes, brunch at Founding Farmers, days spent working in quaint little Georgetown, spending weekends at the National Mall, exploring the monuments and seeing all the city has to offer.

I have already been scouring Instagram for D.C. related profiles and stalking D.C. based bloggers. I want to be well informed and know how to get the most out of this opportunity. 

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I'll have a few "wing-girls" heading to the district with me so I won't be wandering around a big city completely by myself. I'm giddy at the idea of having to take the Metro, bike or use my own two feet to get around.  There is something so refreshing about being totally out of your comfort zone and living in a place completely different then your roots. 

The thing I'm most excited about is getting to spend everyday working in Georgetown. This neighborhood is little, busy, bursting with color, and has my name written all over it. It was my absolute favorite area we visited when I was in D.C. on vacation. 

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Do you recognize this little pup? He is about to be the ring leader of my summer. 

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I'm so so so excited to be a social media summer intern for Scout by Bungalow. This Georgetown based company has been producing bright and colorful, bags and boxes for the past 10 years. I can't wait to be surrounded by great people, a great product and learn all about the ins and outs of an esteemed business. 

#tbt to me in D.C. three years ago. Here's to a summer full of learning, experiences, cupcakes and red, white and blue! It's time to re-district and get to Washington. See you in three days D.C!!

Annie