Cheesetique

What do you get when you cross a fancy cheese store with a restaurant/wine bar?  Awesomeness.  Cheesetique in Del Ray (second location in Shirlington) is unadulterated awesomeness.

Cheesetique is sort of like a restaurant mullet: business in the front and party in the back.  First, the serious part: the cheese shop/gourmet grocery store.
 

They have a huge selection of cheese and accompaniments (jams, jellies, chocolate, wine, etc.).  We had a blast browsing while waiting for our table in the back of the restaurant.

That brings me to the party half of the restaurant mullet: the wine bar/cafe behind the cheese shop.  They have a full menu of cheeselicious goodies from grilled cheese to cheese plates and everything in between. With the help of our friendly waitress, we ordered a bottle of wine and a sampling of plates to share with our friends.  We ended up ordering nearly everything on the small plates menu (burrata, carpaccio, caprese, crostini, flat bread), a grilled cheese, and a cheese plate with figs, honey, and six different cheeses.

I remember talking to one of my coworkers a few years ago and telling her I didn't like cheese that much.  She was outraged.  I explained that I thought adding cheese to burgers, sandwiches, etc. rarely enhanced the flavor and I'd rather save the calories for something else... like more dessert.  Well, turns out I'm an idiot.  I was a picky eater as a kid and rarely ventured beyond Kraft singles.  Over the years I've learned that I actually like cheeses of all sorts.  Soft to firm, stinky to mild.  Cheese is fun! 

We're officially putting Cheesetique in our "definitely going back" category of restaurants.  They've got a list of 7 grilled cheese sandwiches and 4 mac n' cheeses that I plan on working my way through.

Second Thoughts from B

J's "restaurant mullet" tag is genius.  I guess it makes up for her dedication to Kraft singles for way too long...

Having a dinner of wine and cheese sounds pretentious or at least very European. I know we aren't European, and I'd like to think we're not pretentious.  So what gives?

You can blame my lifelong love of bleu cheese that I stubbornly got J to adopt while we were first dating.  You can blame CityZen's eye-opening cheese plate that was part of a set chef's menu many years ago.  You can blame ecstasy-inducing burrata in Rome. You can blame our friends M and A who have some of the more sophisticated palates around, and help introduce us to new flavors every time we eat out with them.

Regardless, our love of cheese is alive and well, and each of our favorites can be found under one roof.  Sophisticated and high-end cheeses you've never heard of and childhood comfort foods all on one menu.  It may initially sound elitist, but I'd simply call it delicious.. and the true restaurant mullet.

Food Two Go: Philadelphia's Distrito

We're back from a fantastic European adventure full of great eats and wonderful scenery.  While we get settled back into DC life, we wanted to share one of our favorite recent road trip meals: Iron Chef Jose Garces' Distrito in Philadelphia.

We've been to two Garces restaurants now (Chifa and Distrito) and loved every dish.  Something about his way of combining a punch of bold flavors with a lighthanded touch just makes us giddy.  At Distrito, we got the pleasure of sitting in the coolest table in town (or the universe?): a classic VW Bug taxi that was turned into a booth.  Call ahead to ask for the taxi table and be the envy of every guest at the restaurant, especially the little kids.

The yellowfin tuna ceviche with serrano-coconut sauce and lime sorbet is the perfect summer dish. Light, refreshing, but smacks you in the tongue with a pop of spice and flavor.  We could have eaten 6 of these.

I'm usually disappointed and bored by flatbreads but this version with duck confit, manchego cream and tequila cherry escabeche was anything but boring.

I wanted to high five the kitchen for these flat iron steak and truffle potato tacos.  It was like if mashed potatoes, french fries, and high quality beef had a baby and wrapped it up in a tortilla swaddling blanket.  Weird?  Yes.  But, so delicious.

B saved his high fives for the lamb chops with smoked bacon atole and 3 chile BBQ sauce.  Even I, the lamb skeptic, was doing a happy dance over these.

We left Distrito smiling from ear to ear and plotting our next move in the Garces Restaurant Road Trip Adventure Game.  With 15 restaurants in 5 cities, we've got a lot of eating to do!

Second Thoughts from B

Let's be clear, TwoDC is not looking to become TwoPhilly.  It might just seem that way.  After a lull in posts, we write about a restaurant in Philadelphia?  What gives?

Here's the deal: J has spent several days a week in Philly for the last four months for work.  Needless to say, when your blog is centered around things you do together in DC, this presents a bit of a challenge.  I guess we'll have to work that into her next client's contract.

While we're at it, let's figure out a way to have more business dinners at Jose Garces restaurants.  Over the course of two meals and maybe 15 dishes (they are all small plates), I've yet to be disappointed.  With the expectations that comes with the title of Iron Chef, this is no small feat.

Each dish is constructed with purpose and every component serves a role in the flavor, texture, and appearance.  I can't say enough about the tremendous balance that he achieves.

So no, we're not trying to be TwoPhilly, but I can't say we're not tempted.  It would be a long commute, but if we could eat Chef Garces' masterpieces every day, it might just be worth it.

South China Restaurant

This is another one of those "We're out running errands, we're hungry, let's eat ASAP" restaurants.  We were heading toward the Potomac Yards Target and looking for a quick spot for a late lunch.  We had success last time we tried a restaurant in Del Ray (Taqueria Poblano), so we gave South China Restaurant a shot.  It's a no frills place with quick service, reasonable prices, and large portions.

We started with a delicious but utterly unphotogenic cup of hot and sour soup.  The sesame beef pictured below is definitely not diet friendly, but we liked it.  Let's just pretend that those pieces of steamed broccoli on the side offset the calories in the beef.

The house special crispy chow mein was such a massive portion that we took most of it home for lunch the next day.  I think it tasted even better on Day 2 as the sauce had a chance to soften up the crispy noodles and the flavors developed a bit more.

When you need quick and easy Chinese food, South China fits the bill.  If you need quick and easy Malaysian food, they do that too.  We didn't branch out into the Malaysian side of the menu so I guess we have a reason to head back to Del Ray.

Second Thoughts from B

This meal was about great gravy. This was stick to your bones gravy.  Thick and flavorful, there was nothing subtle about it.  It was Chinese comfort food on a plate.  A little gravy on some rice and I'm in heaven.

I love rice.  Let me say it again, I LOVE rice.  When finances were tight in grad school, a bowl of rice with some butter and salt was a rather satisfying alternative to a proper meal.  It wouldn't make the My Plate hall of fame, but it did the trick.

And while we're speaking of rice, have I told you about the old wives tale about eating all of your rice? If so, my apologies. If not, here you go.  Every time I ate Chinese food with my grandparents, my grandmother would remind me that every grain of rice that I left in my bowl would be a pock mark on my future bride.  In all my life, I can say confidently that I can't remember an occasion that I have left a speck of rice behind.  Whether you want to say that I'm obedient, superstitious, or just plain stubborn, J has clearly benefited from my dedication.

In addition to making me love rice, this wives tale made me very good with chopsticks.  After all, those last few grains are difficult to grab.  Which brings me back around to why I'm telling you all of this (I'm sure you were wondering).  When you love rice and when you feel a need to clean your bowl, having a thick gravy is key.  Not only does it add flavor, it is the perfect rice-catching glue at the end of your chopsticks.  Just a friendly tip for all of you single folks out there.  You're welcome.

Veranda on P

I love it when a friend takes the pressure of choosing a restaurant off my shoulders.  Even better when that restaurant turns out to be pretty good.  That was the case with Veranda on P, a little Mediterranean restaurant on 11th and (you guessed it) P street. 

We started the evening on Veranda's patio, enjoying a 50% off bottle of wine (Tuesdays) and catching up with our friends.  As tends to happen in DC in July, the skies opened up and we hustled to a table inside to escape a monumental downpour.

The inside of the restaurant was quaint and cozy, and the staff (including our very sweet waitress) adjusted to the sudden influx of patio diners well.
 

Once settled inside, we started the meal with warm dates stuffed with black pepper boursin cheese and drizzled with local honey.  Probably too sweet for most people, but I'm a date lover and had no trouble eating the lion's share of this dish.

I ordered the penne with broccoli rabe, spicy tomato sauce and mozzarella.  Not going to win any awards for creativity, but a pleasingly spicy and comforting dish.  Major sad face when I saved half of it to take home and the bus boy tossed it out instead of wrapping it up.  Don't you hate it when that happens?

If there's one thing B orders as often as lamb, it's salmon.  Veranda's version with a tapenade and french lentils got a thumbs up from B the salmon king.
 

While nothing we tried was jump-up-and-down amazing, it was all solidly executed and had a homey, comforting feel.  This isn't the kind of place you travel across town for, but it is the kind of place that's nice to have in your neighborhood... especially on half price wine night.

Second Thoughts from B

I really admire the hosts of various food/cooking shows.  How many different ways can you describe food day in and day out?  My personal challenge is not only to describe yet another satisfying salmon dish, but do so without echoing J.  After all, this section is entitled, "second thoughts" not "rehashed thoughts" from B...

Let's see... when I think of Veranda on P, what comes to mind?  Pleasant patio dining interrupted by a downpour.  Check.  Cozy, homey, European feeling to the dining room.  Check.  Not particularly inventive but certainly satisfying fare.  Check.  Neighborhood favorite but not necessarily a dining destination.  Check.

I'm racking my brain and not a single original thought comes to mind.  J pretty much covered it.  So as Forrest Gump would say, "That's all I have to say about that."