Cafe Mozart

The night of the ESOTC (again, that's the Epic Snowstorm of the Century - read here) we had tickets to the Kennedy Center to see the symphony with our friends. Due to the terrible road conditions, the Kennedy Center canceled the performance. Instead of the symphony, we played Beatles Rock Band at our house (see our post on it here). Not quite Handel's Messiah, but we had a good time! Before the rockfest ensued, however, we trudged through the unplowed sidewalks to Cafe Mozart in search of tummy-warming grub.

Cafe Mozart is located at the back of a German deli on H Street NW. Hidden behind shelves of German food is a quaint little restaurant. From the street, you'd never know it was there.

Once inside Cafe Mozart, you'll feel as if you're dining in your German grandma's house (I don't have a German grandma, but I'm pretty certain that if I did, her house would look like this).

This was my first German restaurant experience, so I felt a bit like a fish out of water. Lucky for us, our friends had recently returned from their honeymoon in Germany, and they pointed us in the direction of some tasty dishes and excellent (and large!) beers. We also asked the waitress for her suggestions and she recommended the Sausage Sampler. It included bite-sized cuts of different German sausages served with potato salad and red cabbage. It was like a tasty tour of a Germany on a plate... a very dense, filling plate.

B took another one of the waitress' recommendations and tried the Rahm Schnitzel (sauteed veal in champignon cream sauce) served with spaetzli and potato pancakes. While the whole dish was tasty, B raved about the potato pancakes.

Overall, the meal was most memorable for the cozy setting and the generous portions of warm comfort food. According to their website, they have live music (piano and accordion) every night. Like at the Kennedy Center, the snowstorm must have kept the musicians away from Cafe Mozart because we didn't get to experience the lively sounds of Germany.

Second Thoughts From B

When I was in grad school, I was able to travel to Munich during Oktoberfest for a scientific workshop. Needless to say, I had my fair share of authentic German food. For those who haven't been or who long to return, Cafe Mozart is a pretty good alternative. The food is true to its roots; hearty, flavorful, and generally, not the most aesthetically pleasing.

Cafe Mozart itself feels like one of those insider clubs hidden behind a secret door. You don't exactly have to exchange an egg for directions (random 90210 reference anyone?), but like J said, you'd never know there is a restaurant in the back. Maybe it's just me, but especially when you're new to a city, it feels good to be "in the know" when it comes to some of DC's literally hidden gems.

And Cafe Mozart is a gem. It is unashamed to be the counterpoint to so many of the fancy, upscale restaurants throughout downtown that feature the chef's modern take on organic fusion blah, blah, blah... Don't get me wrong, I love all of those places that are half restaurant and half artist's studio. But I also love a place that is good at what it does and makes no apologies for it.

Speaking of doing things well, let's talk about those potato pancakes. While not Jewish, I was raised in a community that had a lot of Jewish families and some took me under their wing. And for the last 20 years or so, I thought that the best latkes by far (and matzo ball soup) were made by a mother in my hometown. I'd never tasted anything that came close until now. Perfect texture, perfect flavor, and perfect for sopping up all the sauce on my plate.

So for those of you who crave authentic German food, head down to Cafe Mozart. It might just put you in a state of U4EA (that's euphoria for you non-West Beverly kids).

Tune Inn

The day after the ESOTC (that's Epic Snowstorm of the Century) we embarked on a long journey through the city streets to check out the beautiful, snow-covered aftermath (read our post here). As we watched sledders on Capitol Hill, we just happened to run into two friends who were also out for a walk. Who says D.C. isn't a small town?

We were hungry and the food options were limited, since many merchants decided to take a snow day. Lucky for us, our friends live on Capitol Hill and knew about the dive bar wonder that is Tune Inn.

The Tune Inn is definitely NOT for the uppity Hill staffer looking for a chic place to dine. The Tune Inn is gritty, eclectic, and has enough animal heads on the wall to make any PETA loyalist run far, far away. As we trudged through the snow, I was a bit worried they'd be closed. But once I got inside and saw the decor and the grizzly bartender I realized... the Tune Inn doesn't do snow days.

We were cold, hungry, and really craving warm comfort food. Throwing all dietary cares to the wind (as if we had any other choice), we started off with a basket of greasy, but absolutely delicious onion rings. Dunked into a wading pool of ketchup, these really hit the spot.

Now I know I've told you before that B always asks the waiter/waitress for a recommendation. Well, thankfully he had enough sense to skip the question and just order. Did you see the animal heads and guns on the wall? Does this look like the kind of place that you should ask for the chef's recommendation? I didn't think so.

B ordered the Hot Pastrami sandwich with grilled onions and swiss cheese. The sandwich was decent, but the fries stole the show. I don't think I want to know what they fry them in to get them to taste so good.

I went with classic cheeseburger. Someone mentioned that Janet Reno used to come here all the time for the burgers and who am I to question the culinary taste of the first female Attorney General? Well, the burger was just ok. Maybe Ms. Reno just ordered it so she could eat the fries!

Second Thoughts From B

To set the record straight, my hot pastrami was more than "decent." For me it hit the spot. But there's something you should know about J. She abhors rye bread. So for her to call anything on rye "decent" makes Tune Inn's effort rather remarkable.

But you don't go to a dive bar for the food. And Tune Inn, in case you were asleep for J's part of this post, is the embodiment of what a dive bar should be. That the food was pretty good is just icing on the cake.

Army-Navy Game

As college football season comes to a close, we felt compelled to write about one of sport's greatest rivalries that we attended this last year: the Army-Navy Football Game.

In addition to our rabid support for our own teams that some would argue is unhealthy, we also appreciate sports in general. Therefore, any century old rivalry (117 years to be exact) would be right up our alley. Add in the fact that the outcome would have serious implications on our own team's bowl hopes, and it was a given that we'd to be making another sports-related road trip.

The Army-Navy Game takes place at a neutral site (where the Philadelphia Eagles play), which is only a 2 hour drive from DC. Considering that it takes 2 hours to fight through the traffic generated by some of our local teams in LA, this is nothing. Plus, we've been known to drive 8 (DC-Indy), 10 (DC-Atlanta), and 13 (LA-El Paso) hours to see our teams play. But enough of our fanaticism. Back to the topic at hand...

Army-Navy is like no other rivalry that we've experienced. The pomp and circumstance is what you'd expect from the military. The loyalties, bred from lives dedicated to a cause, run deep. The history and competitiveness is strong. But unlike so many sports rivalries, the entire event is laid on a foundation of respect. There is the familiar drive to win, but without the hate.

Never was this respect more apparent that at the conclusion of the game when both teams stood together for the playing of each other's alma mater. At a time when drunk college kids would normally be hurling insults, projectiles, and their lunch, both student sections made themselves and their country proud.

Now, I'm probably the last person to pass judgment on more traditional rivalries that feature "hate" and less evolved behavior. I think that within reason, there is a place for these sports traditions, but Army and Navy have something that they should be very proud of, and something that every sports fan should experience at least once.

As for the game itself, the days when our Armed Forces teams produce future NFL stars are long gone. If you're looking for the most talented players in the country, you probably won't find it here. In fact, I'm sure that as time goes by I'll forget everything about the game other the fact that neither team was particularly impressive on this very cold day, and that Navy won. But what will linger are the sights and sounds surrounding a very unique sporting tradition that I'm happy to check off my list.

J Says

I love traveling to new stadiums, I love football, and I love people dressed up in funny outfits. For me, the Army-Navy game had it all. Somehow the Cadets and Midshipmen managed to show a fierce sense of competitiveness without acting like drunk college idiots. It was quite a sight to see waves of uniformed fans cheering in unison. The game left such a good impression on me that I almost forgot how cold it was. Almost. Man, it was COLD. You East Coasters call this football weather? I call it frostbite!

Zengo

Have you looked far and wide for a restaurant that blends Latin and Asian flavors? Zengo has you covered.

Sound weird? Somehow, at Zengo, it just works.

While some might roll their eyes at yet another take on the over-done Asian fusion concept, we think Zengo deserves a try for its innovative flavors. Zengo means "give and take" in Japanese. Appropriately, the concept is tapas-style small plates that are meant to be shared. The kitchen works on a sort of free-flowing basis, so plates stream out when they're ready, instead of in a set order. We got our first real taste of Zengo when we took a sushi and margarita making class there a few years ago. It was an incredible experience (helped along with all you can drink margaritas) and taught us to appreciate Zengo's commitment to fun and fresh food.

Zengo is located on 7th Street next to Gallery Place in a hip, two-story space with interesting (if not strange) modern art pieces decorating the walls and ceiling. Bring your outside voice with you, because Zengo can get loud during peak hours.

We recommend starting with the XO Style edamame that is served almost bbq-style (the cooking technique, not the sauce) with salt and something that (according to the menu) makes it "non-vegetarian." Speaking of vegetarians, I think it's nice that Zengo has a special vegetarian menu and listing of gluten-free selections on its website. I dined there once with someone with a gluten allergy and they were completely accommodating.

On this trip we started with the yellowtail ceviche (yellowtail, aji amarillo chiles, red onion, cucumber, apple).

At our sushi class we learned how to make their signature Angry Zengo Roll which we highly recommend. However, we tried something new this time, and opted for the Volcano Roll (blue crab, salmon, jalapeno aioli). Holy jalapenos Batman, that was tasty!

To add some greens to the meal we ordered the Give 'N Take Chicken Salad (pulled chicken, candied pecans, mandarin oranges, cabbage, piloncillo-ginger vinaigrette). Maybe the most fattening salad around, but so good.

May I also suggest a little pocket of wonderful known as the Thai Chicken Empanadas (chicken empanadas stuffed with chile poblano, Oaxaca cheese, and topped with mango-curry salsa served on a bed of spicy peanut sauce).

Last, but certainly not least, are the Charred Tuna Wonton Tacos (sushi rice, mango salsa, and tuna stuffed into a crispy wonton shell and served over a generous helping of fresh guacamole). It's almost like a tuna roll and a mini taco had cute little sushi taco babies. I could make a meal out of these tacos alone.

While I really enjoy the food at Zengo, the service can be hit or miss. Once we dined there with a friend who doesn't eat red meat and the waiter sarcastically dubbed him "Chicken Little." While we like to joke around, this waiter was pretty annoying. It's ok though, because Zengo taught us about "give and take." With each snarky comment he continued to "give", we opted to "take" away from his tip.

Second Thoughts From B

I distinctly remember the first time I learned about the concept of latin-asian fusion. At the time, and even now, it is not the most obvious of marriages. But the more I think about it, and the more I taste successful examples of this seemingly odd combination, the more I appreciate it. I've found that the biggest challenge and the biggest reward comes with finding the perfect mixture. Rather than have a Mexican dish with a hint of China or sushi with a taste of South America, balancing the two influences to create an entirely new flavor can be really wonderful. When achieved, the experience is new and surprising, while also being strangely familiar.

Of all the places we've been to that have tried to fuse latin and asian food, Zengo seems to do it most seamlessly. As J pointed out in her description above, the empanadas and tacos alone make a visit worth while. This is not to say that every dish is as successful from a fusion point of view. At times, you really have to scratch your head and take a second glance at the menu to determine what element has been fused.

Balanced or not, from a purely taste point of view, Zengo succeeds with almost every dish. Of note, their sushi rolls are delicious and creative. Pretty much across the board, we've found the flavors to be as loud as the dining room, and for that, your taste buds (but perhaps not your eardrums) will thank you.