Wintergreen Resort

When we got married, B and I decided to split the special occasion planning duties: B plans our anniversary (August) and I take care of Valentine's Day. This year, I wanted to plan a weekend getaway that wouldn't break the bank. I decided on a ski weekend but had no idea where to go since we had never skiied on the East Coast before. After a lot of internet searching and conferring with friends, I decided on Wintergreen Resort in Virginia.

Wintergreen is normally a 3 hour drive from DC (it took us 4 hours on the Friday after the Snowpocalypse). It is a pleasant trip without the scary, windy roads (I'm looking at you Snow Summit) that I'm used to facing on the way to a ski resort. Also, if you've never been to Monticello, it is worth a stop on the way to or from Wintergreen.

The accommodations at Wintergreen range from a hotel-style lodge to 7 bedroom homes for rent. I chose a one bedroom condo with ski slope access for less than $150 per night on a holiday weekend. It featured a fireplace and a full sized kitchen, and best yet, was about 100 yards from a ski run.

The check-in and ski rental process were efficiently run and we didn't wait in lines (even on a Friday night of a holiday weekend). We were glad to be able to rent the equipment the night we arrived so that we could hit the slopes early in the morning from our condo. Parking was also hassle-free and they offer a shuttle service in case you don't want to drive around the resort.

Prior to the trip, I booked dinner reservations at the Copper Mine Bistro, and they were helpful and very accommodating when I wanted to change the reservation day and time. We were seated next to a roaring fireplace and enjoyed a reasonably-priced prime rib dinner on Valentine's eve.
The highlight of the trip was definitely The Plunge tubing park (pictured above). Tubing at 40+mph with no walk to the top of the hill (thanks to a moving walkway) is my idea of a great time. I don't think I stopped smiling the entire 2 hours we tubed. Make your reservations online in advance because the tubing sessions can sell out on the weekends.

Overall, we had a blast at Wintergreen and it was so convenient. I think it'd make a great place for a low-key family reunion. If you're not into the snow thing, they offer golf, swimming, tennis, and hiking during the rest of the year. Next time, I want to check out the Wintergarden Spa and perhaps try zooming down the hill on the zipline.

Have you been to Wintergreen? If not, where do you ski near DC?

Second Thoughts from B

First off, I know what all you guys are saying, "Your wife plans Valentine's Day for you?!?!" Yeah, she's that cool. And really, it makes sense. Neither Valentine's Day nor an anniversary is gender specific, yet somehow tradition has made it a guy's responsibility to treat the ladies. Well, we live in an equal opportunity gift giving household, and she is just as happy to give as I am to receive. But it does put the pressure on me for August...

But back on topic: Wintergreen. I think the whole weekend can be summed up by J's comment that tubing was the highlight of the trip. This is half because it was far more fun than we could possibly describe, and half because the skiing is adequate at best.

Even with historically good snowfall, I wouldn't recommend Wintergreen as a ski-only destination. There are only 5 lifts of which 3 are worthwhile, and the runs are rather short. Granted, I'm spoiled having cut my skiing teeth at Mammoth, Lake Tahoe, as well as in Utah and Colorado.

However, as a winter activity center, Wintergreen is fantastic. Walking to the slopes takes most of the hassle out of skiing (now if they could only make ski boots warm and comfortable). The food at Copper Mine was surprisingly good and reasonably priced. The condo was such a bargain and the equipment rental operation was smooth. Topping that off with the fantastically fun tubing made for a great weekend.

Againn

I get really, really excited when new restaurants open in our neighborhood. One of the perks of downtown living is having an abundance of dining destinations right outside your door. Kabab House has saved the day on countless, "B, I'm going to be working really late" nights (see here). Brasserie Beck makes for a great neighbor too: mussels, fries, Belgian beer across the street = awesome (see here). When Againn opened a few months ago, I couldn't wait to test it out to see what kind of neighbor it would be.

Againn (pronounced "aguinn"), is a Gaelic word meaning "with us." The restaurant bills itself as a "contemporary British Isles Bistro" and serves modern interpretations of British Isles pub classics. You can even rent your own scotch locker if you're into that sort of thing.

I applaud the designer of the restaurant for making a small space feel both spacious and cozy at the same time. The two rows of booths are offset at different heights to enhance the privacy and give each row a view out the large windows. On this particular night, the snow was coming down fast and furious, and we were delighted to be inside Againn in a cozy booth with a cozy beer to match.

Our very outgoing waiter pointed us in the direction of the charcuterie menu for our first course. He highly recommended the Potted Pork which is something that, based on the name, I never in a million years would've ordered on my own. I'm glad I overlooked the scary name and listened to the waiter. A glass jar was filled with a pate of confit pork shoulder that you spread over garlicky bread and topped with sweet onion marmalade and tangy mustard. Even the description sounds gross, but somehow it just worked.

When I tell my stomach that we're having British pub food, it tells me we're having fish n' chips. Againn's version featured one massive (and delicious) piece of fish served atop English egg sauce. The fries were thick-cut and served piping hot, making a perfect mate for the crispy fish. Keeping with the unappetizing menu descriptions, the dish was served with Mushy Peas which are a whole lot tastier than you'd think.

B went with the classic British tummy-warmer: Bangers and Mash. While the sausages weren't amazingly memorable, B raved about the mashed potatoes. It was a perfect dish for another snowy DC evening.

So, is Againn a neighbor that would make Mr. Rogers proud? I think so. Againn isn't your neighbor that is too-hip or too-loud or too-splashy. Instead, Againn is that neighbor who is warm and inviting and serves good (if not predictable) comfort food. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Second Thoughts from B

J listened to her tummy and got the fish n' chips. B listened to every single thing written about Againn and got bangers and mash. J won.

I know what you're thinking... Upscale British food? Sounds like the lead-in to a bad joke, right? But J's dish was really a perfectly executed, fine ingredient version of the familiar greasy-spoon offering. And those peas... For two kids whose experience with peas were of the frozen variety, these were amazing. Sweet, dynamic in flavor, and completely unlike our childhood memories. They could have been the spokesperson for the entire fresh and local food movement.

Like J said, my bangers weren't exactly bangin. Perhaps that is because the mustard-flavored mashed potatoes and onions were so powerful. But wait? Haven't I seen that flavor profile of pork, onion, and mustard before? Oh yes, it was our appetizer. Not exactly my finest job of ordering...

In closing, there were enough high points to bring us to Againn again. But will it be our favorite neighbor like Kabab House and Beck? For me, probably not.

Himalayan Heritage

In December, we had plans to have dinner at Himalayan Heritage before venturing out to the Kennedy Center. As you know, the weather dumped 20 inches of snow on our plans (see here and here). One month later, an almost identical scenario unfolded. We had plans to go to Himalayan before the Kennedy Center (see here) and Mother Nature dumped a ton of snow on DC. Undeterred, we pressed on, figuring that a restaurant with "himalayan" in the name would probably scoff at DC's snow and be open for business.

Lucky for us, Himalayan Heritage and its cozy dining room were ready and waiting for us when we arrived for an early dinner. Once you wade through the cloud of incense smoke at the front door, you'll see a lantern-lit dining room swathed with silk fabrics and brightly-colored paintings. A half-roof hangs over the booths on the wall making you feel as if you're dining in a Nepalese home, and your party's name is printed on a little placard on the table completing the welcoming feel.

The menu describes the food as "Authentic Nepalese and Indian Cuisine." The Indian dishes on the menu were familiar but we hoped to venture over to the Nepalese side of the menu. We asked our waiter for help, but he was so soft-spoken we couldn't understand most of what he recommended. Our friends had been to Himalayan Heritage once before, so they were able to steer us in the direction of some very tasty dishes.

To start, we ordered the Gobi Manchurian (Cauliflower fried in a corn flour batter served with a hot and sweet dipping sauce). Himalayan managed to take an often bland and lifeless vegetable and pack it with flavor and heat.

Next up were the Vegetarian Steamed Momo (dumplings). These were good but I thought they tasted just like the dumplings in the Trader Joe's frozen food section. That's not a bad thing, they just weren't anything new or exciting.

B ordered the Himalayan Karahi which was a hit and miss dish. Certain pieces of meat were tender and juicy, while others were on the dry side. It was more than enough food for two people to share.

I tried the Shrimp Curry Nepali Style (jumbo shrimp cooked in onion and tomato sauce with curry spices and coconut milk). The combo of the tomato sauce and curry/coconut milk made for a strange yet delicious Italian-Thai fusion dish. It was one of the more unique flavor combos I've eaten. Ladeled over rice and scooped up with the fluffy garlic naan, this was a perfect dish for a snowy night.

If you're looking to try something new and don't have the time to venture to Nepal, Himalayan Heritage should be added to your list. With the snow piled high against the windows, you just might forget you're in DC.

I recommend checking out Restaurant.com where you can purchase discounted gift certificates to Himalayan Heritage. Our friends got a $50 gift certificate for only $20 making our first trek to the Himalayas quite the bargain.

Second Thoughts From B

I know it'll sound like I'm completely dismissing the food (which I'm not), but the thing that was most memorable to me about Himalayan Heritage was the dining room. You know when you're at Disneyland or Caesar's Palace in Vegas they have all those facades that make you feel like you're in another world? That's how I felt. It was complete immersion into what I imagine that region of the world to be like. That said, I'm completely ignorant about Nepalese food/culture outside of the time Indiana Jones spent with Marion in her bar during Raiders of the Lost Ark and the book, Into Thin Air...

This is exactly why we needed a guide to help us along the way, yet somehow ended up with Silent Bob. We've written a lot about how much I appreciate guidance from a waiter. Usually I can navigate a menu without assistance, but I've found that having the help of someone who has tasted everything and gotten feedback from everyone is far superior to a few words on a page. However, in a restaurant that seems to pride itself in cultural immersion, this shifts from a nice option to a necessity, and I felt a bit lost.

Another Snow Day, Another Walkabout...

... and another set of pictures from DC's latest edition of winter wonderland. This set was captured after the snow and winds took a break, allowing these two DCers a much needed opportunity to get out of the house. It was cold and barren in the streets of the city, but if you could stand to peek out of your layers of bundled warmness, you saw some real beauty.

There's just nothing like new fallen snow. Especially with old-timey city lights and empty streets.

Even the most industrial elements of the city seemed to take on an elegance. Also, it is proof that DC is full of hot air...

But despite all the annoyances that this winter has brought, these two transplants still see it as another way that DC is a very romantic city. Icing on the cake, if you will...