14K

I was in search of a place that we could walk to for Sunday brunch and since most places on OpenTable were booked, I decided to make a reservation at 14K. We soon discovered why it was the one place in town with availability...

It seemed like a nice enough place. It's located at the corner of 14th and K (clever name huh?) in the Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel and has a nice outdoor patio. I don't want to generalize and say that all hotel restaurants are bad. Farenheit at the Ritz Carlton in Georgetown is outstanding. 14K, however, is a "hotel restaurant" in every sense. Its website boasts that it is recognized as one of the best restaurants "in all of Washington, DC." I really hope tourists don't read that and judge DC's restaurant scene based on this place.

"It started with you and didn't get better...."

In retrospect, we should have walked out. I don't know if it was our sense of journalistic responsibility that kept us waiting but I wish we hadn't. It started off badly and only got worse. When we arrived we saw a cluster of about a dozen people gathered around the host stand but no host.

After waiting a few minutes I noticed a manager-looking employee placing tablecloths on tables. He avoided eye contact with the line that was forming behind the host stand, so I decided to walk up to him and ask whether a host was available. Without looking at me he said, "I'm taking the people that are first." So....we waited longer.


After about 5 more minutes the manager disappeared and the growing crowd (now up to 18) started to get restless. We noticed the manager at the buffet line wiping down dishes. Again, I walked up to him and explained that he had a group of people waiting to be seated and that we didn't appreciate him ignoring us. Without eye contact or an apology he grumbled and walked over to the host stand to begin seating people.

We were finally seated by Mr. Friendly (his name was Ischwar) and our poor overworked waitress explained the menu and the buffet option and promptly disappeared for 10 minutes. We probably should have left at this point but we stuck it out. What followed was the most uninspired, uninteresting $19 brunch buffet I've ever experienced. We don't even have any pictures of the food because nothing was photo worthy. Well, I suppose I could have taken a snapshot of the silver dollar pancake that was so hard it could serve as a discus in the next Olympics... or maybe it was a discus in the last Olympics?

The bottom line is, the food was mediocre at best and the service was terrible. I had to threaten to leave twice before we were able to get the check. I finally said "I'm leaving if we don't see the check right now." On the way out the door we came across our buddy Ischwar and I explained how disappointing the experience was. I said "Well, it started with you and didn't get better." He didn't apologize but instead said it was "one of those days." Well Ischwar, I'm sorry you were having one of those sorts of days but I'd rather eat an actual discus than have to deal with your restaurant again.

Second Thoughts from B

As J and I walked home, all we could do was laugh at the absurdity of the situation. The conversation went like this:

B: "You know, I've been thinking about it pretty hard and I can't come up with a single redeeming thing about that place."

J: "Well, at least it is over."

I think that about sums it up. 14K was tremendously understaffed with less than Employee of the Month quality people. For a place whose signature item was the breakfast buffet (so said the waitress during our brief moments with her), meaning that most of the guests are serving themselves, I don't understand how they could struggle so monumentally.

DC Sports and Recreation

J and I first met because of our mutual fanaticism for sports, so it is natural that we have actively sought out local sports-related activities. In some ways we were looking to recreate our passion for our West Coast teams, but like many others in this city, we were also seeking a connection to our new home. Sports, for both the fan and the weekend warrior, bring people together and have proven to be something that J and I share as a couple and something that has fostered many new friendships.

As discussed, Washington, D.C. is a town that is made up of many people who have come here from many different places. This is seldom felt more prominently, for better and worse, than in the sports and recreation scene. If you've spent any time in the District, you'll know that networking functions, particularly happy hours and power lunches, are a dime a dozen. Some of this is because of the political and legal industries that dominate much of downtown, but it is also a result of the many transplants that are new in town looking to find their professional or social niche. Therefore, it is not a surprise that newcomers look for something familiar through their sports teams. Alumni groups gather to support their college team, while many bars cater to particular fan groups from all around the country. If that's what you're looking for, you're only a Google search away from finding fellow UCLA basketball fans, Longhorn football fans, or diehard Cubbies fans, to name a few.

This phenomenon also carries over to many of the professional sports teams. While the Redskins and DC United enjoy relatively loyal fan bases due to their sustained history of high-level play over the years, other organizations struggle to maintain a consistent following during their down years. Not surprisingly, this transient support hurts the teams' economic bottomline and therefore, competitiveness.

Washington Redskins. Let me first get this off my chest. I don't understand how the Nation's Capitol, home of historic civil rights marches and a population that is 70% minority, still has a very popular football team named the Red Skins. This boggles my mind. I understand the history and marketing challenges but really, Red Skins? Could this happen to any other ethnic population? Can you imagine hearing this on SportsCenter, "The San Francisco Slanty Eyes defeated the Atlanta Black Faces by a score of 24-20 as San Francisco's fans rang their gongs and threw fortune cookies at opposing fans, many covered in black face paint." How is this any different?

OK, off the soapbox. Washington's football team might be the one that enjoys a true home field advantage. However, you'll have to know someone who is either very wealthy, very well connected, or been a fan for a very long time, if you want to get a seat (much less a decent seat) at FedEx Field. However, once inside, the unity and passion of the fans is palpable. This loyalty and passion is the benchmark for all other DC based franchises.

For those left on the outside looking in on gameday, host a cookout or hit the bars, all while sporting as much team paraphernalia as possible (car flags included). Just be wary that the team's big rival, the Dallas Cowboys, seem to have a very strong, if not vocal, fan base here too.

Washington Nationals. Retro is in and the Nats are bringing back old memories of the historically bad Washington Senators… The team got a brand new ballpark in 2008 and promptly went out and lost 102 games. Still, the ballpark is a wonderful place to spend a warm summer night or lazy Sunday afternoon, although it is not particularly distinctive. It is a shame that a city that is so iconic has a stadium that gets lost in the long list of modern baseball stadiums. This isn't to say it isn't nice because it is, but there's no warehouse like in Baltimore's Camden Yards or a great view like those that are prominently featured in San Francisco, Colorado, or Pittsburgh.

What it does have, however, it has in spades. Nationals Park features food that is much better than standard stadium fare since it is mostly from local establishments. Highlights include Ben's Chili Bowl half-smokes, Five Guys burgers, Noah's Pretzels W-shaped pretzels, Red, Hot & Blue barbecue, and Giffords ice cream. Another plus is the scoreboard which is 4800+ square feet of HD beauty. The highlight however, for better or worse, of most games is the President's Race in the 4th inning. 12-foot mascots, representing the four presidents on Mt. Rushmore (Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt), race across the field. Ever since this race started, Teddy has never won and has become the crowd favorite and lovable loser. Which segues nicely into the Nationals team itself... I'm always hopeful but let's just say that you shouldn't be too surprised when the cheers for the opposing team dwarf those for the home team. For more details on the Washington Nationals, read our post here.


Washington Capitals. With young, flashy stars that play an emotional and high-energy style, the Caps are seeing a surge in support. While hockey is still a fringe "major" sport in the U.S., this is the team to learn by. Even for those who don't know a blue line from a line change, the Caps offer a very nice product that can be enjoyed by any level of fan. The Verizon Center, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, is a standard modern arena that benefits from its own Metro station and a growing number of restaurants and bars nearby. The Capitals are on such a high right now that the Washington Post dared to ask the question of its readers, "Can the Capitals become more popular than the Redskins?" In this football-crazed town, the question alone speaks very well for hockey's future in DC.


DC United. Currently in a battle for a new stadium, the United is one of MLS' most popular and successful teams. Their fan club, the Screaming Eagles, set the tone for the games that feature all that is great about soccer. On the field, the team is usually very skilled, in part due to their dedication to obtaining stars from South America. In the stands, the passion for MLS is, in a word, fanatical and is refreshingly far from the typical American blase towards the sport. This is a good thing.


Washington Wizards. Formerly the Bullets (somehow this was the local team name that was deemed so inappropriate for DC that it had to be changed...), the Wizards are positioning themselves for a very high lottery pick in this year's lackluster draft. Here's hoping they strike gold and finally find a core group that can sustain success and warrant a decent following. Until then, the biggest attraction may be the opposing team's stars.

Washington Mystics. In my limited experience, the WNBA faces similar issues in most of their cities. The Mystics are no exception.

Baltimore. Can't find what you're looking for in DC? Don't forget that Baltimore is less than an hour away and features the Ravens and the Orioles.

Collegiate sports. The local teams, Maryland and Georgetown, both feature strong basketball histories and consequently, enjoy a pretty good following. Maryland’s football team is also relatively strong of late.

As discussed, there are a variety of reasons that DC lacks (mostly) the loyal fans that span generations and anchor franchises in other cities. However, the same factors that challenge the building of consistently large fan bases also creates a very healthy recreation environment. As mentioned before in an earlier post, there are plenty of options for running, biking, and hiking in and around the District. But the area that really excels is the multitude of sports leagues that includes every major sport, as well as large leagues for less mainstream sports like ultimate frisbee, kickball, and bocce, among others. In addition to groups of friends, teams are commonly formed by industries, companies, alumni groups, neighborhoods, and perfect strangers.

For field sports, you can almost always find people playing some sort of game on the National Mall or the surrounding areas. There is something majestic about playing on the front lawn (more or less) of the White House or in the shadow of the Washington Monument...

If the weather is good, chances are you’ll find me on a field with a frisbee in hand. Ultimate is coordinated through the Washington Area Frisbee Club (WAFC), which is one of the oldest Ultimate clubs in the country. In my humble opinion, you’ll be hard pressed to find this many good natured young people in one place with such disparate personal and professional backgrounds.

Mayur Kabab House

We got a comment on our blog from a dear friend who claims that we don’t review any inexpensive restaurants. In response, may I present Kabab House. The full name of this Indian-Pakistani culinary delight is Mayur Kabab House. I don’t know if Mayur is the guy who greets me each time and remembers my order, but whoever he is, he can cook up a mean kabab (or kebob, if you prefer).

When I Say “Kabab”, You Say “House”

First, I would be remiss if I did not mention the “House” part of Kabab House. The restaurant is located on the first floor of this funky European-looking house (think Geppetto’s Workshop) tucked between a church and a condo building. It is also located more or less across the street from our house, making it ultra-convenient on those “I worked 14 hours and there is no way I’m cooking” days.

The interior of Kabab House is, well, interesting. The latest Bollywood music videos blare from a TV on the wall, while fake potted palm trees and strange paintings line the seating area. About a year after we started going to Kabab House they “remodeled” and installed a partition (wall) in front of the entrance and its purpose remains a mystery. A buffet-table sits behind a glass divider and showcases the daily lunch and dinner buffet (bone-in chicken kababs and a variety of veggie side dishes are available for buffet-purchasers). The people who work at Kabab House are among the friendliest I’ve encountered in D.C. and they often remember my name and order. My biggest gripe about the place is their 1980’s-era obsession with Styrofoam. It’s all Styrofoam all the time at Kabab House (cups, plates, to-go containers, etc).


Kabab Your Head

Yes, I’d probably eat most anything that was cheap, located within 2 minutes of my house, and allows me dine in my PJs (this does happen I’m ashamed to say). We are incredibly fortunate that Kabab House has food we actually look forward to eating. I’d even go so far as to say that I often crave Kabab House.

I order the same thing every single time (shocking, I know) while B rotates through the half a dozen lamb dishes. For me, it’s the boneless chicken kabab (ordered “spicy”). The kabab is boneless-skinless chicken grilled and tossed in a spicy orange sauce. While the chicken is good, I really love the side dishes and the giant freshly baked pieces of naan. I can’t tell you what the side dishes are. I’m mostly certain that they are vegetables and 100% certain they are absolutely delicious. I love scooping the veggies and rice onto the naan. It’s a great way to offset the spice of the kabobs. Awesome.

B hasn’t met a lamb dish at Kabab House that he hasn’t liked. His favorite is Rogan Josh although I’m not sure whether he likes it the best or just likes saying the name of the dish over and over. I usually do the ordering when we get takeout and I just make my way down the lamb section of the menu, trying to choose something different on each trip. I rarely remember which one I ordered by the time I get home with the food, so I bet B can’t tell you which dish is which. Not to worry, they’re all yummy.

If you’re on a tight budget, the buffet is a really good value. I would order it each time except I prefer the boneless chicken to the buffet’s bone-in variety. Kabab House also advertises desserts and catering, neither of which we’ve had the opportunity to try.

Second Thoughts from B

I'm not Indian, I've never been to Pakistan, and I probably can't identify half of the things that I eat at Kabab House. However, I can tell you that when you go there, you'll find friendly people who make tasty meals in generous portions, all at a very reasonable price. What more could you want from the place down the street?

However, a note of caution. For those of you who shy away from spicy dishes, the menu may be rather limited. Nothing is so hot that you'll have to fight off tears, but most of their better dishes do have some amount of heat. In my opinion, this adds to the meal but I do realize this is a deal breaker for some.

L'Academie de Cuisine - Couples Cooking Class

It should be no secret that J and I enjoy food. If we splurge on anything, it would be for a nice meal from time to time. But we also enjoy cooking. While neither of us are particularly masterful in the kitchen, we both are comfortable and adventurous.

This is why we were very excited to take a cooking class for couples. Using a gift certificate that we received for L'Academie de Cuisine, we signed up for the "Romantic Dinner for Two" class taught by Chef Oliver Friendly. The class was held in the Gaithersburg location (the main location is in Bethesda). Each of the 24 attendees were partnered in six teams of four to make (and eat!) a three course meal over the three hour class.

Chef Friendly was true to his name (which is not a stage name) and blended technical knowledge with entertaining anecdotes from his time as a student in L'Academie and throughout the world of food. Among the highlights were personal stories of celebrity chefs (of note, Gordon Ramsey), memorable blunders (don't burn the sesame seeds unless you want to eat a pound of them), and kitchen initiations (spending an hour, soaking wet in the freezer). He was far from intimidating yet earned the respect of the most experienced members of the room. While the evening might not have been the advertised romantic night out, it was exactly what we were looking for. At the same time, other couples who were less involved and looking for a less interactive experience, seemed to enjoy it as well.

The class was more than just following a recipe while being entertained. We learned practical techniques (sound knife techniques and the proper way to separate an egg, cut an onion, and season soup) as well as new ways to approach a meal (preparing stock, constructing sauces and soups, and the chemistry of cooking). The menu included: potato and sorrel soup, Maryland Rockfish with sauteed mustard greens and carrots with a tarragon wine sauce, and vanilla crème brulee. Nearly all of the ingredients were freshly purchased from local farmers markets.

I think the soup was probably the most useful dish since it was taught with the idea of future concoctions with a variety of substituted ingredients. That said, the soup was also the dish I'm most excited about remaking. It was clear that the creamy soup was freshly made with quality ingredients. Also, the sorrel which I'd not heard of, much less cooked with, was a great addition (it has a fresh tart/sour flavor).

The fish was my primary assignment for the night and while good, it was something I'm used to cooking at home. The most instructional element was the creation of the sauce, something I'd also like to try for myself.

J made the crème brulee. Again, this is something we've done at home but was fun to do again.


The Sous Chef (or just J) Speaks

I’ll admit that I was a bit nervous about attending a class at a professional cooking school. While I can hold my own in the kitchen, my skills are less than polished. I cook sort of like I type: my fingers are never in the right places but I get the job done quickly. My nervousness subsided as soon as Chef Friendly began to speak. He is down-to-earth and far from intimidating. There were some missteps along the way (I coated my wedding rings in egg as I attempted to separate the eggs with one hand) but by the end of the class I was eagerly volunteering to torch the crème brulee. I had a really good time and learned a lot.

I normally review each dish and describe in detail the textures and flavors. For me, however, this class was less about the food and more about the learning experience. Don’t get me wrong, the food was outstanding and it was a real treat to get to sit down to a three course meal after all of our hard work. B and I really took advantage of the opportunity and jumped right in. Chef Friendly even thanked us for being so interested and engaged. By getting over my fear and getting my hands dirty (very literally) I took home several valuable kitchen techniques. I’m eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get into the kitchen to test out my new skills.

The class fell short of expectations in only one respect. As it was advertised as “Romantic Dinner for Two” I expected to learn how to work together in the kitchen as a couple and divide tasks to conquer challenging recipes. There really wasn’t any focus on the “couples” aspect of the class but I think B and I have that part down pretty well. Our teamwork is definitely one of our strong suits. As demonstrated all of 30 minutes ago – I’m writing this 40,000 feet in the air – we currently hold the world’s fastest time for Synchronized Airport Security Screening (I dare you to try to get your shoes off, laptop out, metal items off, and boarding pass in hand faster than us). The point is, it would have been nice for the class to put a bit more emphasis on the couples part as we sometimes step on each other’s toes in the kitchen. Overall, it was a great class taught by a very enthusiastic and comical chef.