Restaurants

Weekend Planner

April 26, 2013 by jessica

Well, we are still working on fixing the calendar on Alexandria Lifestyle. Fingers crossed that it is fixed before next week’s Weekend Planner. Thankfully, you will find everything you need to do know here. It’s gonna be a great weekend!

One of my favorite jewelry designers, Ruth Barzel, is having a trunk show all weekend-long at one of my favorite boutiques, Periwinkle. There couldn’t be a better collaboration.
MAPPing Alexandria is the culminating event in Alexandria’s National Poetry Month. The event with feature readings of poems about our beloved city with Poet Laureate Amy Young.
A free facial and makeover at Bellacara? Yes, please.
Perhaps the best reason to have a sale ever, Bishop Boutique is giving customers a 15% discount on all LK Bennett items in honor of Will and Kate’s anniversary. Love it.
A spring tasting courtesy of La Cuisine.
And finally, one of my favorite foodie/charity events of the year: Carpenter’s Cook-Off at the Birchmere!

Now that you’re all up-to-date on this weekend’s happenings, let’s all hope the Calendar is back up and running soon!

Filed Under: Around Town, Boutiques, Charity, Food, Restaurants, Shop, Things To Do

How To: A Perfect Date Night

April 24, 2013 by Mariita Campos

I just came home after a perfect date night with my best friend. I’ll tell you what we ordered, but feel free to adjust to your personality and likes.

We started at Busboys and Poets for deliciously, organic cocktails. The drinks are meant to put you in the mind set for the upcoming season—perfect for poolside drinking.

We ordered the Blackberry Swizzle and Cucumber Martini. The Cucumber Martini was light and refreshing. The Swizzle was spicy and speckled with bits of muddled blackberries.

Cucu

We then headed to The Curious Grape. We had never been before and were unsure of what to expect. The service, food and wine were beyond what we had hoped for.

Our server, Anna, was helpful, honest and descriptive. Not in an obscure, I-have-no-idea-what-you-mean-because-your-palate-is-way-more-refined-than-mine way, but in a vivid way that is easily accessible and understandable.

MozzAppy

We started with the buffalo mozzarella and Serrano ham appetizer. Anna suggested we roll the cheese in the panko crumbs for texture. After we followed her instructions we knew to listen to her the rest of the evening. The cheese pulled apart in a way only good, high quality cheese does, and the ham was thin and salty.

The entrees were wonderful. And most are offered in half portions, which is how we ordered them. The first was a gnocchi, mushroom and fiddlehead fern in a brilliantly green pesto. The gnocchi was small, tender and perfectly cooked. The fern (the snail-like veggie in the picture) was seasonally beautiful–something that should be enjoyed now, in springtime.

Fern

The Vietnamese penne was beyond what I had expected. The pork was sweet and spicy. The pasta was topped with lots of shaved cheese. The balance between Asian sweet pork and creamy cheese was flawlessly achieved by the chef.

Penne

To end our beautiful dinner we chose a cheese platter. After all, this is a wine and cheese bar. And in case you were wondering–yes, cheese counts as a dessert. Anna graciously brought us a goat cheese platter with fresh bread, marcona almonds, dried apricots and jam.

Dessert Cheese Platter

Overall, we couldn’t have asked for more. Until our server informed us that we receive 10% off anything from the store. So in case you weren’t full and your craving un-satiated, you can take deliciousness home with you in the form of more wine, cheese, and chocolates.

The Curious Grape. Busboys and Poets. Thank you for a great date night. I will be back. With friends. And family. And anyone that appreciates an excellent mixed drink and great food.

The Curious Grape
2900 S Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22206

Busboys and Poets
4251 Campbell Avenue
Arlington, VA 22206

Filed Under: Alexandria, Around Town, Chocolate, Featured, Food, Restaurants, Shop, Things To Do, Tips, Uncategorized, VA, weekend, Wine

The Great Doughnut vs. Cupcake Debate

April 10, 2013 by Karin Mahoney

So, there’s this rumor on the street that doughnuts are becoming the “new cupcake” as far as specialty/hip desserts go. At first when I heard this I was like, wha!? But then, when I thought more about it, it makes perfect sense. Cupcakes, while tasty and have a variety of flavors and toppings, well… their expiration date has passed. It’s time for something new to come in and take over its place. While I’m not saying that cupcakes are going by the wayside, it seems that doughnuts are paving the way for the next best thing since sliced bread. (Too many carb-related analogies? Well, you get the point.)

Now, I have what you call a mega sweet tooth. (If you’ve been reading this blog for a little bit, you’re probably like, duh. We knew that.) I personally don’t show bias towards any sort of dessert, so long as it’s delicious. So when I was presented with this dilemma of cupcake vs. doughnut, I did what only any logical person would do, and conducted a “super scientific” poll on Facebook.

Basically I asked, “which do you prefer? Cupcakes vs. doughnuts and WHY?” Boy, was I surprised at the influx of responses I got back. I have to say, it was pretty much split down the middle as well. Some were vehemently for cupcakes, some loved themselves a hot doughnut.

Since my fail-proof survey well…failed, I decided to go to the big guns and ask what they’ve heard on the street.

“Our research and development team have been researching the trends of more artisanal doughnuts being served as desserts and other treats in restaurants,” noted Lafeea Watson, PR and Media Manager for Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp. ”We’re especially an increased popularity of hot doughnuts. In addition to hot, the sweet and savory trend has become popular the salted and sweet flavors as well.”

I figured the doughnut-loving crew at Krispy Kreme would know a thing or two about current trends. Oh, and just as an FYI, they’ll be introducing a number of limited time offering of Oreo and Ghiradelli doughnuts and beverages. Five words. GET. IN. MY. MOUTH. NOW.

While I, personally would choose a cupcake over a doughnut (I have a thing for obscene amounts of frosting, what can I say?) I’ll never say no to a hot doughnut.

Don’t believe me? Read this article from Crain’s New York Business.

Move over cupcakes…there’s a new, delicious trend on the horizon.

Craving doughnuts now? ( I know I am, after writing and researching this.) Check out any of these yummy places in the Alexandria area:

- Family Bakery and Mrs. Doughnut
8733 Cooper Rd
Alexandria, VA 22309

- Dunkin’ Donuts
(Pretty much everywhere. King St., Duke St., etc.)

- Krispy Kreme
6332 Richmond Hwy
Alexandria, VA 22306

- St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub
2300 Mount Vernon Ave
Alexandria, VA 22301

Filed Under: Chocolate, Food, Restaurants, Uncategorized, what's new

Sherwood Gourmet–Always a good sandwich

April 3, 2013 by Mariita Campos

If you ask someone where they get a good sandwich, they’ll say they go to certain delis for certain types of sandwiches. “This place is great if you want this, but if you are craving this you should go here instead.” When I want a sandwich, no matter what type, the first place that pops into my head is Sherwood Gourmet.

I’ve been eating their sandwiches since I was in high school. That’s a solid 14 years of sandwich eating (wow, that doesn’t make me feel old). And I keep coming back. My craving changes every few months, but I’m always able to satiate it.

Sherwood Gourmet is a little deli and gourmet food & wine shop located near Sherwood Hall library and Mt. Vernon Hospital. What’s great about it is they serve up a good sammie, whether hot or cold, vegetarian or cold-cut filled. Each sandwich is totally different, with a variety of toppings, cheeses, meats, sauces and breads.

I have a long list of favorites, but I’ll limit it to the three that I’ve ordered in the past few weeks:

The Mozart
Mozzarella is sliced thick and served on rosemary focaccia bread and topped with balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and basil pesto. The bread is slightly toasted and warms up the cheese. Even for a vegetarian sandwich, I am always left full.

The Skippy
This is probably the most boring sounding sandwich on the menu: “chicken salad on a croissant”. But it is one of the best. The chicken is chunky and creamy with the perfect amount of mayonnaise. It is studded with slivered almonds and dried cranberries. It is served on a croissant and topped with crunchy, sliced cucumbers. Definitely not your average chicken salad sandwich.

The West Potomac
If you are looking for a hearty sandwich that can easily be shared, this is it. This is a pastrami packed sammie, topped with homemade coleslaw and provolone on a crusty baguette. The meat is piled high, the cheese is perfectly melted and the coleslaw adds a crunch and coolness to the pastrami.

So if you’re looking for a perfect sandwich, no matter what type, go to Sherwood Gourmet. The variety of ingredients, fresh bread and creative spins on classics will have you coming back to try the whole menu.

Sherwood Gourmet

7900 Andrus Road

Alexandria, VA 22306