• 10Jun

    Mad About Mad Fox

    Reasons for Mad Fox Madness:

    1. All their craft beers are brewed on-site in their 15-barrel Premier Stainless brewing system.
    2. Food products are locally-sourced as much as possible (local farms, local butchers, and the Falls Church Farmers Market).
    3. Beer flights! Sample 4 different types of beers in 4 oz. glasses.
    4. Rightfully awarded “Best Brewery,” “Best Brewpub,” and “Best Craft Brews” from Northern Virginia Magazine.
    5. All of their beers are created by Bill Madden, the CEO and Executive Brewer.
    6. The “Mad” comes from Bill Madden and “Fox” from his wife’s maiden name. Cuteness overload.

    I had the privilege to attend Mad Fox Brewing Company’s new seasonal menu items tasting event created by Executive Chef Brian Wilson, the newest member to join the brewery’s talented team. Upon my arrival each guest was served a beer flight.

    My favorites:

    • The Kölsch: a signature brew of Mad Fox is light and crisp with “restrained hop bitterness” that creates a “subtle fresh piney or spicy note,” as described on their menu.
    • The Maneuver IPA: although an IPA, this is considerably light. The refreshingly clean and hoppy flavors bounced around without any bitterness, and I noted some malty tones. This was my personal favorite from the beer flights.
    • Big Chimney’s Porter: smooth with an aromatic and coffee-like finish. For a porter, it is not heavy, and the black chocolate malts are blended just right to not overpower the consumption experience.

    My favorites from the 7 new seasonal menu items that were served:

    Cucumber-Melon Gazpacho

    This unique gazpacho was refreshingly delightful on my taste buds. The coolness of the cucumber and subtle sweetness from the melon are an ingenious concoction. Additionally, the saffron yogurt added some tang while the paprika oil smoothed everything out and the garlic croutons provided a nice crunch. And that basil leaf on top? It’s fried. And I loved it.

    FYI: I asked if the gazpacho is served to customers in this glass cup (photo) and Bill Madden said it is served in a bowl. I commented on the fun presentation of the gazpacho in the glass cup versus a traditional bowl, so you know who to thank if they change their minds on presentation.

    Arugula Salad

    A light arugula salad complimented by roasted corn, blackberries, avocado, and almonds. The lemon poppy seed dressing, the star of the salad, is not cream-based, but an emulsion that ties all of the components seamlessly together. It is a great salad for the summer season.

    Rustic Pork Pate

    Majority ruling amongst the event’s guests on the pork and chicken liver house grain mustard: it was flavorfully strong! Although the mustard was potent, it blended well with the slightly bland pate and toasted slices of bread. And the pickled vegetables delivered a much-needed tangy kick (and color) to the dish. This is a great choice for sharing as an appetizer or to nibble on with a glass of wine.

    Carrot Linguine

    I was pleasantly surprised to find this was a vegetarian entree. The noodles are made entirely from carrot puree and have a slightly sticky texture. The crumble of goat cheese added some tartness to the creamy lemon butter, and the pistachios provided a nutty crunch factor. Although I am not a fan of creamy entrees, this was a delectable dish. I’m not sure if I could finish the regular dinner portion myself but I wouldn’t mind splitting it with someone.

    I would like to again thank Bill Madden, Chef Brian Wilson, and our wonderful server for the evening, Brian, for a splendid tasting event experience.

    I went back to Mad Fox the same week and enjoyed sipping on a few Maneuvers while munching on some mussels. The PEI (Prince Edward Island) mussels are doused in a creamy house ale sauce with bits of pancetta, shallots, and garlic. A small bed of thyme rests on top and adds beautifully to the aroma and presentation.

    Their Happy Hour runs daily from 3pm to 7pm, with $2 off all their beers. I will be coming back again very soon. Cheers!

    -EHY (Elina)

    Mad Fox Brewing Company on Urbanspoon

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  • 24May

    Winners Jam with Lamb!

    Last week, I was (for the 2nd time) a judge at the Lamb Jam competition at Eastern Market. Above are some pictures, and below are the winners. In an interesting decision, the winner of Best Shoulder (who later on won People’s Choice), was not the shoulder dish that one Best in Show. So, Occidental Grill moves on in the competition to the next show.

    Best in Shank: Chef Erik Bruner-Yang from Maketto with cumin lamb shank chow fun

    Best in Leg: Chef Victor Albisu from Del Campo with lamb empanadas

    Best in Ground: Chef Wes Morton from Art and Soul with curried lamb sausage

    Best in Shoulder: Chef Dimitri Moshovitis from Cava Mezze Grill with lamb Benedict

    People’s Choice: Chef Dimitri Moshovitis from Cava Mezze Grill with lamb Benedict

    Best in Show: Chef Matt Baker & Rodney Scruggs from Occidental Grill with a lamb “Dagwood” sandwich

    -JAY

    Maketto on Urbanspoon

    Del Campo on Urbanspoon

    Art and Soul on Urbanspoon

    Cava Mezze Grill on Urbanspoon

    Occidental Grill & Seafood on Urbanspoon

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  • 16May

    Savor Good Beer Pairings!

    I attended Savor (the huge beer show) in Washington, DC  last night. I sampled some great beer at the show, and will show you some of the highlights. Let’s start with the oysters, which of course are great with beer.

    The Choptank Oyster Company was shucking their Choptank Sweets (Chesepeake Bay oysters), and serving them with lemon or one of three great sauces (ok, one was really a Champagne gelée so if more of a condiment) . The oysters were tasty, and my favorite of the three sauces was the Szechuan Chilli Mignonette, but the shucker’s favorite is Agave Kaffir Sauce.

    I attended a Salon (class) at the show: The Art of Pairing Craft Beer and Jerky. The presenters were Justin “Duke” Havlick (Duke’s Small Batch Smoked Meats), Mike Lawinski (FATE Brewing Company), and Jason Oliver (Devils Backbone Brewing Company).  Salon description: “Duke’s Small Batch Smoked Meats teams up with Devils Backbone Brewing Company and FATE Brewing Company to show attendees that smoked meats and jerky make for a quick, easy, versatile and most importantly, tasty partner for craft beer. Four beers will be perfectly paired with smoked meats and jerky from small batch producer Duke’s.” (Yes, they were good pairings.)

    I was new to FATE’s products, but they have only been in business a but over a year. FATE and Duke’s Small Batch Smoked Meats are both based in Boulder, CO.  Devils Backbone is local favorite for me since it is brewed in Virginia (and is excellent).

    Green Flash & Pork Belly

    I like Green Flash, this beer, and Pork Belly Brioche, but IMHO this was an unsuccessful pairing; the beer overpowered the food.

    My favorite of the 4 jerky’s was the Island Teriyaki Beef Jerky because I loved the chewy (but not tough) texture; it was paired with Devil’s Backbone’s Schwartz Bier, a German Style Black Lager. I very much enjoyed FATE Brewing Company’s Moirai IPA (with it’s grapefruit reminiscent scent and flavor); It paired well with the Sweet Bar-B-Q Braised Pork Strips. The Spicy Bar-B-Q Beef Brisket Strips are nice because they are from a different cut of beef and is spicy; they were paired with FATE’s Barrel Aged Baltic Porter. The Traditional Dry Rub Beef Jerky is for the traditionalists; as someone who didn’t grow up eating jerky, it’s a tough chew for me since you have to gnaw on it. The Traditional Jerky (smoked with hickory and hops) was paired with Devils Backbone’s Striped Bass Pale Ale. BTW, Duke’s Shorty is delicious as well, although it was not part of the salon tasting.

    Most of the beer pairings were spot on, especially the ones paired with dessert. Below are some of the highlights. Yes, wild/sour beers and dessert pairing were common themes this year.

    -JAY

     

     

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  • 29Apr

    Put Next Week’s Beer Events on your Calendar!

    Savor-Crowd-577x1024For beer lovers who won’t be attending Savor, the huge (sold out) American craft brew event is May 9th and 10th or the 2014 RAMMY Awards, you can still attend some great (and related) beer events.

    Many of the breweries that will be in town for Savor are planning events the week of the show. Click here for the official list of these events. The City Tap House events are not listed individually on Savor’s website (but are all listed under one entry for the 8th), so rather than miss them on the calendar, check them here. Three of the four Jack Rose Dining Saloon events are not on the Savor calendar, but you can find them here.

    Tuesday, May 6, 2014 from 6:30 PM to 9:00: Leading up to the always-sold-out SAVOR American Craft Beer + Food Experience (May 9-10), The Fainting Goat will pair four savory and sweet spring dishes with craft Atlas brews – one being an exclusive Fainting Goat cask ale created just for the event – while guests can meet and chat with Atlas head brewer Will Durgin. You can obtain ($45) tickets here.

    Hardywood Park Craft Brewery is planning the following Savor related events:

    – Tap invasion event at Rustico Arlington on 5/8 with Cigar City

    – Tap invasion at Bier Baron 5/9 with Green Flash and Funkwerks

    – Tap invasion at Meridian Pint on 5/10 with Firestone, Funkwerks, and Elysian.

    2014 RAMMYS Beer Program of the Year finalists are holding these in-house promotions Thursday, May 8:

    RFD SavorStarting at 6pm, Birch & Barley & ChurchKey will feature drafts and casks from Surly Brewing Company at The Surly Brewing Company Draft & Cask Takeover. With no fewer than 10 rare and elusive Surly drafts and casks on tap, don’t miss the opportunity to taste amazing ales otherwise unavailable in Washington, DC.

    Brasserie Beck will keep the RAMMYS celebration going throughout the day with an all-day $10 Antigoon Beer and Brats Special. Opened by Chef Robert Wiedmaier in 2007, Beck’s stunning and spacious bar boasts the city’s most comprehensive Belgian beer list outside Belgium with nine draught beers and over 100 offered by the bottle.

    Granville Moore’s will have special promotions that evening, but they have not yet been specified.

    Lyon Hall’s spacious patio will feature a fabulous Pig Roast/BBQ May 8th. Executive Chef Matt Hill will roast two whole pigs and serve it up with his gourmet side dishes and desserts made by Executive Pastry Chef Bridie McCulla. Beer Director David McGregor will be holding court outside, pouring special draft offerings from house favorite breweries and hosting a special tasting session of “Barrel-Aged” Beers that have been cellared at Lyon Hall.

    Mad Fox Brewing Company Executive Brewer and CEO Bill Madden will host brewery tours at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm, where guests will learn all about the brewing process and even have the chance to sample the freshest beers straight from the fermenting vessels of Mad Fox’s state of the art brewing facility. After the tour, congregate at the massive 63 foot bar and enjoy over 18 drafts on tap among a variety of other products like the 2011 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal award winning Kellerbier Kölsch.

    -JAY

    Editor’s Note: It turns out that Goose Island is hosting DC beer events this week (4/29-5/3).

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  • 11Mar

    D.C.’s Modern Day Speakeasy: 2 Birds 1 Stone

    Ever wondered what it would be like to walk into a hidden basement bar where their sign is subtlety displayed so not to attract too much attention, making you feel like you are part of an exclusive underground bar society cult?

    How intriguing would it be to know that their hand drawn cocktail menu changes quite frequently and their hours of operation and telephone number are nowhere to be found on-site and online?

    As the cocktail creator of D.C.’s Proof and Estadio, Adam Bernbach is the Bar Director of 2 Birds 1 Stone, D.C.’s modern day speakeasy located near the corner of S and 14st NW.  Yes, basic information you’d expect to easily find about a D.C. bar does not apply to 2 Birds 1 Stone. Go to their website for their location and email address but that’s all you’ll find. I was lucky enough to have my best friend who is a bigger D.C. foodie than myself to introduce me to this hidden gem.  Apparently, you never know when they open or close so you just gotta take a chance and go inside.  And wait lines are common on weekends so that’s why we went on a Thursday night and walked in with ease.

    The interior décor of the speakeasy bar is clean—whitewashed concrete walls with a minimalist chic kind of clean. As I entered, a cute portrait of two birds on the wall caught my attention. Upon sitting at the bar, I noticed several figurines of coupled birds scattered along the walls and shelves. I’m a sucker for small details that has obviously been given a lot of thought so bravo, 2 Birds 1 Stone, bravo.

    But most importantly, let’s get to the drinks. A nicely decorated bar providing a hipster’ish ambiance is nothing without great cocktail concoctions.

    I only had one drink because we were trying to kill time waiting for a dinner reservation at Barcelona a few blocks away (review on this will be coming up shortly), but that one drink was remarkably delicious. It was strong on the booze and flavors, just how I like it. If you appreciate the zing of ginger, cinnamon, gin, coriander, and mint leaves, order the Pimms Cup. It’s packed with natural flavors that kick your taste buds without leaving a sugary aftertaste.

    As for my friend’s whiskey cocktail, I can’t recall the name but I remember it was thoroughly enjoyed. If anyone reading knows the name of the cocktail to the right in the photo, please let me know. This was during the week of February 21, 2014.

    Could I drink the Pimms Cup all night? No way. But it was the perfect drink to sip on to kill time. Would I go back? Absolutely. I’m intrigued by their Southeast Asian bar food menu I didn’t have the chance to indulge in.

     -EHY (Elina)

    Click to add a blog post for 2 Birds 1 Stone on Zomato

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  • 03Mar

    Travel and Coffee can be a Dangerous Combination!

    We attended the DC Travel & Adventure Show this year. The show (as always) had great speakers, and we watched both (Travel Channel celebrities) Samantha Brown and Todd Carmichael present.

    Samantha has been on the Travel Channel for quite a number of years as the host of various self-titled shows, while Todd is in his second season of hosting Dangerous Grounds. Both of their presentations included wonderful storytelling and video clips from their shows.

    Todd’s La Colombe cafes are located in New York City , Philadelphia, Chicago, Seoul, and as of a  few weeks ago, Washington, DC. We headed to his cafe after his presentation to try some of the coffee that he potentially risked his life to obtain. La Colombe’s DC location is located in an alley across the street from the Convention Center. Yes, we talking about the same alley as Rogue 24, Blagden Alley. La Colombe is a small (long and narrow partially unfinished) cafe, and is generally very crowded with coffee connoisseurs. I tried the single origin Kochere from Ethiopia which was delicious, had a natural sweetness, and opened up as it cooled. “S” enjoyed her cappuccino.

    Keep an eye out for a second local La Colombe, since Todd said he is planning his next DC location.

    -JAY

    Click to add a blog post for La Colombe on Zomato

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  • 13Feb

    March 2014 DC Food Blogger Happy Hour

    The March DC Food Blogger Happy Hour will be at City Tap House on March 5th, 6-8pm. Please RSVP here. I am hosting with Chito of RUNIN Out. Thanks to everyone who attended last week’s happy hour at Nopa Kitchen + Bar.

    -JAY

    City Tap House Flyer FB

     

     

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  • 08Feb

    A Great Beer Dinner at Wildfire with no Gluten to Be Found!

    I recently had the pleasure of attending a gluten-free beer and food pairing event at Wildfire Restaurant in McLean. Not only was this event a culinary treat, but it was also an opportunity to make new friends and lament over the difficulties of gluten-free traveling. Guest speaker, Eric Marrapodi from CNN, told us tales of his own travel mishaps while also providing tips learned along the way. The laid-back, friendly atmosphere, as well as the flowing drinks, allowed us all to swap a few more tales of our own.

    There were four pairings, each with their own individual taste and flair. First, there were appetizers of fried oysters and prosciutto and date flatbreads paired with Bard’s beer. I have to say, the flatbreads were actually one of my favorite options from the night, along with the jumbo lump crab cakes. The crab cakes were made with Wildfire’s homemade gluten-free bread and served with a dijon mustard sauce and a Redbridge beer pairing. Since going gluten-free, I have found very few occasions where I can enjoy crab cakes, let alone ones that were as moist and tasty as these. My entire table gushed and devoured every bite.

    The second course was a coffee crusted beef tenderloin with scalloped potatoes paired with Estrella Damm Daura beer. This was my favorite beer selection of the evening, although it was unanimously agreed by my table that the Angry Orchard cider and apple cinnamon bread pudding was the best pairing of the evening. Even my husband, who is not usually a cider fan, agreed the cider brought out the flavors of the bread pudding, while the pudding toned down the sweetness in the cider. It was definitely the perfect pairing to end a perfect evening. I departed that evening satisfied with a full belly and promising to count down in anticipation for Wildfire’s next gluten-free event.

    -JPM (Joyana)

    Wildfire - Tysons Galleria on Urbanspoon

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  • 03Feb

    SweetWater Tap Takeover at RFD

    We were present at SweetWater Brewery‘s tap takeover at RFD last week. The Atlanta based brewery also did a tap takeover at Rustico in Ballston, so now you know two local places to get their beer on tap.

    My favorite was the 420 (Extra Pale Ale), but I was also a fan of the Georgia Brown–I do tend to enjoy browns. The LowRYEDer IPA is very good, and is nice to try a beer of that style (rye IPA). We also tried the (non rye) IPA, with Cy stating: “The SweetWater Brewery IPA is VERY hoppy. The label says kick in the teeth hops.”  Cy’s comments on the 420 are: “It is Bitter with citrus and sweet undertones. ”

    We previously sampled the Blue (made with a high quality blueberry extract), which neither of us were huge fans of, but we can see how it could become quite popular. You can definitely taste the blueberries flavor in the beer.

    Cy and I ordered RFD’s BBQ pizza, which was good, but contained bacon that we just could not taste. So, maybe the bacon isn’t necessary when you already have pulled pork, BBQ sauce ad cheese on a pizza.

    -JAY

    R.F.D. Washington on Urbanspoon

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  • 21Jan

    Sometimes You Need Coffee or a Pastry

    Pic courtesy of tripadvisor.com.

    When my friend first dragged me into Bourbon Coffee it was December, my friend desperately wanted a pastry, and I needed a coffee.

    Now, as a twenty-one-year-old and self-proclaimed semi-hip person, I was shocked by how un-hip I felt in Bourbon Coffee. The place was softly lit, paintings hung all over the walls, and calm jazz music played in the background. Everyone there seemed a bit too calm and I had grown accustomed to the long lines and headaches of Starbucks. However, after venturing into Bourbon Coffee a few more times, I started to love the bohemian ambiance. With free Wi-Fi, It’s a great place to do work, study, or read a book to relax. Also, as a side note, this place is warm with a built-in fireplace, which I am not underselling in this current season of freezing freaky weather.

    The coffee is pretty good too. Bourbon Coffee has over two-dozen espresso drinks, all with non-traditional sort of fun names. Always order your coffee to drink there- they serve it to you in over sized mugs that make you feel like you’re at Central Perk from Friends. They also sell Panini’s, yogurts, salads, and pastries.  Their breakfast menu is what I go for in the morning.

    Personal favorite drinks:

    The Nutty Irishman: Strong coffee, even stronger nutty flavor. If you like Irish Cream and hint of nutmeg in your coffee, go for this one. I get this every time I go. Must be eaten with a cookie.

    Mexican Hot Chocolate: Get this one, if you want something on the more luxurious side. They aren’t chincey on the chocolate. There’s also a hint of chili powder in it that gives it a nice kick.

    Recommendation: If you want something for dessert, leave the Danish and take the cookie. The pastries are only so-so but the cookies are delicious and are as big as your head.

    -Guest Writer, Mary Sette (MAS)

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