The Best Food and Drink in DC : U Street/Shaw/Columbia Heights -- Part Deux

Lunch ------
See, lunch in this area is a pleasant mix of the business types stepping out of the (few) offices, and the working set (who keep your lattes extra hot and so on) either grabbing a quick bite to eat or sitting down and relaxing for the few minutes they have before schlepping themselves back to the old grind.

Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant, 1118 U Street NW ----- Menu

Winner for Best Ethiopian food in DC

Named the best Ethiopian restaurant in DC by DC's CityPaper (and trust me, there are SOOO many good ones), this place has seen much of my face: sober, drunk, and during lunchtime after painting the pants off of my house....literally....or some other amendment. Seriously, after some serious work sessions, be they mentally or physically trying, this place has saved my stomach from collapsing into self. I love the Dukem Special beef and lamb tibs, and I also like their take on beef tartar, which is any of the Kitfo's. The meat is well seasoned, but not too much so that I'm guzzling down beers to relieve the taste buds. It's also kind of a right of passage when you are visiting/moving to DC. Then they pass out a nice shot of Ethiopian coffee after your meal, which makes me feel like less of pig.

Price: $$

Final Word: Get the Tibs, and sit outside if it's nice!

Julia's Empanadas, 3239 14th St. NW ----- Menu

DC Adventurer's Budget Choice!

This is very simple. Simple, elegant, delicious, and portable. Empanadas are probably one of my favorite savory foods other than pizza and everything. And, being Latina, I can't say these hold a candle to the ones my mother makes. My favorites would have to be between the Chorizo; delicious chorizo with rice and black beans like god intended, and Jamaican Style, which is just perfection. These guys know what's happening, I just wish they had a truck. But alas, they have several locations in the DC area.

Price: $

Final Word: $4 for a piece of savor (and sweet) emapanada goodness, definitely good on the go.

Pho 14, 1436 Park Rd. NW (between N 14th St. and N Kenyon St.)

PHOOOOOOOOO

Another pick in Columbia Heights, and in my opinion, good for anytime they are open. I love Pho. I love a rich yet strangely cleansing broth with greenery and good cuts of meat, bean stalks for some texture, and LOTS of cilantro. It's filling, but not something that will make you bloat, and that is an awesome thing. My usual orders are between the large Bo Vien (Meatball Pho cause I fucking love meatballs) or the also large Nam, Ve, Don (Sliced, YUMMY Skirt Flank Pho). They also have Bahn Mi; I'v only tried the Bahn Mi Xa Xiu (Red Marinated Pork), but that was pretty good so definitely venture into that craze that's swept DC.

Price: $$

Final Word: Nice atmosphere, delivery(!), and real good Pho.

The Greek Spot, 2017 11th St. NW ----- Menu

DC Adventurer's GIMMIE DAT GYRO pick

I love greek food. The seasonings, the fact that gyro isn't really greek, the tzatziki sauce. And don't get me wrong, I love that greasy, perfect when you're either close to eating another human being or really drunk dish (is it?) called a Gyro, but that's not my bag for this place, and most greek restaurants that are super americanized. It's all about goos Soulvaki and good Moussaka. Soulvaki is the only way I like lamb (unless you all have something I should try?) and Moussaka the only other way I can tolerate eggplant than Baked Italian Eggplant (cheese or I'm not touching it). And both things are genuinely good, even though the Soulvaki at The Greek Spot is made of char-grilled pork, it's super good. 

Price: $

Final Word: Good for carryout, go for the things that AREN'T falafel or gyro, for once.

Cork Market, 1805 14th St. NW ----- Menu

The Picnic Pick!

I know there aren't many places to go for a picnic, but let's just say you have a date. Or, maybe, a free Sunday and your friends want to chill outside after nursing their hangovers (naughty). The plan? Go straight to Cork. Get a lovely, robust Tempranillo, or a light airy moscato. Head to the refrigerated section, pick out the egg with goat cheese and bacon salad, chicken salad (WITH some deliciously crusty french bread they have), cans of tuna, olive spread, and maybe a few of those brownies behind the corner (SHARE cause those things are rich, amazing, but suuuuper rich). Head over to Dupont Circle, since we're assuming it's a lovely day, with blanket and spoils en tow. Hide the wine, cause I'm not sure you're supposed to be drinking that out in public. You fiend.

Price: $$$

Final Word: Kind of pricey for food (but you know it when you need it), but pretty reasonable on wine prices.

The Best Food and Drink in DC : U Street/Shaw/Columbia Heights -- Part Un

Alright, this is IT. FINALLY AGH. Pricing key is super simple, $ being inexpensive (even for the starving artist) and $$$$ being holy shit this meal for two is about the amount of your rent.

Buckled? Ready to make your web browser tab-a-liscious? (I regretted that the moment I typed it, but whatever gets you all to laugh...)

Coffee and breakfast ------
This can get complicated and messy, and really annoying. The Starbucks in the locales, are, in my opinion, really slow to make my drink without any excuse. Then there are some places that just can't and should not touch during Brunch hours. Luckily, there are a handful of quality, kitsch, and truly comfortable places to grab a quick cup or get your brekkie and sit out on the sidewalk.

Peregrine Espresso, 1718 14th St. NW or 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE ----- Menu 
DC Adventurer's BEST COFFEE Pick- Neighborhood & Possibly DC
Why?: Their beans, their roasting, their barista art, their cute as hell baristas that I NEED IN MY LIFE (AHEM)....well, they offer the whole package. I usually like my coffee relatively sweet (some might argue saccarine) unless I have really good coffee I'm dealing with. I NEVER USE SUGAR HERE; there's not point, everything is brewed and prepared so exquisitely. They're environmentally responsible too, all the way down to the coffee cups and lids. If you need good coffee in your life, and you don't mind the (somewhat) 7 minutes it takes to make a beautiful and creamy latte, then this is THE place. If you plan  on bringing your startup, however...they're a pretty small place for that.
Price: $$
Final Word: Best Coffee on the 14th strip (between Logan Circle and U Street), arguably in DC.


Big Bear Cafe, 1700 1st St. NW ------ Menu
Runner Up for BEST COFFEE Pick
Why?: Proximity to the metro and the fact that I'm obsessed in absolution with the above coffee place, Big Bear gets second place. However, the coffee is great, and it's a sweet spot for coffee and a bagel, your new coffice, or even for lunch and dinner! Their outdoor area is so pleasant, and the neighborhood is super pleasant. Watch out on weekends thought --- I think this place does brunch big time, and if you don't like loud drunk people cackling near you about stupid first world problem shit, then you want to avoid DC brunch. Shit I avoid DC brunch.
Price: $
Final Word: Nice outdoor seating, great vibe, very versatile place --- watch out for the brunch mob, though!!!


U Street Cafe, 1301 U St. NW ------ Menu
One of the two BEST COFFICES Pick
Why?: U Street Cafe is great for a few reasons -- 1) The U Street Metro exit is about a block away, 2) it is nice and quiet usually, 4) WAFFLES and 3) you can go from breakfast to lunch while doing work (and without feeling bad about spending money twice there)! Its prime location, pleasant staff, and the prevalency of avocado let me give this place a thumbs up!
Price: $
Final Word: Great coffice, veggie options, and WAFFLES. 


Coffy Cafe, 3310 14th St. NW ------ Menu
Best New Kid in the Neighborhood & One of the two BEST COFFICES Pick
Why?: First off, let me explain coffice to those that aren't familiar ( I've been throwing that word at you for a bit); a coffice is a coffehouse office. A place that you o your work vs. at home. I enjoy them thoroughly more than being at home, as well as co-working spaces (cept...those cost sick money. To be in a coffice all day, I just spend from $5). So, I discovered this place yesterday (and they opened about 2.5 weeks ago) and yeah it's pretty kitschy and cute and funky (it's all posters scattered through the wide open space of Barbarella, Foxy Brown....The Bride? *shrugs*), but the coffee is decent, and the crepes and pretty noms. I recommend the 'Super Fly', a buckwheat crepe with carmelized onions and sauteed red peppers with delish sweet italian sausage. For a sweet one, I can't say yet, but if you've never had a crepe before, just do yourself the favor and have a plain Nutella crepe. That's seriously thebomb.com.
Price: $$
Final Word: Nice people, nice and plenty of space to do some work, and crepes! 

FEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD. Translation: Noms

AY SO HUNGRY.

Yep, it's happening. I'm finally rearing my non concentrative head towards FOOD AND DRINK.

The great things about DC is how diverse the area is and how accessible things are. This certainly goes for food. And I'm not talking about Jumbo slices or those sketch hotdog carts on the mall or fucking Chipotle.

Fucking. Chipotle.

I'm talking about amazing food and amazing atmospheres that are really characteristic of DC.

So how do we start most journeys? From home of course.

Stay tuned for the U Street / Columbia Heights / Shaw foor and drink picks hopefully today (or if I'm just not spewing the magic [highly unlikely], tomorrow).

Also, a few reminders if you want to waste some time/catch up with the time wasting I've been doing.

UNO

DOS

TRES

Besos, xxoo

OH SHIT, WAIT WAIT WAIT.

SO this really dope female named Amy Kreslie Bormet (tweet and blogspot herrrr), a local, very talented jazz musician, and MY GIRL, has organized Washington Women in Jazz Festival. It's this approaching week, March 21st - 27th 2012, at various locations. The lineup is insane, and it's going to be a vajazzling good time. BUY TICKETS, GO TO SHOWS, then tweet me or the festival so I know you're all good little DC Adventurers.

PEACE, LOVE, AND VAJAZZLIN.

It's been a long time since I've seen your smiling face...s?...

...whatever. Let's get to the juicy stuff.

    Probably the most relevant picture for the current events...no harshness, just ready to do something awesome...

1) No longer trying to start up a Jazz column at BYT---and I thinks it's for the best. SO FOR THE BEST. The whole thing kind of opened my eyes, and made me realize they aren't a good platform to talk about music, only about scenes and general hipster topics (which = not my cup of tea).

2) I HAVE been, however, revamping Hot Toddy Creative, and hopefully I may answer the call to the across the board entertainment blog within a few months (fingers crossed!). It's exciting and daunting, but I know I can muster something up---I always seem to when the going gets too tough.

3) HEY HEY, check THIS out!

4) Oh and these.

And stay tuned. The title, and general outlook of DCA is about to change rapidly. I need YOUR help to make sure your needs are met!

xxoo

PS-- anyone wanting to write during their free time, and it can be about literally anything (we're thinking more about Art, Music, Theatre, Film, Food, and heavily local [AND MEANINGFUL]), please send a writing sample and what makes YOU excited about DC (or lump them all into one) to hottoddycreative@gmail.com!