1.27.2010

SOTD or SOTY - Florence and the Machine - Dog Days are Over

Hello world, have you heard the XX remix of Florence and the Machines?  Apparently, in Europe they have, because shes a big start over there.  But, it seems she hasn't made it the same way in the United States?

Well, in my humble opinion, though it has a nice beat and makes me happy, nothing can compare to Florence and the Machines themselves!!! Florence Welch's voice is amazing - a little like Amy Winehouse, a little like Imogen Heap, and a little like Annie Lennox but all the best bits brough together to sound as fabulous as possible.  I want Florence and the Machine to visit Washington, DC ASAP any for as many nights as possible so we can get our souls uplifted and ourselves as danced as possible, because that is precisely what will happen. And PLEASE let it be at the 9.30 Club or Black Cat and not the Rock and Roll Hotel, I want it to be a nice big show with lots of people and lots of space to dance.

When I play this song, Dog Days are Over, I pretty much always want to close my office door, turn the shades so no one can see in the hall, and have my own little mid-day dance party. 


Now - you enjoy :)




1.19.2010

Udupi Palace - Vegetarian South Asian Indian Cuisine Heaven!


Feeling like they have been a little too spendy lately to follow through on their restaurant week reservation at Rasika (don't worry, it was cancelled) , the Kleiner and the Kleinette visited their now standby (they've been a couple o' times pre-review) vegetarian South Asian restaurant in Takoma/Langley Park, the UDUPI PALACE! 

Udupi Palace, located at 1329 University Blvd East, Takoma Park, MD is really an absolutely delicious vegetarian Indian restaurant.  It is appointed as many Indian restaurants are, yellow walls, some indian art, tables and chairs.  It included a bakery full of indian desert delights like Burfee.  We love several things about it - first -  they serve Dosai (and Uthappam but we have yet to try those) and fabulous curries with large portions.  Dosai is an enormous Indian crepe with fillings liked curried potatoes, onions and chillis.  They are served with chutnets and yogurt sauces that allow you to customize your spice/cool levels as you prefer.  We also had Paneer Makhni which is like a Paneer Tikka Masala, but maybe more tomato-ey and creamy?  It had so much sauce that we used the suace on the Dosai and the rice.  We also ordered a side of Mango chutney which was chunky and fresh to cut some of the spice in the dishes. 

We love the Upupi Palace because the food is simply delicious and there is so much vegetarian variety - including Tofu Makhni, Chana Masala, Avail cocumnet based curry and even vegetable Jalfriezi!  Dosais include butter masala dosia, mysore dosai (potato, onion and hot chutney), and special rava masala dosia (wheat and lentil crepes with onion, chilies, and grilled with potatoes).  We can't wait to go back and try the Uthappam, or even a desert like Rasamalai (home made cottage cheese in a special confensed milk flavored with rose water and garnished with pistachio nuts) or carrot halwa.

Its a great alternative to DC's expensive, small portioned Indian restaurants and a fun chance to experience the lively Takoma Park/Langley Park border area full of shops and restaurants from all over the world [Panderias alongside Sari Palaces!). 

Do you have any favorite places in Langley Park?  or just outside the Northeastern limits of the city?

1.18.2010

Hammam Turkish Spa at Dupon Washington Sports Club

Last night while the Kleiner was intently watching his Jets pull through to beat the Chargers in their playoff game (this is a large outpouring of football knowledge on my part, work with me) I decided that I would try out the Washington Sports Club at Dupont Circle.  Discovering that a passport membership was only $5 more than a membership to the Columbia Heights gym, I purchased one but mostly use it between C-Heights and the gym near my office.  Recently I noted that the Dupont Circle Washington Sports Club had recently installed a Hammam in their basement and decided that a good long gym session would be the perfect Sunday night football activity.  Hammam, Sauna, Steam -- around the world from Russia, to Korea, to Finland, to Sweden to Latvia and beyond are some of the most popular ways for men and women to get together, relax, talk socially and for business.  In Belgium, where I once lived, almost every woman went for the sauna after their work out, it was a ritual -- and I'm glad to see it becoming one in the U.S. too!!


I was pleasantly surprised to find the co-ed Hammam in sparkling condition.  It has two cold showers with 'light therapy', a large co-ed sauna (three heaters), an enormous hammam (that no one really appeared to use), and a large steam room.  I find that the hot, cold, hot, cold spa rotation is a great anti-dote to sore muscles, cold weather, rainy days and pretty much anything that gets you down, so I was elated to discover a good one included in my gym membership. Its co-ed, so everyone is wearing a bathing suit and at 7pm on Sunday the people enjoying the sauna were reading books and doing the rounds between hot and cold rather than going in like they do in Columbia Heights, sometimes in their gym clothes!  Overall, its a great addition, and I will probably start working out significantly more at Dupont Circle (except no pool....) just to take advantage of the Hammam. 


My history with the spa is long, I absolutely love European/Turkish style spas.  A massage or something else is nice, but, the heat baths (sauna, steam) have a really natural, really positive effect on us. Benefits include strengthening immune systems, alleviating joint pain and stress ;)  My favorite spa is the Scandinave Spa in Mont Tremblant.  Its rotation of hot and cold includes suanas, outdoor hot tubs, outdoor cold waterfalls, and  a cold plunge into the river!! I did this spa in December, in near 0 F freezing weather and was warm enough to make it through.  I also really liked the Hotel Jurmala spa in the old Latvian spa town of the same name, Jurmala.  My favorite one of recent times was located within the Standard Hotel in Miami.  It was simple, but very high quality, cedar sauna that smelled of cedar and got about 50% hotter than the Washington Sports Club sauna, aromatherapy steam room, very warm hammam, and gorgeous outdoor pool looking over Biscayne Bay.


What are your favorite ways to relax?? Any better hammam spas in DC?  I have read a write up in the Washington Post about the Korean Spa World in Centreville --- have any of you been there?  It looks interesting: Spa World.

1.17.2010

The Music Post...

Reporting Mumbling from The Kleinette


We have been listening to loads of music lately --- while in the car driving back to DC from Miami in the days immediately following New Years Eve, we listened to both the Sirius XM Alt-Nation countdown and Sirius-XMU countdowns and found ourselves particularly impressed with the Silversun Pick-Ups, The XX (they grew on us, especially when remixed by Florence and the Machines), Pheonix, Kings of Leon (literally, we listened to every album of theirs, from the loud, swashbuckling southern swaggered first albums to the packged to light up a stadium current album), PHISH (after seeing a three set show, the album music, or the jams flowing through 'XM Jam On' sounded even better.  I can't get enough of 'Joy' - its really gorgeous), Julian Casablancas (yes, we're still locked on).  


What have you been listening to lately that you really like??  Anything we should know about? :)


We also were at the 9.30 club, TOGETHER, twice - once for Julian Casablancas and a second time for a DC special, The Junior League Band and Justin Jones and the Driving Rain.  Julian Casablancas, eh, the album is good, and some of the songs are really nice on it, but live, really not that awesome.  It seems like the 9.30 club can't get its mixing together and kept the vocals a little too low and some of the other lines much too high.  He only played 55 minutes which was a dissapointment.  We loved Justin Jones, he works at the 9.30 club and owned his stage, and owned his bluesy, alt-country, high style rock songs.  His voice fills the place and his banter with the audience was a lot of fun.  The Junior League band had a fun bluegrass pop sound, but the mixing was again bad.  The singer, Lissy, was a star of that band and her vocals were too low! The drummer was also, in the Kleiners opinion, AWESOME.  They did a really memorable cover of  the Beatles, I've got a Feeling!  


I'd see them again - hopefully somewhere smaller.  


We wanted to catch the Silversun Pickups, but why oh why are they opening for Muse??  They could fill the 9.30 club twice with their sound and popularity, couldn't they please just tour on their own? :)


For your listening pleasure - Junior League Band - South Carolina Blues



CommonWealth Gastropub - Great Beer, great atmosphere....


Lots of posting --- another review from the Kleinette, and this time about the Commonwealth Gastropub located at 1400 Irving St NW.  Commonwealth has been around for about a year, and full disclosure, I've been thinking that this would be the perfect kind of place for DC.  I lived in London for a year and while mostly, I think the British are a little too reliant in daily life on those sandwiches in the plastic triangle boxes, I really loved traditional pub food, pies and beer and especially the deserts (STICK TOFFEE PUDDING!).  


Commonwealth, first and foremost, has a gorgeous atmosphere inside.  The restaurant mixes comforting and slick to make it comfortable place in my opinion for a potential first date, meeting up with a friend to catch up for a long time, or even a more businessy lunch.  Its classy and comfortable.  It is mostly made of dark wood, glass, and blackboards filled with specials.  


We had a delicious flight of beer for tasting, a dark stout, a winter mix, a wheat beer and another for $12.  Amongst the group, we had the brussels sprouts side (I wanted the dish it came with, but I don't eat pork, so..... alas) , duck risotto appetizer, fish and chips, shrimp and salad.  We were not - ooo ahhh wowed, by the food to be honest.  The Kleiner and the Kleinette had just returned from an extended stay in the south, in particular in Palm Coast, Florida which is located by the not-so-well known mecca of delicious food, Flagler Beach, where we ate some delicious fish dishes of all kinds, so, we were underwhelmed by the mid-atlantic version.  The Brussels Sprouts were tasty and balsamic glazed, but served warm.  The risotto was a little rubbery and too salty.  


Overall, I love Commonwealth's atmosphere and would like to go back with our other groupon to try some of the snacks, but I don't think for the price, that the food was quite worth it.  I remember reading the menu while walking by when it first opened and seeing a much more 'British' menu which was what I was looking forward too.  In England, a pub like this would have many more pie selections.  Maybe this didn't go over well in DC causing the change..... I think the atmosphere was great and its a good standby if you need a comfy, cool, non-offensive place to meet friends, but, for a gastro experience, I'd probably pick something else in the area. What do people think of competitors near by, like Social? or Room 11?  Or even Tonic in Mt. Pleasant?  I haven't tried those yet.....

Policy - Flash Light, Pulse Music

The Kleinette, with her Groupon, took a visiting friend from out of town for a bite at Policy, at 1204 14th St NW, one of the bustling U Street corridors's newest resto-small plate-bar type places.   


Policy has a long list of cocktails, a slick looking bar, and a sort of hip-diner design.  Full of booths covered in red patent leather, the restaurant with its low light and pulsing techno music, it gave off the vibe of trying hard to be hip and cool.  Its menu of small plates was what drew us in, and, that was the best part of Policy.  We had the duck spring rolls,red curried lentils, a baked brie and greens, and some kind of scallop dish.  The small plates were really delicious, but, overpriced for what they were without the groupon.  They were between $8-14 a pop.  


I was really hoping to like Policy, but the experience left me confused.  The loud techno music was pulsing at 7pm on a Wednesday night.  The service was very rushed, we were in and out in 40 minutes, but the restaurant was nearly empty.  The hostess was busy txting and seemed surprised when we took her up on the offer to put our heavy winter coats in the closet.  Policy is new, and its atmosphere is confused, expensive eats and blaring nightclub scene.  The servers seemed confused by people coming in for dinner - theres just no point in rushing people when your restaurant is empty!


If you want a hip place for a drink with a snack type dish, and Bar Pilar or St. Ex are too crowded, pop into Policy, the bites will be delicious, but it might be a bit loud and too contrived.  If you want to have a nice dinner of small plates, but aren't up for a nightclub, I'd probably try a different locale in the area.....


I'm also wondering, whats with the small plates dc??  It seems like these dinner tapas are all the rage throughout a wide range of cuisines - American, South American, etc..... While I like to share, and I like to try a bunch of different dishes, if I am going mid-upscale (for a young non-profit professional) I want to pay my $14-18 for a whole dish with a main item and a few different sides.... I don't always want to share with a group and I don't want to walk out having paid $25 for a variety of things......  Peanut gallery, how do you feel about all small plates restaurants?  Are they a pain or do you like the variety? :)

1.14.2010

Ezra's Favorite DC Restaurants

Hello Washington from the Kleinette!  It has come to my attention that Ezra Klein has posted a list of his top twelve restaurants in DC.  I'm going to give you a quick run down and my comments if possible.  Its an interesting list because he includes some of the classic ones that other restaurant critics like and then also one of my favorite favorite suburban warehouse treasures.... so here goes:

1. Palena - its in Cleveland Park, I've never been, but the outside area looks nice in the summer....
2. Komi - everyone raves about this one, again, never been!
3. 2 Amy's - they served me a delicious espresso one morning while I was working on a real estate project for work in the area... .one day I'll stop by for delicious pizza, but will it really beat Red Rocks or Pete's Apizza in Columbia Heights?
4.Jaleo/Oyamel - Tom Sietsema raves about these guys and I have to say growing up Jaleo was a Bethesda go-to for me (yes, Jaleo is a chain). and it was always delicious.  especially the Sangria.
5. Hong Kong Palace - no comment, haven't been.
6. Central - I walk by it all the time going to/from work and am waiting for it to become a work lunch destination (mm, memories of Bibiana)
7. Bar Pilar - I have sampled brunch and cheese and a tapas type dish here, all smashing.  I'm not sure why I don't go back more often...
8. Taylor Deli - no comment
9. Vace - no comment
10. Great Wall Szechuan - One day I'll have try this, I still stand by my view that Szechuan Pavillion on K Street is the most delicious Chinese food in DC
11. Super H Mart - Ezra notes that this is not a restaurant, and hes right, but, with the number of fabulous sauces, stir sauces, soy saues, rice noodles, udon noodles, spices EVERYTHING really it makes it very easy to cook restaurant style food at home.  A secret, I believe that the chef at Thai X-ing is using the little yellow canned Thai spice concentrations combined with coconut milk to make his extrodinarily spicy and delicious meals.
12. Spice Express - I had a wrap here....

I will add to the lunch list for him, BURRITO MAN! (Pedro and Vinny's on 15th Street NW, a treasure that I wish was closer to my office..... :) )

1.11.2010

Bibiana - Milano Italian Business Lunch

Written by the Kleinette:

This is the first review of a multipart (okay, probably only two part as restaurant week does not come so often) series on the restaurant group that owns 701, Rasika, Bardeo, Ardeo, the Oval Room and the Bombay Club.  Today, I'm going to focus on Bibiana!  Normally, the Kleiner and I have stuck to reviewing things that we do together, but, recently I visited Bibiana for a work lunch (don't get any false ideas please, this was a lucky day) and noticed that it was part of the group that owned Rasika which is where the Kleiner and I will be doing our restaurant week thing ;)

Bibiana, located at 1100 New York Avenue, is a new Italian restaurant designed in a style the owners describe as "Milano".  The colors were all beiges, silvers, blacks, creams and greys and the look was sleek but not too 'shi shi'.  The menu included very small anti pasto plates, salads, pastas, and main meals of meats and fishes.  I had read multiple reviews of the new restaurant in one of my favorite Washington Post chats with restaurant critic Tom Sietsema exclaiming that Bibiana was either a wonderful expression of Italian cuisine or a place that needed to grow up a bit.

My group shared the artichoke and date, almong ricotta piattis without the pancetta.  Both were oozing with flavor and very delicious light starters for a meal. The artichoke was served cool and tasted well-seasoned.  The sticky sweet flavor of the dates was cut well with the rich creamy ricotta. IF you want to order these dishes keep in mind that they are very small.

For our main courses, we had the Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese, the Smoked Potato Gnocchi, Brussels Sprouts and Pecorino Paccheri and the Large Rigatoni with Couliflower, Raisins and Pine Nuts.  Personally, I had the Rigatoni which was simply delicious.  THe Large noodles were coated with a light olive oil based sauce that mixed into what tasted like a reduced, sweet onion sauce with well softened golden raisins.  The Couliflower was well seasoned with matching flavorings that all melded will into the cheese which offered a kick.  The cheese was shaved and generous in such a way that I could place it on the rigatoni to contribute to the sauce.  I also tried the Gnocchi which were flavorful and light complemented well with the roasted Brussels sprouts (yum!).  The desert list looked really good, but, given that this was a work lunch, and we hoped to continue to work throughout the day, we opted for our espresso style of choice. 

The desert menu however called out, and included such yummy ideas as ricotta pancakes with cardamom sugar toping and  hazelnut semi freddo.  Also, given that this was a work lunch, I didn't have a cocktail, I want to mention that one day, when the Kleiner and I have reason to celebrate (that could be something like a birthday, or a Wednesday signally that the week is half done) I hope that we can try some of their interesting cocktails such as a 'Bibiana' made from Hibiscus Liqour, Creme de Violette and Prosecco or a Gabrielle made of Rye, Chocolate Bitters, Cardamom Syrup and Ginger.  Unique sounding indeed!

Recently I have eaten in a lot of restaurants, many not in DC, and a few here that aim to be high-end establishments.  I have found their dishes often to be played out and their service kind of half-hearted or rushy.  I found the service at Bibiana to be classy yet friendly and to be paced perfectly for the high-end meal that it was.  The dishes were unique and creative and for this I give it whole hearted thumbs up for a fancy occassional [or work lunch?] meal.

I'm looking forward to Rasika for Restaurant Week!