The Oval Room: Test Kitchen Tuesdays- Where the Chef Plays With His Food

The Oval Room is a serious restaurant. This Ashok Bajaj restaurant has a dining room that skews formal, and luxurious ingredients such as caviar, truffles, and foie gras often woven into the modern American dishes.  It is known for attracting DC power players and is well-positioned as a business or special occasion dining destination. Helmed […]

Lupo Marino: Yes I Can

I can’t even.  I seem to find myself scratching my head in disbelief quite a lot these days. Most often I employ this phrase as a negative reaction to an event or situation, but occasionally it’s how I express myself when I find something impressive or intriguing. “I can’t even” is what I exclaim as […]

Casolare Brunch: Filling a Hole in DC for Jewish Food

by Lori Gardner for Jewish Food Experience When Chef Alex Levin talks about the new Jewish-inspired brunch at Casolare in the Kimpton Glover Park Hotel, it’s clear that this is a passion project. Levin, who is the executive pastry chef of the Schlow Restaurant Group, says the idea for the brunch came from a brainstorming […]

Buena Vida: Living the Crazy Life in Silver Spring

Remember that Ricky Martin song “Living la Vida Loca?”  It was released in 1999 and helped popularize Latin music in America. The words translate to “living the crazy life.” I hadn’t thought about that song in ages, until recollections of my dinner at Buena Vida have me humming the words. Buena Vida takes over the […]

Spoken English: The Last One Not Standing

It’s one thing for a restaurant to have no reservations. But no seats?  My first reaction when I hear about Spoken English, DC’s new standing room only restaurant, approaches horror. I’m not opposed to standing in line to get into a restaurant.  Been there, done that.  But to dine standing up is another matter. BUT- […]

Akira Ramen and Izakaya: Dances with Noodles

In today’s food-obsessed culture, Japanese noodles inspire passion and devotion. Ramen is a big deal. An annual event in DC- Ramen World– is singularly dedicated to this once under-appreciated dish.  A focus on various types of noodles, broths, and toppings can distinguish one restaurant from another, and trying to decipher all the options can make […]

Stella Barra: Enlightenment at Pike and Rose

If you have lived in Montgomery County for more than a few years, a visit to Pike and Rose – the burgeoning development that keeps on growing- may induce a sense of discombobulation.  Located in N. Bethesda, this was once the home of Mid-Pike Plaza, where one could shop at Toys R Us, Filenes Basement, […]

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