Pasta let down

Guys, I tried Pasta Mia on Friday and I am not sure what all the raving is about. I will admit that I was exhausted and starving and moody, but I was not that impressed.

For those who haven’t heard of it, it’s a little tiny pasta shop on 18th and Columbia. There’s a always a line, and everything I hear is that it’s worth the wait, authentic, homemade, and cheap. I gotta say that I don’t think anything is worth that long a wait (again I was starving!), and it wasn’t that cheap! Granted you get enough pasta to feed a family of four, but really, I’d prefer a cheap bowl of good pasta I can eat in one sitting.

We went to pasta mia on Friday night at about 8pm (probably not a great time), and waited for about a half hour for a table. I was still ok at that point, except once we sat down, I think it might have been an hour before we got our pasta — with the salad coming like 45 mins in. I cannot express to you how hungry and frustrated I was waiting – MJD really is a good man for sitting with me!

I ordered the gnocchi sorentina, and it was fine. I mean it was enourmous, but also too salty and the gnocchi was a little hard. But it was also $15 bucks, which does not seem that cheap to me, and I’m sorry but I don’t like microwave heated pasta the next night. So really it was $15 for one gigantic bowl of ok pasta.

So, now I ask you…did I miss something? I wanted to love the place, and will readily admit that my bad mood could have made that impossible. I would try it again – albeit at 6pm on a tuesday (or any tme that it would be empty!). Thoughts?!

Chillin’ with former Top Chef contestants last night!

OK, that may be an overstatement, but we were at the same restaurant!!

For practically the first time since moving to DC, I overcame my laziness to take advantage of an event last night and got to enjoy happy hour with Carla, Mike, Michel Richards, and so many other celeb chefs. Granted I never got the courage to talk to any of them, but I did eat all the delic food and feel special!

I think my favorite apps were the mini pork sandwiches and the beef patties (the dough was really salty!). Yum, I am starving for lunch already.

Now I really, really want to see Top Chef being filmed. I just love to eat and hang with celebrities. How do I do that!!?!

Washingtonian is posting updates, but how do I track them live?

The far reaching impact of the grilled vegetable plate

OMG! Ezra Klein is writing for my sister!

Have you seen his post on the dreaded grilled vegetable plate for vegetarians. That veg option has ruined my chances to eat at some fabulous restaurants, cause the family can’t eat somewhere that will only offer my sister some plain vegetables! Honestly, it shocks me everytime I see a menu that does not have tasty options for the veggies — I mean more and more people are going that route, which means you are ignoring them and preventing the whole family from eating there.

I agree with Ezra – all you vegetarians have to unite and refuse that grilled vegetable platter!  Please!

Enjoying the warm weather…if it comes back

UPDATE: Two lists for DC!! Check out the comments on Washingtonian and this map on The Carnivore and the vegetarian!

For all the New Yorkers in the House, check out this list of outside eating and drinking spots posted on At First Bite.

I want it to get warmer again, and to go to NY and try them all. Maybe this will inspire a similar list for DC!!!

I personally enjoyed Leopold’s Kafe in Georgetown this weekend. Small but wonderfully quiet and a hidden patio! What are some other cute spots in DC? Preferably not on the sidewalk, but rather a roof, or backyard patio.

The drinks and desserts are the best!

Dear Sunday

Dear Sunday night,

You are not my favorite part of the week, but I am dealing with your arrival. I had a wonderful weekend, and am doing my best to ignore you and be positive. Please slow down though.

Yours,

Why isn’t it Friday yet? (KPD)

That felt kind of good to write, like a rain dance…something to make the weekend last longer! Anyway, I did really have a great weekend. My sister and cousin came for a visit and we had such a relaxing and nice weekend. The weather was beautiful and we walked around Old Town and Eastern Market.

We went out to eat and for drinks in the neighborhood on Friday and Saturday nights, and I once again appreciated how close we live to U Street and 14th Street. Our neighborhood has so much to offer, and it’s easy to forget that in the day to day habits of life! We ate at Ulah Bistro – I had been once for brunch, but never dinner. It was loud, but perfect for a Saturday night! Then we went to Church Key, which I have been sooo excited to try and it did not disappoint. Although I will probably never go back on a Saturday night.

I actually almost gave up on it when I saw the line outside the bar. I mean, come on….but just as I was on the verge of writing the place off my list, they brought out free pieces of pizza for everyone on line. That warmed my heart (which was already giddy from the two drunken arnold palmers at Ulah YUM). Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long, but when we got upstairs, it was literally like walking into a sauna. It was kind of gross. But once we pushed past the bar to the front area with tables, and actually got a table (beer gods were smiling), it was great!

I had a delic belgian beer which I enjoyed, even though I yelled at my sister for not ordering me an American one during the Olympics!!! Oh, and although my cousin’s beer was delivered with about an inch missing from the top of the glass, the highlight of the night came when my sister pulled out a card that measures how much beer you might be missing from any given glass. My father is going to be so proud since he gave it to her.

Visitors, Olympics, eating, drinking…it was great!

In other news, we also taught Artie to roll over!

I also just changed my header to a picture we took in Hawaii – I am so ready for the warm weather.

P.S. in case you are wondering, my cousin got a new beer at Church Key, and the waiter was really funny about it all!

Entertain yourself with snow videos!

Wow! Today’s snow is so much worse than what we got over the weekend?! Don’t you think?

It’s icy and the wind really does cause a “white-out.”  I kind of thought that phrase was a little over-hyped until MJD and I took Artie for a walk this morning. There was a moment when I could barely see them in front of me.

It also seems like no one is out today – during the last storm there were so many people out having fun – the streets around me are totally desolate right now (or they were an hour ago). Have you ventured out?

We will have to go out again at some point for the puppy, and to get food for dinner! But I am content to stay inside for now.

In the meantime I can’t stop watching these great videos from the storms. You can find a great time lapse of the last storm on We Love DC.

And I love this video of people having fun in the snow on DCist. It really did cheer me up. Plus the soundtrack is MJD’s favorite Vampire Weekend song, so I had to repost! I hope DC gets out there again today and has some fun. I hear there is another snowball fight planned (I kind of want the t-shirt!). Are you guys in NYC having fun?

Things I have done in DC

After writing yesterday’s list, I started thinking that I have also done a lot of things that I would love to do again or more often. When I first moved to DC I really felt like the city had no life or soul. Compared to NY it seemed so boring. But during the last few years, I have tried really hard to get to know the city. And now I have favorites: neighborhood restaurants, fancy restaurants, day trips, weekend outtings, blogs, cultural activities…So here are some of the things I am glad we did, and hope to keep doing!

1. Explore VA wine country

2. Stay at a B&B in Virginia wine country

3. See a show at the 9:30 club

4. Take advantage of the local wine bars

5. Start a blog (I think this counts since I write about DC!)

6. Eat at Eden Center for great Vietnamese

7. Go to the National Gallery

8. Take the puppy to Quiet Waters

9. See more than one show at the Kennedy Center

10. Eat at more local restaurants

11. Check out more monuments

12. Run a 5K

13. Shop at Eastern Market

14. Go to Nationals games

15. Learn about the restaurant scene

16. Follow local blogs

17. Explore Old Town

18. Find a hair stylist

19. See indie movies at E Street (we were doing that a lot about a year ago – got to pick that up again!)

20. Locate a bunch of places to get a good mani/pedi, massage, etc…

I kinda like parts of this city!

No Joke: It’s a blizzard after all

There are trees down, trucks stuck, stores closed, and it’s still snowing!

Thankfully Steam Cafe on 17th is open and selling cappuccino muffins. Not bad for DC actually!

Do you think restaurants will be open tonight? I have a craving for Thai food all of a sudden.

Hope you are staying warm and dry. Here are few pictures from our walk this morning…more on Flickr!

Look at all that snow!

DC is out in the Blizzard!

In some places, the snow almost covered Artie!

Java House is open, despite the tree down out front

If you’re looking to help

I don’t usually blog about politics or international events, but after a few days away, I am finding it hard to come back and not mention the tragedy in Haiti. It seems callous to return with a post about my trip, so I’m just going to quickly mention an organization I recently read about in Haiti.

If you’re interested in donating to a hospital on the ground, go to Partners in Health (PIH).

PIH has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. We urgently need your support to help those affected by the recent earthquake.

Partners In Health (PIH) works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries around the world. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for our patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world.

Based in Boston, PIH employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, including doctors, nurses and community health workers. The vast majority of PIH staff are local nationals based in the communities we serve.

To learn more about Haiti or PIH, pick up Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. The book shares the true story of an American doctor, Paul Farmer (PIH founder), who builds a hospital and changes medicine in Haiti. I read it during the holidays.

In medical school, Paul Farmer found his life’s calling: to cure infectious diseases and to bring the lifesaving tools of modern medicine to those who need them most. Kidder’s magnificent account takes us from Harvard to Haiti, Peru, Cuba, and Russia as Farmer changes minds and practices through his dedication to the philosophy that “the only real nation is humanity.”

Alexandria Dining

Have you guys been to the Majestic Cafe or Restaurant Eve?

I have wanted to try both restaurants for way too long, and finally went to the Majestic on New Year’s Eve with MJD’s family. The menu was really interesting – especially for a price fix. That’s when things are usually dumbed down, I think.

The place was so cute, and decorated, and all the waiters were festive. We had a great time, although now I want to go back and try their regular menu!

The thing that really grabbed our attention though was the size of the dessert! My cake was literally the size of a small head! Now the question is, go back for the Sunday night dinner, or try Restaurant Eve? Which first?

No wonder I need a food and wine detox!

PS. I would recommend the coconut cake over the red velvet.