A Visit To My Doctor

I arrived at my doctor's office building early.

So I walked to a nearby park and read a book of poetry that I have brought with me. Better to read poetry in a park than in a doctor's waiting room!

Afterwards I drove to Georgetown to my favorite French Café for lunch.

Bon appétit!

Cafe La Ruche

My 1st semi-annual check-up done on MLK Jr. day, I left my doctor's office and drove on up into Georgetown. On a quiet holiday morning with a warm sun like today, it was the perfect place to go strolling and treat myself to a wonderful brunch at one of the most wonderful little restaurants in the world. Cafe La Ruche is a quaint and cozy French restaurant with all of the charm of a Parisienne sidewalk cafe. I first dined there in 1994, and I confess I do not dine there nearly as often as I should. Today I had the most divine Eggs Benedict with Spinach (instead of ham). The golden cream of the poached eggs melted into the hollandaise sauce with every yummy bite. It came with a side of roasted potatoes, and I used the little spuds to capture as much of the yokes and hollandaise as I could slather upon them.
Visiting D.C.? You won't be disappointed by a meal at La Ruche! Also check out their website. It includes sample menu items, monthly recipes, and music selections from bands who occasionally perform there.

Bon Appetit

My friend K. took me out to dinner tonight to celebrate the holidays, and we went to the Cafe Berlin on Capitol Hill, just a couple of blocks away from Union Station. I'd eaten there once before in the summer when I first moved to D.C. back in 1994. This evening it was decked out for Christmas, and our server sat us at the table next to the Christmas tree. It was very beautiful.

We began the meal with Heringstip as an appetizer. It's a mound of herring tidbits marinated in a stiff sour cream with apples and onions on a bed of bitter greens with a garnish of quartered tomatoes. K. loves fish with a passion, we rarely dine anywhere that he doesn't order some form of fish during the course of the meal.

For the entree, I chose the Roasted Loin of Venison with a Mushroom-Walnut Duxles Filling served over Cabernet-Fig Reduction with Maccaire Potato Cakes and a Cranberry Garnish. K. went with the Kassler Rippchen (Smoked Loin of Pork) served with sauerkraut and home fried potatoes, which he substituted for the spätzle. Both were well filling and so we forewent dessert as tempting as it was! For a simple digestif, he had an herbal liqueur, and I a shot of apple corn schnapps. It was delightful, and Irene, one of the owners was brouding over the place. If you are ever in D.C. and interested in authentic German cuisine, a quaint and sure to please option would definitely be Cafe Berlin.

Happy Hour

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Originally uploaded by Randuwa

Kudus to Mark, the owner of Bonefish Grill, who invited the staff of my school to a completely free happy hour at his restaurant in the Kentlands Shopping complex this evening. Everything was gratis. And Everything Was Fabulous. There were house wines, specialty martinis, and a wide range of mixed-drinks (and even my diet coke with lemon!). The buffet was in constant rotation: Cajun Spicy Shrimp, Shrimp Scampi Mediterranean, Blackened Crab cakes, Rockfish with a Mango Salsa, etc....

All due according to the owner to his promise to his mother who was a teacher to use his success to give a little something back to teachers. The event was absolutely one of the most well attended and appreciated by my school's staff. It reminded me of the way such events are more routine in China where I first taught: evidence of their more culturally pervasive appreciation of education and its role in both individual and societal success. And certainly deeply appreciated by my staff for it's uniqueness.

Bon Appetit

belgacafedcse
Originally uploaded by Randuwa

My dear friend K. is in town for the weekend, and we met around noon to tour the Morris Louis exhibit at the Hirshhorn -- I both needed to see it again and wanted to share it with him. We have an easy friendship, one that picks up where it left off like one greets the rising sun after days of cloudiness and never imagines that a morning happened without it. I have a great affection for K.

And so his news that rather than live between two cities, DC and Boston, (as he has been doing now for nearly two years) has grown wearisome to the point of being no longer worth it came as both no surprise and a sad revelation.

After the museum he took me to lunch and introduced me to a new restaurant: Belga Café in SE off of Capital Hill is, as the name suggests, a Belgian Restaurant. K. was jonesing for a pot of Belgian mussels and some Raspberry Beer. I had an amazing poached salmon over a bed of asparagus and escarole in a tart mustard sauce and a mushroom/cheese soup.

4 stars.

Afterward I chauffeured K. to a late afternoon appointment with his doctor. A doctor who shares an office with mine! -- What a serendipitous discovery for me, his directionally challenged friend.

Saturday, PM - Dinner

At my friend's suggestion, we met at Markt, a Belgian restaurant, @ 14th and 9th. Prior to arriving I spent some time investigating it online. The menu sounded intriguing; but previous patrons time and again denounced the service. So when I arrived early (around 6:30 for a 7:00 PM date), I went inside and made a walk-in reservation for 7. I was told that they had a table, but that we'd have to be done by 8:30 to accommodate a previous reservation. Is this perfect, or what? An hour and half to enjoy a meal, and the impetus for good service lay at the feet of the restaurant with a dubious reputation in this regard. So I immediately said, "Yes."

My friends arrived at 7 and we were seated. From this point forward we received the BEST service I have ever experienced in a restaurant! Everything was done in a timely fashion, and we were watched over by a distant, but very attentive server. I had the smoked duck salad with a lite lemony vinaigrette, and the "Gratin des Legumes" as my entree. Both of my friends enjoyed their choices as well. And for dessert -- an indulgence that I rarely partake of, I had the lemon-custard "flan" on an almond paste crust with a scoop of "beer" sorbet! Absolutely fabulous! We enjoyed tea and coffee with our meal, and the entire bill for three came to $88.00; which I augmented with a very generous tip (20%+) to express my appreciation for the phenomenal service. Perhaps contrived, but hopefully characteristic of this wonderful restaurant.

Friday, Dinner

I met my long time internet friends Mr. G and Mr. M for dinner at a restaurant of their choosing, Pergola Des Artistse, 252 West 46th Street. It's a French restaurant just off of Times Square. The proprietors emigrated from France as bear trainers many decades ago; and then chose the restaurant business as an easier way to make a living!

I had the roast duck which came with a walnut rice pilaf and braised Brussels sprouts and carrots with daubs of a rich and sweet cherry reduction gravy/sauce. Charming and personal, I would return without hesitation. Dinner for three with tip came in at around $92.00.

Friday, Lunch

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Originally uploaded by Randuwa.

After a morning in Russia, I turned to Italy for lunch!

Caffe Grazie on the corner of E. 84th and Madison avenues has long been a favorite of mine. My ex- and I first stumbled upon it nearly a decade ago; and we never visited the city without a meal there. I have carried on this tradition whether with a guest or on my own because frankly, the food and service has NEVER disappointed me.

For lunch I had a wonderful crab cake salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, hearts of palm, avecado wedges, and corn, drizzled with a zesty lemon-vinagrette. And the service was extremely pleasant. The hostess and waiters made me feel like I was the most important person in the place -- A great "light" lunch.