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Guest Post: Hungry Games: Bean Good! The Coffee Pub—Arlington, VA

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It is finally here! It’s official! Hungry Games blog is here. After guest blogging with BMH, she has struck out on her own. Definitely check it out, read it and love it! 

I was out in Arlington with EDO, Natch and MCBX when we all needed a little pick-me-up. Given the usual option of a Starbucks, or a Starbucks, or a Starbucks, I was delighted when EDO suggested that we try one of her favorite coffee spots, Bean Good!, located at 1737 Wilson Boulevard.

The coffee pub was adorable, with a full menu of coffee, espresso drinks, tea, smoothies, sandwiches, and an assortment of pastries. We were just dropping in, but it seemed like a comfortable spot to spend a couple hours with your computer or your newspaper while enjoying a warm beverage and light snack.

Although I didn’t try any of the food, EDO assured me that the Red Velvet Muffins were quite delicious (I believe her!). The Spinach Feta Croissants also looked rather tempting.

We all ordered coffee or lattes, which were very flavorful. The lattes had an especially thick, frothy topping—so much better than any Starbucks! Next time I’m in need of a coffee fix (and adventuring in Virginia), this will be my spot. (They also have a wine and beer selection…bonus!)

Guest Post: Hungry Games: Ken and Cook, New York City

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On a recent trip to New York City, I decided to check out Ken & Cook, located at 19 Kenmare Street in Nolita, with my sister and brother-in-law, Dubs and Jumbo. The restaurant was a scene that could only happen in Manhattan—the dining room open to the outside, tables close together, loud (but in a good way), packed with beautiful people, mirrors on the exposed brick walls. It just felt cool as soon as we walked in. We loved the tunes that played while we dined (80s throwbacks when we first arrived and nineties hip hop—Gangsta’s Paradise and Back That A$$ Up—before we left.)


The managing partner, Artan, greeted us when we sat down and started us off with some drinks, my favorites being a vodka lychee martini (very sweet) and a really delicious vodka ginger cocktail. I only have good things to say about our server, who pointed out some highlights on the menu.

We started with the squid, which was grilled and served over yogurt with slivered potatoes (the potatoes added an awesome flavor to the dish). The squid was perfectly cooked, light and citrusy. The tart yogurt complemented it beautifully. We devoured it within minutes.

Next we ordered charcuterie and cheese. The culatello was some of the best prosciutto I’ve ever tasted. It was paper thin and didn’t have too much fat on it (which is something that can be annoying about prosciutto). The cheese was pungent and salty. The flavor was definitely strong enough to stand on it’s own, so the figs offered a nice palate cleanser. The server also brought out some bread (like mini baguettes) that looked fresh and delicious. They were unfortunately stale and chewy. But, the bread was the only disappointing part of the meal.

As a surprise before our main course, we were each given an order of the pappardelle, compliments of the chef. I understood why he didn’t want us to miss out on this dish. The thick ribbons of fresh homemade pasta were tossed with slowly cooked veal and radicchio. The dish was savory and very rich.

For our entrees, Dubs had the monkfish served over grilled fennel and accompanied by romesco (a sauce). The romesco was really a standout for me, with a very fresh and bold flavor of red pepper. I would have licked it off the plate if that was a socially acceptable thing to do.

I enjoyed the black bass, served over a bed of swiss chard with a spiced carrot sauce and roasted pearl onions and carrots. When the fish was brought out, the server poured a decadent butter sauce over it, which tasted delicious but also made the presentation of the food theatrical and special. To me, the fish was good but not outstanding (it seemed a little overcooked). However, I couldn’t get enough of the carrot sauce. The flavor was incredible. I would order this dish again just for that.

Jumbo had the Wagyu Flank—a perfectly pink, delicious steak, served with asparagus and pesto. Both Dubs and Jumbo loved the pesto.

Jumbo also ordered a side of mac and cheese, based on his theory that nice restaurants only put mac and cheese on the menu if it’s really good. Jumbo’s theory proved true.

We really enjoyed our experience at Ken & Cook (it was a dining experience…we were there for over 2 hours). It’s a great spot if you’re looking for nice cocktails, good food, and a happening New York scene (we left as the restaurant was turning into a hotspot for models…there were at least 3 tables of young, beautiful women there for a night on the town).

Disclaimer: We were given a 33% discount on our meal, but the opinions are my own.

Guest Post: Hungry Games: Frozen Yogurt with Toppings—TangySweet, Penn Quarter, Washington, DC

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If I’m craving frozen yogurt with toppings—in the vein of Pinkberry, which I frequented when I lived in New York City—then I have a couple options in DC. There’s Sweet Green (they have one tangy flavor that has a hint of lemon, and fewer toppings), Mr. Yogato (a quirky spot), and yes, we do have Pinkberry. However, my favorite is TangySweet, located at 675 E St NW, with the entrance on 7th.

I went there with Natch and Very Curious George after lunch at Protein Bar. The Penn Quarter location feels clean and industrial. I like the high tables meant for standing and chatting, but they also have some tables by the windows where you can sit to enjoy your yogurt.

They have regular flavors—classic, coconut, chocolate, green tea, and mango-peach—and also a daily featured flavor. You can order small (5 oz), medium (8 oz), or large (13 oz) with or without toppings. If you get toppings, you can load it up with as many as you like from the toppings bar. Toppings range from chocolate and candy, to cereal and nuts, to fresh fruit.

Made-to-order smoothies are also an option on the menu.

Natch and Very Curious George both ordered small yogurts with toppings. They were very satisfied with the amount of yogurt and assortment of choices to put on top.

I went with a swirl of the mango-peach and coconut without toppings. The mango-peach is a strong, refreshing flavor, and you can taste both fruits. I like the coconut because it’s a little more mild and creamy. It’s a great combination and a delightful dessert!

The yogurt is 90 calories per ½ cup serving (a small cup is about 1.4 servings, according to the nutrition fact sheet, so around 130 calories. Obviously, factor in more for toppings).

Guest Post: Hungry Games: The Protein Bar—Nutritious Eats in Penn Quarter, Washington, DC

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Natch loves juice, Very Curious George is a vegetarian, and I like to eat 400 calorie meals every 3-4 hours. Imagine our excitement when Natch discovered a new casual dining restaurant on the corner of 7th St and D St that caters to each of our diet eccentricities! Protein Bar (398 7th St NW), which opened earlier this month, offers a menu of on-the-go items for the health conscious diner. We decided to check it out on our lunch break during opening week.

The line was out the door and curved around the dining room, but moved very quickly as the friendly and enthusiastic staff handed out menus, explained the foods, and took orders at the cash register. I was handed a buzzer and sent to the pick up window to get my meal. It was a very well-organized process.

The light, clean and simple dining area was bustling, but the table turnover was fast, so we found some seats at a round communal bar-height table in the middle of the restaurant. The signs on the wall reminded us all that we were eating healthy foods that satisfy our bodies and contribute to our overall well-being. I loved that the menu gave nutritional information for every item. I also really liked that there was an abundance of sriracha sauce at our disposal (I didn’t use it this time, but I usually put it on everything.)

We each ordered something from a different section of the lunch menu, which is divided into Protein Bar-ritos, Signature Salads, and Signature Quinoa Bowls. (They have Signature Drinks and Raw Juices as well. They also serve Breakfast Bowls and Breakfast Bar-ritos until 10:30am Monday – Friday and until 12:30pm Saturday-Sunday).

Natch thought about ordering juice, but instead went for a salad, commenting that she would try out the juice next time. The Southwest Salad with all-natural chicken, organic quinoa, house-seasoned black beans, cheddar, tomatoes, Cholula sauce and avocado, was fresh and tasty (470 calories, 39 g protein, 15g fat, 44g carbs, and 15g fiber). The sauce had a little kick to it. Natch was surprised out how filling her meal was and couldn’t finish the whole thing.

Very Curious George had the Green City Vegan Bar-rito with marinated tofu, kale, pepitas, chickpeas, house-made creamy vegan chia dressing and super 6 salad mix (557 calories, 28g protein, 28g fat, 61g carbs, 19g fiber). She enjoyed her wrap and noted that the pepitas and chickpeas gave it a nice texture. She felt light but satisfied after finishing it. It did get a little messy at the end, though, as the sauce dripped out the bottom of the wrap.

I went for the Buffalo Quinoa Bowl with all-natural chicken, house-made vegan buffalo sauce, carrots, cucumbers and blue cheese because two people on staff had mentioned to me how much they loved the buffalo sauce (387 calories, 26g protein, 23g fat, 19g carbs, 3g fiber). I thought my meal looked a little small when the order first came up. However, it was the perfect amount of food to feel satisfied but not overly full. I liked the texture of the cucumbers with the quinoa and thought the sauce was very good, but I wanted more of it. I also thought it could have used a little more blue cheese (but, I guess if I want to keep it under 400 calories, I cannot have that wish).

I will definitely go back to this place for the light and healthy fare. Next time, though, I think I’ll test out another salad, since they make them quite flavorful and filling.

Guest Post: Hungry Games: Bandolero, Georgetown, Washington, DC

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There’s a new website powered by the Food Network, called CityEats.com.  It features restaurants in Washington, DC, New York City, and Philadelphia, with plans to expand to more cities in the future.  I would describe this new site as Open Table, Yelp and Twitter’s love child. You can book restaurant reservations (and receive rewards), read and write reviews, and follow other users to see what they’re saying about the restaurants in your city.  It also has links to favorite food blogs.

The site was promoting Restaurant Week in Washington, DC, with an offer to send a $20 gift card to anyone who booked a reservation at one of the featured restaurants and wrote a review about it on the site.  So I did it.  I made a reservation at celebrity chef Mike Isabella’s new Mexican restaurant Bandolero, located at 3241 M Street, NW, in Georgetown (next to Tackle Box).  I decided to invite my friend, the Saudi, since he shares my love of delicious food.

The restaurant is definitely very cool looking, with a dark, Day of the Dead theme.  The dim lighting, exposed brick walls, gates between tables, and skeletal décor made me feel like I was in some kind of dangerous and sexy Mexican border town.  The restaurant was packed with a crowd of all ages, from those in their early twenties to those in their fifties—most everyone was dressed for a night on the town.

When the hostess brought us to our table in the upstairs dining room, I was relieved that it was more open and less loud than the room downstairs.  We had a leather couch on one side of our table, which I was eager to sit in (it looked so cool!).  I sunk a little too deep and knew it would be hard to eat being so low to the table, so I was a brat and made the Saudi switch places with me.  If we were only sipping cocktails and not grabbing dinner, I may have been able to make reclining on the couch look hot, but I didn’t want to commit to eating tacos from that spot—too much potential for a messy disaster!

We ordered a series of tapas based on the delicious sounding food descriptions and the recommendations of our waiter.  First came the Tomatillo & Avocado Gazpacho ($11) and the Blue Crab Taquitos ($13).

I wanted to taste the gazpacho to see how it compared to the one I had recently eaten at Green Pig Bistro (which was so delicious!).   The waiter brought out a bowl of diced watermelon and oranges, with a pitcher of gazpacho, which he poured over the fruit.  I liked the theatrical serving of the food!  The gazpacho had a very creamy consistency from the avocado and the tangy flavor of the tomatillo, which was fairly strong.  It tasted great with each spoonful that contained a piece of watermelon or orange.  It became like a treasure hunt for me searching for the little gems of fruit.  But, when all the watermelon was gone, I didn’t really enjoy the flavor of the gazpacho anymore.

The Blue Crab Taquitos were the best thing we ate all night!  The fresh tasting crab meat was served with coconut, red chili, and purple potatoes in a mini crunchy taco shell.  Each bite left me wanting another.

Next to arrive was the Sikil Pak ($6), a dip made of pumpkin seeds, jalapeno and oranges, and served with a basket of chips and pork rinds. The dip didn’t really have much flavor.  The Saudi and I agreed, mostly we just tasted chip (I will confess that I really loved the pork rinds…nice touch!)

Then we had a series of tacos.  We ordered the Chicken Taco ($10) with BBQ chicken, poblano and plantain (not pictured); the Suckling Pig Taco ($13) with shredded pork, green apple, and habanero mustard; and the Skirt Steak Taco ($12) with refried beans, avocado, salsa, and crispy onions.

The Suckling Pig Tacos were definitely the best and most unique of the three, with a nice flavor combination of sweet, spicy and tangy.  The Skirt Steak Tacos and Chicken Tacos were both good, but there was nothing particularly special about them.

The Mole Negro ($12) was short ribs covered in a mole sauce with sesame, and served with papas (fried potatoes).  The Saudi ranked this dish as one of his favorites because of the way the meat fell apart at the touch of his fork, and the flavor of the mole sauce.  I also thought the mole was really nice, but the potatoes were weird, dense and chewy.

The last dish was the Queso Fundido ($14), described by our waiter as a must try signature dish.  The melty manchego cheese comes with duck confit, mushrooms and a sunnyside up egg.  The server instructed us to stir it all together and then scoop it into the accompanying flour tortillas.  The dish looked delicious and had a lot of potential, but the flavor of the cheese was all we could taste (I could feel the duck when I chewed, but otherwise, would never have known it was there….unfortunate!)  The cheese tasted like the Tostitos queso dip you can buy at any grocery store or gas station.  I feel a little mean saying that, but I speak truth.

All in all, I do not understand what the hype is about.  The restaurant was sexy and fun, but the food did not stand out. I probably will not dine again on the mostly mediocre, overpriced tapas (except maybe for the crab taquitos).  I did wonder if the cocktails are worth making a return visit (I may not have been fair to the restaurant by not trying any, but I really did have high hopes for the food.)  Sorry Mike Isabella, but I’m still on my search for great Mexican cuisine in DC.