Recchiuti Chocolates

Not only are the Recchiuti Chocolates delicious, but they are beautifully designed as well. I tried the 8 piece "Green Box" containing an assortment of chocolates infused with different teas and herbs. These chocolates are made in the San Francisco area where I will be visiting in March. Each chocolate shell is filled with flavored ganache inside. You have to eat them fast or your fingers will be covered in chocolate. The flavors are intense and unique. A box of the Recchiuti chocolates would make a perfect gift for Valentine's Day.

Super Bowl Food

Get your favorite party dishes ready to go for Sunday's Super Bowl!

If you are inviting friends over to watch the game, make sure you have good food.

You can't have a great Super Bowl Party without some tasty appetizers... I'm making Jamaican Wings, Potato Skins, and a delicious nacho cheese dip.

For the main course, I'm going to serve some of my personal favorites including, chili and baked potato soup. It is cold outside so people enjoy eating warm comforting soups.

Don't forget the beer!

What are some of your favorite recipes for the Super Bowl?

Photo by Emily Clack

Cupcakes for Valentine's Day

Check out these cupcakes for your sweetie! Inspired by The Pajama Game, MallowDrama has created four distinctive designs for Valentine’s Day, available in two delicious flavors: Red Velvet iced with Vanilla Buttercream; and Spicy Chocolate (inspired by traditional mole [MOH-lay] recipes) topped with Cinnamon Ganache.

If you’re just looking to break the ice with your crush, these cupcakes are a real conversation starter. Each cupcake in the Small Talk collection is decorated with a “conversation heart” – made of fondant and hand-lettered by MallowDrama’s chefs – that will help you express yourself to your Valentine. They’ll get the message with cupcakes that say:

HI QT

UR SWEET

CALL ME

BE MINE

I Love You More

For the romantic who’s ready to pop the big question, he or she can serve up a sugary enticement. Propose with the I Love You More collection. Sentiments include:

MARRY ME

4EVER YOURS

SAY YES

I DO

Not at All in Love

Some years, we just don’t feel like celebrating Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s you that’s feeling a little unlucky in love, or a friend who is going through a dry spell, the Not at All in Love collection is sure to lift spirits. Enjoy these with your friends – you can even share one with your ex if you’d like:

I’M OVER U

UR 2 GOOD FOR HIM

U KNOW WHAT U DID

2 HOT 2 HANDLE

These special Valentine’s Day offerings are available from MallowDrama, February 8-15, 2009. Each collection includes 2 Red Velvet cupcakes and 2 Spicy Chocolate cupcakes and is available for $14. Order a dozen cupcakes for just $33! Call 703-758-1474 or e-mail info@mallowdrama.com to place your order. Delivery is available for larger orders (subject to delivery fee). Single cupcakes can be purchased for $3.50 each at Dinner Zen, February 12-14, 2009; Dinner Zen is located at 11160 South Lake Drive in the South Lakes Village Center in Reston, Virginia. Vegan or gluten-free cupcakes (Spicy Chocolate only; Red Velvet is not available as vegan or gluten-free) are available for Valentine’s Day by special order. These cupcakes are made with lots of love!

Calling all Cupcake Bakers

Capital Cooking is gearing up for our Crazy For Cupcakes episode and now is your chance to make a special appearance on the show. Send me your best cupcake recipe and you might be selected to come on the show with me to show off your delicious cupcakes. To submit a recipe for an opportunity to appear on Capital Cooking's Crazy For Cupcakes episode, write to capitalcooking@gmail.com.

Also, what are your top 5 cupcake flavors? Tell us! Either leave a comment on this posting sharing your top 5 favorite cupcake flavors, write to me at capitalcooking@gmail.com.

Restaurant Review: Chix

We recently moved to the U Street Corridor area and we are still exploring our neighborhood restaurants. One thing we are always looking for is good delivery. (My husband and I are both lawyers and sometimes we come home late and don't have time to cook.) When we moved to the area my friend Marla recommended that we try Chix. We decided to get delivery from them this week. When I called Chix, I was placed on hold and then hung up on... I called back and they apologized and said it was an accident. The girl on the phone was very nice. I asked for her recommendations and she was quite helpful. The menu featured lots of organic options. We wanted to get a half chicken with the chix style, but they were out so we decided to go with the Colombian. A Colombian-style bird gets a 24 soak in organic coconut milk and coffee. The chicken was well flavored and very juicy. We dipped it in the delicious mustard curry sauce. It reminded me of Nando's Peri Peri from our old Chinatown neighborhood. We picked the roasted sweet potatoes and the noodles and cheese for our two sides. Both very flavorful, but seemed like they had been sitting there for a while...however, it was 9:30 p.m. when we ate. Overall it was a good delivery meal and we will order again from Chix.

Chix

(202) 234-2449

U Street/Shaw
2019 11th St NW
Washington, DC 20001
www.chixdc.com

Happy Inauguration Day!

Go Barack Obama! This city is energized...people are excited!! The restaurants are packed in my U Street Corridor Neighborhood. The lines for Ben's Chili Bowl literally wrapped around the building last night. Congratulations to our new president! We are one.

Last night we grabbed Ethiopian food at Etete on 9th and U. Tasty honey wine, but scary raw meat. The food tasted a lot different from when we made Awaze Tibs on my Ethiopian Cuisine episode.

Then we got drinks at the Gibson...yum! The Gibson has creative cocktails by Derek Brown. The Gibson is a hidden spot with no sign outside. You have to submit your name and then they will text you to let you know when a table is available. The atmosphere is perfect for getting drinks with friends...dark wood...dim lights. Don't miss the Sazerac (rye whiskey, bitters and absinthe). The Brunswick Sour is delicious (Appleton Estate White Rum, lime, and a Merlot float).

The Gibson
2009 14th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009

Inaugural Restaurant Week

The Washington Business Journal is reporting that this winter’s D.C. Restaurant Week will be pushed back to February because of Barack Obama’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

However, Alexandria will be an “Inaugural Restaurant Week,” which debuts right in the middle of the biggest presidential inauguration in decades. It runs from Jan. 17-25 and allows patrons to order a three-course, prix-fixe dinner for $35 (or, in a few cases, a dinner for two for $35).

Don't miss these awesome specials to try some of the best food in town.

Passion Food Restaurants $44 Deal

From Friday, January 16 - Thursday, January 22

Check out the 44^th president Inaugural Special at the Passion Food restaurants. You can enjoy a special four-course prix-fixe dinner menu for $44.

Each restaurant will also feature bottles of select red and white wines, specially chosen to complement the menu, for $44. Dine at Acadiana, Ceiba, DC Coast, PassionFish, or TenPenh. $44 per person.

Acadiana (901 New York Avenue NW; 202.408.8848), Ceiba (1341 G Street NW # 2; 202.393.3983), DC Coast (1401 K Street NW; 202.216.5988), PassionFish (11960 Democracy Drive, Reston, Virginia; 703.230.3474), or TenPenh (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW; 202.393.4500).

Acadiana, DC Coast and TenPenh are some of my favorite restaurants in town.

SEI Restaurant Opens

If you are a fan of Oya like I am, then make sure to check out Sei Restaurant & Lounge (DC's newest sushi inspired restaurant.) SEI offers an extensive sake list has been specially selected by sommelier Andrew Stover. Reserve your seat today! I haven't been there yet, but I hope to try it soon.

Sei Restaurant & Lounge
444 7th Street, NW
Monday - Thursday: 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Sunday: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
www.seirestaurant.com
202-783-7007

Photo from pqliving.com

Food Bloggers Challenge Part 1 Preview

Food Bloggers Challenge Part 1: Comfort Food. Join Lauren and four other food bloggers as they compete in making the best Chicken Potpie. This episode will feature Alison McConnell, April Fulton and Johnna Rowe. A panel of judges will determine the winner along with votes from readers and viewers. Make sure to watch Part 2 to find out the winner. Check out this sneak peek!

Restaurant Review: Obelisk

Thank you Aunt Patty and Jon! Last Christmas my Godmother gave me a very generous gift card to Obelisk. We recently found it and decided to go out for a nice meal. When we arrived to Peter Pastan's restaurant in Dupont Circle, we slid open the door and it seemed as if we were interrupting a dinner party. Obelisk is small and only seats 36 people. Make sure to plan ahead. Once we made our way to the table it felt cozy.
The menu is handwritten and changes daily. The restaurant has been open for 22 years and has a lot of character. The service was excellent. It is a Fixed-price 5-course dinner for $75. They start by bringing a series of small plates (antipasti misti) to the table including a creamy and delicious burrata mozzarella, fried Maine oysters, artichokes, roasted peppers, cured pork belly and sardines. For the Primi course we enjoyed the gnocchi with lamb ragu and the arugula ravioli with walnut butter. At this point we were stuffed and we only had 3 more courses to go. For the Secondi, Corey decided to be adventurous and go with the squab (pigeon). I stuck with the juicy pork chop. A cheese course follows and the meal concludes with dessert (Chocolate Hazelnut cake and Caramelized Tangerines) and a plate of sweets. We had a great experience at this restaurant. If you are up for spending this much money on dinner, I would also recommend City Zen.

Obelisk

2029 P St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-872-1180

Cuisines:
Italian

Get Ready for a Preview of the Food Bloggers Challenge Part 2

Thank you to JD Gourmet!

Throughout my journey creating Capital Cooking, I've had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people including Dee from JD Gourmet. Dee's two sons started a business selling the most amazing olive oils and vinegar. We had a great time together at the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show. Not only do they sell delicious products, but Dee also does embroidery. She was sweet enough to make me Capital Cooking bags and aprons. Thank you Dee!

Recipe: Injera

This is the way injera is made in the US which is a little different from the way it is originally made in Ethiopia. 

Ethiopian Cuisine: Join Lauren and the owners of Etete as they make Ethiopian Soul Food including injera, Awaze Tibs and an Ethiopian dessert. Check out this episode all month to learn how to make Injera and more!

New Years Resolution

The ball dropped and now it is time to set goals for our new year. For 2009, I'm going to work on cooking and eating foods to help lower my cholesterol. I wouldn't have thought that my cholesterol would be at such high levels when I'm only in my 20s and consider myself healthy for the most part. I love butter, but it is time to start reducing my intake. It is time for more fresh fruits and vegetables. I'm also going to try to feature low cholesterol recipes. Do you have any ideas?
Photo by Alex Moore

Happy New Year! Check out Capital Cooking in January

Upcoming Episodes Airing in January