Capital Cooking with Lauren DeSantis: July 2014

Monday, July 28, 2014

Recipe: Watermelon Gazpacho

What is light and refreshing and made with watermelon? Blue Duck Tavern's Watermelon Gazpacho. Enjoy!

and many more!!

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Pancakes & Booze Art Show -Head over to Penn Social this Thursday, July 24 starting at 8pm for pancakes and booze. The event features over 50 emerging artists, a pancake bar with all-you-can-eat pancakes, live music, body painting and art battles. $5 at the door - check out the event page for more details https://www.facebook.com/events/434908489965163/

New Chef, New Menu Items and 1/2 Price Sushi

You heard correct... Masa 14 has a new chef, delicious new menu items and 1/2 price sushi on Wednesday nights! Can it get any better?!

Baked by Yael Opens a Cakepoppery

We became fans of Baked by Yael early on and paired her delicious cake pops at our holiday dinner menus. The pops are incredibly moist and tasty.

Tuesdays are all about pairing food and wine. Here's some summer suggestions to get you going. My summer salad pairs perfectly with a Pinot Grigio. Check out my recommendations below. There's also some other fun varietals that complement the dish. Have fun mixing and matching.

Recipe: Watermelon Caprese Salad

By now you may have figured out that watermelon is my favorite summer ingredient. Celebrate the season by making Drafting Table's Watermelon Caprese Salad recipe at home.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Thinking of Drinking: Rosellepolitan

Here's another fun cocktail from Barcode. Barcode is one of Taipei's hottest night clubs and Bryan Wang showed us one of their secret cocktail recipes that keeps people coming back for more. Sweet and delicious!

Upcoming Events

Belga Cafe: Thursday, July 17th - Belgian Beer Dinner “Brouwerij Van Steenberge”. Join us for a five-course beer dinner featuring beers from “Brouwerij Van Steenberge” at $69 per person. Space is limited, reserve your spot today! Click here for more info

Mediterranean food is hard to define. Over 20 countries border the Mediterranean Sea and they are as diverse and disparate as Algeria, Greece and Spain. One thing that certainly seems to unite these countries is the delicious food but claiming any one thing as the quintessential Mediterranean dish is probably unwise. Any Europe trip worth it’s salt covers the major western Mediterranean countries – Spain, France and Italy – but a quick pit stop on Croatia’s sandy shores will give you a glimpse of an entirely different Mediterranean culture.

Recipe: Yuzu Compressed Watermelon with Pork Belly

Yes, I'm obsessed with watermelon. No, I just can't get enough of it this summer. Luckily, Station 4 shared their recipe for Yuzu Compressed watermelon with Crispy Pork Belly.

The Star of Summer Eating: Tomato

Photo by Emily Clack

There's nothing better than a sweet, and perfectly ripe tomato. The season has just begun! Try this Shepherd's Salad for some Turkish flavors.

And many, many more!

Cashion's Eat Place Rolls Out a New Menu with Style

By Claire Goldman

Cashion's Eat Place, a DC dining institution, has decided to take a break from the big all-encompassing plate. The Adams Morgan institution has revamped its menu to give the customers more autonomy over their orders. True to Executive Chef John Manolatos' form, the inventiveness of flavor combinations and use of seasonal farm-to-fork ingredients pleases the palate.

Recipe: Peach and Berry Crisp

I got my latest order From the Farmer this week and dove right into the basket. I saw the peaches and raspberries and thought I should make a crisp. I love the freshness of the From the Farmer produce. Check out the service for local farm goodies that are delivered right to your door every week.

Upcoming Events

Photo by Kristen Finn

Stubble & 'Stache at the W Hotel: Join us for the official launch of Stubble & 'Stache D.C.'s newest luxury line of men's grooming products this Thursday, July 10 from 6:30-8:30pm. Hosted at the W Hotel, come discover the art of a perfect shave by some of D.C.'s top barbers, indulge in craft cocktails, polish up at the shoe shine station and shop Bull & Moose bowties. RSVP online at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/w-washington-dc-celebrates-stubble-stache-tickets-12064369855

El Centro D. F. Kicks off National Tequila Month

By: Lauren Rittermann

Capital Cooking Contributor

National Tequila month is in full swing, and El Centro D.F. has kicked off the party with lots of fun festivities all month long. Recently I got a sneak peak at what the restaurant is offering while enjoying the beautiful summer weather at the Georgetown location's outside bar. I loved the atmosphere of the patio as apposed to 14th Street's rooftop, but both are a fun destination for friends, family, or coworkers.

Around the Globe: Guacamole

During our time in Cabo, Mexico, we stopped by the One and Only Palmilla to cook with Chef Larbi Dahrouch. The resort is phenomenal and Chef Larbi is awesome. We had such a blast filming with him in the herb garden. I wish I was there now eating this guacamole!!

How did you spend the holiday weekend?

Normally DC's weather this time of year is unbearable... but, not this year! We made the most out of our weekend in the city and enjoyed some great times outdoors.

Chefs Behind Bars for a Cause

By: Lauren Rittermann

Capital Cooking Contributor

Despite the sweltering summer heat, DC socialites, foodies, and cocktail aficionados flocked to the Liaison Hotel rooftop for the Chef's Behind Bars event to support No Kid Hungry.