Happy Halloween from My Little Goblins!

Happy Halloween!  Both of these costumes are Plan B.  E asked to be Anna for Halloween so I got her a costume and got F a reindeer. 

Dining Out: Hank’s Oyster Bar for Lunch!

Who can resist stopping by Hank’s Oyster Bar for a quick lunch? They have four different locations – Dupont Circle, Capitol Hill, Old Town, and the Wharf. I recently visited the Dupont Circle neighborhood location and loved how they created their new specials and seasonal dishes!

Recipe: Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto

I love butternut squash this time of year.  One of my good friends came to visit from Arizona and she eats vegan.  I wanted to find a dish that would work with her diet and came up with this recipe.  If you're not vegan and want to amp it up, add some cream and Parmesan cheese at the end.  Happy Fall, Y'all!

Event: Get Tickets to the Annual Beer History Event at the National Museum of American History!

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The Smithsonian Food History Weekend is back and has so many awesome events to check out – including “Last Call,” a Saturday night of beer history. Join us on the first Saturday of November at the National Museum of American History and use our code to get $5 off your ticket! 

#BuenProvechoDC: Raising Critical Funds for the Children and Families of CentroNía

We had such a fun time exploring Columbia Heights with CentroNia at their 2nd annual #BuenProvechoDC! 

Uncorked: Wine for Halloween

Are you looking for some wine to put in the thermos for trick-or-treating?  Enter the Velvet Devil Merlot and Eve Chardonnay, two wines with personalities fit for Halloween.  These two wines have great price points.

Thinking of Drinking: Tootsie Roll

With Halloween right around the corner, you need to have some fun shots ready.   Think trick-or-treat candy... how about a Tootsie Roll Shot? 

Dining Out: Little Beast Neighborhood Cafe and Bistro

I have found my new favorite neighborhood spot. Little Beast Café and Bistro just opened up in Northwest DC – and now we finally have a place to relax, drink, eat, and enjoy the local community. 

Recipe: Stroopwafel Pumpkin Bread

Happy Fall! Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the colors, the smells, the outfits, the flavors! Everything during the fall feels so homey… but especially a delicious homemade loaf of bread. Since it is finally October, I decided to start baking my favorite treat again… pumpkin bread!

Top 7 Australian Shiraz Wines

Photo by Emily Clack

I am all about a full-bodied wine. I'm a Shiraz and Cab kind of girl. I get excited about fall because these wines are perfect for the season. Shiraz can also be known as Syrah, Sirac, Marsanne Noir, Entournerein, Serène, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas, Côte-Rôtie, or St. Joseph. Check out these 7 Shiraz wines from Australia. Cozy up by a fire or try my pairing ideas.

Recipe: Cooking Wide Net Blue Catfish Catties with John Shields

The "Culinary Ambassador of the Chesapeake Bay", Chef John Shields, has created a new take on the ubiquitous Baltimore “coddie,” with a delicious salt-catfish cake. John shared this recipe with me over the weekend in honor of #NationalSeafoodMonth.

Thinking of Drinking: Vampire's Blood Halloween Punch

It is getting close to Halloween again.  Time for a party and time for a Halloween punch.  This Vampire's Blood is perfect for a party because guests can serve themselves.

Events: CELEBRATE AT THE 2018 LOCAL FIRST AWARDS!

On Thursday, October 18, 2018, Think Local First DC (TLFDC) is celebrating local independent businesses at the 2018 Local First Awards! TLFDC has chosen 41 local independent businesses, entrepreneurs, makers and artists who have helped to create dynamic neighborhoods and have made a positive impact in their communities. Seven winners will be presented with the coveted Local First Award in the following categories: Maker, Ripple Effect, High Road, Green Thumb, Builder, Pioneer, and Community Champion. 

Things to do: ¡Buen Provecho! A Taste of Columbia Heights October 17th

CentroNía is hosting their second annual celebration of the amazing food and culture of Columbia Heights with a restaurant crawl. ¡Buen Provecho! will take place on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 from 6:00-9:00pm at participating restaurants along 14th Street, Irving Street, Park Road, and the 11th Street corridor in Columbia Heights.

Perfect Pair: White Pizza with Pascual Toso Estate Malbec

JD Gourmet provided me with some fabulous products to use on Capital Cooking. I was so excited when I got the package that I started working on a recipe and tried it out right away. I made White Pizza.

Happy Birthday Kristi DeSantis!

Kristi always throws the best parties and is the perfect hostess. Today is her birthday and we hope she has a fantastic celebration!

Happy National Seafood Month!

October is National Seafood Month! Seafood Nutrition Partnership, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is urging us all to eat two servings of sustainable seafood each week. On October 1st, the nonprofit celebrated eating more sustainable seafood during National Seafood Month at Ivy City with a bunch of DC foodies.

Happy Birthday, Nick Szpara!

Happy Birthday to the best director, editor and film person I know!!

Thinking of Drinking: Pumpkin Pie Martini

This martini is so good that I make pitchers of it for Halloween.  It tastes just like pumpkin pie, but much more fun!  This recipe and more are available in the Capital Cooking Cookbook.  

Things To Do: City Winery DC

Unlike any other space in the District, City Winery DC is part winery, part intimate restaurant and part music venue… in the middle of the city. Welcome to urban wine country! 

Perfect Pair: Gnocchi with Neapolitan Meat Ragu with Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Wine

The Campania region of southern Italy is home to Mount Vesuvius as well as the bustling city of Naples.  The volcanic soils of Campania grow some of the best produce in Italy. Chef Enzo Febbraro joined us on Capital Cooking to show us his Gnocchi with Neapolitan Ragu from Campania, Italy.  Hope to Italy again soon!  Get the full menu in the Capital Cooking Cookbook.  Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon red wine really brings out the flavor of the meat sauce.  Cheers! 

Perfect Pair: Cantaloupe Salad with Calimyrna Figs with Ironstone Obsession Symphony White Wine

At our Lamb and Fig Feast, I made a variety of dishes including a Cantaloupe Salad with Calimyrna Figs. Calimyrna figs have a pale yellow skin with a buttery and nutty flavor similar to a Chardonnay. Symphony is a hybrid grape of Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris.

Dining Out: New “Best Breakfast in America” Pop-Up at The Watergate Hotel

The Watergate Hotel has prepared a new breakfast pop-up menu featuring dishes from four nationwide renowned restaurants—Connie’s Chicken and Waffles in Baltimore, Paperboy in Austin, Blue Collar Restaurant in Miami and Dusek’s in Chicago.