During a busy conference in Washington D.C., I was able to peel away to sample a few amazing snacks. The beauty of owning your own firm is that you make your own schedule, and fittingly you pick up the check usually, which is always my pleasure. So the first tasty treat I tried was at a place called Ted’s Bulletin. Known for their friendly atmosphere and homemade pastries, take a look at this colorful Strawberry Pop Tart! I’m not usually a fan of sprinkles but the jimmies here just set the mood for a fun snack. Ted’s heats up the tart so that the center is warm and gooey. My tablemate had such restraint that she stuck to her salad and didn’t share even one bite. And she generously picked up the tab. Well done, Sari! This place is a must if you’re visiting DC.
My next stop was a group dinner at a place called Balos Estiatori. The menu was impressive and we ordered a little of this and a lot of that. My favorite dish was the Cheese Saganaki which was Kefalograviera, with honey, sesame and lemon that they set ablaze tableside. It was a wow moment. The crispy result was a tender cheesy inside with a crunchy outer crust dappled with sesame seeds and topped with fresh microgreens and a sizzling honey sauce we spooned over the top. Words cannot possibly express how good this was! My pal Allen helped me polish off the portion. It’s weeks later and I’m still dreaming of this salty cheese skillet.
For dessert our whole table got involved. And I love a group effort, especially with Allen, Jamie and Marla. We tried the triple scoop of Gelato in mango, strawberry and vanilla, The Eight Layer Chocolate Cake with sweet mousse filling, and a tender flaky triangle of their spectacular Baklava with crushed pistachios and a cool sidecar of tart gelato. What a night!
Solo the next day I visited fan favorite Le Bonne Vache in Georgetown. It’s a snug setting for a boisterous lunch crowd and they don’t take reservations. So I was seated by noon, anticipating a big crowd on such a nice day. The waiters/owners are very French and very nice. I got the LBV Classique– their proprietary burger patty with gruyère fondue, LBV sauce, red onion, romaine and house made dill pickles and a side of Fries au Fromage– thin and crispy spuds topped with a delicate gruyère fondue and sprinkled with parsley. I hate to say the burger was underwhelming, as I rarely write a negative review. It was tiny (the bun dwarfed the burger), a bit dry, and overcooked. But the fries? Oh, the fries! Like being transported right to Paris. Hot, melty cheese, perfectly crisp. Delightful. I ended my meal with their signature Mousse au Chocolat– 70% dark chocolate, a scoop of crème chantilly, cacao nibs, and chocolate pearls. This dessert was to die! I thought I wasn’t going to be a fan of the dusty top but I loved the mix in textures and the crunchy bits in every bite. It slayed.
And just when I thought my trip couldn’t get any sweeter, I had a great lunch with my pal Eva at a lovely outdoor spot on Palmer Alley. We skipped dessert there and capped off our meal with a trip to The Peach Cobbler Factory. I got the Strawberry Peach cup and she opted for the Cherry flavor. Both were incredible. The cool topper was just the right balance for the hot crumble of fruit and pie filling. We loved it!
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