Oyster Oyster

Oyster Oyster is a plant forward restaurant that offers seasonal menus that highlight the bounty of the Mid-Atlantic with farms who share an ethos for stewardship, environmentally beneficial oysters from the Chesapeake, and locally foraged mushrooms. The beverage program is equally focused on and curated with responsible producers.  Closest Metro is Shaw. 

Ottoman Taverna

Ottoman Taverna offers cuisine inspired by the techniques and ingredients from the Ottoman region. The interior of the 160-seat restaurant pays homage to the turn-of-the-century casual restaurants found throughout Istanbul. Turkish-born owner Hakan Ilhan also owns Alba Osteria next door in the same building as well as L’Hommage Bistro Francais just a few blocks away. Closest Metro is Gallery Place.

DC Harvest Spring Menu

*Sponsored Post
DC Harvest is excited to highlight fresh seasonal local ingredients in their new Spring menu.  We were invited in by general manager/owner Jared Ringel to sample some of the newest dishes made by his brother, chef/owner Arthur Ringel.  The duo have kept DC Harvest a popular mainstay along the bustling H St NE/Atlas District area for the past 4 years now. Check out my original review here. Closest Metro is Union Station.

MezzeBox DC

*Sponsored Post

MezzeBox DC makes healthy, delicious, ready-to-eat meals from scratch and delivers them to you. Each dish is made fresh using whole ingredients and authentic Mediterranean recipes to create perfect harmonies of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, meats, spices, and healthy oils. Currently, MezzeBox is offered in Washington D.C. and parts of Maryland and Virginia - delivery is FREE with $25 minimum order!

Jade Mountain Club

Architect owner Nick Troubetzkoy has expanded upon his philosophy of building in harmony with Caribbean nature in his creation of Jade Mountain. The bold architectural design – individual bridges leading to exceptional infinity pool sanctuaries and rugged stoned-faced columns reaching towards the sky – makes Jade Mountain one of the Caribbean’s most mesmerizing resort experiences.  Drenched in exotic beauty and erupting with flavor, the Jade Mountain Club offers modern fusion cuisine with cultural influences and unique techniques resulting in a wonderful taste adventure.

At Home: Cheesy Kale Chips

Have you joined the kale band wagon yet?  Kale is one of the latest greens in the "super foods" craze and is super high in fiber, known to help lower cholesterol, and proven to lessen the risk of certain types of cancer.  It can be a bit bitter to eat raw, but it is easy to cook like you would spinach, by steaming or sautéing lightly with oil and garlic.  It can also be added to make your green smoothies.  Kale is pretty cheap compared to other greens, and we recently picked up a big bag for a couple bucks.  As my next experiment for What Micky Eats...At Home, Keith begged me to use up the rest of the kale and I decided to make Cheesy Kale Chips.

At Home: Truffle Yam Fries

It's Labor Day weekend, which means summer time is soon ending.  But we still like to celebrate with lots of picnics and barbeques full of hot dogs and hamburgers.  Next on What Micky Eats...At Home, I make a "fancy" variation of the popular French fry to go with your grilled menu.  Instead of regular potatoes, sweet potatoes, or parsnips, I used yams!  And the fancy factor comes with the use of fragrant truffle salt.  Check out my Truffle Yam Fries below.  Serves 2.

At Home: Eggplant Lasagna

Whether you like traditional eggplant parmesan or lasagna, try this hybrid featured on What Micky Eats...At Home known as Eggplant Lasagna.  This is a great noodle-free spin on a classic Italian comfort dish, and a way to satisfy those with pasta/gluten allergies as well.  It is much easier (and slightly healthier, despite all the cheese) than eggplant parmesan, as you do not coat the eggplant in breadcrumbs and fry them.  Simply layer the eggplant as if they were your lasagna noodles.

At Home: Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

I love hummus, a Middle Eastern and Arabic spread or dip made from cooked, mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic.  It is so easy to customize too by adding any of your favorite ingredients.  Next on What Micky Eats...At Home, I make Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.  Try this super easy dip that makes a great and healthy snack served with flatbread such as pita, crackers, pretzels, or crudité.

Etete

Head to Washington DC’s 9th and U St NW, an area of growing ethnic identity, referred by some as "Little Ethiopia" and you will find a family owned restaurant called Etete.  Offering flavorful Ethiopian dining, Etete is a great option for vegetarians and adventurous eaters alike.   Closest Metro is U Street/African American Civil War Memorial/Cardoza.

At Home: Parmesan Tuiles with Heirloom Tomato Salad

Chopped red, green and orange tomatoes are tossed with olive oil and herbs, then served on homemade cheese crackers called Parmesan tuiles. The result: a supremely colorful, incredibly easy hors d'oeuvre. I recently made these at a Christmas Eve party and they were devoured quickly!  Try these Parmesan Tuiles with Heirloom Tomato Salad as seen on What Micky Eats...At Home.

At Home: Goat Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms

Try this easy appetizer of Goat Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms from What Micky Eats...At Home. They are great for your next holiday party as they can be made ahead of time and left at room temperature. Goat's-milk cheeses are typically lower in cholesterol, calories and fat—and higher in calcium—than cow's-milk ones. Here, creamy chèvre is stuffed into antioxidant-rich mushrooms and topped with crispy herbed bread crumbs.

Shawafel

Combining shawarma and falafel, Shawafel is a "quick serve restaurant" on H St NE that serves chicken, lamb and beef mixed Shawarma in the traditional Lebanese way.  Other available items include spreads such as hummus and baba ghannouj, a sultry dip of fire-roasted eggplant, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic, as well as salad options with tabouleh made of parsley, bulgar wheat, diced tomatoes, onions, mint, and lemon dressing, and fattouch made of diced cucumber, tomato, radish, lettuce, onions, and pomegranate dressing.  Sandwiches run about $8 with platters about $11-13.  Closest Metro is Union Station.

At Home: Mini Spanakopita Cups

With the holiday season comes many parties that involve wine, hors d'oeuvres, and good company.  If you are hosting, it can be overwhelming to buy and prepare all the food in order to make your party festive, while still entertaining and mingling with guests.  Next on What Micky Eats...At Home, I share a simple finger food appetizer that can be whipped up easily for your next get together. Check out these Mini Spanakopita Cups for a fun Greek bite to add to your party menu.

Adventures in Veganism

For a solid 12 years of my young teen through adult life, I was a vegetarian. I did not eat meat of any kind. There was no political or religious motivation for me not eating meat, although I did join the “Save the Animals” club in high school and we watched lots of PETA videos; I simply did not like meat. I did not like the taste, the texture, and so I basically excluded it from my diet. Soon, I lost any kind of interest for meat. I never even had a craving or curiosity. I admit - it was not fun for my family who always had to make a separate meatless dish for me during holiday gatherings, or have to make sure a restaurant menu had a vegetarian dish available for me. But my body got so used to it, that if I even ate something that had beef broth or “seasoning” in it, my stomach would get very upset.

Plantation Gardens

Plantation Gardens is located in a beautifully restored plantation manor located at Poipu Beach on the sunny south side of Kauai. Dating back to the 1930's, the estate once served as the plantation manager's home for Hawaii's first sugar plantation, the Koloa plantation. Later, the estate was acquired by the Moir Family who built the world famous gardens that surround the restaurant. The menu reflects the heritage of old plantation Hawaii, which celebrates the abundance and beauty of the Hawaiian Islands and features Pacific Rim cuisine with regional Hawaiian influence. Outdoor lanai seating, handcrafted tropical drinks and specialty cocktails, and complimentary parking is available.

Oyamel

Oyamel is among the award-winning dining concepts from José Andrés, chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup, and combines Mexico’s rich regional diversity with the modern urban atmosphere of Mexico City. The liveliness of the dining room is matched by the creativity of the menu and cocktail list, featuring antojitos - Mexican small plates - ceviches and tacos, plus unique margaritas, and an impressive array of wines and tequilas.  Originally opened in 2004 in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, Oyamel moved to its current home in the Penn Quarter in March of 2007.  Closest Metro is Archives - Naval Memorial.

Indique

As noted by the Washington Post, Indique is a marriage of "India" with "unique" and this is what you get: "a restaurant eager to satisfy its customers with gently priced small plates, beautiful arrangements and service that is anything but ordinary." The menu features some traditional Indian dishes and others with a modern twist as Indique explores the distinctive regional cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Small plates, seafood, regional specialties, and vegetarian dishes are prominently featured. Indique offers a full bar, signature cocktails, and wine list. Closest Metro is Cleveland Park.

Teaism

Teaism is a combination of Asian-inspired teahouses that infuse the cultures of tea and the ideals of teaism with the informality and casualness of America.  Featuring a collection of simple foods from the cuisines of tea, Bento boxes from Japan, curries from Thailand, and tandoor breads from India, Teaism is one of my favorite lunch spots in DC.  Closest Metro is Archives-Naval Memorial.

Merzi

Very fresh, intensely flavorful ingredients abound at this fast casual Chipotle-inspired Indian restaurant. Choose from an aray of vegetables and mild, medium, or hot sauces and chutneys to add to your meal. Great portions! Merzi is my new favorite fast casual restaurant in DC. Great for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike.  Closest Metro is Archives-Naval Memorial.