Poste Moderne Brasserie

Located in the Hotel Monaco, Poste Moderne Brasserie is a testament to exquisite foods, prepared amidst a backdrop of United States history. Set in the original 1841 General Post Office, Poste has become a modern-day favorite dining destination of local foodies and a leader in sustainable and eco-friendly practices. At Poste, you are invited to gather around the table, share conversation and enjoy dishes of American cuisine with French influences that are prepared by the most particular of hands, using the freshest of ingredients and the most eco-friendly practices we can employ. Closest Metro is Gallery Place.

***TOP 10 At Home Recipes - 2012***

In 2012, I started a new series here on What Micky Eats...called At Home - featuring homemade eats by yours truly as well as my awesome husband, Keith. Of the 9 appetizers, 17 main dishes, 4 sides, and 15 desserts I made, here is a list of the Top 10 recipes most popular in 2012.  Thanks for following my cooking adventures at home - stay tuned for more recipes in 2013.  Happy New Year!

Vietnam 75

Vietnam 75 is a casual Vietnamese noodle house located near Potomac Mills in Woodbridge, VA.  With cold weather like today, I often crave pho so I stopped here for lunch with mother after watching Les Miserables.  They offer a few appetizers like spring rolls and noodle soups, or pho, in beef, chicken, or vegetarian broths in two sizes - regular and large. The inside of Vietnam 75 is pretty large, with laid back service and seat yourself protocol.

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.

Crio Brü

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Crio Brü is a brewed drink made from 100% premium cocoa beans, roasted to perfection. Named after the most prized of cacao beans, the Criollo, Crio Brü will astound your taste buds with its complex flavors and subtle aromas which come right from the cocoa bean itself!

At Home: Chocolate Mint Snow Cap Cookies

Keith started a new job earlier this year and his office is much more festive this holiday season than mine has been.  Every week in December he has had a luncheon, potluck, or some kind of event to celebrate.  So he asked me to make cookies for him to bring into the office the last week before he took off.  I did some research and decided to try Chocolate Mint Snow Cap Cookies for my next installment of What Micky Eats...At Home.

TruOrleans

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TruOrleans Restaurant & Gallery features Cajun and Creole family recipes from Louisiana and has recently turned over with new management, a new chef, and a new menu in attempt to revitalize the restaurant. With an open veranda for you to enjoy a view of H St NE and a Mardi Gras themed bar, TruOrleans provides a charming place to indulge in fun drinks to quench your thirst. Throughout the restaurant is an art gallery with items straight from the French Quarter.  Closest Metro is Union Station.

***TOP 10 in DC - 2012 Favorites of What Micky Eats***

Out of 120+ restaurants that I've dined at across the globe this past year, here is my list of Top 10 restaurants in DC from 2012. The ranking is based purely on the total scores received. For more details - read each post for yourself!  Don't see your favorite? Feel free to leave me feedback here or leave a comment below.

Bistro L'Hermitage

Located in a quaint cottage next to Historic Occoquan, Bistro L'Hermitage is one of the finest French restaurants in the Washington, DC area.  "With tasteful ambience and fastidiously prepared meals", Bistro L'Hermitage offers fine French cuisine prepared by Chef Dawn Burkhart. Long time restaurateur Youssef Eagle Essakl transformed a building and the surrounding property in historic downtown Occoquan into his vision of a French country bistro.  Offering a great escape from the hectic DC restaurant scene, Bistro L'Hermitage promises "relaxed good taste and with the polish and sophistication of fine dining."

Hoo Rag

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For those professional chefs, line cooks, and regular at home cooks like myself, there have been plenty of times when you've needed something to keep the sweat and hair out of your face while working with food.  The Hoo Rag is worth a look. Made from a lightweight cotton-polyester blended micro-fiber, the Hoo Rag is seamless and fun to wear.

A. Litteri

A. Litteri has been serving Washington D.C. and area since 1926. Walk through the doors and enter into a small piece of Italy right here in Washington, D.C. Purveyors of fine Italian products for over 75 years in a friendly, neighborhood atmosphere, Litteri's shop features Italian pasta, olive oil, canned tomatoes, imported cheeses, meats, wines, and more.  Italian subs and party platters are also available, hidden in the back of the shop.  Closest Metro is NoMA-Gallaudet University.

Buffalo & Bergen

After years spent dazzling the DC mixology scene, Gina Chersevani opened her own venture in Union Market called Buffalo & Bergen. Enamored by the classic New York soda shops of yesteryear, Gina aims to bring her extreme and envied “mixtress” skills to the classics: egg creams, malts and phosphates. Her love of all things liquid promises to deliver an experience like nothing you’ve ever had before.  For a savory snack to go with your shake or malt, try one of the various knishes - a mashed potato-filled Jewish pastry.  Flavors such as bacon & cheddar, BBQ, and Reuben are available. Closest Metro is NoMA-Gallaudet University.

Rappahannock Oyster Bar

Rappahannock Oyster Co. has brought to Union Market their concept of artisanal small plates and their stunning variety of world-class oysters and clams with the Rappahannock Oyster Bar. A sleek black-brown wood bar surrounds a small kitchen where anywhere from 5-6 people will be shucking, cooking, or pouring at any given time. Sitting front-and-center in the market, it's not unfair to call it the anchor and centerpiece of the renovation. For more than 100 years, the Rappahannock Oyster Co. has been owned and operated by the Croxton family. Their oysters are served at hundreds of the world’s best restaurants. The current owners, Ryan and Travis, go beyond “sustainability” growing their oysters in a restorative way.  Closest Metro is NoMA-Gallaudet University.

Union Market

Union Market is a year-round indoor market featuring 40 local artisans that opened September 8, 2012. With fresh produce, dairy, fish and meat as well as juice and oyster bars, barrels of pickles and enough ice cream and sorbet to give half the city an ice cream headache, the market hopes to rival other area farmers markets and Eastern Market. Closest Metro is NoMA-Gallaudet University.

At Home: Drunken Cranberry & Chocolate Chip Bars

The holidays to me mean great food, drinks, and family.  Missing a few key ingredients for cookies, I came up with a modified version and thought these Drunken Cranberry & Chocolate Chip Bars were festive and appropriate for the holiday season. I made these bars for Thanksgiving and they were a hit with the adults. The smaller pieces were the perfect little chewy bite of sweetness after the large holiday meal. Check out my latest baking experiment on What Micky Eats...At Home.

Reader Question: Christmas Dining in DC

The Holiday Season has seriously crept up on me and I haven't had time to prepare a full list of the DC area restaurants that are featuring special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals this year.  I'm sorry for slacking, readers!  One reader from Vermont reached out directly to ask for Christmas dining in DC suggestions, and so here is a quick response:  

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.

Boqueria

In March 2012, Boqueria, a spinoff of the popular Spanish restaurants of the same name in the Flatiron and Soho districts in Manhattan, opened in Dupont Circle.  This Boqueria is the largest to date, with 110 indoor seats and an outdoor patio. Serving lunch, dinner, and brunch on weekends, Boqueria restaurants were inspired by the best tapas bars in Barcelona.  Closest Metro is Dupont Circle or Farragut West.