Attack of the Pumpkin Flavor
Written by DCist Contributor Elisabeth Grant
It was the best of times (for pumpkin lovers), it was the worst of times (for pumpkin haters). It's that time of year again; the leaves are starting to change, the weather's promising to get a little cooler (finally), and everything is starting to taste a little more pumpkin-y. But eaters and drinkers beware, not all pumpkin flavors are created equal. They can range from too-sweet fake to more subtle and complex, and sometimes it's hardly pumpkin at all, but rather pumpkin accompanying spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. So for all you pumpkin-lovers out there (sorry, pumpkin-haters) continue reading to find out about some of the area's best pumpkin picks.
Sette Bello
Heading over to Clarendon for the night? Before you hit the Ballroom, stop by Sette Bello for their mezzelune alla contadina, a "pumpkin and amaretti filled pasta with butter and sage sauce." This decadent buttery pumpkin ravioli is a uniquely sweet dish with hints of both pumpkin and amaretti. Neither are overpowering, but rather combine to create a meal that's so flavorful and smooth you'll have to stop yourself from licking your plate. And procrastinators rejoice, this delight doesn't just reemerge each autumn, it's available all year long. 3101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va.
Le Bon Café
If you're in the city and need a snack, stop by Le Bon Cafe, for a generous slice of their pumpkin gingerbread. It's a moist and fluffy treat that delivers a distinctly pumpkin taste paired with all the right spices. The pumpkin flavor is subtle enough that you might even trick those pumpkin non-lovers into trying it (convince them it's a special-recipe banana bread). It's a good autumn breakfast option, too. 210 2nd St., SE.
Photo from justindc.
Carlyle
There are few things better than cheesecake, and one of them is pumpkin cheesecake. Currently the dessert special at the Carlyle in Shirlington, this meal-ender tastes like the illegitimate love-child of a pumpkin pie and a cheesecake, and we mean that in a very good way. With a light and airy texture and a melt-in-your mouth pumpkin flavor, even if you're full you shouldn't pass this dessert up. 4000 S 28th St., Arlington, Va.
Dogfish Head Alehouse
If you like your pumpkin with a bit of buzz, head over to the newly opened Dogfish Head Alehouse in Seven Corners. Just one of the dozen of their beers on tap, their Punkin Ale (yes, we spelled that right), packs a big buzz with a 7% alcohol content. The Punkin Ale walks the line between those who love pumpkin, and those who don't, by focusing more on the spices that accompany pumpkin pie—plus hints of caramel and brown sugar—rather than the pumpkin flavor itself. Maybe they've taken our review to heart and changed the recipe in the last two years. The Dogfish Head web site suggests that drinkers pair this beer with turkey, roasted duck, lamb, stuffing, or dessert dumplings, but this DCist likes to drink it with the Dogfish Head Alehouse beer battered onion rings (battered in Dogfish Head's own Shelter Pale Ale ). 6363 Seven Corners Center, Falls Church, Va.
For those of you who don't want to head out on the town for a pumpkiny dish, Chef Barton Seaver of Hook in Georgetown has posted a pretty simple recipe for Seared Chesapeake rockfish, minted pumpkin, and crispy kale on the restaurant's web site. Feel free to use any meaty, white fleshed fish that's fresh at the market; your fishmonger will point you in the right direction (or pick tilapia, if your wallet's hurting). You can find Lacinato kale at local farmers' markets. Pair this with my own recipe for a Pumpkin Pie Martini: Four ounces of non-flavored vodka and one ounce of vanilla vodka shaken, poured into a martini glass rimmed with cinnamon and sugar, and then topped with Pumpkin Pie Spice. This way you'll get all the pumpkin buzz you want without the need to have a designated driver.
There are of course more options out there for those who seek to partake of the orange gourd—whether that be your own recipe for pumpkin pie or a pumpkin spice coffee drink fresh from your favorite barista's hands. Pumpkin lovers weigh in: where are your favorite pumpkin haunts this time of year?