The Weekly Feed: Bazaar Foods Edition
Dish of the Week: Seasonal small plates
Where: 2 Amys
A large number of D.C. diners will direct you to 2 Amys for the best pizza in town. But I contend that while the pizza is good, the small plates are easily the best things on their menu. Some items, such as the deviled eggs, are a constant, but even more striking are the seasonal items. I still have dreams about a skewer of tempura-battered fried oysters from last summer. A visit this week proved equally delicious.
Fresh firm flagelot beans rested in a sauce of olive oil, herbs, and tomato concasse. Next came bacalao (salt cod) with artichoke hearts, small pieces of bacon, and four perfect tiny clams. The flavors worked in concert with each other - meaty, oceany, acidic. It leaves you wishing that Peter Pastan would open a small plates restaurant, so we won't have to fight with strollers. But given how good they are, it's unlikely it will shorten the lines.
Small Bites
Full of Fest-y Goodness
Don't forget this weekend will feature a number of Oktoberfest celebrations.
Also worth checking out are the ethnic church festivals. The St. Sophia's Annual Greek Festival runs today through Sunday with free admission. Get your fill of gyros, souvlaki, and spit-roasted lamb.
The St. Mary Armenian's Fall Bazaar runs October 1-4 with lunch each day, and dinner available only on Sunday. It features specialties such as khadayif, and yalanchi.
Hell-A-o
It seems that L.A. is the next destination of many D.C. chefs looking to expand their empires. Following Michel Richard's Citrus at Social, Jose Andres will be opening Bazaar. He says Bazaar "isn't gimmicky. It might be exactly the way people want to eat right now -- a little of this, a little of that, with a lot of entertainment factor."
Celebrating the magical, mystical animal
If the rain lets up this weekend, Delaplane, Virginia is the place to head this Sunday. The French International Culinary Society is hosting its annual "La Fête du Cochon" picnic, featuring nine creations from chefs like David Deshaies (Citronelle), Cédric Maupillier (Central), Robert Wiedmaier (Marcel's), Eric Ziebold (CityZen), and others. At $45 a person, the event is a bargain and also includes a full menu of Champagnes, beer, and wines. [via Zagat]