Photo of the Day: November 27, 2009
Morning Roundup: Black Friday Edition
Car Pushed Into Anacostia River By Train
Devendra Banhart @ 9:30 Club
Dish of the Week: Brit cuisine
This week the Washington Post seems to be playing up a Brit angle, with a review of CommonWealth and a piece about toffee made with treacle. And fantastically so, as Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night is coming up on November 5. If you remember your European history, you'll know that Guy Fawkes was the fellow who attempted to bomb the Houses of Parliament. In celebration of his capture, the Brits shoot off fireworks and burn effigies of him. Funny how elections are the day before, not that I am suggesting you burn any effigies of anyone or anything...
You can and should, however, cook up a cuisine that is well suited to these recent blustery days. One of the simplest dishes to go for is toad in the hole - sausages tucked into a slightly bread pudding-y batter. Or you can try the murderously rich version of shepherd's pie from Paula Deen that includes 12 tablespoons of butter. And if you're too lazy for all of that, you can head over to CommonWealth for some traditional British food stuffs, or Rodman's for goodies and tinned Heinz baked beans.
Photo of homemade toad in the hole by flem007_uk, used under a creative commons license.
Small Bites
Maybe you like drunk dogs
This is one doggy bag you might not want to give your pup. As we told you a few months ago, the D.C. Council voted to allow special doggy bags for opened bottles of wine with the hopes that it would lead to a reduction in a little less inebriation. Some of the restaurants that are now known to have the bags are Proof, Central, and Dino. Be sure to get a receipt for the wine, as technically the bags are only for wine bought at the restaurant, and not ones brought in for corkage.
A festival of lights
No, it's not Hanukkah. It's Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights. Indique Heights will be celebrating this Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. The $20 food and beverage inclusive admission will give you opportunity to sample chaat, kebab, dosa, mithai, chai and lassis from their food stalls. There will also be various arts, crafts, and jewelry on display and henna artists.
Someone was listening to Kliman
For anyone who was listening to Todd Kliman on Kojo Nnamdi a few months ago, he mentioned that he felt that D.C. needed a place with more exquisite sushi [read: expensive]. Well it seems that Sushi Taro is following up on that with a renovation starting December 14 to provide more diners with average checks that will run between $35 to $60. I suggest going and taking advantage of their well-priced lunch specials now while you still can.
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The price of drinks at the commonwealth makes me actually angry to look at the menu. Also, you have to look around at all the fuck heads who moved into the new condos in columbia heights. Good food tho.
When Guy Fawkes day spins around, everyone be sure to wish monkeyrotica a happy birthday. Huck your tins of Heinz baked beenz (U.K.-made only) in his direction!
Those beers are well worth a premium. More than that, though, every waiter I've had there has seemed to have an excellent knowledge of those beers, which is worth something as well.
Now I really want some scotch eggs.
why so much meat?
CommonWealth might be a brave attempt, but for proper mushy peas, you've just gotta get on that aeroplane.
i swear, you people are going to get me to give up on vegetarianism really quickly here if you keep tempting me like this!
IMGoph: It was all part of our evil plan... muahahaha... but hey at least there are still dosa. Mmmm...
Glad to see the favorable review of CommonWealth. I'm in there all the freaking time, and I loooove the Sunday roast. I'd like to roll around in the mashed potatoes. The only thing that it really lacks are steak and eggs at brunch.
No need to board an airplane. The trick with really authentic mooshy peas is to start with dried split peas in a muslin bag, and cook the hell out of them with a big ol ham shank. Slice the bag open and dress with a lot of butter, salt and pepper, and some crushed fresh mint.
Get your ass a copy of Dorothy Hartley's "Food in England" which totally takes the piss out of the idea that the English can't cook. They used to, and places like Commonwealth are trying to bring that back without all the horsemeat and axle grease.
And yeah, Guy Fawkes Day is me birthday. Don't forget to burn a sock monkey in effigy and start a soccer hooligan brawl. Man United!