The Weekly Feed: Not About Ben's Edition
Dish of the Week: Chili
Everyone knows it's been a big week for chili, especially Ben's Chili Bowl. But we're not here to talk about Ben's, for once this week. Because whether you love or don't love the chili from Ben's, its squeeze-tap runny texture isn't quite comparable to most traditional chili.
Depending on where you're from, you think chili is something totally different. If you're from Texas, chances are you think your chili shouldn't have anything besides meat and chili peppers. If you're from Cincinnati, you probably want it on top of spaghetti. Or perhaps you're more lax, and think chili should have whatever you want - turkey, chicken, pork, beans, vegetables, green chilies instead of red. But whatever your preference, the best part is having the warm, soothing concoction in your tummy.
The easiest place to sample regional chili varieties in D.C. area is at Hard Times Cafe. Another good option is Open City, for their vegetarian chili. For home chefs, this Cooking Light recipe for white chicken chili is delicious and healthier for meeting those New Year's resolutions. I enhance my chili by adding a few spoonfuls of recaito and a tablespoon or two of white vinegar.
Small Bites
Alice Waters-gate
There's been a lot of chatter about the Anthony Bourdain interview we posted earlier this week due to his comments about Alice Waters. In a follow-up by Gothamist, Bourdain says, "My comments were a heartfelt reaction to her wildly hubristic letter to the (then) president-elect, a document whose tone, timing and content I found distasteful—particularly coming from someone who hadn't even bothered to vote in the four previous elections." And it looks like the discussion between Anthony Bourdain and Alice Waters could heat up at the Connecticut Forum. For a cogent expression of some of the food issues that face President Obama and potential solutions, read Nicholas Kristof's op-ed.
Soviet Safeway? More like No-viet Safeway
Greater Greater Washington mapped out the locations of the major supermarkets throughout the city. Though commenters note a few missing stores, the map clearly shows that Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8 are seriously underserved.
Find it this time, for real
We reported over two months ago that General Store and Post Office Tavern (Gspot) by Gillian Clark would be opening soon. They've since run into some issues with the county over sufficient parking. Those issues have yet to be resolved, but in the meantime, according to a message sent to their mailing list, they will be opening this Saturday. "It's that old blue building at the intersection of Forest Glen & Capital View. We're going to open the doors at 1:30 pm and stay open until 10pm. There's no alcohol yet, but we've got a fascinating selection of sodas."