The Weekly Feed: Kettle-Cooked Edition
Zapp's chips, available in snack size from Potbelly (Alicia Mazzara).
The supermarket aisle is crowded with many a mediocre potato chip, but every once in a while, a truly great chip comes along. Zapp's, started in Gramercy, Louisiana by Ron Zappe, produces a singularly crisp and flavorful potato chip. Unlike many brands, Zapp's actually taste like potatoes, rather than a cardboard-like wafer of sodium and artificial flavoring. (Don't get us wrong, we enjoy the occasional can of Pringles, but they're apparently not potatoes.) Zapp's kettle cooks their thick-cut chips in peanut oil for extra crunch and lightly tosses them in funky Southern-style seasonings such as Cajun Crawtator, Cajun Dill, and Hotter 'n Hot Jalapeno.
This summer, Potbelly switched to Zapp's chips, changing (my) lunch hour forever. Unfortunately, Potbelly doesn't carry Zapp's full line of flavors, but you can still try the classic Regular, Salt and Vinegar, Sour Cream and Creole Onion, or Mesquite BBQ. Salt and Vinegar is tangy without being overpowering, but our favorite is the mild and creamy Sour Cream and Creole Onion. Both flavors do an excellent job of letting the delicious potato-y flavor shine through. More exotic flavors have been glimpsed at Cost Plus World Market or can be ordered from Zapp's website or by calling 1-800-HOT-CHIP.
Small Bites
Whiskey and Poste Roast
Poste will be hosting a special tasting of Copper Fox Distillery's whiskey and rye paired with three different roasted animals: suckling pig, capretto (baby goat), and baby lamb on September 17 at 6:30 p.m. The event costs $45 pre-tax and tip. For reservations and for more information contact Stacy Nemeth at (202) 449-7062 or stacy.nemeth[at]postebrasserie.com.
Festival Frenzy
Apparently every food festival in the area decided to schedule themselves for the weekend after Labor Day. Take your pick -- there's something for everybody this weekend.
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church is holding their 34th annual Middle Eastern Festival and Bazaar Friday through Sunday. The festival will feature performances, crafts, and, of course, tasty food. St. George is located at 16th and Webster Street NW.
If a Crab Soup Cook-Off is more your speed, head out to Sandy Point State Park for the Maryland Seafood Festival. There will be over 30 different kinds of crab soup alone, not to mention a band called The Craw Daddies. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Arts on Foot kicked off on Thursday and continues today and Saturday in Penn Quarter. Highlights include the free Restaurant Sampling Court, as well as cooking demonstrations from chefs behind The Source, Zaytinya, Minibar, and Proof, among others. Our personal favorite from last year is the World Market Wine Area, which features tastings and expert wine seminars for only $10.
Last week we told you about DC Veg Fest, taking place on Saturday at GWU. Check out some cooking demonstrations and a talk on vegan body building. Free.
Finally, who could forget good ol' Adams Morgan Day? Hang out with Mayor Fenty, Jim Graham and the gang while munching on an endless array of bbq, pad thai, chicken skewers, tacos, and ice cream. Free.
Casa Oaxaca also kicks off a celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 15, going through September 30. They will feature special menu items, such as tostadas de pata - pineapple vinegar cured pork trotters on top of fresh tortilla, as well as beef tongue tacos and tacos al pastor (grilled pork with pineapple).
We hope this place opens sooner than Wagamama
The Washington Business Journal reports that Erik Bruner-Yang, previously of Sticky Rice, will be opening Toki Underground, a noodle bar at 1234 H St NE. Expect ramen and dumplings with a Taiwanese influence.