The Weekly Feed: Rapidly Melting Edition
Dish of the week: Paletas
Where: Mount Pleasant farmers' market, Friendship Heights Whole Foods
With most of July and all of August still ahead, this endless heatwave is making us scramble for any icy refreshment we can find. If you haven't passed out from heat exhaustion yet, try cooling down with a familiar childhood treat -- a popsicle, or, better yet, a paleta.
Paletas are a Latin American take on the classic popsicle. Rather than just frozen sugar water, paletas are made with chunks of fresh fruit and sometimes milk. (We like to think this makes it okay to indulge a bit -- it's fruit, so it must be healthy, right?) Paletas also come in some flavors that would not be considered usual to some palates, like cucumber, tamarind, and avocado. This has inspired a recent artisan popsicle movement, with vendors dreaming up flavors that range from the off-beat (blackberry sweet corn) to the sublime (rose petal).
Everyone likes to complain that New York gets all the good food trends first, but D.C. now has its very own paleta cart, just in time for this blistering string of 100 degree days. Pleasant Pops will be selling their frozen fruit bars at the Mt. Pleasant farmers' market this summer. They have 60 different flavors, though offerings vary depending on the season (the pops are made using fruit from local farms). Current flavors include strawberries and cream, peaches and ginger, and cucumber chili.
If you can't make it to the market, the Friendship Heights Whole Foods store has also started carrying agave-sweetened paletas in the coffee bar in flavors like coconut almond sesame. Either way, stay cool out there!
Small Bites
A victory for cephalopods everywhere
In honor of Paul, the clairvoyant octopus, chef and soccer fanatic Jose Andres is no longer serving octopus at his restaurants. Paul has accurately predicted the outcome of Germany's World Cup matches, including their most recent loss to Spain. Unfortunately for Paul, angry German fans are ready are already plotting to turn him into paella.
A pint or two for the peckish
Againn is offering 10 ounce Yuenglings for 99 cents each (limit 2) with the purchase of one of four traditional pub fare items. The options include bangers and mash, fish and chips, shepherd's pie, or a burger. Yuengling might not be your beer of choice, but 99 cents is a steal.
Supporting the Heights
A number of Columbia Heights restaurants are playing host to a Dine Out Night on July 15 from 6-10 p.m. CommonWealth, The Heights, Looking Glass Lounge, Meridian Pint, Panda Express, RedRocks Pizzeria, Room 11, and Wonderland Ballroom will contribute a percentage of their proceeds to the Columbia Heights Day Initiative, which organizes a number of community events.
Reality TV actually imitates reality
Top Chef contestant Timothy Dean is suing National Harbor for allegedly undercutting a deal he had to open a restaurant in the area. This is not the first bit of legal controversy surrounding Dean, who has filed other lawsuits and has had some filed against him by suppliers.
Additional reporting by Jamie Liu.