Summer rolls at Huong Viet by Bethany L. King. Dish of the Week: Summer rolls
Where: Ba Bay, Pho Viet, Pho 14, Pho DC
The name says it all: summer rolls. Delicately flavored, slightly chewy rice paper encompasses a selection of light, cool ingredients — typically shrimp, Thai basil, rice noodle, julienned carrots and cucumber. They are then dipped in a sauce of nuoc cham — fish sauce, lime juice and sugar. Aside from shape, they have very little in common with their cousins, the heavily fried flour wrappers of spring rolls and egg rolls. You can find them at most Vietnamese restaurants, and at many Asian fusion restaurants.
They’re easy enough to make at home if you can find the rice paper wrappers. Soak the papers in warm to hot water water so they regain their pliancy and fill to your heart’s delight. I personally like a combination of shrimp, avocado and cucumber dipped into a combination of oyster sauce and lemon juice, thinned with water. But chunks of fried tofu, sliced mushrooms, minced pineapple and other variations can be delicious. It may take a few times to make sure they don’t leak everywhere, but at least you get to eat the mistakes.
If you want to go out to try a unique variation, you can go to Ba Bay to try out their autumn roll. Their rendition lightly fries rice paper rolls stuffed with Chinese sausage, jicama and scrambled egg with a peanut-hoisin sauce.
Small Bites
One long drunk week
Savor Beer Week kicks off next Monday. Even if you didn’t get tickets to the main event, there are numerous events over the course of the next week. For a calendar of events, check out DC Beer’s schedule — we’ll also be highlighting various beers and events throughout the week.
If you’re away during Savor Beer Week, you can head to Et Voila for their Belgian Beer Week. From June 15-19, they’ll be offering $15 three-beer flights, $4 beers between 5-7 p.m., and serving up Hoegaarden ice cream and other beer-based dishes.
901 Restaurant and Bar opens
901 Restaurant and Bar, a new venture by the owners of the Capital City Brewing Company, opened yesterday at 901 9th Street NW. The restaurant features a tapas-based menu.
Zola’s Happy Hour returns
Zola’s happy hour has returned for the summer with $5 cocktails and wines, $4 beer and a variety of happy hour dishes, such as crab cakes, beer-battered oysters, sherry-glazed sweetbreads and lobster rolls.
