Photo by ekelly80
Dish of the Week: Strawberries
Where: Your neighborhood farmers market.
After all the apples and pears of winter, the arrival of strawberry season is like a breath of fresh air. Bright, juicy, and sweet, strawberries are among the earliest hints of the summer fruit bounty to come (is it peach season yet? Please?).
While area restaurants are sure to offer some tantalizing preparations that feature strawberries, among the best ways to enjoy them is simply to pick some up from the farmers market and eat as is. If you want to get fancy, try cutting them in half (or quarters for larger berries), sprinkling with some sugar and a tablespoon of Lillet Blanc, Dolin Blanc vermouth, Grand Marnier, or another light spirit of your choice.
Another great way to enjoy the bounty of strawberries while they’re available is to preserve them so they may be enjoyed later. Jams and jellies are excellent ways to do this, but lately we’re pretty enamored with keeping the flavors of seasonal fruit alive using shrubs. These sweet-tart elixirs are the perfect vehicle for fruit flavors and are lovely blended into a cocktail or mixed with a little sparkling water for a light summer beverage. If you’ve never made a shrub before, we’re big fans of this cold-processed method from Serious Eats.
However you choose to enjoy strawberries, do make sure to get to the farmers market early. From Bloomingdale to Takoma Park, markets throughout the area have been running out of strawberries quickly meaning anyone who sleeps in is likely to miss out on strawberry season.
Small Bites
The Good, the Bad, and the Vapid
Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema’s spring dining guide for 2012 is available online now and in print in Sunday’s Post. A selection of featured restaurants rather than a comprehensive look at D.C. dining, Sietsema’s seasonal dining guides are often controversial since everyone has an opinion on who made the cut—and who didn’t. Among the notable inclusions this time were the recently renovated Bar Pilar and Jaleo, a mainstay of D.C. dining that Seitsema praises as “reinvigorated.” Per usual, Sietsema included some restaurants that he found less than impressive. Founding Farmers got a nod for their house-made popcorn but was otherwise described as “vapid,” and Reston’s Passionfish got high marks for atmosphere and service—neither of which could supposedly save it from being counted as “listless.” Love him or hate him, at least Sietsema never shrinks from speaking his mind.
No Jumbo Slice or Jello Shots Here
Finally a hole in the wall in Adams Morgan that isn’t about cheap rail liquor or over-sized pizza. Thrillist D.C. reports this week on Sakuramen, an underground—literally—ramen joint in Adams Morgan set to open on Tuesday, May 22 according to the restaurant’s Twitter feed. Hopefully it’ll be easier to get a seat at Sakuramen than at Toki Underground, the notoriously packed ramen spot on H Street. Although with ramen’s reputation as an affordable drunk food we’re betting the imminent arrival of interns will have the place packed before long.
Because You Can Never Have Enough Beer and Oysters
In case you didn’t get your fill of craft beer and Chef Jamie Leeds’ cuisine at Hank’s Oyster Bar’s recent Oysterfest, you can get another shot at it this coming Monday. Chef Leeds is partnering with Pete Showvaker of Troeg’s Brewing Company to host a beer dinner featuring five courses paired with fine craft beers from Troeg’s. The dinner will be held at Hank’s Dupont Circle location and features pairings like oysters on the half shell with Troeg’s Sunshine Pils and Blue Cheese Whoopie Pies with Troeg’s Flying Mouflan Barleywine. Tickets are available for $70 per person; to book, call the restaurant at 202-462-4265.