Fried whiting from Fish in the Hood (Alicia Mazzara).Dish of the Week: Fried fish
Where: Fish in the Hood, Horace and Dickies
The food that comes in a styrofoam container from a corner fish fry joint may not be the most elegant, but it doesn’t mean it’s any less enjoyable than a fancy dinner served on white tablecloths. Roast lamb and smoked ham may be battling it out on Easter dinner tables this Sunday, but this week we highlight fried fish, an unpretentious soul food classic.
Fried whiting is a take-out staple in D.C., but mild-tasting catfish, croaker, cod, or trout are all fine options as well. The fish is typically lightly breaded in cornmeal, fried until golden and crispy, and served with a couple slices of bread, tartar sauce, and hot sauce. The best places, like Horace and Dickie’s (809 12th St NE) or Fish in the Hood (3601 Georgia Ave NW), will fry your fish to order so the breading stays crunchy, never greasy.
Since most varieties of white fish don’t have particularly assertive flavor, the breading and sauce is where restaurants have a chance to make their mark. A spicy crust or a signature sauce can generate a cult following: hang out in Fish in the Hood for more than ten minutes, and you’ll see people clamoring for a container of owner Bill White’s creamy mango sauce. Do you have a favorite place to get fried fish in the District? Let us know in the comments.
Small Bites
Easter Candy No Longer Just for Kids
Sure, Jesus rose from the dead, but we all know that the best part of Easter is the candy. Peeps, the holiday’s most iconic sugary treat, just got better thanks to Cork Market and Tasting Room (1805 14th St NW). The market is selling house made marshmallow Peeps, and their signature ingredient is booze. The boozy Peeps come in two flavor–port and St. Germain–and are available for purchase through the weekend.
Going Rogue
Hogo’s rotating chef series continues this weekend as RJ Cooper steps into the kitchen on Tuesday. During Cooper’s month long stint, the Rogue 24 chef will be previewing Southern-inspired dishes from his forthcoming Gypsy Soul restaurant. Expect to see both the familiar (chicken fried steak with morel gravy) and esoteric (sugar toad, an ugly little pufferfish that lives in the Cheasapeake Bay) on the menu.
Backyard BBQ and Bubbly
Is it spring yet? Maybe not, but when the weather finally stops being terrible, Vinoteca will be ready. Their patio and backyard bar/bocce court opens this weekend, now with 100% more outdoor grilling. Budget-friendly burgers and hot dogs ($6) will be on the menu, along with a host of new wines, sangria, and warm weather cocktails.
