Beef tongue at Izakaya Seki (Alicia Mazzara).Dish of the Week: Beef tongue
Where: Izakaya Seki, Oyamel, DGS Delicatessen, Super Tacos
Beef tongue is one of the more unnerving parts of the animal. Scan the butcher’s case at your local bodega, and you’re likely to find one wrapped in styrofoam and saran wrap. Detached from its bovine surroundings, beef tongue is weirdly textured and, frankly, alarmingly phallic-looking. And while it might look wholly unappetizing raw, it’s remarkably good once it’s cooked.
Beef tongue is fatty, and fat means flavor. Stripped of its nubbly exterior, slow-cooked and sliced thin, you’d hardly recognize it as the stuff flopping around inside a cow’s maw. Instead it’s smooth, tender, and reminiscent of brisket. And who doesn’t love brisket? Cooking it well is no small feat, so it’s best to get your beef tongue at a restaurant around town.
For a long time, tongue was mainly the purview of taco joints. I’m partial to a lengua taco with a big squeeze of lime from Super Tacos (1762 Columbia Road NW), but there’s also a more refined version at Oyamel (401 7th Street NW) that’s topped with a sauce of roasted pasilla chiles, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. If you’d like to try tongue outside the confines of a tortilla, there’s always a tongue sandwich on the menu DGS Delicatessen (1317 Connecticut Avenue NW). The latest take is a tongue gyro with tzatziki, tomato, and cucumber. But my favorite place to order beef tongue is unquestionably Izakaya Seki (1117 V Street NW). The meltingly tender slices are drizzled with a zippy yuzu sauce and fresh scallions, adding a punchy bite to the mellow beef.
Small Bites
Port City turns a colossal three
Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Company (3950 Wheeler Avenue) celebrates its third birthday next Friday. To mark the occasion, they’ll be releasing a new, limited edition beer dubbed Colossal Three. Look for this spicy, hoppy brew on tap at area bars and restaurants, or at Port City’s tasting room in Alexandria.
Are you ready for some custard?
It wouldn’t be the Superbowl without wings and… frozen custard? Stop in Shake Shake this Thursday through Sunday for their “Two Pint-Conversion” Super Bowl deal featuring two-for-one pints of frozen custard. Flavors include chocolate, vanilla, and the special of the day. You can load up on custard at the Dupont Circle (1216 18th Street NW) or Chinatown (800 F Street NW) location.
Jaleo re-boots brunch
Jaleo (480 7th Street NW) is rolling out a new brunch menu on February 1. Save room for fresh dishes like Pan de Cristal con Tomate y Sardinas José Andrés (toast topped with tomato and Spanish sardines); Huevos a la Cubana (sautéed rice with tomato, fried egg and Ibérico pork belly); and hot chocolate and churros for dessert.
