Photo by Quentin Krueger via Sally’s Middle Name’s Facebook page.
Dish of the Week: Chicken thighs
Where: Graffiato, Roofer’s Union, Sally’s Middle Name
Maybe it’s our culture’s obsession with sex, but chicken breasts seems to get a lot of undue love at the dinner table. Drumsticks are another favorite, because who doesn’t love food in a comical shape? And wings are the happy hour king, magnificent fried and devoured with a beer. But whither the lowly chicken thigh, the unsung hero of poultry parts?
The compact chicken thigh is a miracle of flavorful engineering. There’s a good skin-to-meat ratio going on here that allows for the development of the coveted crispy, golden exterior. Plus it’s status as a piece of bone-in dark meat means plenty of juicy deliciousness in each bite. Sadly, the chicken thigh is still mostly neglected on restaurant menus, though there are some notable exceptions.
Graffiato (707 6th Street NW) has long been elevating the chicken thigh, serving it with a crackling skin and Mike Isabella’s (in)famous pepperoni sauce. And while chicken with sauce made of pork may sound a bit much, trust me: if you like a meat lovers pizza, this is for you. Roofer’s Union (2446 18th Street NW) takes the crisp ‘n juicy aspect a step further in their highly addictive fried chicken thigh sandwich. Drizzled with a sticky, spicy honey sriracha glaze and nestled between leaves of iceberg lettuce and a mayo-slathered ciabatta roll, it’s the perfect storm of heat, fat, and crunch. Meanwhile, H Street newbie Sally’s Middle Name (1320 H Street NE) offers a “New Bay” chicken thigh, rubbing the meat with a spicy seasoning reminiscent of the Maryland classic. A squeeze of lemon and a swirl of herb-y green goddess dressing help seal this dish’s summery feel.
Small Bites
Ceviche has it’s day
This Sunday marks National Ceviche Day, which means another excuse to eat delicious raw fish. Head over to Cuba Libre (801 9th Street NW) for ceviche specials like yellowfin tuna with jalapeño, coconut, and ginger, shrimp with avocado salsa, and bay scallops with salsa and lime. Each dish is priced at a wallet-friendly $5 per dish, available now through Sunday at the bar/lounge area.
Because nothing says America like brunch
Enjoy the most patriotic of meals, drunken midday breakfast, in honor of the early July 4th holiday. A number of local restaurants will be offering brunch on Friday, July 3, including all three Founding Farmers locations and Farmers Fishers Bakers (3000 K Street NW). If you’re feeling extra American indulgent, Masa 14 (1825 14th Street NW), both El Centros, Zengo (781 7th Street NW), and Station 4 (1101 4th Street SW) will all be serving bottomless brunches.
Beer and BBQ
Who’s beer and barbecue will reign supreme? Find out at City Tap House’s BeerBQ Brewery Battle (901 9th Street NW), held on July 4th from noon to 5 p.m. Competitors from City Tap House, Adroit Theory, 3 Stars, and Evolution Craft Brewing will face each other in a barbecue-off. Tickets are $15 and include tastes of the competitors’ ‘cue and sides, along with a chance to vote for the winning beer and barbecue. There will also be a contest for guests—a 32-team cornhole tournament. To participate, teams must arrive between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to sign up for a time slot.
