Photo by Janine.
Dish of the Week: Onigiri
Where: Daikaya Izakaya, Twisted Horn
Before there was GoGurt or Campbell’s soup in a cup, there was onigiri, the OG portable meal. Onigiri is a ball of rice, often stuffed with various seafood or vegetarian fillings, and wrapped in a crisp sheet of seaweed. It’s healthy but filling, and its mess-free handheld design makes it perfect for eating on the go. With such elegant simplicity, it’s no wonder the Japanese have been eating onigiri for centuries.
Onigiri are also the backbone of the adorable bento box trend, wherein rice balls are morphed into cartoon characters from Hello Kitty to Miyazaki films. With just a handful of ingredients and a sticky, moldable shape, they’re a blank canvas for endless flavors and formations.
Despite such a storied history, onigiri’s reputation as a convenience food makes it an unlikely candidate for many restaurant menus. Still, D.C. diners can find some decidedly less cute (but still tasty) onigiri at Daikaya Izakaya (705 6th St NW) or at the newly opened Twisted Horn (819 Upshur St NW). Daikaya has had onigiri on the menu since day one, and they serve as clean counterpoint to the restaurant’s highly seasoned small plates. While Daikaya uses traditional fillings like umeboshi (salt pickled plums) and pork with miso, Twisted Horn offers a more fusion spin with smoked salmon, olive and mozzarella, and spicy pickled vegetables for a bit of a kimchi vibe.
Small Bites
King of beers
The Black Squirrel is hosting a Jester King brewery beer pairing tonight starting at 5 p.m. Patrons can choose from five selections of Austin brewery’s farmhouse ales and pair them with either a cheese and pate plate, a braised meat, or a citrus dessert. All food and drink are available a la carte. Beer quantities are extremely limited, so be sure to get there early if you want a chance to taste everything.
Leap Day food and drink deals
Local restaurants and bars are hoping you’ll take advantage of that extra day in February to go out on a Monday night. Jack Rose (2007 18th St NW) is celebrating with an Allagash Leap Day Bash on their roof terrace from 5-8 p.m. Look for nine different Allagash varieties, including some special releases from 2013, priced at $5 all night. Meanwhile, Poste (555 8th Street NW) is offering frog legs for $2.29 and 29 cent shots of PBR. And if you’re lucky (unlucky?) enough to have been born on February 29, a three course dinner and a drink are on the house at Urbana (2121 P Street NW).
Best internship ever?
World of Beer is hiring three interns for the cushiest summer ever: traveling to breweries, beer festivals, and drinking beers from around the world. The internship is part-time but does indeed pay in currency other than booze. World of Beer will be holding interviews locally on March 2 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. at their Reston store (1888 Explorer St, Reston, Va). Sam Calagione, owner and founder of Dogfish Head Brewery, will be on hand to help select the interns.
Bangkok Joe’s returns
Bangkok Joe’s (3000 K St NW), a fixture along the Georgetown waterfront from 2003 to 2014, has announced that it will be reopening next month. The restaurant morphed into the French-Asian Mama Rogue in late 2014, but it will be returning to its roots with a focus on dumplings, buns, and Thai street food. Fans can expect some old favorites, like the dumpling bar, as well as a new menu with traditional Thai dishes.
