Chef Michael Mina in the kitchen at Bourbon Steak. Photo courtesy Amber Pfau. Now that we know the outcome of the 2009 Capital Food Fight to benefit D.C. Central Kitchen, we have to wonder whether Chef Michael Mina was laying it on a little thick last week when he said he was scrambling to try out some recipes that he could whip up in 10 minutes. Mina wound up the big winner at the…

Dish of the Week: Whipped cream Most people have already ramped up their holiday baking with cookies, pies, cakes, and other sweet treats. But there’s one thing that can make all those things better… whipped cream. For the longest time I had an aversion to the stuff, because most of the time I was given Cool Whip. But real whipped cream is fantastic, and beyond easy to make — though if only using a whisk,…

Drink of the Week: Gin rickey The gin rickey may be the closest thing D.C. has to a city drink. Named after famed lobbyist Col. Joe Rickey, and originally served at Shoomaker’s, the drink is similar to a gin and tonic, but with more lime and lacking the bitterness of quinine. The traditional recipe is 1.5 oz. gin, 1/2 lime, 1/4 oz. simple syrup and finished with soda water. The recently formed D.C. Bartenders Guild…