Hang out with the Kastorfs. It’s as simple as that…
the kastorfs
In an attempt to come to terms with my denial about their recent move from Atlanta, Slick + I visited Kurt + Anjali in the District over the weekend. When we arrived on Friday evening, we had dinner with them and Slick’s twin brother, Smooth, who lives in the city + co. at Zaytinya.
zaytinya
Zaytinya (http://www.zaytinya.com/) is a Mediterranean restaurant in Chinatown that is star chef Jose Andres’ culinary playground. Andres is a James Beard Award winner, defeated Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America and appeared as a guest judge on Top Chef. He is often credited for bringing the small plates concept to America. Needless to say, I was very excited to eat at Zaytinya. And, it was even better than expected – I strongly recommend this restaurant.
puffed pita bread @ zaytinya - i ate a TON
We had lunch the next day at Ben’s Chili Bowl (http://www.benschilibowl.com). Ever since Obama dined there a few days before the Inaguration, I’ve been interested in trying the famous chili dogs at this historic restaurant.
ben's chili bowl
slick @ ben's
We ate absolutely wondrous things – chili dogs, chili cheese fries, etc – and we didn’t think twice about it. 
chili cheese fries @ ben's
Ben’s Chili Bowl was amazing. I love its U Street location – not too far away from one of my favorite places to eat at in DC – Marvin (Marvin Gaye’s restaurant).
More on Marvin’s here: http://www.marvindc.com/.
kurt + slick eating ben's chili half-smokes
very full
Kurt + Anj + Slick cooked dinner on Saturday night. Obviously, I’m big on going out for meals (research for the blog…), but the way these three cooked – I’d be happy eating at home from here on out!
food network cameras really should have been there...
Everything was homemade from scratch. So impressive!!
Caprese Salad garnished w/ Doritos (Slick’s touch):
genius?
Vermont Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese Straws:
my favorite part of the meal
Peach Gnocchi in a Champagne and Shallot Sauce:
heavenly
(Brace yourself for this one) Maple Mascarpone Cheesecake served with Pistachio Ice Cream, Cranberries stewed in Raspberry Ginger Beer, Orange Ginger Reduction, Maple Syrup and garnished with a Walnut Tuille:
masterpiece
I ate sooooooo much, I couldn’t breathe after the meal. Seriously. That didn’t stop me, though, from finishing about three bottles of wine w/ Anj over the course of the night…
We ventured out to Co Co. Sala (http://www.cocosala.com/) for brunch on Sunday. A colleague in DC sang praises about this restaurant after she went for dinner one evening – and ever since has been telling me that I absolutely have to go there when I’m in town.
barely standing...but ready to eat!
The menu is based around chocolate and the food is creative, well-paired and incredibly artful. Although we were all pretty hungover from the prior evening, we thought brunch was delicious and satisfying. I loved the restaurant’s plush decor and appreciated how well thought out each knife, fork, dish and glass was – everything was very detailed.
beautiful entree @ co co. sala
decadent desserts @ co co. sala
We schmoozed with Co Co. Sala’s general manager after our meal and he told us that the restaurant has a pretty lively dessert + drinks scene – very loungy with house music… Personally, “house music” wasn’t the greatest selling point for me, but I would definitely go back to Co Co. Sala when I am in DC again to try more of their delicious desserts and see what the evening holds there. We left the restaurant full + with a parting gift from the GM: CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON!
it wasn't around for long...
Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro (http://www.matchboxdc.com/) was the last restaurant I wanted to check off of my list this trip.
get it? get it?!
Anj + Slick + I grabbed an early dinner there: the 3.6.9. mini-burgers w/ gouda + onion straws and one of their signature pizzas cooked in a wood-fired masonry oven. Although I thought the pizza was fair at best, Matchbox’s onion straws were enough to bring me back to the Chinatown restaurant as soon as I am in DC again. I honestly don’t have any other way to accurately describe them than they were just, well, AWESOME!
matchbox's 3.6.9. mini-burgers w/ onion straws
We ate a lot over the three day trip. But, don’t worry about our health – we did some walking. In fact, we spent Saturday @ the Department of Justice:
i found a familiar flag!
slick gave an important speech
We saw Julia Child’s Kitchen @ the National Museum of American History:
amen!
julia's copper pots
And, we viewed the Hope Diamond + the extensive Mineral Exhibit @ the National Museum of Natural History:
the hope diamond in all its glory
want. those.
Although the trip went by in a blur, I’ll be holding onto the memories we made (ate?) for the next few weeks in my waistline. Oh well, I enjoyed every bite – and it’s not swimsuit season quite yet…
miss you guys already!!
Thanks, Anj + Kurt for such a super fun + incredibly delicious trip!
xx, L
Though I largely believe my club-going days are behind me, we did find ourselves here for New Years Eve and a few other nights and had a blast.
This wall of sequin-clad women came walking towards us and one of them points at me and screams, “there she is!” Then a picture took place. Well, several. This is how I know 2010 is going to be spectacular. 