Washington D.C. Restaurants and Museums (cont.)

And now, the stunning conclusion for our 3-part series on our trip to Washington, D.C.!
Sunday ended up being another early morning. We woke well before our planned brunch with the foodie cousin who’d recommended Casa Oaxaca, and ventured into Georgetown to enjoy the morning sun. The fall colors on the tree-lined streets made for a gorgeous walk, highlighting the historic buildings and artfully restored canal. 

 

 

The sun glistened on the river, as we made our way to Blue Duck Tavern for our brunch.

We joined our friends for brunch, and waited for a few minutes for our table to open up. The dining room was quiet, and our waiters were quick and attentive. We chatted for a while, and on their recommendation, ordered some Virginian wines, on the assurance that it was some of the best in the region. The food was seemingly simple fare, but created with unique twists that showed real skill. The wine proved to be perfect for the early meal, and the company made the time fly by, even though we lingered over our meal. And for a special treat, we ordered some dessert--a dutch apple pie large enough to serve four (yes an entire pie), crafted in the front window of the restaurant so that we watched it being prepared as we waited for our table. We had it served with ice cream, of course.

Soon, it was time for everyone to part. Tina left for New York; I’d be staying an extra night for work obligations the next day. Since I had the evening to myself, I wandered the neighborhood around Dupont Circle. I passed by Kramer’s Books and Cafe, but decided to press on, despite the allure of sipping wine will perusing a book store. I love the idea, but I knew that I would end up with a few books to take home, and I didn’t really have space in my bags for that sort of souvenir. Instead, I wandered down further afield and ended up at Veritas Wine Bar. I pulled up a seat at the half empty bar, and order up a glass of Shiraz and a meat plate. Sitting at the bar, watching football on the TV and listening to classic rock on the loudspeakers, I was content. But I wasn’t full, so I ordered a glass of Zinfandel, and a cheese plate. Of course, it was a bachelor’s night out, so I chose the stinkiest cheeses I could get off the menu. There was no way even the strongest of wines could hold up to those cheeses. Yet, the ambiance of the bar, and a casual evening, more than made up for my imperfect pairing.

In all, it was a wonderful weekend. We got to enjoy a bit of our nation’s history, set in the beautiful fall atmosphere of an architecturally beautiful city. We enjoyed good food and drink, good friends, and had a chance to relax before the holidays 

Washington D.C. Restaurants and Museums (cont.)

We recently took a trip to Washington, D.C., and left readers after having a delicious lunch at the National Museum of American History.

After rushing down to the Mall, and shuffling through the museum for hours, we wanted to get off our feet for a bit, so we headed back to the hotel, to take advantage of the free happy hour, a perk of the Kimpton hotel chain that we have enjoyed elsewhere. It was a delicious house wine, and a great way to relax for a few minutes, before our dinner reservation. 

Tina enjoys the house wine at Topaz Bar.

At the recommendation of a cousin local to the area, we had plans to enjoydinner at Casa Oaxaca. Casa Oaxaca is a small restaurant on the outskirts of a busy neighborhood. We arrived for a fairly early dinner, and the place was already full, a mixture of young families, couples, and groups of friends populating the tables. We’ve enjoyed Oaxacan cuisine elsewhere, so we were looking forward to the range of molés and other traditional dishes. 

I started with a cocktail on special for the evening, another concoction of tequila and jalapeno, the balance of heat and flavor of which put the drink at the Topaz to shame. We ordered Ravioli de Huitlacoche. Huitlacoche is a Mexican delicacy, a fungus that grows on ears of corn and which is often compared to truffle. It has a mild, earthy flavor and was a great start to the meal. Tina enjoyed their famous cheese enchiladas, drenched in molé sauce, while I had the filet mignon. To continue with the theme for the evening, we decided to pair it with Mexican wines. It was no surprise that both wines, being from such a warm climate, were light and tart. My Cabernet Sauvignon was a good compliment to my meal; the hints of leather and spice balanced well with the hearty meat. Even though we were exceedingly full, we were convinced through some joking with our waiter to order churros for dessert. It was one of his favorite dishes, and, after we managed to stuff ourselves, he came over to notify us that it normally comes with six pieces, but he couldn’t resist, and helped himself to one of them, knowing I was so full. All told, this was one of the best Mexican meals we’ve had to date, for a great price, and in such a wonderfully casual atmosphere.

To be continued . . . !