Get to Know a Serious Eater.

AHolland's Profile

Website:

Location: Capitol Hill, DC

About:

Favorite foods: Fresh, local, and cooked for a long time. Anything braised.

Last bite on earth: Fish and Chips -- haddock fresh from the sea, and only lightly battered and fried. Topped with salt and vinegar, eaten out of newspaper. Ketchup and tartar sauce on the side.

The Ten Most Recent Comments By AHolland

From A Hamburger Today

Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown

I used to work as a server at Clyde's in Georgetown. The burgers are a staple and always good. I love getting a blue cheese burger with bacon and raw onion.

I seem to remember that the fries were frozen, as you deduced. Their qualtiy, unfortunately, is very changeable, depending on when you go. The best time to get good, fresh, crispy fries was during the lunch or dinner rush, when the fries are likely to be freshest. During the post-afternoon or later in the evening time, they do sit around for a little while.

From Talk

washington, dc. local dish?

The only authentic DC food (like a cheesesteak), which you can't get anywhere else is the 'half-smoke.' Its kind-of like a fat, spicy hot dog. You can find them at any hot dog vendor around the city, but the best place to get one is at Ben's Chili Bowl on U St. Ben's has been there for over 50 years and truly is a DC institution.

The way to order your half-smoke is sliced in half and grilled. I would recommend it with chili on top, but just kraut and mustard will do the job also. Ordered with a soda and fries, it will all come to less than $10. Pretty good deal.

Ben's Chili Bowl has also opened a branch in the new National's stadium. If you decide to go to a game, you can get a half-smoke there as well.

From Required Eating

Cheap(er) Drinks: Tips For Enjoyable Drinking Without Going Broke

I'd like to return to the Glenfiddich v. Laphroaig debate. To say that Glenfiddich (a smooth highland malt) is a possible subsititute for Laphroaig (a smokey, strong island malt) is wrong. That doesn't mean, though, that there are now cheaper substitutes to look for. Probably your best bet for a cheaper substitute would be Bowmore (which also hails from Islay). It goes for around $40.

From Required Eating

In the News: Irradiation For Food Safety; Packaged Food Industry Benefits Over Restaurants; Raw Milk Demand Growing

Good for Emory to try to embrace local food.

Bad for Emory to force it down the students' throats without educating them about the real costs and benefits. Giving people a choice, not a top-down directive is the best way to ensure that they make food choices will last a lifetime.

From Required Eating

Snapshots From Italy: Ten Reasons Why I Love Shopping in Italy

The unfortunate truth, of course, is that you can't get this in the U.S. Not only do real butchers barely exist anymore, none of us have the actual time to go shopping every day for dinner! I know that working from 8 until 7 isn't conducive to putting the time needed into a good meal.

It would take a complete cultural change in the U.S. to achieve this. How sad... makes me want to move to Rome!

From Recipes

Classic Cookbooks: Shepherd's Pie

This is funny. I just made Joy's Shepherd's Pie this weekend. Its great, because you can make it on the weekend, save it in your fridge, and you've got dinner all set up for 2 or 3 nights. Its actually better once you've reheated it several times.

Responses to Comments by AHolland

From A Hamburger Today

Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown

First Five Guys was in Alexandria VA, I believe.

Mr. Smith's is nasty. You should have skipped it and gotten the Black and Blue burger at The Guards if you needed to stay in Georgetown. Or Chadwicks (under the Whitehurst), I've never been but I know people who swear by their burger.

From A Hamburger Today

Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown

Nick has some of the best reviews of burgers -- or any other food -- hands-down, no questions, end of story. If you want diverse reviews (albeit from know-nothing morons), go Yelp.

From A Hamburger Today

Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown

The first Five Guys, was definately not in Georgetown. I believe the first one was in Arlington, VA but doesn't exist anymore. While this is hardly an original thought, my vote for best burger in DC is the front bar of Palena.

From A Hamburger Today

Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown

I know it is a chain now, but isn't the original Five Guys in Georgetown? I only know one person who has been to the original and a franchise and he says the original is better. But to me they are really good burgers.

From A Hamburger Today

Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown

Definitely try Z-burger in Chevy Chase. I tried it this weekend and fell in love. Watch out Five Guys, the DivaofYum has found your competition. Savory, decent sized patties with all the toppings you could ever want! Gotta try the onion rings and the z-sauce! YUM!!

From A Hamburger Today

Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown

I live in VA and my favorite is Elevation Burger: they use organic beef for the burgers and olive oil for the potatoes. The place is extremely clean and very family-friendly. You should definitely check it out next time! Take a word from an ex-vegetarian who hardly ate any meat before.

From A Hamburger Today

Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown

Not far from Georgetown, I highly recommend Chef Geoff's. While I'm not a fan of their food generally, it's hard to beat their $5 burger and fries happy hour special (all day on weekends). The burgers use great meat and are properly cooked to temp (toppings like bacon and cheddar included for $5). The fries are thin and crisp. Paired with an $8 supermug of a great microbrew, it makes for a tasty and filling dinner. Great after work or, for tourists, after a day of sightseeing.

Now that my husband and I have left D.C., we compare all burgers to Chef Geoff's.

http://www.chefgeoff.com/main/index.cfm?Restaurant=cg_downtown&Category=Events&Section=Main

From A Hamburger Today

Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown

As a former resident of DC, might I suggest that next time you also try Sign of the Whale and Buffalo Billiards, both have great burgers.

From A Hamburger Today

Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown

I've got Nick's back on this one. Yeah. It's difficult to write about the same subject matter over and over and over and ... and not find yourself revisiting similar phrasing and topics. I've struggled with it for years now with burgers and pizza. Nick manages to hit all the main points a burger freak would look for -- juiciness, bun-beef ratios, patty texture -- and still write compelling reviews that give a comprehensive view of a particular place and its burger. I think the copious detail and history of a place that he often gives balance out any perceived repetition. The only other approach I could see a guy taking is one that Mister Hamburger took while he was still active: reducing the parameters to a grade scale and glossing over them. I like Mister Hamburger's approach, but I like that Nick gives us lots of detail beyond a simple scale.

From Talk

washington, dc. local dish?

L'Auberge Chez Francois, hands down.