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The Big H Burger at Harold's Diner in Hilton Head, South Carolina
This is def worth a visit back. I have great memories of Patty Arbuckle's sweet potato fries and summer life on the island. Does anyone remember this restaurant being there?
'Top Chef' Alum Brings Burgers, Fedoras to Capitol Hill
Definitely! I agree with the tragic hat comment but hey, this isn't Project Runway!
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!!
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
DC and Baltimore for a week
Please go to the Straights of Malaya! Great, adventurous Malaysian cuisine and a fun neighborhood. Cross the street for some pretty strong margaritas at Lauriol Plaza and then try to make it home. Trust me, it's an adventure and a half.
You need to check out Zaytinya too. Chic, delicious tapas great for sharing, creative and tasty drinks and fun for groups. I think it's a hands down winner!
The Big H Burger at Harold's Diner in Hilton Head, South Carolina
This is def worth a visit back. I have great memories of Patty Arbuckle's sweet potato fries and summer life on the island. Does anyone remember this restaurant being there?
'Top Chef' Alum Brings Burgers, Fedoras to Capitol Hill
Definitely! I agree with the tragic hat comment but hey, this isn't Project Runway!
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!!
Washington, D.C. Holiday Party Venue
Try something fun and different like the Arlington Arts Center near the hip Clarendon area. Check them out at the following link: http://www.arlingtonartscenter.org/entertaining_galleries.htm. Art and parties are awesome mates!
America's Best Ice Cream
Unassuming, simple, home-made, organic and heavenly delicious Moorenko's in Silver Spring, MD is a hidden gem. Try the white chocolate pistachio and you will discover why. YUM!!
Cook the Book: 'Screen Doors and Sweet Tea'
I had a watermelon vodka recently and fell in love
Fresh, crushed watermelon + sugar, to taste + vodka + ice = summer heaven
The Best Worst Restaurant Names Ever
Singapore Bistro on 19th and L in Washington DC has the name right but if you look closely the sign below reads "Asian Cousin". Awesome!
And in Hilton Head, South Carolina somewhere I remember seeing a restaurant called Mexician Grill. We still laugh at that one!
Meet & Eat: Bobby Flay
bobby flay introduced me to blueberries, caramel and ice cream. best combination ever! bobby, i want to work for you!
Essentials: Strawberry Shortcake
my boyfriend has confirmed that the only dessert he enjoys is anything with cake, cream and strawberries. guess who'll be trying this sometime soon! thanks for the recipe!
The Big H Burger at Harold's Diner in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Love the burger. The crude humor adds a nice touch. Definitely comming back. Oh by the way, where a Yankees hat and see what happens to you.
Essentials: Strawberry Shortcake
There is a special place in hell reserved for the person who invented those grocery sponge cake thingys for strawberry shortcake. I imagine that spot will be shared by the inventor of Cool Whip and foods like Country Time "Lemonade" or Lloyds ribs.
'Top Chef' Alum Brings Burgers, Fedoras to Capitol Hill
I'd like to see a good Aussie Hamburger which ALWAYS has SLICED BEETS from a tin. In Sydney we always have standard burgers: fried onion, lettuce, tomato, beetroot (Beets) In some joints you have to ask for them. Extras include Fried egg, tasty cheese & fried bacon rasher. When I make one at home I have an open burger with mayo on one side, lettuce, tomato, beet(root),fried egg with melted cheese, slice fried bacon & squirt of tomato sauce-Other side is mayo, Avocado, tomato, large pattie with fried onion on top & another squirt of tomato sauce If Spike coud make me one I'd definitely eat at his place or any other Top Chef's eatery
The Best Worst Restaurant Names Ever
In Chongqing. I recent ate at a hot pot restaurant called Zhu's Fagty Rot Hot-Tot. I have the napkin to prove it. What is this: a restaurant for gay pedophiles?
Burgering Through D.C.'s Georgetown
You should try Burger Joint in Bathesda. Also I've heard amazing things about Ray's Butcher Burger in Alexandria. That place has a sister resteraunt that is a steakhouse so they use a lot of high quality beef for their burgers.
Washington, D.C. Holiday Party Venue
Hey, if you haven't already decided on a location for your company Christmas party, I urge you to consider Strathmore Music Center. It's in Rockville, just above Bethesda and has it's own Metro Station. Parking is ample. The facility is unbelievable, rooms encased in glass with great views, and the food is fab, nyc quality. Depending on your desires, a dj works as well as a jazz trio. the staff it top notch. I recently had a party there and was blown away by the service. good luck!
The Big H Burger at Harold's Diner in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Note: You'll be hard pressed to find a burger in SC that's cooked less than Medium. According to State Law, restaurants are not supposed to cook ground beef any rarer due to less stringent testing, or some such. By the way, beautiful burger!
DC and Baltimore for a week
I also love Mama Ayesha for Middle Eastern food (on Calvert just over the Ellington Bridge from Connecticut Ave). They have recently added several new dishes...both meat-based and vegetarian. Great food, nice ambiance and some of the most gracious staff in DC, I think.
My daughter who lives in Spain is home visiting for a few weeks. We watched 'Made in Spain' together and LOVED it. I was in Madrid a few weeks ago and based on Jose Andres' shows, I tried a couple of restaurants that serve regional food (Asturia and Gallego). Big success...thanks Jose. We also love Jaleo and Zaytina.
DC and Baltimore for a week
How were you able to get reservations there 3 times?! Is there a secret I don't know about?
DC and Baltimore for a week
Sorry about all the typose and spelling errors. Looks like it was written by a lazy illiterate who doesn't proof before posting. I'm not an illiterate.
DC and Baltimore for a week
Been to Minibar three times. In fact, I took a chef friend the second time (and a client the third.) Never disappointed. Point of reference José spent time in Ferran Adria's kitchen... and Katsuya Fukushima (his exec chef at Minibar) gets props too. They (and the working chefs who actually prep and present to 34 course menu in front of you like a sushi bar) spend time during the day experimenting like Adria's atelier does in Barcelona. José has a series on PBS called Made in Spain... which is a travel/cooking show and where he shows some of his simply techniques. It's worth the investment in the DVD... just to here his astonishing enthusiasm. The rest of his "empire" consists of 3 Jaleo locations (tapas), Zaytina (middle eastern small plates), Oyamel (Mexican) and they're opening a hotel near the Beverly Centre in LA. Anyhow. Minibar is a real treat. And while cutting edge experimental cooking/ thinking is great for special occasions, all the other places offer lots of great tastes too.
DC and Baltimore for a week
Palena in Cleveland Park (a block or two down from the natl zoo).. fantastic little place. the prix fixe menu is a steal if you want 3 courses, and their bar menu burger is consistantly ranked one of the best in dc. my favorite certainly! great drink menu- best old fashioned in town.
2 Amys has the best neapolitan pizza (glover park/cathedral area), but Faccia Luna (old town alexandria and arlington) has the best overall pizza around.
Georges for a cheesesteak, if you find yourself in Georgetown.
The Big H Burger at Harold's Diner in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Foul Language and Rude Behavior from the Staff, is Standard!
If you like earsplitting foul language and disrespectful conduct from staff, you'll love it.
If you don't like, said, stay away.
With the exception of said burger, Harold's diner's food is ordinary and commonplace, for a diner.
DC and Baltimore for a week
I second Cafe Atlantico and Zaytinya. Both are Jose Andres's restaurants are fabulous. Also, the Minibar at Cafe Atlantico is suppose to be superb and quite the dining experience. Unfortunately, I too have yet to get a reservation. They open up a month prior to the date (ex. call at 10 am, July 24th for reservation on August 24th). If you've been or heard of the tasting menu at WD50 in NYC, I believe it is similar. If price isn't an issue, I would also suggest trying to make reservations at Citronelle, Michel Richard's other place in DC. AMAZING.
DC and Baltimore for a week
If you can plan ahead and have the cash, go to Jose Andres' minibar (inside Cafe Atalantico in the District). This is a very tough reservation to score (only 12 seats per night), so go here:
http://www.cafeatlantico.com/miniBar/reservations.htm
to read the policy and get ready to dial. I have yet to get lucky enough to get a reservation or off of the waiting list, but it would be worth it if you were so lucky! (See the phots of the food on the webiste.) I also am told that Cafe Atalantico is very good, but have not been because I would be gobbled up with envy of the people who got the rez at minibar.
For a place that is somewhat easier to get into, call now to book into Central, Michel Richard's fabulous (but relatively moderately priced) restaurant in the District. If you cannot get a rezzie, show up just as it opens at 5:30 pm and sit in the bar to dine.
I highly recommend starting with the gougeres (we ate two orders between two of us), and then moving on to the oysters, the lardon tart, the fried chicken (not a joke; even though the menu here is heavily French, the chicken was some of the best I ever had and comes with a tasty mustard sauce) and then the cassoulet. Delish!!
Several other people have recommended Zaytinya, but a word of caution -- get a reservation and be prepared for a VERY loud room. The bar always is packed, so waiting can be both uncomfortable and time-consuming. The food is good, but in my view not fine enough to merit a seventy-five minute wait for a table.
I have enjoyed Thai Square (multiple locations, but I like the one in Arlington) for some very authentic and moderately priced food. The duck curry is great!
For something informal, I recommend trying out a Five Guys burger (multiple convenient locations in DC). Order the spicy fries and accompany with your carbonated beverage of choice (try the root beer!!).
DC and Baltimore for a week
New place just opened up in the Penn Quarter Section - near Spy Museum and Portrait Gallery - called CoCo Sala. It is a chocolate lounge. http://cocosala.com/. We went the other night. Loved the lounge feel too it. The chocolate beyond description! They also have a few small bites to start the evening. The cocktail list was also really inventive!
Nora is fabo! I will also second Marrakesh as mentioned above. Beware- they take cash only!
DC and Baltimore for a week
i was just treated to a dinner at Nora and it was fabulous...wonderful service and very personable...i can't stop raving...think Alice Waters of the Mid-Atlantic...very nice.....
DC and Baltimore for a week
You can check out www.donrockwell.com for a lot of discussion about different places and what to order. A lot of this depends on where you're visiting from. For instance, some stuff is good, but it may be better if you're from CA, NY or something like that. Also since it's crab season, now might be a nice time to get your fix of crabs in Baltimore from somewhere like Bo Brooks. The crab cakes, available year-round from Faidley's are the best in Baltimore.
DC and Baltimore for a week
Another great Ethiopian place in DC (my favorite) is Zed's (in Georgetown). I'd also recommend Zaytinya, as well as Palena (the cafe part of the restaurant is great too, and less expensive), 2 Amys for great neopolitan pizza, Cactus Cantina for great tex (right next door to 2 Amys), Leopold's Kafe for Austrian food and really good coffee/pastries (in a cute, modern setting), Central by Michel Richard for the scene and the delicious "upscale comfort food," Black Salt for super fresh seafood, and Malaysia Kopitiam for cheap and tasty Malaysian food. (All those restaurants are in DC, by the way.) Check out the washingtonian magazine for endless lists of "The Very Best Restaurants," "Cheap Eats," etc.
I'm going to shamelessly plug the restaurant where I work, Rock Creek at Mazza. The concept is seasonal, local food, which in addition to being very fresh and well prepared, is also good for you too. It's hard to imagine fine dining and health food (or what we tend to think of as health food) merging into one very successful restaurant, but it's done really well here, and by the way things taste and look, you wouldn't guess it's a totally healthy dining experience. There's also another location (the first) in Bethesda, although they don't have a really awesome huge tree in the middle of their dining room...
DC and Baltimore for a week
The Helmand (Afghan) is FANTASTIC in Baltimore. Inexpensive. Pop across the street to Charles Theater. Tapas Teatro is also right there--hopping, excellent.
I also agree about Paper Moon. It's a trip! That also puts you right next to the Baltimore Museum of Art and down the street from Charm City Bakery but you can't really just pop in on Duff and the madhouse).
Still love Sascha's as well.
DC and Baltimore for a week
If you're into beer, the Brewer's Art in Baltimore makes some of the best beers I've ever had. The food is pretty good too (well-done bar food).
DC and Baltimore for a week
Almaz in D.C. has terrific, very reasonable Ethiopian.
DC and Baltimore for a week
Hi. I'm the restaurant critic at the Baltimore Sun, and I'd recommend some of our newer restaurants like Clementine, Chameleon Cafe, Woodberry Kitchen, Dogwood and on the higher end (read expensive) Charleston and Pazo. My blog at www.baltimoresun.com/diningatlarge lists by category.
DC and Baltimore for a week
Paper Moon Diner in Baltimore. Tasty food, plus an explosion of kitch and color.
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About divaofyum
Website: http://divaofyum.blogspot.com
Location: Washington DC
About: I am the Divaofyum. I follow all things yummy, anywhere and anytime.
Favorite foods: fresh, fat pieces of sushi. a sandwich with the proper proportion of bread to filling. a slice of thin crust pizza with the proper proportion of sauce and cheese. any combination of chocolate and nuts, custard and crust, coffee and cream.
Last bite on earth: the sweetest, fattest and pinkest piece of raw salmon on earth.
Please go to the Straights of Malaya! Great, adventurous Malaysian cuisine and a fun neighborhood. Cross the street for some pretty strong margaritas at Lauriol Plaza and then try to make it home. Trust me, it's an adventure and a half.
You need to check out Zaytinya too. Chic, delicious tapas great for sharing, creative and tasty drinks and fun for groups. I think it's a hands down winner!