Tequila!

Upon finding out that I am Mexican, most people ask me what my favorite Mexican restaurant is in DC. I always start with the disclaimer that there isn't a huge Mexican community in DC like there is in New York, Chicago or LA, and that some of the better places are outside of DC-proper. Truth is, I am lucky to go back home often enough, there are a lot of things (such as chilorio and cuitlacoche) you can bring in as cans, and the certain Safeway, H-Mart and Shoppers locations are well stocked enough for me to get my fix.

I made a list a few years ago that needs updating. I have heard very good things about the Taco cart out in Rosslyn. While we work on that, I would like to tackle the second most frequent question, what's my favorite tequila. Like all strong spirits, that's a question of personal preference. I enjoy my tequila straight, but will not do shots. You don't want to do that to good tequila, as it will negate any pleasure you may derive from its texture, body, and bouquet. You will not see Don Julio sponsoring body shot contests any time soon. Shooting tequila is something you do when you don't know better, or because you wish to forget that you do in order to get very drunk very soon. I sip tequila, and keep it in the freezer at home.

There are three types of tequila, blanco, reposado and añejo. Their colors, white, gold and slightly brown, make them very easy to distinquished. Añejo is aged in barrels, which gives it is distinct color. There are a lot of tequila primers out there.

My two favorite tequilas are Herradura Silver, a white tequila, and Don Julio Reposado. Don Julio is easier to get in the US. For margaritas, I will normally use Cazadores or Centenario. There are a lot of brands out there, and some, like Patron and Jose Cuervo, have huge marketing campaigns behind them. I like Patron, and the H Street Country Club does some interesting cocktails with it. For the price point, I prefer Don Julio. I do not care for Jose Cuervo, and seeing places that sell Margaritas labeled as "top shelf" that use it as their main tequila puts me in a bad mood. Tequila has become so popular that agave, the plant that it is made from, is becoming very expensive. Whatever tequila you buy, make sure that the label says 100% Agave. Anything else will have additives. If you go to places that have a good tequila selection, such as Oyamel, try brands that don't advertise as much. Put tequila in proper glassware (known as caballitos in Mexico or cordial glasses here) so you can smell it while you sip it. Riedel makes beautiful tequila stemware.

As for salt, I prefer sea salt because it has larger crystals and fresh limes if they are available. The lime is a good way of cleansing your tongue before having tequila (you can also have it after). In Berlin a few years ago I saw people drinking tequila with cinnamon and orange instead. It's not for me, but it says a lot about the flexibility of the drink.

Enjoy!

UNICEF's Tap Project - March 21

We are delighted to see that the Tap Project is back for World Water Week.

From March 21 through March 27, thousands of restaurants across the country will participate in this fantastic project from the US Fund for the United Nations Children's Fund. For one week, patrons will be asked to donate $1 for tap water when they dine out. The proceeds benefit UNICEF water and sanitation programs in Haiti, Central African Republic, Guatemala, Togo, and Vietnam. Every day, 4,100 children die of water-related diseases. Nearly 900 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, and almost half of them are children. Each $1 raised through the Tap Project can provide a child with safe water for 40 days.

For more information, please visit the Tap Project's website. For the complete list of restaurants in DC, please click here.

Good to be happy at any hour.

There is a new sushi joint in the area – Kushi Izakaya & Sushi - that opened earlier this month. Owned by husband and wife team, Darren Lee Norris and Ari Kushimoto Norris, Kushi is located at 465 K Street near yet another upcoming area of DC – Mt. Vernon Square. Kushi only proves that everything on Wikapedia is true: “Izakaya is a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also service food to accompany the drinks.” This establishment also includes a raw bar that offers oysters for $3/ea, cherry stone clams from Nova Scotia for $1/ea, and lobster cocktail from Maine. In addition to the raw bar and sushi, the menu offers other small plates that include duck sausage, chicken meatballs, fioe gras, and grilled Japanese squash. The ambiance is a perfect setting for a happy hour with an open urban friendly space. My ‘plus one,’ right away noticed the high vaulted ceilings and its converted loft look. The up front live action kitchen makes you feel like you are part of the action (or a reality show). There is plenty of room to walk around and there are three bars, one for sushi, drink, and food. Each offers a wide space with enough room for your sake, sushi and elbows as my ‘plus one’ quipped. The highlight of the evening was the hot sake on tap and pick your own mix and match sake glass. Kushi's address is: 465 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001, and can be reached at (202) 682-3123‎. Although it doesn’t look like it has been updated you can find out more information on their website.

Dining Out for Life!

On March 11, 150 restaurants in the DC area will be supporting Dining Out for Life.

This is one of Food and Friend's many efforts to raise funds for providing daily, home-delivered, specialized meals, groceries and nutrition counseling to individuals in the community who are facing some of life's most difficult challenges. These critical services are provided at no cost to clients.

Contribute to a great cause and eat at many local favorites. Book your reservation here.

Making Up for Lost Time...With Interest!

Feel like you have been trapped in the house forever? Between the record snows, the driving winds, and the lovely, lovely freezing rain, no surprise you are way behind on your tasty eats and tastier cocktails? Not to fear, DC restaurants, lounges, and bars miss you too, and this week they are offering great deals to help you make up for some of those lost happy hours and dinner's out.

First, The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (http://www.ramw.org/) is offering a diverse bunch of deals at over 100 restaurants on lunch, dinner, drinks, and the kitchen sink with Restaurants "Unleashed" Week ongoing through March 7. Highlights include a $38 3-course Alsatian feast at Cafe du Parc, $10 for a Margherita pizza and a glass of wine at happy hour, 19$ lunch/29$ dinner with wine specials at Sei and Oya, $40 Tuscan tasting menu--complete w/ Chianti at Potenza, 20% of your check or a free bottle of Prosecco at Urbana, and a 32$ chef's tasting menu at Zola.

Unleashed is also casting the spotlight on what appear to be some new ongoing deals including a new 4-6:30pm "Rush Hour" at Ris in the West End and Monday night three- course, prix-fixe at Ceiba, Acadiana and their siblings with run of just about all their offerings.

Looking for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail? Yelp is bringing us Yelp Drinks, also through March 7, featuring half price specialty drinks at a raft of nifty cocktail spots. Good from open until close, everyday through Sunday, grab a blueberry caprioska at Bens Next Door, half price Sangria pitchers at Hudson, Whiskey Rebellion at Policy, Alisar at CoCoSala. I don't actually know what that last one is--but I will. These and several other moderately-to-seriously-fab destinations are each offering three (or more) choices on what are ordinarily some pretty pricy cocktails. So drink up--how many Saturday nights behind are you? Cheers!

Restaurants Unleashed Week: http://www.ramw.org/pdf/Unleashed%20Database.pdf
Yelp Drinks: http://www.yelp.com/events/washington-yelp-drinks-week

Agwa de Maria

Right before Snowpocalypse II, we got some samples of AGWA de Bolivia, a coca leaf liqueur made in Amsterdam. I've brought the (legal and non-narcotic) Mate de Coca from Peru through customs, and it has always been good for anecdotical value (ICE Agents being more understanding than one would expect).

I'm no chemist, but the company states that the plants are grown in Bolivia and then the leaves are taken to Amsterdam to be de-cocanized, macerated, and turned into a spirit. Drinking it straight reminds me of those herb liqueurs my grandfather enjoyed as digestifs, and the color beckons back to Midori. The nose is mostly citrus, and the herbal component is bright and clean. While we enjoyed it with champagne, as the press kit suggested, Maria made the best of her postponed housewarming and came up with her own creation:

4oz Agwa de Bolivia
6oz Vodka
Juice of 2 blood oranges
3oz Trader Joes Sparkling Pomegranate
1oz sparkling water
shake with ice, and pour,
top with champagne to taste

For those of us who prefer gin to vodka, Agwa should be a good, sligthly more flavorful, fit. Seek out and enjoy!

Got a 4WD?

On Thursday, February 11th, Food & Friends needs 20 volunteers to deliver meals, especially those with 4-wheel-drive vehicles. Those without cars would be very much appreciated in the kitchen, and it would be great if they could come between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Volunteers may sign up to chenderson@foodandfriends.org. This information is also available on their website at www.foodandfriends.org/winterstorm2010.

Without Food & Friends, their clients likely will not eat, so the help of the community is vital. Meals may be picked up from Food & Friends (219 Riggs Road, NE/Washington, DC) between 10 a.m. and 12 am., they will provide detailed delivery directions, and routes should take no more than 3 hours. For more information, prospective volunteers may call 202.841.5347.