Do you know how long I've been waiting to write a post like this? Well, I've lived in DC for about 12 years and been blogging for 6... so that answers that question ;-) I had actually had thought I'd be writing a post like this announcing that Maison Kayser had finally nailed down some retail space in the District but it looks like Ladurée beat them to the punch (please be true, please be true). And I'm not going to complain about that (though I still would LOVE for Maison Kayser to open in the District pretty please!!!) {update: that's happening too soon! Hurray!!} News that one of Ladurée's signature pastel green coloured storefront would be opening in Georgetown appropriately broke ...
Openings
Cat-Ladying at Crumbs & Whiskers
This isn't my first cat café post - cue in my previous posts on New York's Meow Parlour and Paris' Café des Chats. It's not even my first post about Crumbs and Whiskers - see post on the launch of its kickstarter campaign. But it is my first post on DC's eagerly anticipated cat café since it opened. And it's my first post since actually going there!! My friend Cecile who writes The Worldly Bites has Gentlemeow Club member status so we snagged 2 weeknight spots during opening month and went to go play with the kittiens last night. Let me take you through our experience at Crumbs and Whiskers... Cat café is actually a bit of a misnomer when it comes to Crumbs and Whiskers. Yes, ...
Gaia Mural & Art Intervention at the W Hotel
We had a blast Friday night celebrating the unveiling of a new indoor mural by street artist Gaia at Pinea, the new(ish) restaurant that replaced J&G Steakhouse at the luxury hotel W Washington D.C. To go along Chef Barry Koslow's southern Mediterranean menu, the mural was inspired by a sculpture of Cesar Augustus and also features birds, a leitmotiv in Gaia's work. I personally love the mural and thinks it not only livens up Pinea's dining room but also really works with what I expect a restaurant at a W Hotel to look like. Wondering where you may have seen Gaia's works before? The 27 years old Baltimore-based street ...
G’Eclair to Bring Trendy French Pastry to Adams Morgan
In 2009, I met my mom, aunt, grandmother and cousins in Djerba, Tunisia for a relaxing Mediterranean family vacation (you can read more about that trip here). I had to leave before everyone else because well, I'm the only one who lives in a country that doesn't have 6-weeks of paid vacation days a year (grrr USA!) but did meet up with my dad in Paris for a quick 24 hours before flying back to D.C. My dad and I both have a mad sweet tooth and truly appreciate fine desserts, so these 24 hours turned into quite the pâtisseries marathon. And it was good timing: Éclair Week was in full swing at Fauchon, leading me to rediscover a forgotten childhood favourite. Fast forward to today. Saying ...
Les Merveilleux de Fred Opens in New York’s West Village
I spent the past week in New York City for a work event, and just had to find some time to visit the newly opened bakery Aux Merveilleux de Fred. HAD TO. The Manhattan version of Frédéric Vaucamps' meringue-shop looks like his many Parisian outposts, with a stunning chandelier, rows of merveilleux in display cases and an open kitchen that allows passers-by on 8th avenue to see how the pastries are assembled by hand. And the pastries? Well, they're just as marvelous on this side of the Atlantic ;-) If you're not familiar with the merveilleux pastry, you're not alone. This traditional northern France sweet had fallen out of fashion until the late 90's, when Fred decided to make it the ...
Made-in-DC: Vodka & Whiskey at One Eight Distilling
One Eight Distilling is the second distillery to open in Washington, D.C. since prohibition. It happened to open on my birthday, so I thought a little local vodka and whiskey would make for a fun celebration. I wasn't the only one who had the brilliant idea to check out the distillery that day, and the 2,000 square foot tasting room in NorthEast's Ivy City neighbourhood was packed! For now there are only two spirits that can be sampled: the rye-based District Made Vodka and the Rock Creek White Whiskey. We tried both in small One Eight Distilling branded shot glasses while waiting for our tour of the adjoining 7,500 square foot production space to start. Like Green Hat Distillery, One Eight ...
Dolci Gelati Cafe Now Spreading Happiness in Shaw
Unless you live in Takoma Park and already have easy access to chef Gianluigi Dellaccio's sweet frozen creations, you're probably like me and pretty stoked that Dolci Gelati Cafe just opened in Shaw. Equally exciting, chef Cedric Maupillier of Mintwood Place is slated to open his new restaurant, Convivial, next door... Dolci Gelati is a labour of love for Gianluigi and Anastasia Dellaccio and I never tire of hearing the story of their business' beginnings, which had Gianluigi drumming up business by going from restaurant to restaurant with a cooler of gelato strapped to the back of his vespa. Today, Dolci Gelati is a larger operation, with a production facility in Northeast ...
4 Delicious Reasons to Visit Mosaic District
Being car-less, and quite frankly, living in the city as well, I don't get out to the Mosaic District very often. And that's too bad since Merrifield's upscale shopping and dining complex has a lot to offer, from exciting restaurant concepts to the fabulous Angelika movie theater and one of the cleanest Target you'll ever visit. So when the PR folks with Edens invited me to a fun, progressive dinner-type event I jumped at the opportunity to try out 4 new restaurants and hopped on the silver line. A quick free shuttle ride from Dunn Loring later, I met up with other local bloggers over crab nachos and margaritas at our first stop: Cyclone Anaya's. The Texas transplant just celebrated its ...
Cava Mezze Grill Now Open in Chinatown
Maybe it's because I follow Nikki Rappaport on Instagram and I've been salivating over all the pictures she posts of her Cava Mezze Grill lunches but I'm ridiculously excited that the fast casual mediterranean restaurant chain is opening a new location in Chinatown. The 707 H St. NW spot will be the sixth for Cava Mezze Grill and the closest to where I live. It will soon be followed by new locations in Kenlands, Montgommery Mall and Ronald Reagan National Airport (that one a little less soon.) But let's focus on Cava Grill Chinatown. It opened with new menu items, that will rotate seasonally, and additional partnerships with local food artisans like Whisked!, Optimal Grains, Gordy’s Pickle ...
Paul Bakery and Pâtisserie Opens Its Sixth DC-Area Location at Metro Center
I'm always excited when a new Paul bakery opens in the District but I'm particularly excited about this one since it's very close to my husband's office. I'm expecting fresh baguettes (Paul's breads are made daily from organic, locally sourced flour milled exclusively for Paul, without additives or preservatives) every other day from now on ;-) The new location at Metro Center (555 13th Street NW) is similar in design to the other 5 Paul locations around town, with bistro tables for 20 people outside (while the weather allows), and plush armchairs and tables for 30 inside. I'm sure it will quickly become a popular destination for office workers in the area! The menu is also similar to ...
