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 ...
Restaurants
Pumpkin Pie Spiced Macaron at Malmaison
One more reason to love fall! PS: did you know that the second Monday of every month is #MacaronMonday at Malmaison? You do now ;-) Mention Macaron Monday on October 13, buy one macaron (pumpkin Pie Spiced or not) and get one free! Macarons are $2 a piece at Malmaison and typically sell in the following flavours: Lemon, Raspberry, Mixed-Berry, Pistachio, Salted Caramel, Toasted Coconut, Chocolate Hazelnut, & Orange. I can't wait to try this new seasonal flavour! ...
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 ...
Malmaison Now Offering BYOW Monday
One thing I loved about living in Montreal was how many BYOB (AVV en francais) options were available to diners. I was a college student and pretty shameless at the time about bringing the cheapest bottle of Malbec from the nearby Depanneur to Amelio's, the cute cash-only little Italian joint tucked on a quiet street in the "McGill Gettho" (a quiet street where I happened to live for a year conveniently.) My taste in wine has changed, of course, since then. As has my ability to afford better bottles of vino too. But that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a good BYOW. Like the one currently offered at Malmaison. Every Monday nights, you can pair your favorite bottle of wine with Malmaison’s ...
5 French Menus to Check Out During DC Restaurant Week
August in the District is a little bit like Paris this time of year: easier parking, less traffic, fewer locals, and more tourists. The restaurants don't close like they do in Paris though... instead many of them here are even reducing their pricing and offering special three course menus. That's right... it's Restaurant Week time! From August 19 to August 25 (and sometimes a week or two after that) some 240 dining establishments are trying to entice us to eat in by offering 3-course lunches for $20.13 and 3-course dinners for $35.13. And if you can't make it to Paris again this summer (thanks a lot expansive airline fares!) may I suggest a few local alternatives that will transport you to ...
Giveaway: Chevy-style dinner at Restaurant Nora
Chevrolet is sponsoring a Chevy-style blogger dinner at Restaurant Nora, the nation’s first certified organic restaurant, on Thursday, August 15, 2013 (6:30pm to 8:30pm). Not only is Chevrolet providing transportation in the fuel efficient Chevy Equinox but they're also footing the bill! And I'm inviting one lucky (local) reader to join me for the evening. If that sounds like something you'd like to do (and you live in the DMV area), there are two ways to let me know: by leaving a comment on this post or by emailing me at FrenchTwistDC@gmail.com. Just tell me about a road trip that resulted in one of your favourite food experiences. Just make sure I get your name and contact information ...
Nutella Pizza and More at Osteria Marzano
I ate a lot of good food over the past week. There was the banh mi at Bonmi and the tasty nibbles at Proof (including the amazing sticky toffee pudding cake) where I was volunteering during Jose Andres' Dine-N-Dash fundraising event. I tried the Jersey Shore pizza with fried calamari at Graffiato for the first time and discovered Chef Sébastien Rondier's new mediterranean inspired menu at Decanter. And of course all the July 4th weekend indulgences... Somewhere in there, I managed to make my way to newly opened Osteria Marzano at Metro Park VI building at 6361 Walker Lane in Alexandria. I must say, I'm glad I did! While I don't seek out Italian food (or trips to Virginia), I definitely enjoy ...
Vive la revolution (française)
Well, July 4th is behind us and that means only one thing: July 14th is just around the corner! Cocorico. Dust off your béret and French maid costumes... it's time to parté*!! I'll be updating this post as more events are announced but for now, here is a guide, in chronological order, to all things Bastille Day in Paris on the Potomac: FRIDAY, JULY 5-SUNDAY JULY 14 Bistrot Lepic is one of my favourite little French restaurant in the city and they're celebrating France's Fête Nat' with a special 3-courses $34.95 special menu the whole week leading up to le quatorze juillet. Chose from soupe de légumes et haricots au pistou (soupe de pistou is the best thing ever, trust me), pied de cochon ...
First Impressions ~ Decanter at the St. Regis
Previously home to Adour, Decanter is the St. Regis Washington, D.C.’s newest signature restaurant. Inspired by his childhood in Saint-Jean-de-Luz in France’s Basque country, Executive Chef Sebastien Rondier, (who worked with Alain Ducasse for more than 10 years), has designed a Mediterranean themed menu with delectable flavors from the South of France, Italy, Turkey and Spain. With so many new restaurants opening these days, Washingtonians have many different options available. But Laetitia and I share a love for good French food so we wanted to try Decanter right away... And I’m certainly glad we did! It was truly une experience inoubliable. Unlike the menu, the décor at Decanter remains ...
La Fête de la Musique at Malmaison
Malmaison and l'Alliance Française teamed up again this year to host the 2013 edition of la Fête de la Musique. La Fête de la Musique is France's annual celebration of music that takes place on the longest day of the year. Musicians take to the streets (for amateurs) and to public stages (for professionals and more established artists) to give free concerts. In Washington, French establishments like the Sofitel Hotel and the French Embassy typically host events, as does l'Alliance Française. For 13 hours, 13 different artists took the stage and took Washingtonians on summer journey through many musical worlds. Here are a few pictures I took during the daytime portion of event at ...