Dining Delight Beyond the District

Last weekend, I went to visit my best friends at University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI.  I spent a lot of time with my friends from study abroad, who I always have the best time with and eat the best food with. My friend Rachel, who attends UW, told us she had wanted to try this cool Middle Eastern restaurant on State Street, which is the main street filled with restaurants, shopping, and more. The restaurant is called Husnus and it is a small store front towards the start of the street. 

When you walk in, you feel as though you are transported to a quaint, culturally stimulating eatery in Turkey(not that I have been, but this is what we imagined). Truly, it led my friends and I to find ourselves saying "it feels like we're not in America anymore." Anyway, Husnus has a cool story/philosophy behind it. It is the first authentic Turkish restaurant in Madison, WI that uses creative innovation in addition to traditional practices. According to their website, Husnu's  Restaurant is "the ideal place to experience not only the delights of a healthy and delicious meal but also the comfort of genuine hospitality." I could not agree with this more. I felt very at home in the establishment and would definitely describe it as an ideal place to seek a generously large and delicious meal.


I ordered a dish called Yogurtlu Patlican which consisted of sliced eggplant seasoned and generously topped with a thick yoghurt sauce. The dish came with a side of rice pilaf with raisins and other dried fruits mixed in as seen bellow:

The eggplant is perfectly grilled and draped with authentic yogurt sauce over a pile of flavorful lettuce. The eggplant itself was delicious, but combined with the interesting fusion of flavors in the rice pilaf, it was transformed from good to extraordinary. If you ever find yourself in Madison, WI, I would greatly recommend trying Husnus. You won't be disappointed!

Eli's Restaurant: A Kosher Haven

Last night, my friend and I were talking about our serious craving for a good burger. We were too tired to cook, so we decided we'd go to nearby Eli's, a Kosher restaurant in Dupont. Eli's is really cute inside with a bunch of simple wooden tables and chairs. The crowd varies, although it is almost guaranteed that there is a rabbi dining in your presence at all times, seeing as this restaurant attracts a religious crowd. I ordered a simple hamburger, with onions, tomatoes, and lettuce, french fries, and a diet coke fountain soda. The burger was grilled to perfection and seasoned spectacularly. The fries were thin, crispy, and not the least bit greasy. I was extremely impressed and look forward to returning here to try some of the other great options served here including the Schwarma Pita with Lafa Bread. This israeli sandwich never fails to disappoint and when in withdrawal of Israel and it's great cuisine, this is a great dining option.

Image courtesy of Metromix

Check out the many options available at Eli's including the Mediterranean menu:

I would 100% recommend visiting Eli's for a unique experience and great food! Check out more reviews more Eli's bellow:

• Kosher Critic
• Washington Post--(although I am disappointed it is not longer)
• Trip Advisor
• Yelp
• Urban Spoon

Love Found at Founding Farmers

This weekend and throughout this week, three of my closest friends from home are visiting me in DC. Amongst the museums, monuments, and tours of different neighborhoods, I obviously budgeted in time to visit some of my favorite restaurants. About a month ago, I sent my friends the menu from Founding Farmers, explaining to them about how it was one of my favorite restaurants in Washington DC and it was imperative that we go.


When we arrived at the restaurant, everyone was pleased with the decor. We sat in a circular booth near the dessert bar. After looking through the drink menu, we decided that we each would order a different cocktail.

Fraise Fling: Strawberry, Lychees, Organic Vodka, Agave, Prosecco 

Streetcar Named Decanton:Kubler Absinthe, Domaine de Catnon, Mint Syrup, Ginger, and Lime Juice 

La Paloma: Tierra Organic Blanco Tequila, Grapefruit and Lime Juices, Agave Nectar, Topped with Mezcal

The Clementine: Clementine and chili-infused Reposado Tequila, Benedictine,
Lime and Pineapple Juices, Agave Nectar

I ordered the clementine, which was probably the most interesting drink I've ever had. It was extremely spicy, but it was lined with sugar to balance the flavors. After drinks, we ordered skillet corn bread, which is baked to perfection in a skillet as shown bellow.

The bread is crispy and extremely delicious, accompanied by honey butter that is topped with crystalized sugar and sea salt. Each of the main courses were also extremely unique and tasty. My friend Sammi and I both ordered the roasted butternut squash-mascarpone ravioli accompanied by sage brown butter. It was sweet, creamy, and all around delicious.

My friend Ali ordered my other favorite dish, spicy ahi tuna poke salad. With raw Ahi Tuna, Napa Cabbage, Avocado, Fried Wonton, and a Tangy Ginger-Sesame Vinaigrette. Additionally, my friend Traci ordered the gouda-cheddar gratin macaroni and chesse, which was also wonderful(probably one of the best macaroni and cheese dished that I have ever tasted). However, the most exciting dish that anyone ordered l was Southern Pan-Fried Chicken. The chicken was fried with white gravy on the side, buttermilk waffles with maple syrup, grilled caramelized vegetables, and a side of macaroni and cheese. As you can see from the picture, it is magnificent. 

I would highly recommend taking a trip to Founding Farmers. Check out the menu here for many more wonderful options!

Wild for Wildfire

All images in this post are courtesy of Google.

This weekend, I headed home to the lovely suburbs of Chicago for about 48 hours to spend the most important Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur, with my family. On Yom Kippur, Jews fast for 25 hours, which meant on Friday night before the fast began, I wanted to go out for a delicious dinner. One of my favorite restaurants at home is called Wildfire, and it is part of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group which features restaurants such as Maggiano's Little Italy, Big Bowl, and RJ Grunts which is also one of my favorite Chicago hotspots.

Wildfire, however, is not only one of the best, but 10 minutes away from my house which makes it easy to frequent. There is also a DC location nearby in Virginia at Tyson's. When you enter the restaurant, it is dark yet welcoming. The restaurant is divided into different rooms with names such as 'The Ellington Room'. It has an old time feel, which I absolutely love.

Wildfire has an amazing menu, especially for dinner. To start off, the drink menu at Wildfire is incredible. The martinis are delicious, the beer is flavorful, and the wine is tasty as well. One of my favorite features are the flights of wine and beer that allow you to try four varieties in smaller sample-size portions.

While you wait for your drinks, the waiting staff brings out the most amazing bread ever: pumpernickel and onion bread.

Wildfire offers about twelve appetizers including my favorites Baked French Onion Soup, Baked Goat Cheese, and Spinach and Artichoke Fondue. The fondue comes with garlic toast points to dip into the flavorful dip. Wildfire also has great pizza and salads that many people choose as appetizer options. The best salad is the Wildfire chopped salad that includes a tangy, delicious citrus lime vinaigrette.

As for main portions, Wildfire has huge portions for a more hefty price than I usually pay, but it is well worth it. My favorites include the special of pistachio crusted flounder with green beans and the regular option of Tuna Steak Teriyaki with ponzu sauce and wasabi cream. The tuna is perfectly seared and crusted with a variety of spices, including pepper and sesame seads.

Each meals also comes with a side. I usually choose either creamed spinach or the double stuffed baked potato, which was a great choice before fasting because it is so filling! If there is a chance that you are still hungry after all this filling and amazing cuisine, Wildfire brings out an amazing dessert tray including apple skillet pie, seasonal berry crisp, chocolate peanut butter pie, and the amazing wildfire ice cream sandwich. Without a doubt, you can find something that you'll love at this amazing dining destination.

DC's Best Cupcakes at Baked and Wired

The cupcake craze hit DC before my freshman year of college. Within my first month here, I had tried Georgetown Cupcake, multiple times and at that point thought it was the best cupcake in the Washington Area. I loved the unique flavors and the small shop(this was before their move to M St. and their new TV show, which is awful). I took my friends, family, and pretty much anyone who wanted to go with me whenever I would want to go get cupcakes. At this point, the walk from Thurston to Georgetown definitely constituted as a workout, and it was a great trip to make after completing a week of classes. However, somehow in the process of recruiting others the try my favorite bakery, I discovered baked and wired. Tucked away on Thomas Jefferson, a side street in Georgetown, this bakery is an obsession of some of the biggest cupcake enthusiasts in the Washington, DC area.

These cupcakes are a great size, dense, flavorful with rich frosting, and come in many great flavors. The following are some of my favorites in addition to some of the most interesting flavors:

• Carrot Cake
• The moist carrot cake batter is mixed with crunchy, flavorful pecans in addition to many spices and baked to perfection. After, it is topped with a traditional cream cheese frosting, that is also delicious. Carrot cake is one of my favorite types of cake and baked and wired does a great job with this.
• Chai Tea Latte:
• Topped with a unique chai spiced buttercream frosting, this vanilla cupcake is also blended with chai tea spices.

• Elvis Impersonator aka The Unporked Elvis:
• This is by far my FAVORITE cupcake. This banana cupcake is delicious on its own, but once it is topped with delectable peanut butter frosting that is later drizzled with chocolate, it is literally unbeatable.

• Peppermint Patty:
• This seasonal cupcake is made up of chocolate cake with a dark satin frosting and infused with peppermint
• Pumpkin Spice:
• Complete with pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting, this pumpkin cupcake is delicious and perfect for fall(also seasonal)
• Red Velvet:
• Baked and wired does a great job with this classic cupcake option: deep red color, chocolate, vanilla, and cream cheese frosting...yum!

• Strawberry:
• This simple cupcake is a bestseller! Vanilla cake is blended with fresh strawberries, baked, and topped with pink buttercream.

• The Tessita:
• This vanilla cake base is combined with dulce de leche filing and topped with amazing hazelnut satin icing

The bakery itself is also adorable, homey, and a great place to hang out. One of my favorite aspects is the bright pink spray painted bike that is chained outside.

Images courtesy of observatory journal, bakelist, assaultnpepper, and delectableliving due to the fact that my camera broke :(


Baked and Wired is by far one of the best bakeries in DC and somewhere everyone should try. If you're not in the mood to leave your house, check out baked and wired's carrot cake cupcake recipe(courtesy of Taste of Georgetown):

Cake:

o 2 ¼ (11.5) oz. all-purpose flour

o 2 cups sugar

o 2 teaspoon baking soda

o 1 teaspoon cinnamon

o ½ teaspoon salt

o 2 cups shredded carrots

o 1 ½ cup canola oil

o 4 eggs

o 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted, and cooled

Pre-set oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9” pans. Whisk together all dry ingredients. Blend all ingredients at low speed, except nuts. Whisk with attachment on mixer for 3 minutes on high. Stir in pecans. Bake for 34 minutes, remove and allow to cool.

Cream Cheese Icing:

o 1 stick butter, softened

o 1 lbs. 8 oz. powdered sugar

o 1 teaspoon vanilla

o 8oz. Cream Cheese

o 1 tablespoon evaporated milk (may not need)

Blend together all the ingredients, and apply to cup cakes. Spread additional ½ cups of chopped and toasted pecans over the icing for decoration. Makes 16 Cup Cakes.

 Either way, you won't be disappointed.