Check it Out: City Lights of China

Chinese food for me equals comfort food. Being Jewish, nothing says Christmas to me like gathering with relatives and chowing down on Chinese food from my favorite Chinese restaurant. It’s a tradition that I hate to miss out on; so coming down to DC I had to find a suitable spot that could give me that same feeling of joy as my favorite restaurant back home (shout out to Bernard’s in Brookline, MA). Considering that, more often than not, DC’s Chinatown leaves a lot to be desired, I figured it wasn’t going to be the easiest task. But, if you face a similar dilemma, than fear not dear readers, because I once again have the solution - City Lights of China.

Located in Dupont Circle on Connecticut between R and S this cozy little restaurant serves delicious Chinese cuisine for reasonable (albeit a little bit high) prices. The food is amazing, and they always prepare my favorite dishes to perfection. In my mind, there is very little better than pan-fried dumplings (also known as Peking Ravioli), but making them right is difficult. The dough shell and meat ratio is complicated and easy to screw up. A dumpling that is too doughy just won’t do. The dumplings created by City Lights of China however are light, savory, delicious, and as a result make a perfect appetizer.


For the main course I go for Sesame Chicken, and again they City Lights does it right. Its light and crispy, not too heavy, and while the chicken is lightly fried, the sauce is not overwhelmingly thick and syrupy, but still sweet, so it comes together fantastically. All of this will run you around $20, which for a really good Chinese food meal (and the definite possibility of leftovers), is well worth it.

If you love Chinese food like I do, and are looking for a more refined meal than those served by the usual dime-a-dozen Chinese take out spots, than I recommend you head over to City Lights of China. I’m guessing you won’t be disappointed.

Check it Out: Tackle Box

Now I definitely don't want to say that image is everything. When it comes to restaurants the quality of the food is obviously the first concern. That said though, when a restaurant makes a little effort as far as the atmosphere is concerned, it doesn't go unnoticed. The difference between bare white walls and a stab at authenticity can be the difference maker between a good meal and a great one.

Stepping into Tackle Box (located in Georgetown on M Street between Potomac and Wisconsin) transports the aspiring diner 700 miles north to a "Lobster Shack" built in the New England tradition. From the weathered, wooden picnic tables, to the nets and vibrant buoys hanging from the ceiling, this place certainly doesn't skimp on decor, and while the food itself is hearty and delicious, the room in which you enjoy it does nothing but compliment the experience.

The menu offers a broad selection of seafood, as well as sides to go with it, and has meals that cater to just about any budget. My personal go-to is the "Maine Meal" which includes 1 fish, 2 sides and a sauce for $13, but for $9 you can get the same set up with one less side, and if your money is really burning a hole in your pocket, than you can splurge on a lobster pot - a cornucopia of piscine treats - for $40 a head.

If seafood is your thing, and and an impromptu trip to the north is out of the question, than the Tackle Box may be just what you're looking for.

Check it Out: The Rib Pit

It's amazing, but for some reason it seems that the most painstakingly planned dinning excursion can never hold a candle to those magnificent meals that you just happen to fall in to. I'm guessing it has something to do with the lack of expectations, or perhaps the thrill of discovery, but time and time again it's true. I bring this up, because earlier this week I had the pleasure of enjoying just such a meal. It all started at about 6 o'clock, with a group of my friends sitting around going back and forth over where we ought to get dinner. The debate was centered mostly around all the usual suspects (chipotle, Pho, sushi...), until one person threw out one of our longest running questions; "is there anywhere in DC where you can get decent barbecue?"


Barbecue sounded like an intriguing option, so after a short stint on google we set off for the intersection of 14th and Randolph Street - the home of The Rib Pit. Its a bit out of the way (a metro + buss ride from just about anywhere), so fortunately we had a car, but 15 minutes later we had arrived. When I say that going into this we know nothing about the place, I couldn't be more sincere. For instance we did not know that there was actually no dining room (we ended up eating on the stoop across the street), or that we would be paying through a safety-glass turnstile, but most of all, we had no idea that we had just stumbled across one hell of a hidden gem.

In a city like DC, where even the smallest sandwich will set you back 6 or 7 bucks, I was floored when my "Super Combo 2" (2 mammoth pulled pork sandwiches + healthy helpings of both greens and mac and cheese) cost me all of $10.50. Oh yea, and included in that was 32 ounces of the tastiest iced tea I've had in a long time. This place is a steal. Even if the food had been mediocre it would be... and it's far far from it. The barbeque sauce is on the sweeter side, which suites me just fine, and the sides for great too. My one friend got their candied yams, they were delicious, and we would have got what was sure to be a spectacular sweet potato pie had they not been fresh out that the time.

There was so much food that I was actually able to bring one whole pulled pork sandwich and most of my mac and cheese home with me for lunch the next day. Two whole meals for $10, aint nothing wrong with that.

If you yourself are looking for decent barbecue in the district, eating on a budget, or just like damn good food than put The Rib Pit on your list of places to check out. It's well worth the trip.

Check it Out: Guajillo

For starters, don’t get me wrong, I love Chipotle and Qdoba (and honestly, who doesn’t). Occasionally though, I am in the mood for “real” Mexican food, and when that particular craving strikes, fast food Mexican just won’t cut it. At times such as this, for my money, the place to go is Guajillo (pronounced Wa-Hee-Yo), a little gem of a Mexican joint located in Rosslyn at 1727 Wilson Blvd (astoundingly in the same mini-strip mall as Pho 75 and Ray’s Hell Burger).

I have been a handful of times, and let me tell you, this place is the real deal. Their food is delicious and affordable. The atmosphere is friendly and cheerful (I went this past Cinco de Mayo, and the place exuded a festive, welcoming spirit that encouraged everyone to celebrate together). The wait staff is knowledgeable and accommodating.


To say that the food itself is mouth-wateringly good, would be selling it short. When I went last I ordered a Beef Chimichanga, and it was spectacular. The lightly fried tortilla had a good balance of fillings, not letting one overpower the rest, and it came with ample portions of salsa, guacamole, and sour cream on the side.

And as if you weren’t sold yet, it was reasonably priced. For $10 you get a solid meal (or, if you aren’t feeling ravenous an excellent lunch or snack for the next day). Being particularly averse to Tequila I cannot comment on their margaritas (though I heard they were strong), so I personally paired my Chimichanga with a fine Modelo Especial beer (my favorite Mexican beer) and it complimented my meal nicely.

If you’re searching for a fun, friendly, delicious Mexican food experience, take a trip south of the (DC) border and check out Guajillo.

The Sunday Dinner: Chowder Power

It's the 5th of July. The day after. By now your belly must be full of barbecue and your firework quota met for yet another year. Suffice it to say, you've celebrated, and as such are probably not too keen on diving right in to the kitchen. If you are the resilient type however, and a little bit of home cooking is exactly what you need to get your life back in order, than this hearty Sunday Dinner should be just what the doctor ordered.

New England Clam and Corn Chowder with Herbs


Ingredients (serves 4 to 5)
5 thick cut slices of bacon - cut into half-inch pieces
1 large onion - chopped
3 large carrots - peeled and chopped
1.25 teaspoons of dried thyme
.75 teaspoon crushed and dried rosemary
4 tablespoons of all purpose flour
4 cups of whole milk
1 (8 ounce) white skinned potato - cut into half-inch cubes
3 (6.5 ounce) cans of chopped clams in juice
1 (8.75 ounce) can of corn kernels - drained
chopped fresh parsley

Fry the bacon in a pan over medium heat until it gets crispy, and then take it out of the pan to drain on a paper towel. Throw the onion, carrots, thyme, and rosemary into the pan to sautae in the left over bacon grease for about 5 minutes, sprinkling with salt and pepper as you see fit.

Next, transfer all of that into a big pot and add in the flour, stirring for 1 or two minutes until its mixed up evenly. Once you've done that, gradually add in the milk (stirring constantly) as you bring it to a boil.

Reduce to medium heat, and continue to let it cook until it reaches your desired thickness. Make sure to keep stirring throughout. Once you have that, add in the potatoes, the corn, and the clams (with the juice) and then bring the whole thing back to a boil one more time.

Bring the temperature back down again to medium-low and let the chowder simmer until the potatoes are cooked (about 10 minutes). Again, keep stirring so it doesn't congeal, and toss in some more salt and pepper.

When its all done, sprinkle on the bacon and chopped parsley, then serve up healthy portions in big bowls with hunks of fresh-baked bread. If that doesn't stick to your bones, than I don't know what will.

This is the original recipe as seen in bon appetite. For the most part, its the same as what I put up here, with the exception of a few ingredient / cooking changes, so check it out too if you're so inclined.