Baskin-Robbins 31 Cent Scoop Night!

From Baskin Robbins' Facebook:

Mark your calendars, 31 Cent Scoop Night is back at Baskin-Robbins for the 2nd year!

For full event details or to set-up a reminder for the event, check out www.baskinrobbins.com/31cent.

Mikuni Sacramento

I found myself recently in Sacramento (that’s the capital of California, kids) for a job interview, and walking around town I noticed more than a few sushi places. Being an absolute sucker for raw-fish-on-rice, I decided to try one. I very nearly entered a posh, high-end looking place, but just then a group of kids walked by and were discussing how it wasn’t good. Were they experts? I don’t know, but it was the only sign I had, so I decided to look farther.

Walking past another place, I noticed a quartet of Japanese-looking twenty-somethings (who were also speaking Japanese) heading inside to eat. Again, I had no idea if they actually knew anything about sushi, but it seemed as good a recommendation as any. So I went in. Funnily, I ended up going again the next day, when the person interviewing me suggested we go there for dinner.

On my first (solo) visit to Mikuni, I sat at one of the four sushi bars on the first floor of the loft-style restaurant, with all kinds of shiny objects and flat-screen TVs adorning the walls to entertain me. The atmosphere was … a bit too much. The overly-trendy aspect is mostly par for the sushi course, but a few notable oddities struck me. First of all, both times I was there, the staff would yell some kind of chant, which may have been in English or may not have been, in response to some periodic clue. A bit annoying, but quickly ignored and maybe if I was clued in I’d think it was fun. Secondly, the chefs all wore jackets covered in corporate sponsor ads, looking like a bunch of NASCAR vehicles, only in black and white. I asked my server, who was lovely, about it and she said it was just their “thing,” and that the sponsors did things like pay for the flatscreen TVs. I have to say: if I wanted to see commercials, I’d stay home and watch TV there.

That the sushi chef who greeted me appeared to be about 17 was odd, but he was nice there didn’t seem to be mass death occurring in his other customers. I forwent the extensive list of fruity $10 cocktails and $5 flavored teas in favor of the complimentary green, which while brewed a bit too hot*, was fine. Miso soup - OK, though a bit heavy on tofu and with no nori - is also complimentary, but you have to ask for it.

For my dinner I ordered the chef’s selection chirashi. The presentation was gorgeous - much more architectural than I usually expect, with the slices of fish layered and grouped like a little castle on a hill of rice, not just strewn about. And, it was delicious. The salmon and tuna (maguro) were excellent - full of flavor and just the right texture. The tako was a sliced a bit too thick, and the snapper was a bit rubbery, but those were my only real complaints. Oh, and the tamago was very very good too. My dinner was under $20 (plus tip) for a good sized plate of good sushi, which I regard as not too expensive.

The next night, we sat at a table and again refrained from the cocktail menu (it was an interview, after all!). We decided to share a chef’s selection sushi mix, a chef’s selection sashimi mix, and, on our server’s recommendation, a Train Wreck roll. The latter is one of the trendy, over-flavored concoctions I usually avoid, but it turned out to be pretty tasty. It was essentially shrimp tempura wrapped in rice and nori topped with unagi and a ‘spicy’ sauce. You could not taste the shrimp, but the unagi did just beat out the sauce to be nice. On the sushi and sashimi side, the shrimp (ameabi) was sweet and delicious, the eel (unagi) very good, and the yellowtail awesome.

There is other Japanese food (tempura, salads, etc.) on the menu, but we didn’t try those. We also opted not to have dessert, the limited options for which were mochi ice cream or some sort of chocolate sundae business that sounded an odd way to follow sushi (or tempura).

All in all, I had two good meals at Mikuni, at not a bad price. The service was pretty good, and unless you’re easily bothered by loud noise (and décor), it’s a comfortable place to be. So, if you happen to be in Sacramento, and craving sushi, it’s a good bet.

Mikuni
1530 J St
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 447-2111

* Generally, green teas are best brewed around 80 degrees C (180 F), too hot and they don’t taste as fresh or clear. Sadly, almost every place you get green tea in the US just uses boiling water (100 C/212 F).

Five Paragraphs of Unbitter Love

The greatest minds in human history have sought to explain love. Philosophers have tried to rationalize it. Politicians have tried to legislate it. Scientists have tried to quantify it. There's chemistry in the lab, but seldom holds up in field tests. We love non-humans - pets, for example, or cuddly baby pandas. For the masses that shuffle off to uninspiring jobs and lives, we openly admit love for our equally lifeless iPods, a particular book we're reading, or an outfit we're wearing. There's even love for a moment, such as sunset or the feeling of a cool rain on a warm day. Though with all these various categories of love, is it therefore possible to love a city? For after all, what really is a city but merely a collection of buildings, citizens, location and infrastructure? Does admiration for the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge or the majesty of the Principal Financial Group's headquarters lend itself to love? Is love the quality that makes being a citizen of a certain city a source of pride for some? New Yorkers boast about the most minute of the Big Apple's attributes routinely. Perhaps it's more of an emotional response to a city's individual culture. Miami's party scene. Boston's sports fans. Chicago's pizza. Denver's outdoor lifestyle. These traits generate affection for an area.

If that's the case, then I love Austin, Texas. I'm not afraid to admit it. I would commit to Austin. 35 years of bachelorhood would be an afterthought if I could come home to a hot piece of urban ass like Austin every night. Austin is exactly what it appears to be - no games, no bull. No emotional baggage left over from its last relationship. Now, Austin has lived. It's stayed out too late a few times; it's experimented with substances; it's flirted with the athletes. It's gone out with the rich boys. It's dated the interesting quirky guys. Through it all, Austin is open, ready, and not afraid to play. Just like every cliche' ad on Match.com, Austin is comfortable in a dress or in blue jeans, works hard AND plays hard, and loves to laugh. And, like any good spouse, Austin is no joke in the kitchen, especially when it comes to barbecue, my favorite food group.

The capital of Texas has a very diverse dining scene, and I wasn't concerned about any of it. See, my love of good Texas barbecue is tangible and undeniable, and Austin is the center of that world. Austin has barbecue places like D.C. has Starbucks and L.A. has failed actors who work at Starbucks. However, the majority of Austin's `cue is actually good and talented, and moderately priced.

I just got back from a week at the SXSW festival in Austin, where pretty much every blogger, music journalist and indie rock band in the world was as well. Had the bomb gone off, Hannah Montana and the remaining Idolettes would have been the only recording artists left in America. The music fest was the number one reason I was there, but I can't deny the allure of slow-roasted critter on every block. Ribs, brisket, turkey breast, hot links - various types of marinades and spices. All of it designed to make your taste buds publicly renounce any barbecue born east of the Mississippi.

"But Five," if you've made it through my ramblings this far, you're asking, "which place should I go to if I find myself hungry and in Austin?" The answer is "depends on your mood." Are you in downtown and are looking for some good blues music, fantastic sausage and a killer apple crisp? Then go to Stubb's and tell Matisyahu "hello." If you're poking around Hippie Hollow by Lake Travis, and get hungry after Lance Armstrong dusted you on his training ride, then check out Smokey J's and enjoy the taste of their sweeter sauce mingling with their brisket and jerky. What if you're south of town and hungrier than Pac-Man? Then go to The Salt Lick in nearby Driftwood and go for the all-you-can-eat option. But, what if you just want to eat the best ribs in town? Then go to Rudy's. There are several locations in Austin, nearby Round Rock and along I-35 down to San Antonio. Perfectly smoked with a succulent spicy crust - just make sure you save room for their equally delicious turkey. And if that's not enough barbecue for you, then you're either Steve Raichlen or you need your thyroid checked.

************************************************************************************************************
Austin earns 13 Whammies! out of 15 potential Whammies! One Whammy! was awarded for each of the following categories - food, cost of living, nightlife, affordable real estate, laid back attitude, bicycle friendliness, environmental sensitivity, decent job market, number of Rudy's locations in the immediate area (seriously, that stuff is crack) and incredibly cool people. The only Whammies! not earned were for the ungodly amount of hipsters (what is it about people who love indie rock and their inability to dress themselves?) and that the Fry's Electronics there is not nearly as cool as the ones in Southern California. But I'm willing to work with that.
************************************************************************************************************

Pour some syrup on me!

I've met Jon Wye many times over the last couple of years at DC area street festivals, where he sells his crafted belts and buckles. He is friendly and fun to talk to. I recently found a sticker with his website address around my place, and revisited the site. He has some great food-related items!

I am drawn to the Waffle, Coffee, Cherry Pie, and Rooster (aka C*ck) buckles. The latter reminds me of Sriracha Hot Sauce, which I've heard referred to as "red hot c*ck sauce" by a friend of mine in Seattle, and yeah, she did have a bit of a potty mouth.

The Homemaker belt seems like a good match for the pie, coffee, and waffle buckles, and the Farmer Boy belt seems like good match for the rooster, waffle, and pie buckles, but solid color belts would work as well.

Jon has a way with describing his items:

"Waffle belt buckle with two pats of butter. For men or women who wish they could pour syrup on their crotch all day long but are prevented by social convention."

Vegan Veggies

Occasional Füddie SNH sends us this quick, vegan & gluten-free dish using lemon zest and tahini to make a delicious, creamy and tangy sauce.

Ingredients:
3 lemons
1 crown of broccoli
1/2 crown cauliflower
1 cup okra, chopped
Thin rice noodles (or other noodles)
1 Tbsp tahini (sesame paste)
2 cloves garlic
Almonds, roasted and chopped
Olive oil
Black pepper (fresh ground)

- Chop broccoli, cauliflower, and okra. Cut large florets in half, keep small florets. Set aside.
- Zest one of the lemons and set the zest aside.
- Juice all three lemons.
- In a small saucepan (cast iron works well*), heat 1 tbsp olive oil on low.
- In a steamer, steam the broccoli, cauliflower, and okra.
- Chop or crush garlic, combine with olive oil in saucepan. Increase heat to medium-low, sautee 5 minutes.
- Add lemon zest and sautée for another 5 minutes.
- Optional: Remove lemon zest and garlic cloves from the olive oil.
- Add lemon juice and tahini to olive oil, stirring until the mixture has a creamy consistency. Reduce heat to low and stir every few minutes until ready to serve.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the rice noodles. Cook according to directions on the package.

Once vegetables have reached desired tenderness, drain the noodles and vegetables. Serve noodles topped with vegetables, sauce, and almonds.

*If using cast iron for the sauce, be sure to rinse promptly after and re-season with oil right away. The highly acidic lemon juice can strip the pan of some of its seasoning/coating.

Food for Good

Remember everyone - today is Dining Out for Life day: going out for lunch or dinner at participating restaurants around DC today gets critical money donated to Food+Friends, an organization which delivers food to people who are too ill to get their own.

It's a great charity, and another excuse to eat out for lunch (and dinner!) is never a bad thing.

Florida Ave. Grill Brings Home Gold

It's probably not the recognition the gourmet gurus following Roberto Donna's brief Iron chef career are looking for, but fans of the Florida Avenue Grill will be thrilled to know that it won a spot in the Details magazine's Best Breakfasts in America list. The reviewers noted the classic, Southern-inspired fare and de rigeur employee sass as winners in the cross-country round-up. I love the place, so this recognition just validates and makes me happy!

Florida Avenue Grill
1100 Florida Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20009
202-265-1586