D.C. (part 1)

We crammed so much sight seeing into this past weekend, I hardly know where to begin.  Please excuse my lack of eloquence, horrible sentence structure, and tragic grammar as I recap piece together the past 72 hours (it was Halloween, there was alcohol, and I have the tolerance of Abigail Breslin).

Friday

Woke up at 4:30 am for a 7 am train departure.  Keep in mind this was after less than 5 hours of sleep, which were (purposefully) broken up each hour, on the hour, so I could check and make sure my drugged up fiancé was still breathing. 

Respiratory distress free night – yes.  Restful night – no. 

I wasn’t too tired to notice that Amtrack was Starbucks-less.  They should really work on that.  I had a cup of black, (non-stevia) artificially sweetened coffee. 

It was horrible, but I drank it all.  We arrived at Union Station in D.C. and made our way to our hotel where I enjoyed suffered through cup #2 of inadequate coffee in the lobby while we waited for our room to be ready.  Two cups of coffee does NOT a morning make.  Not surprisingly, Kyle and I were starving for lunch by 11 and jumped at the first food sighting in Georgetown.

Dean & Deluca?  That’ll do pig, that’ll do.

 

I got a vegetable roll in an avocado packed, spring roll type thing. 

It looked pretty, but it wasn’t my fave meal.  I was really looking forward to the avocado, but the flavor was seriously masked by the spring roll wrapper.  The clear noodle had a very bizarre consistency.  It was kind of chewy and stretchy.  A little give is ok in my jeans, but in my food, no bueno.  There was also too much lettuce.  I definitely used up ALL the sauce on the side to give it a little oomph. 

It was also kinda awkward to eat.  Not sure if I should handle it like a burrito or sushi, I ended up with sticky fingers and an unsatisfied estomago. 

Starbucks to the rescue!  A tall vanilla soy misto warmed me up, while knocking my dessert craving out of the park.

We then took a ridiculously scenic route (aka picked the wrong direction at every point possible) to the Capitol Building, where we met up with friends and toured the Senate, House of Rep, and National Library. 

Snacks throughout the day included apples, Odwalla bars, Luna bars, and Z bars, and (more) coffee.  Despite the food and liquid gold caffeine, by 5 pm, we were fading fast.  Kyle’s throat was closing up on itself and my inadequate, random fragments of sleep were catching up to me. 

We went back to the apartment where Kyle napped, and I hit up the bar (odwalla, not not booze). 

For dinner, we went to a restaurant called Neyla, which is a Mediterranean restaurant that had been recommended I found by googling “Georgetown” and “hummus.”  I’m serious.  What can I say?  When a girl has cravings, she has cravings. 

The place was within walking distance of our hotel and the menu looked good.  Case closed.  While we browsed the menu, the waiter brought us some Zahtar flavored pita chips along with a greek yogurt dip drizzled in olive oil and green olives.  I will never forget the first time I tried Za’atar.  I loved it then, and it was just as amazing this time.  These chips were so light and crispy, an exceptional compliment to the wine as well.

Vino!!  Instead of bringing us the wine we initially ordered, the waiter took the reins and instead recommended a Lebanese wine.  Why not?

 

It got the job done, if ya know what I mean 😉

To start we got a Lebanese sample platter to share (called a mezza) with a testing of Hommus, Baba Ghannough, Tabbouleh, Grape Leaves, Cheese Rolls, Fried Kibbeh and Chicken Shawarma. 

Between the four of us, we all found different favorites.  Can you believe this was my FIRST tasting of Baba Ghanoush!?!  Cray cray.  I loved it. 

We also got a basket of fresh, warm pitas.  They were so thin and light!  I prefer my pitas with mega fluff, but on the plus side, they didn’t fill me up before my main course came!  Speaking of…

Unable to decide between several of the small plates, I just order a couple for my main meal.  First up, the Beet and Fennel Salad with baby arugula, oranges, and sherry syrup.  I am obsessed with the combo of citrus and beets right now.  For having such simple ingredients, this salad was very flavorful.  After that I dug into my second course of (what else) Falafel made of fava beans, chick peas, and tahini sauce.  YUM!!!!  No doubt this was the best falafel I have ever had.  Ever.  And I’ve had my fair share of falafel…

As for the other peeps in my dinner party.  Well, they seemed to enjoy their dishes just as much!

Kyle got the Sea Bass with couscous, lemon, oil, and fava bean crush wrapped in a zucchini.

Seamus got the Neyla Lamb Chops with Arak roasted fingerling potatoes, and haricot verts.

Cindy got the Mixed Grill which was a combination of chicken shish taouk, beef kebab and kafta.

We definitely got a second bottle of wine somewhere along the way, and by the time we were all done, I was full and rocking a nice buzz.  So much fun!!

Kyle and I were too full, but Cindy and Seamus shared the chocolate lava cake dessert. 

After dinner, we headed to the bars where the EtOH continued to flow like water coffee wine.  Eventually our other friends met up with us (they were driving in from CT), so it was definitely a late night.

To Be Continued…