Foodie and Traveler by Yana Todorova: Where to eat in Washington, D. C.

Washington D. C. is a great destination for foodies. It has some of the best restaurants in the country. Try one of these places and you are going to be amazed!!!

1. Blue Duck Tavern - We went to Blue Duck Tavern for a delicious brunch. The place is very popular, so it was very busy and we had to wait a lot for our food. However, the food was delicious. I tried the Crispy Skin Salmon from Scuna Bay, BC. It was served with cucumber, smoked roe, and sorrel cream. It was so rich and perfectly cooked. It does not come with a side dish, so you will need plenty of bread...My husband ordered the Fried Chicken Liver with sweet peppers relish, smoked gouda grits and fried eggs. He loved it. For dessert, we decided to try the new addition to the menu: Peanut Butter and Jelly Bar with Salted Caramel Cream and Whipped Cream. It was SUPER SWEET, so I couldn't eat more than two-three bites.

Fried Chicken Liver with Fried Eggs and Smoked Gouda Grits

Crispy Skin Salmon with smoked roe and sorrel cream

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bar with Salted Caramel Cream

2. Lafayette - This was such a great Saturday brunch! The service is top-notch, the restaurant is located in the Hay-Adams hotel, just in front of the White House. Elegant tables and refined flavors. I got the Tuna Nicoise Salad: multi-colored potatoes, soft boiled eggs, lemon white anchovies, olives, french beans, and butterhead lettuce. It was scruptuous and unbelievable!!! The best one I have ever tried. My husband opted for the Poached Eggs Benedict, served with Italian Porchetta, asparagus spear, and Hollandaise Sauce. But the best part was the dessert. Mayorga Coffee Cremeux (Dark Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Crunch, Salted Caramel Glaze, and Mayorga Coffee Ice Cream). So creamy, great balance between the chocolate and the coffee flavors :)

Poached Eggs Benedict with Italian Porchetta

Tuna Nicoise Salad with white anchovies and soft boiled egg

Mayorga Coffee Cremeux (Dark Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Crunch, Salted Caramel Glaze)

3. Proof - Very nice restaurant. Great for a date night. We started with a selection of 3 cheeses: 1) Lou Bergier Pichin (cow, Italy): semi-firm, velvety, buttery, mushrooms, thistle, like a camembert; 2) Pata Negra (goat, Spain): semi-soft, washed rind, pungent, tangy, intense; 3) Idiazabal (sheep, Spain): firm, smoky, nutty, and tangy. They were served with toasted walnut bread, dried figs, apple sauce (a little bit acidic), and honey. We ate all the honey, but left the apple sauce. My entree was very well served (good portion): Grilled Block Island Swordfish Loin with fennel, castelvetrano olives, and tomato confit. It tasted like Puttanesca Sauce. Delish. My husband tried the Roasted Organic Chicken Breast: goat cheese-wild mushroom stuffing, rapini, creamy polenta. We also ordered a bottle of wine: Cantele Salice Salentino (2008). The dessert was very Thanksgiving oriented: Pumpkin Cheesecake: super creamy, graham crackers crumble, fresh cranberries, and maple ice cream. It was very small, but at the same time, super rich!

Lou Bergier Pichin, Pata Cabra, and Idiazabal Cheeses

Roasted Organic Chicken Breast with creamy polenta

Grilled Block Island Swordfish Loin with fennel, castelvetrano olives

Pumpkin Cheesecake with maple ice cream

4. Ripple - Very cozy place, tiny space, but big flavors. Start with a selection of cheeses: 1) Carr valley "snow white"- a creamy white goat cheddar, aged for 6 months; deep, complex flavor with pleasant earthy tones (La valle, WI); 2) Arrigoni "tallegio"- rich and beefy with a slight saltiness, soft velvety washed rind formerly used as currency (Lombardia, Italy). A bottle of wine complements the delicious meal: "Primitivo" de Puglia Primaterra. Try the pine-smoked albacore tuna, served with millet, chesnuts, kale, and oyster emulsion. It is so tasty! My husband decided to try the roasted spinach mackerel, served with blood sausage, broccoli, black walnuts, and celeriac jus. As always, the best was the dessert: DARK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, prailline feuilletine, smoked white chocolate ganache, caramel sauce, and cocoa nibs. LOVELY.

Snow white goat cheddar and arrigoni tallegio

Roasted Spinach Mackerel, blood sausage, broccoli, black walnuts

Pine-smoked albacore tuna, millet, chesnuts, kale, oyster emulsion

Dark chocolate mousse, prailline feuilletine, smoked white chocolate ganache

5. Tosca - Excellent restaurant. As usually, we started with the cheese plate: talegio with strawberry sauce; gorgonzola with honey and sweet nuts; wine-infused sheep cheese with grapes; parmegiano with micro-greens and balsamic vinaigrette. A good start. But then, the main dishes were outstanding. I ordered the Grilled Spanish sea bass with chestnut and butternut squash puree, baby carrots, Chioggia beets and fresh olive oil. Tosca makes fresh pasta everyday, so definitely try their specialty: Spinach ravioli filled with roasted veal, Prosciutto, and pistachio Mortadella with a red wine reduction. The dessert menu is pretty much modern Italian. The chef's modernized tiramisu was delicious.