ParkAna went to DC this past weekend for a bit of history, culture and FOOD!
We arrived Friday afternoon and immediately went to Ben's Chili Bowl, a DC institution (Obama went there for lunch recently). We both tried their half-smokes with chili with eager anticipation. Unfortunately, we both thought the food was a bust. I have been since told that the Chili Bowl is "drunk food." Next, we spend the rest of the afternoon looking at the memorials and monuments in the National Mall.
After walking for miles (the Mall is much bigger than we anticipated), we walked another mile to dinner at Policy. The atmosphere was a bit odd--black tiles all over with splashes of red, but the food was delightful. We dined on braised short ribs, lamb burgers, bison, lobster rellenos, fries with truffle mayo, and scallops--don't worry they were little plates. Dessert was truly a delight--white chocolate shortbread topped with strawberries and rhubarb and chocolate cake with peanut butter mousse. We rolled home and into bed.
Saturday, we visited the Museum of Natural History to see the Hope Diamond and all the dinosaurs. To top it all off, we watched an 3D underwater IMAX movie narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. We walked around the Mall a bit more stopping in the botanical gardens for a little rest among the plants. Along the way, we saw tons of Bostonians on "April vacation" aka spring break.
That night was the BIG event...dinner at Jaleo, a restaurant owned by Jose Andres. I had hyped this tapas restaurant in my mind so much.....The food was pretty good--we had shrimp with garlic oil (so dissapointing), chorizo wrapped in a potato chip, gazpacho (unbelievable, I need to learn to make this), sea urchin, braised short ribs (awesome), piquillo pepper stuffed with manchego, scallops and a lovely bottle of wine. We skipped dessert there opting for cupcakes from Red Velvet (1/2 dozen!). While walking back to our hotel, Parker asked me to briefly hold our box of untouched cupcakes. Just as he warned me not to drop them, the box fell right out of my hands (shocking). Thankfully, only the aesthetics of the cupcakes were ruined!
Sunday we left DC stopping on the way home at Ikea for some Swedish meatballs and Lingonberry Soda...yummy!
Flag at Washington Monument
Ana at WWII Memorial
Parker at Lincoln Memorial
Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument
Jefferson Memorial across the Potomac
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