tackle box

we went on saturday after picking up Cathy who was visiting from boston. i heard they place had the best $13 meal in dc. you get one entree with two sides for $13. i got fried catfish, mac n cheese, and sweet potato fries. it wasn't bad at all. ate mae also ordered for the whole table, calamari, clams, lobster roll and clam chowder. everything fried passed, crispy, well seasoned and fresh. the clam chowder was bland, downer. the lobster roll was aight, Coastal Flats has a better one. I need to try a real one in Boston. i couldn't stop eating the fries, maybe since i cooked my own crusted red pepper and rosemary fries earlier that week.



the decor had a nice feel, imagine being at a regular old pier that has a restaurant on it, now picture that in the heart of Georgetown. i know right.


all in all. skip it unless you're dying for something fried and only have $13. yes, i was craving fried fish! but i would rather spent the $13 at Good Stuff Eatery.

what they said...

donuts to the next level?

ape and i fianlly had fractured prune donuts this weekend. we checked out the location in ffx/oakton/vienna. 1. i hate the PAN-AM shopping center. ever since going there in college for weekly art supplies i've hated it. m-fing impatient people that can't wait for people that are backing out of parking spots, people wanting to get ran over, and just a poor layout.
so i don't know if it was this franchise or all of them are like this but this one had bubble tea? signage was super ghetto and customer service was typical mcdonalds style (but he did hook it up with one extra doughnut). down down downers.
i ordered a banana nut bread doughnut and ape had the OC Sand and Hawaiian. the donuts were good but not a earth shattering as everyone on the radio, reviews, and blogs say they are. i'd prefer a good ole glazed krispy kreme donut over this anyday. but since KK is all the way on route 1, these will do. but i don't think donuts have to be this complex or cost this much. it's just a donut. i guess i just can't appreciate it as much as the next.

"Hell-no" Cupcake

so after burgers and coffee we wanted to hit up this new cupcake shop that people have been raving about, Hello Cupcake. it's located in Dupont Circle across from Krispy Kreme. I was excited to to try them out and what other DC cupcake spots had to offer.

The location was alittle hard to find but it's a few doors down from Big Hunt and Cafe Citron. It's Right at the neck of Conn. Ave where it hits the circle. The Decor was a nice retro feel, curvy wooden seats. blah blah blah....

the cupcakes. $3. icing stacked high upon hard muffin top. ape had a CHOCO, chocolate coconut. she complained about it be being dry on the inside. she didn't like it nor did i. i had a 24 carrott. the icing was super sweet and the cake was tasty but the hard muffin top really bothered me. we had a gingerbread the next day and that was actually pleasing.



overall, they charge too much for a hard, dry, cupcake that tries to cover their flaws with mile high icing. we definitely will not be going back. georgetown cupcakes +1!

Good Stuff

After a good night of partying on Friday night, waking up waaaay late on Saturday morning and then cleaning the home. Ape and I decided to get out of the house and venture out for a burger. Well i wanted a burger and she wanted crab legs, but i won! so after debating between Big Buns, Ray's Hell Burger and Good Stuff Eatery, we choose the latter. We got a primo spot on Mass. Ave. across from Cosi with is right next to GSE. As we walked in what first got me was the signs that gave Obama soo much love. They even had an Obama burger and they were also giving out Obama wristbands.

The deco is very comfortable with dark wood tables paired with steel chairs. Walls were white with plasmas around, the largest one tuned to Bravo TV. the owner Spike was part of the cast from TOP CHEF/Chicago. oooooookay i'm typing too much let's get to it.



I got a farmhouse bacon cheeseburger, ape got a burger melt. the fries were really good cause they had different kinds of mayos to dip with.


the chipotle dip was the best. the burgers are super fresh and not greasy! the produce was extra exrta fresh. everything was great and totally hit the spot. Spike was even there passing us by a few times and hanging around the balcony were we were eating. Spike even said HI to ape while i was getting our food.



all in all, i'm coming back for another burger! if i had to compare it to another burger i would have to say it's five guys style with less grease, less mess, and way better meat and produce. To me it's even better than RHB, cause it's not overwhelming, RHB is still a good burger though. RIght now, GSE has my 1st place vote!

Friday Food Day!

After eating out all weekend starting last thursday. It was best that Ape and I cook the whole week. It's not hard on us to do that. We enjoy cooking and we're good at it.

Monday, was Pasta in vodka sauce w/ sausage. vodka sauce was made from scartch, you just need crushed tomatoes, vodka, heavy cream and seasoning to spice it up.

Tuesday, Ape ripped it up with Chicken Afritada. it's harder to make than adobo or tinola, but it's worth the time and effort cutting taken to cut up everything and waiting for everything simmer in. it's very delicious. plus i got to play the 360 while Ape manned the kitchen!



Wednesday, i tried my hand at Bulgogi from scartch. you gotta let the short ribs and marinade (soy sauce, seasame oil, seasame seed, scallions, sugar and whatever else i threw in there) work over night.



then you just grill it up. we aren't allowed to have a grill so i used our grill pan.



i'm sure it would have been alot better if it was cooked on a grill but it was good. watch out the sugar can burn up leaving a crust that ain't soo good.

Last night, we had leftovers along with some battered fish that Ape made from scartch again and fried up in our lil fry daddy.

Gotta thank everyone that gave us such wonderful cooking ware that make cooking soo much easier and fun! Hopefully I can get more well versed in different cuisines amd post more cooking updates. or cooking dibocales.

rewind...

had a pretty fun but tiring weekend. lb and friend came into town on friday night and spent the weekend with us. we basically went all over nova and showed them a few things that they wouldn't be able to find in the ric.

Friday. our guest came in late in the evening and so we caught a quick bite to eat at Potbelly and caught a flick at cinema de lux. If you haven't seen Slumdog Millionaire yet i suggest you check it out. it's a crazy crazy story that opens your eyes to another world. it doesnt make you think to hard it's just a great story telling movie that entertains you for a couple of hours.

Saturday we slept in and lounged till about 11 and finally got out of the apt. we couldnt figure out where to eat breakfast/lunch since it was kinda late for bagels. soo we decided to go to Full Kee cause I was craving some salty spicy squid. We also got some crispy spicy pork chops, seafood pan-fried noodles and some wonton soup. it totally hit the spot, alittle to hard at that. i almost got the itus.
after we headed to georgetown for alittle shopping. after alittle searching and a wrong turn we got a great spot around the corner from georgetwon cupcakes. on a gloomy day GC totally hit the spot. we got toasted marshmallows, chocolate ganche, and lemon berry. all were ridicously good. after we ate the cupcakes inside the shop the rain started coming down. we didn't stay too long in gtown cause fo the rain and decided to go to the museums.
after another wrong turn we got another sweet parking spot right in front of the history museum. checked out the dinosuars, some really wildlife pix, the hope diamond, and some korean artifacts that they hide in the back. it was a good way to kill some time before dinner at Central.
we actually ended up going to Central an hour early, got some drinks, chilled at the bar, and watched the titans/ravens game. This was my second time to Central and the second time i had steak there. let me say don't order the steak. they have good steak but it's not the best and it's not why you should go there. what i should have ordered was bangers and mash since they're a french spot. they do really well with comfort food too. ape got fried chicken and she says that was off the hook. her mash was really good too. lb had a burger which was torn up in 3 secs. their mushroom risotto is really good. cheese puffs for apps are worth the curiosity, everyone gets them. the kit kat bar shouldn't be skipped though we skipped it. haha
the night ended at home playing wii fit.
Sunday we met up with tony and elaine and the kid for lunch at Jackson's. I have nothing bad to say about GAR. all of their restuarants are great. try the deviled eggs yum yum. after we headed to tony and elaine's to finish the game. Lb's giants ended up losing. after that they left for ric. we were supposed to hit up Rey's bday but ape's cold was too much for us to handle so we stayed in as she studied and i played GTA4.

eats!

here's a few goodies that ape and i have made recently.

pork loin with cranberry sauce

From Food!

Vietnamese grilled pork and pancit

From Food!

salmon burger

From Food!

From Food!

lettuce wraps, veggie stir fry, and egg rolls

From Food!

chicken w/ spinach and mushroom w/ sausage pizza

From Food!

pasta w/ vodka sauce

From Food!

From Food!

yummm yummm

nyc weekend

we headed out to nyc this weekend. took the boltbus which wasnt bad at all. overall it was a great time though time flew by way too fast. this trip was waay overdue but we'll make up for it by coming back over and over again to vist our friends.

can't come to nyc with out goign to hop kee

From september 08

flight club was awesome. super expensive shoes so i got a hoodie. the clothes are a bargain.

From september 08

top of the rock was great too. we forgot to take a jumping mid-air shot but this will do.

From september 08

reference this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq5ofQYeoLc

From september 08

tired in the club

From september 08

B-Day Burger

went to Ray's Hell Burger for a low key B-day dinner, with Ape and erwin meet up too.

From september 08

From september 08

From september 08

From september 08

MmmmmM MmmMmmm bitch! (dave chapelle, samuel jackson adams voice)

moving is hurrrting.

we did our big move over the weekend. thanks to auntie, lb, kuya, eric and mom and dad for helping ape and I out. seriously this is the last time that i do the move myself. Next time and yes there will be a next time, i'll def. hire movers.
Well now i'm in the new spot. it's a basic 1bedroom layout but it feels bigger and more homey than our last two bedroom spot. and our new place comes with a pool view. besides the plus of watching all the fatties at the pool, the pool seems to keep the apt. cool during the day and cooler and comfortable at night. so yea the place is available for a tour for whoever whatever to come by and check it out.
in other news, i played bball with jr and his people last night. i started well then after the first game i was running on empty. i don't think i'll ever have the enegry that i used to in my younger years, haha. but it was a good workout and i think i jammed my middle and pointer fingers. wtf!

fooood!

made some crispy fish tacos last night. yummmm! try making pink sour cream = a cup of sour cream, less than a cup of mayo and a couple chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, splash some lime juice. blend that up and let it sit in the fridge before you serve it. sorry no pictures but just vision this outside of the takeout box.
tonight's dish is rib eye with something on the side. haha


o and next time i'm in the mood for calamari, i want some of this, from Overwood in old town Alexandria. looks good, but Washingtonian says anything not fried at the joint is pretty bland.