Every time I visit Dirty Pat (and Mrs. Pat), I try to get my fair share of seafood, particularly east coast oysters. On my last trip, I had my first oyster shooter. Yes, it is hard to believe that an oyster lover like me had his first oyster shooter last year!
Last year, we visited Sailor Oyster Bar’s happy hour. This little row house turned oyster bar is a popular place with the college crowd. Along with the oysters, we had several bottles of Prosecco, though the college kids focus on craft beer. They also have creative small plates, such as Hamachi crudo, and torched scallops.
Another institution we visited on our first visit several years ago, was the downtown Annapolis institution, Chick and Ruth’s Delly, founded in 1965. Of course, the crab cake Benedict is their signature dish, along with homemade corned beef hash. The place is always crowded!
Do not fear, if you end up eating too much, there is always a great walking tour of the U.S. Nabal Academy (at least in daylight hours). You are on your own at night. In fact, we had the pleasure of dining with a Midshipman that evening at a local Chinese restaurant.
Locals say the best crabcake in the world is served at the Boatyard Bar and Grill. This is where I had my first oyster shooter, along with a crabcake sandwich. And a cold beer.
I leave it to Dirty Pat for choosing where we eat. Last time, we had oysters most every day. And we went to a Chinese place about a mile from their home. It was surprisingly very good, and a bit different. And they always pair wine with their Chinese food, I usually choose beer or tea.
D.C.’s booming dining scene makes it a destination unto itself, and with everything from fancy Michelin-starred restaurants to wonderful holes-in-the-wall, why would you go to a tourist trap? Fourteenth Street, Navy Yard, and Eighth Street on Capitol Hill are filled with fun, innovative eateries, or dare to venture into the lesser-known neighborhoods where some interesting things are going on—Thip Khao on 14th Street NW, featuring Lao cuisine and Italian-inspired Red Hen in Brookland are cases in point. There’s also Union Market in NoMa, with its fun-to-browse food stalls, the full-service Bidwell Restaurant, and the nearby Cosecha market featuring Latin American fare. Even the museums have some skin in the game, notably Sweet Home Café at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and Mitsitam Native Foods Café at the National Museum of the American Indian.
And some changes in DC:
D.C. has changed immensely over the past ten-plus years—and it’s not slowing down. If you haven’t visited in a while, you won’t recognize the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood, including its multi-million-dollar development at the Wharf that includes primo restaurants, music halls, and waterside fun. Neighborhoods where once you would not dare venture—NoMa, Shaw, Columbia Heights, 14th Street, U Street—are hopping with innovative restaurants, local boutiques, theater, music, and cafés. Now you can try craft distilled whiskey, go SUPing on the Potomac, listen to music in a historic Black Broadway theater, taste the latest foodie craze at a pop-up restaurant, and come to understand that D.C. is no longer a one-trick pony (well, two tricks, if you count politics and its Smithsonian museums) but truly a leading global city.
And some freebies are always welcome:
D.C. may very well be the best city in the world for cultured cheapskates because not only are the Smithsonian museums free, but so are a whole slew of concerts, plays, and exhibits. The Smithsonian American Art Museum routinely showcases world-famous musicians, while free summer concert series are offered at theCapitol Riverfront and the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, among others. The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage has free shows every evening at 6, and its REACH Plaza has free outdoor film screenings and live performances in summer. Even the National Zoo (part of the Smithsonian family) is free. Check out Washington.org for upcoming free events.
I don’t know about you, but I love my visits to DC. Yes, it is the power center of the civilized world, the buildings are magnificent, the Smithsonian without peer, the food improving, and the culture is rich and vibrant.
Several friends have gone to DC on the Honor Flights. And our cousin is going in May.
Pay your respects at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
Climb the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
Take a picture in front of the White House
Sip wine at one of the wineries near Washington D.C.
Eat some greasy fries and a hot dog at Ben’s Chili Bowl, President Obama’s favorite place.
Eat some oysters, drink some champagne at one of DC’s well known seafood joints
Rent a bike and ride around the Capitol Mall
Shop in Georgetown before having a burger at Clyde’s
I may have mentioned that I have known Ken since the 80s. He just does not look that old!!! He and his wife Nelly live in Atlanta, where I have visited numerous times. The first time he met me at the airport, he had a cooler of cold beer in the car!
We drank so much beer that night, we ended up at Wendy’s with the munchies around midnight.
Maybe he will have a cold beer or champagne waiting for me??
The District’s U Street Corridor, once known as Black Broadway, was one of the most established and exciting areas in the country to celebrate Black culture in the first half of the 1900s. U Street was influential in the music and performing arts scene as theaters like Lincoln and Howard opened–they hosted the likes of iconic artists such as musician Duke Ellington, R&B legend Marvin Gaye, singer Ella Fitzgerald, and poet Langston Hughes. Over the past two decades, U Street has become a vibrant center for art, culture, and African American heritage. A new generation of artists has revitalized the area, making it the favored neighborhood for art and music, especially jazz. You’ll also want to follow Cultural Tourism DC’s African American Heritage Trail to see more than 200 significant sites rich in local Black history, from churches and schools to famous residences and businesses. And Ben’s Chili Bowl is also on U Street, one of President Obama’s favorite places.
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with over 171 million books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps, and manuscripts. Each day they receive around 15,000 items and add more than 10,000 items to their collections! The Library even houses materials in approximately 470 languages. The catch? All books can only be used on the premises and cannot be checked out. But don’t let that deter you from a visit; the impressive architecture of the building and the expansive collection of artwork is enough to make it worth a visit. Try to focus your visit on a subject that is near and dear to you, otherwise, it is overwhelming.
District Wharf is your all-in-one entertainment stop. Along the marina’s edge lie exquisite restaurants, vibrant bars, shops, and entertainment venues. We suggest enjoying live free concerts that are typically held during warmer months, renting a kayak or paddleboard from The Wharf Boathouse, taking a free jitney ride to East Potomac Park (a man-made island), and visiting The Municipal Fish Market–having opened in 1805, it is the oldest continuously operating open-air fish market in the United States. The Wharf is also eco-friendly and includes the installation of numerous green roofs, 300 new trees, preservation of mature oaks, and 340 square feet of floating wetland systems.
On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot while attending a show at Ford’s Theater. Today, the theater still performs live shows, although the Presidential box where Lincoln sat always remains empty. Visitors can tour the balcony where Lincoln sat, visit the Petersen House across the street where Lincoln inevitably died, and peruse the theater’s excellent basement museum. The tour ends at the Center for Education and Leadership where history buffs can wander through several floors of exhibits that examine the aftermath of Lincoln’s death, his legacy, the Civil War, and the conspiracy that led to his death. We have attended theater here, but I really enjoy the Lincoln Waffle Shop across the street, now owned by a nice Hmong family.
Georgetown’s cobblestone streets are recognized as one of the best shopping areas in the country. M Street is a good starting point for shoppers with the intersection of M and Wisconsin Avenue being the heart of Georgetown, with mainstream stores and boutique-lined streets extending in all four directions. Exhausted from shopping? Meander through Georgetown Waterfront Park and stroll along the Potamic River for beautiful and relaxing views. If you are feeling energized, visit Thompson Boat Center where you can rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard and explore the Potomac or take a unique walking excursion such as a food or ghost tour. Want to get your groove on? Check out Blues Alley, the nation’s oldest continuing jazz supper club. I do my shopping here, and also stop at Clyde’s for a burger.
Dating back to 1871, Union Market, once the largest market in Washington, D.C., has been transformed into an urban village that proves to be a gathering place by way of restaurants, shops, workspace, and artwork. One noteworthy boutique is Jungle & Loom, a woman-owned business that sells houseplants, plant accessories, macrame, dried florals, and vintage glassware. They also offer fun plant workshops. Our second recommendation is Salt & Sundry, a home and lifestyle boutique featuring an eclectic mix of goods from independent makers and designers, both locally and from across the globe. Always an interesting visit and foodie destination!
There are just too many things to do in a week. Most visitors, particularly with school age children, should add the White House, Congress, the Arboretum, Kennedy Center, and Union Station to this list.
From Fodor’s, and I would never have imagined this:
Who knew the nation’s capital was the source of a musical movement? But indeed, go-go, a subgenre of funk that adds rhythmic patterns and live audience call-and-response—and encourages dancing on and on (hence the “go-go”)—began here in the 1970s. Chuck Brown—the godfather of go-go—and his band the Soul Searchers are attributed as its creator, joined by the Young Senators and others, and it blew up the music scene in the 1990s and 2000s. At the time, the city’s Black mayor, Marion Barry; mostly Black city council; and majority Black population provided a prototype of Black success, and go-go became the city’s soundtrack. Mayor Muriel Bowser made it the official music of DC in 2020, with the promise to preserve the history and culture go-go has built.
Rare Essence and Trouble Funk can still be found performing go-go across DC today, and local radio stations still play marathon go-go sessions; the GOGO M.U.S.I.C. radio station plays it 24/7. Pay homage to Chuck Brown at the Chuck Brown Memorial Park at 20th and Franklin Streets NE. The National Museum of African American History and Culture has a floor dedicated to music, with a large go-go exhibition and some great Chuck Brown memorabilia. The MLK Library in downtown D.C. also has a large go-go exhibition.
I never realized, despite its great diversity, that go go music was born here. I would expect a strong African American influence over music here. And with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, all musical genres have enjoyed success and exposure here. In 2022, the variety of music includes a wide range: Harry Connick, Jr., Handel’s Messiah, Shear Madness, Wicked, Les Misérables, Lion King, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Roots, plus many others.
I love almost all types of music, except country and rap. Give me a traditional musical, some classical music, or good, old fashioned rock and roll.
The last few times in DC, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has been closed for renovation. It has finally reopened. But, a visitor must reserve an entry time (free) since it is not fully operational at this time.
This museum, which is run by the prestigious Smithsonian Institution, features one of the world’s most significant collections of aircraft and space vessels. Among the oldest is Otto Lilienthal’s glider, which he successfully flew in Germany in the 1890s. Of course, the 1900s aircraft of the American duo the Wright Brothers is also showcased here. Airplanes flown by other pioneering American pilots can also be seen here. As you step through the exhibits, watch the evolution of aircraft from propeller to jet power in spaces dedicated to commercial and military planes. Even outer space is within the domain of this museum. Casually stroll by exhibits featuring satellites and spacecraft to see what the past has bequeathed us and what the future holds.
The National Air and Space Museum holds in trust over 60,000 artifacts and more than 20,000 cubic feet of archival materials. Historic aircraft and space artifacts, such as the 1903 Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, highlight the National Collection.
Thousands of additional artifacts—including engines, rockets, uniforms, spacesuits, balloons, artwork, documents, manuscripts, and photographs—document the richness of the history of flight. A wide variety of these artifacts are on display at the Museum in Washington, DC and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.
The Air and Space Musem is best known for their collection of rare and historically significant aircraft and spacecraft. The object collection also includes engines, medals, trophies, instruments, and equipment, models, artwork, spacesuits, uniforms, and much more. Altogether, the collection includes more than 30,000 aviation and 9,000 space objects. About 20 percent of the collection, including about 80 percent of the largest aircraft and spacecraft are on public display. Many objects are on loan to institutions around the world, while a significant number of objects are in storage.
The National Air and Space Museum holds in trust over 60,000 artifacts and more than 20,000 cubic feet of archival materials. Historic aircraft and space artifacts, such as the 1903 Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, highlight the National Collection.
Thousands of additional artifacts—including engines, rockets, uniforms, spacesuits, balloons, artwork, documents, manuscripts, and photographs—document the richness of the history of flight. A wide variety of these artifacts are on display at the Museum in Washington, DC and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.
From their website: The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, also called the Air and Space Museum, is a museum in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1946 as the National Air Museum and opened its main building on the National Mall near L’Enfant Plaza in 1976. In 2018, the museum saw approximately 6.2 million visitors, making it the fifth most visited museum in the world, and the second most visited museum in the United States. The museum contains the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, the Friendship 7 capsule which was flown by John Glenn, Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, the Bell X-1 which broke the sound barrier, the model of the starship Enterprise used in the science fiction television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and the Wright brothers’ Wright Flyer airplane near the entrance.
Needless to say, this is my favorite museum in DC, along with the now defunct Newseum. I fondly remember my business travel in DC back in the 70s and 80s. Between meetings, I got to “kill” time at the various Smithsonians. And I most often chose the Air and Space Museum.
Anyone you choose is great, that is the beauty of these wonderful institutions.
There is more to the pink and white flowers than meets the eye. At least in Japan, here are the facts.
After shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune encouraged people to plant these beautiful trees all around the country in the 18th century, hanami gradually became an entertainment fit for commoners as well. Obviously eagerly anticipated during the cold blaze of winter, the cherry blossoms symbolise spring in Japan, and sakura-themed products take over store shelves nationwide long before the first blooms appear on trees.
The ‘blossom front’ sweeps Japan from south to north, lasting for a mere week or so in each region, and only a handful of days in full bloom. Sad, sure, but the Japanese celebrate the falling petals as mono no aware, an aesthetic ideal that highlights ‘the pathos of things’, or the beauty in the passing.
These special flowers get a specific name just for their own shade: sakura-iro, a traditional Japanese colour. In fact, there’s a whole range of these colours to describe hues found on kimono, paintings and arts and crafts of the blossomy kind. In reality, sakura do actually come in many different shades, colouring spring with a wide range of pink and white.
The flowers are pretty, and hanami may be all about showing our appreciation for this beautiful season, but every experienced hanami-goer knows it’s not the blossoms that matter most.
Hana yori dango is a proverb that literally means ‘sweets over flowers’ but also translates to ‘practicality over aesthetics’. It refers to how people are always more focused on the dango (sweet dumplings), food, beer, or whatever concrete, practical thing is in front of them, than they are on marvelling at the beauty of the flowers.
Now, your average hanami snack skewer features three blobs of dango dumplings, which come in sakura-iro, white and green to represent spring, winter and summer respectively. Wait… where’s autumn? The common explanation is that this tradition evolved from a play on words since ‘no autumn’, or aki nai in Japanese, has the same meaning as ‘you won’t get bored’.
A typical blossom season lasts from the end of March to the beginning of April, when the new fiscal and academic year starts. The sakura may be Japan’s most beloved flower, but surprisingly it is not the formal floral emblem – actually, Japan doesn’t have an official national flower at all.
The country’s other representative bloom would be chrysanthemum, which is on the Imperial Seal of Japan. However, the sakura decorates ¥100 coins while chrysanthemums adorn ¥50 coins, so it’s pretty clear sakura are more highly valued.If you’re the type that goes bonkers on where the sakura zensen (‘cherry blossom front’) exactly is at the moment, you might’ve noticed that the blossom is described in different stages. The official weather forecast usually employs only seven of these, but a few sakura-maniacs have names for 11 stages of the bloom. In order, they are: budding, bulging bud, flowering, 10%, 30%, 50% and 70% bloom, full bloom, starting to fall, falling, and officially over.
How exactly do we know when the ‘sakura front’ hits each region? Well, the Japan Meteorological Agency appoints a ‘standard tree’ in every area to serve as a benchmark for the announcement and to determine the percentage of the bloom (they have backup trees, too). In Tokyo, one somei-yoshino tree at Yasukuni Shrine takes on this crucial role. When said tree flowers (to be exact, when five to six flowers on the same tree bloom), the whole of Tokyo follows and – boom – it’s officially spring.
The blossom is admired so eagerly that many locals even put it in their mouths. No, not the flower itself – but you’ll find hundreds of specially made snacks and sweets named after cherry blossoms: sakura mochi, sakura ice cream, sakura tea…the list goes on.
Note: we barely missed peak bloom when we were last in Japan, just a few days early. But we could have headed south and hoped for a bit more color.
Sadly, peak bloom day was last week, but I have missed it so many times, I don’t really care!
We hoped to hit the cherry blossoms at their peak this year. We missed out a few years ago. We were too early in Japan, and too late in Washington, DC. The blossoms arrived early this year due to mild weather. We missed it again! (We did hit peak bloom day in Washington, DC a few years later!!) The photos above prove it.
We hit the cusp of the Cherry Blossom or sakura in Japan last year in March (2009). We were probably about a week early. Though we caught a glimpse, here and there, it is nothing like we are expecting in Washington, DC this week. So, I will load up on my allergy pills, nasal spray, and eye drops in preparation for the onslaught of beautiful pink and white blossoms that line the nation’s capital. Now, we are most a week late. So few left, that I could not even bear to take a photo.
As last calculated, the peak bloom date was March 20-23. We did not arrive until April 4. The Peak Bloom Date is defined as the day in which 70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) trees are open. The date when the Yoshino cherry blossoms reach peak bloom varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions. Cherry Blossom Festival dates are set based on the average date of blooming (April 4), but nature is not always cooperative. Unseasonably warm and/or cool temperatures have resulted in the Yoshino cherries reaching peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958).
According to the National Park Service, the Blooming Period is defined as the period that starts when 20% of the blossoms are open and ends when the petals fall and the leaves appear. The Blooming period starts several days before the Peak Bloom Date and can last as long as 14 days; however, frost or high temperatures combined with wind and/or rain can shorten this period.
The plantings of cherry trees originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan. In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or “Sakura,” is an exalted flowering plant. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a potent symbol equated with the evanescence of human life and epitomizes the transformation of Japanese culture throughout the ages.
In 1885, Mrs. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, upon returning to Washington from her first visit to Japan, approached the U.S. Army Superintendent of the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, with the proposal that cherry trees be planted one day along the reclaimed Potomac waterfront. Her request fell on deaf ears. Over the next twenty-four years, Mrs. Scidmore approached every new superintendent, but her idea met with no success.
Finally in 1906, Dr. David Fairchild, plant explorer and U.S. Department of Agriculture official, imported seventy-five flowering cherry trees and twenty-five single-flowered weeping types from the Yokohama Nursery Company in Japan. He planted these on a hillside on his own property in Chevy Chase, Maryland, where he attempted to test their hardiness.
In 1907, The Fairchilds, pleased with the success of the trees, began to promote Japanese flowering cherry trees as the ideal type of tree to plant along avenues in the Washington area. Friends of the Fairchilds also became interested and on September 26, arrangements were completed with the Chevy Chase Land Company to order three hundred Oriental cherry trees for the Chevy Chase area.
A year later, Dr. Fairchild gave cherry saplings to children from each District of Columbia school to plant in their schoolyard for the observance of Arbor Day. In closing his Arbor Day lecture, Dr. Fairchild expressed an appeal that the “Speedway” (no longer existing, but marked by portions of Independence and Maine Avenues, SW and East and West Basin Drives, SW, around the Tidal Basin) be transformed into a “Field of Cherries.” In attendance was Eliza Scidmore, to whom he referred later as a great authority on Japan.
Mrs. Scidmore decided to try to raise the money required to purchase the cherry trees and then donate them to the city. As a matter of course, Mrs. Scidmore sent a note outlining her plan to the new first lady, Helen Herron Taft. Mrs. Taft had lived in Japan and was familiar with the beauty of the flowering cherry trees. Two days later the first lady responded:
The White House, Washington April 7, 1909
Thank you very much for your suggestion about the cherry trees. I have taken the matter up and am promised the trees, but I thought perhaps it would be best to make an avenue of them, extending down to the turn in the road, as the other part is still too rough to do any planting. Of course, they could not reflect in the water, but the effect would be very lovely of the long avenue. Let me know what you think about this.
Sincerely yours, Helen H. Taft The day after Mrs. Taft’s letter of April 7, Dr. Jokichi Takamine, the Japanese chemist who discovered adrenaline and takadiastase, was in Washington with Mr. Mizuno, Japanese consul in New York. When he was told that Washington was to have Japanese cherry trees planted along the Speedway, he asked whether Mrs. Taft would accept a donation of an additional two thousand trees to fill out the area. Mr. Midzuno thought it was a fine idea and suggested that the trees be given in the name of the City of Tokyo. Dr. Takamine and Mr. Midzuno met with the first lady, who accepted the offer of the 2,000 trees.Five days after Mrs. Taft’s request, the Superintendent of the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, Colonel Spencer Cosby, U.S. Army, initiated the purchase of ninety Fugenzo Cherry Trees (Prunus serrulata “Fugenzo”) from Hoopes Brothers and Thomas Co., West Chester, PA. The trees were planted along the Potomac River from the site of the Lincoln Memorial southward toward East Potomac Park. After planting, it was discovered that the trees were not named correctly. The trees were determined to be the cultivar Shirofugen (Prunus serrulata “Shirofugen”) and have since disappeared. The Japanese Embassy informed the Department of State that the City of Tokyo intended to donate to the United States two thousand cherry trees to be planted along the Potomac River. On December 10, 2000 trees arrived in Seattle from Japan. On January 6, 1910, the trees arrived in Washington, DC. To everyone’s dismay, an inspection team from the Department of Agriculture discovered that the trees were infested with insects and nematodes, and were diseased. To protect American growers, the department concluded that the trees must be destroyed. President Taft gave his approval to burn the trees. The probable diplomatic setback was alleviated by letters from the Secretary of State to the Japanese Ambassador expressing the deep regret of all concerned. Dr. Takamine and the Mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, met the distressing news with determination and good will.Dr. Takamine again donated the money for the trees, whose number had been increased to 3,020. The scions for these trees were taken in December 1910 from the famous collection along the bank of the Arakawa River in Adachi Ward, a suburb of Tokyo, and grafted onto specially selected understock produced in Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture. On March 26, 3,020 cherry trees arrived in Washington, D.C. The trees were comprised of the following varieties: “Somei-Yoshino” ……………………………..1,800 “Ari ake”…………………………………………….100 “Fugen-zo”………………………………………….120 “Fuku-roku-ju”…………………………………….. 50 “Gyo-i-ko”………………………………………….. 20(The Gyoiko were all planted on the White House Grounds) “Ichiyo”……………………………………………..160 “Jonioi”……………………………………………….80 “Kwan-zan”………………………………………..350 “Mikurumagayeshi”………………………………20 “Shira-yuki”………………………………………. 130 “Surugadainioi”…………………………………….50 “Takinioi”…………………………………………..140 Total………………………………………………..3,020 A day later, Helen Herron Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin, about 125 feet south of what is now Independence Avenue, SW. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the first lady presented a bouquet of “American Beauty” roses to Viscountess Chinda. Washington’s renowned National Cherry Blossom Festival grew from this simple ceremony, witnessed by just a few persons. These two original trees still stand several hundred yards west of the John Paul Jones Memorial, located at the terminus of 17th Street, SW. Situated near the bases of the trees is a large bronze plaque which commemorates the occasion. That is probably more than you ever wanted to know about the trees. People here are very proud of the trees, even the ex pats. Good night, Chet. Side note: Everyone says to head north in our effort to catch the blossoms. It is colder up toward Maryland, right, Marilyn? Maybe they are just trying to get rid of me! No blossoms here! Must try elsewhere.
Fast forward to 2021 : Just happy to be here on the east coast, able to travel safely.
Note #2: The National Park Service has estimated that peak bloom will be in the first week of April (2021) when around 70% of the blossoms will be open!
Note #3: According to the National Park Service, the peak bloom for the cherry blossoms is expected to take place between April 2 and 5 this year, depending on weather conditions. The peak bloom date for DC’s cherry blossoms is defined as the day on which 70% of the blossoms of the Yoshino cherry trees that surround the Tidal Basin are open, but visitors are urged not to descend in droves on the area given the restrictions on large gatherings.
For me, the cherry blossoms, regardless of location, are a joy to behold. We have them in the nearby farms back home, here on the Potomac, and Japan. Enjoy them wherever you are!
Each year that I visit, I end up here a few days earlier than the year before. This year, I arrive April 2!!!
But then, read this!!!
Washington D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms are expected to reach peak bloom by March 22 to March 25, a prediction that — if it holds — will mark one of the earliest dates the flowers have reached that stage.
The prediction, which was made by the National Park Service on Wednesday, is when the agency expects 70 percent of cherry trees will be in bloom. The forecast follows an unseasonably warm winter with very variable conditions that have ranged from spring-like days to snow storms.Tell you what? I give up, this is my last attempt to see peak bloom day.
Ah, the spicy heat of a great curry or the bursting flavor of peanut sauce. These delights are only part of the delectable options you can find in an authentic dish from Thailand.
Often served with rice and vegetables, Thai food is a major hit with many families no matter where you call home. However, much like Chinese food in the United States, what you get for takeout might not be as authentic as knowing how to make these culturally rich dishes from scratch.
If you’re in the mood for curry but don’t like the intense heat that comes with Green Curry — which is the spiciest — you can take a shot at Penang or Thai Curry.
Food in Thailand is both interesting and quite affordable. Yellow curry is a favorite, along with pad Thai (noodles), and a dish that is hard to find, called mi grab. Our visits to Thailand are enhanced by locals who have shown us what to order, and where to go.
Greek/Mediterranean-
I start most dinners with a Greek salad. Then a main dish of grilled fish, lamb, or a veal chop. Lunch is a bit simpler, with some souvlaki or a few kabobs. Greek pastries at breakfast are great with some strong coffee. And a cheese pie is always a welcomed snack. My Greek
brothers provide ample house wine from their own vineyards, along with a house dessert, and the local mastika (home brewed moonshine).
3. Japanese-
Sushi is easily one of the most popular dishes in Japan; no discussion of Japanese cuisine would be complete without it. Distinctly Japanese, Sushi used to consist of fish preserved in fermented rice. It is often made with vinegared rice and fresh fish and styled in several ways.
Kaiseki, or ‘tasting course,’ is the ultimate in fine Japanese cuisine. Comprised of several different edible samples, this delicate entree allows you to have various flavor experiences in one dish.
My favorite Japanese food is a savory custard, called chawan-mushi. I generally order Hamachi-kama (yellow tail collar) with rice when we go out. I will order sushi in Japan or Hawaii, where the fish is fresh. And once in your life, have a Kaiseki dinner, which we did at n/naka in Los Angeles (Michelin stars). I also enjoy shabu shabu once in a while.
4. Peruvian-
Peruvian culture is a beautiful mixture of European and South American influences and has combined contradictions to create a culture all its own.
If you’re in the mood for a generous helping of Peruvian comfort food, you can’t do better than a helping of Aji de Gallina or Peruvian Chicken Stew. This dish combines a healthy amount of shredded chicken simmered in a beautifully creamy French-style sauce with Aji Amarillo chili.
This spicy meal will surely hit all your pleasure notes before you even get to dessert, as it pairs excellently with rice, pasta, or roasted vegetables.
Our only trip to Peru included Lima, Cuzco, and Machu Picchu. Local and street food is basic, but hearty. Their gourmet restaurants rival many restaurants worldwide, as Peru has upped their game in the last decade or so. Seafood is still my first choice. I found the meat a bit tough and gamey. Maybe it is time to go back. I had the best tomato soup at the Lima airport on the way home!
5. Chinese-
As far back as Medieval China, Roasted Peking Duck has been served to everyone from heads of state to foreign dignitaries and is considered a ‘royal dish.’
This delicacy, praised for its thin, crispy skin, is often served sliced with pancakes, sweet bean sauce, or mashed garlic and soy sauce.
Either way, this dish is as traditional as China’s and is one to take advantage of if you’re going for an authentic Chinese meal.
Dim Sum is famous in China and around the world and is much like a Chinese sampler platter. With more than 1,000 dish options, this celebrated meal is usually served during breakfast or lunchtime tea.
As with Mexican food, who does not like Chinese food? My preference is Cantonese style. My favorites are Singapore rice noodles, Peking spareribs, gai lan, and roast duck. My favorite places are Great China in Berkeley, and New Gold Medal in Oakland Chinatown. Hong Kong and Vancouver both have great Chinese food, some (Chinese friends) say it is the best in the world!
6. Mexican-
Go south of the border with some authentic Mexican food that will make you ache for a visit. If you’re sluggish after a long night, try a warm serving of Chilorio with breakfast potatoes for a peppy start to your day. This guisado- any stewed meat that is braised, homey, and delicious- is also perfect for a lunchtime taco.
If you’re in a hurry and want a meal when you get home, add black beans, pork ribs, water, rum, garlic head halves, onion, salt, bay leaves, oregano, cumin, and crushed red pepper in a slow cooker and let it combine for about eight hours.
As with Chinese food, who does not like Mexican food. My favorite is chili relleno, but I also like the Tex Mex style lamb shank, and chicken with mole’ sauce. Just add a cold beer. Homemade tamales are just a great holiday treat! My favorite Mexican place is Los Sombreros in Scottsdale.
7. Italian-
Tagliatelle al Ragù, known as “Spaghetti Bolognese” to non-Italians, is a meaty, hearty dish of freshly ground pork and beef mixed with celery, carrots, onions, tomatoes, and red wine.
Poured over beautifully cooked tagliatelle pasta, which is said to be inspired by the curly blonde hair of Lucrezia Borgia, a 16th- century Italian noblewoman, this ‘ragu’ sauce is not to be missed. Freshly grate some Parmesiano Reggiano on top, and you have a lovely, authentic Italian meal. Do the Italians a favor, though, and don’t call it Spaghetti Bolognese.”
Fried Artichoke, or Carciofo alla Guidia in Italian, is a popular treat for any dinner table. This dish is exquisite simply for the time it takes to make and its nutty, crunchy texture.
Tiramisu, which translates to “Lift me up” in Italian, was rumored to come from a brothel. This ever-famous dessert, made from layers of lady finger biscuits that have been dipped one by one in a rich mixture of mascarpone cream cheese and your preference of coffee powders, is the perfect end to any Italian meal. Sometimes people add chocolate powder, but it’ll be just the coffee for a ‘purist ‘.
I have run “hot and cold” on Italian food. We like to make our own spaghetti sauce and five cheese penne pasta, and we love Serious Pie (Seattle) pizza. I love the old school Italian restaurants in San Francisco. I do not recall my best Italian meal, nor any food from Italy.
8. Lebanese-
If you want something authentic, you can’t go wrong with Kibbeh, the national dish of Lebanon. These torpedo-shaped, fried croquettes are packed with bulgur, minced meat, onions, and sauteed pine nuts.
If you’re in the mood for something light, look no further than Tabbouleh. A salad made of mint, parsley, fresh tomatoes, olives, onions, and bulgur or couscous, this colorful staple is excellent as a side or a main dish.
A crunchy, creamy dessert known as Kunāfah makes a beautiful finish for a traditional Lebanese meal, especially if you like the flavor of citrus.
To my knowledge, I have had Lebanese food once, at a friend’s home. It was very good, but I need more exposure before I decide if I would go out of my way for the food.
9. Vietnamese-
Phở is easily one of the most recognizable Vietnamese dishes outside Vietnam. Inside the country, it’s an all-time favorite. Named for the noodle in the dish, Phở is a light, earthy broth that allows the noodles to meld with the slivers of medium-rare beef or boiled chicken.
Cơm tấm is a dish of humble origins made of ‘broken’ rice or cracked grains of rice that were unsellable. While there are several ways to make the dish, the most common is cơm tấm sườn nướng ốp la.
In the past few years, I have started to enjoy Pho, particularly locally, since we have many places to choose from. My Hmong friend takes me to some of his favorite places. I love the food in Hanoi, since it is a blend of SE Asian and the French influence from the colonial days.
10. Cajun-
Nothing says ‘Cajun’ like a Fried-Shrimp and Okra Po-Boy. These filling, seafood-centered options cannot be outdone as a sandwich, except by another Cajun-themed dish.
Shrimp and sausage gumbo isn’t as old as New Orleans, but it is an attractive option for anyone that wants a gumbo option that pairs two great meat varieties.
We can’t talk Cajun and Creole without mentioning bourbon, and nothing goes better after a Cajun dinner than Creole Bread Pudding with bourbon sauce. Smooth and warm, this dessert will surely hit that comfort spot you’ve been dying to tame and will delight family and friends who’ve gathered at your table.
I have been to Nawlins numerous times, and love almost all Cajun food, though not big-time heat. I love the oysters, Po’ Boys, gumbo, etouffee, jambalaya, and bourbon bread pudding.
I am certain you can make a case for other food and cuisine. French food should be on the list. And a personal favorite, Armenian food has been a favorite since childhood. My Mom was given recipes by her Armenian Bridge playing friends. She made the best pilaf, shish kebab, and borag. And I am certain that Penang, Malaysia has the best seafood in the world!
A rigorous new study that examined the health effects of coffee consumption found good news and bad news for coffee lovers.
The research showed that coffee has striking effects on physical activity levels, causing peopleto move more, taking, on average, 1,000 extra steps a day — a significant boost in activity that might help explain why coffee consumption has long been linked to better health.
But the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, did find some downsides to a daily cuppa. It showed that people lost about 36 minutes of nightly sleep on days when they drank coffee — and the more coffee they drank, the less they slept.
The research also looked at coffee’s effect on heart palpitations, a relatively common experience for healthy coffee drinkers. The study found that in healthy men and women, coffee did not cause a common type of palpitation known as premature atrial contractions, even though some health authorities have warned that this could be a side effect of drinking coffee.
But coffee consumption can lead to an increase in another type of heart palpitation, known as premature ventricular contractions. These extra or irregular heartbeats are fairly common and benign. Almost everyone experiences them on occasion, and while they can be unnerving, most experts say they’re not usually a cause for concern in healthy people.
The findings suggest that the health effects of coffee are complex. While coffee is beneficial for many people and can lower the risk of chronic diseases and perhaps even extend your life span, it can also disrupt your sleep and may cause some heart palpitations.
For me, my morning starts with about two cups of Peet’s French Roast coffee. We even take it on the road with us. For car trips, we take our own coffee maker, as well as a toaster.
I am not a big Starbucks fan. I prefer trying small, local purveyors of coffee. Given the choice, I always choose the small guy!
My best coffee story? Sheri, Mike and I were traveling in Laos, when we went to the morning wet market. We decided to have a cup of coffee in the market, so we sat down on an old wooden plank. The coffee vendor “brewed” his coffee with hot water in a pot with a long stem. He then proceeded to hold a foot long athletic sock with one hand, while he deftly poured hot coffee into the sock with his other hand. It was an amazing display of hand eye coordination, and crazy danger. It was the most interesting cups of coffee in our lives!
My favorite coffee city is not Seattle, it is Athens, Greece. Everyone makes a good, strong cup of coffee there!
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