Mobile food has long been chic in L.A with countless trucks cruising about the city serving up anything from Korean BBQ to sushi to grass-fed hotdogs.
Food trucks have skyrocketed in popularity even beyond LA recently and are on their way to becoming a huge culinary trend. Even cable has gotten on the bandwagon, with The Food Network launching “The Great Food Truck Race,” featuring culinary sensation Tyler Florence.
Not to be upstaged, DC has started a mobile food truck craze of its own.
Curbside Cupcake was one of the first mobile treats in DC. Fans follow the truck’s whereabouts via Twitter (how most of the food trucks attract their customers), stopping at select locations around the city to peddle a variety of cupcake flavors. What a treat (no pun intended, I promise) it would be to have the truck stop by your next party!
yummy cupcakes from Curbside Cupcakes (photo via Curbside Cupcakes)
One truck I am salivating over is Takorean, a truck selling Korean-inspired tacos. Tell me how good a Bulgogi taco with a side of Spicy Kimchi Slaw would be right about now?! Dee-lish!
Takorean's three signature tacos; photo by Alexandra Boule-Buckley
One word. Lobster. If the Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck, which recently expanded to DC from NYC, doesn’t knock our seafood-loving socks off, I am not sure what can.
A beauteous lobster roll! (photo via Red Hook Lobster Pound website)
So hit the streets to pick up lobsters or cupcakes for your next party or take an out-of-town guest on a hunt to find the trucks and share a taco or two… Enjoy!
I am really fond of the British tradition of afternoon tea and biscuits (or “cookies” as us Yanks call them). It seems so civilized — and, it makes sense. Around 2:00 or 3:00 every day I feel in a bit of a slump. Tea and cookies is a perfect remedy!
This “Dunk Mug” from British purveyor, Mocha, is a perfectly efficient, clever way of having a coffee or tea break. The cookies slide right in the bottom, eliminating the need for a plate and a mug.
This would make a perfect gift for a coffee or tea lover. Mocha even offers a left-handed version of the mug should you need it!
It’s no surprise that I have a soft spot for good baked goods. Pies, tarts, cakes, cookies… I am not picky! So I was particularly excited to find a bakery that not only creates delicious sweets, but also gives 15% of each purchase to a charity you choose.
Baking for Good is an “online bake sale that supports great causes.” They offer a variety of treats, ranging from cookies to bars to granola and they all look delicious. Their margarita shortbread, for example, is calling my name.
margarita shortbread from Baking for Good
They even offer gift packs and suites of themed iced sugar cookies. The cookies would be fabulous for a party, a baby or wedding shower, or an engagement party.
iced wedding-themed cookies
How fabulous would it be to share with guests that each bite they take of their sweet treat goes to an even sweeter cause like First Book (one of my favorite non-profits) or The American Cancer Society.
Here’s to all the charitable sweet tooths out there!
These adorable wrapped beverages, featured on Donna Hay, would be perfect for a baby shower! They would be so easy to create — and to customize. Choose fabric and pins that coordinate with the gender of the baby and the theme. Izze sparkling beverages would be a perfect bottle to wrap. Too cute!
I am a big fan of Arnold Palmer… the drink, that is. (Though the golfer is pretty great, too!) Half iced-tea, half lemonade, the Arnold Palmer is refreshingly sweet — particularly during a heat wave like the one we’ve been having here in DC.
This month’s Bon Appetit features a fun “spiked” version of the drink, created by Damon Boelte, bar manager at Prime Meats in Brooklyn. The drink combines gin, jasmine tea, limoncello, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice. Delish!
The "Leland Palmer"; photo by Nigel Cox
Ingredients
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup hot water
3 cups freshly brewed jasmine tea, cooled
3/4 cup gin
3/4 cup limoncello*
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice
1 cup chilled club soda
Ice cubes
6 lemon slices (for garnish)
Preparation
Stir honey and 1/2 cup hot water in small bowl until honey dissolves. Cool completely. Combine honey water, jasmine tea, gin, limoncello, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice in large pitcher. Add club soda and stir to blend. Fill six 1-pint mason jars or 6 tall glasses with ice cubes. Divide tea mixture among jars; top each with lemon slice.
* Limoncello, a lemon-flavored liqueur, can be found at many supermarkets, at Trader Joe’s markets, and at liquor stores.
Dear friends of ours (who also happen to be our next door neighbors) have three adorable children whom we’ve had the privilege of watching grow since the first was born over 8 years ago. We’ve watched as their personalities emerged and their tastes and dislikes developed.
The two oldest have recently become aficionados of Star Wars — particularly the Star Wars Lego video game. I’ve played it with them a few times, leaving each game with my tail between my legs, duly humiliated by my lack of hand-eye coordination. My husband, on the other hand, is a worthy opponent for them.
When I spotted these Star Wars cookie cutters from Williams-Sonoma I instantly thought of the kids. How perfect would these be for a birthday party or play date?
To my little friends across the street: may the Force (and yummy cookies) be with you!
Star Wars cookies (cutters available at Williams-Sonoma)
set of four Star Wars cookie cutters from Williams-Sonoma
Summer is upon us and with this hot, humid weather we’ve been having in DC I am always looking for a refreshing “cool down” treat. These Orange-Banana Smoothie Pops from Country Living are a good contender for the job.
Orange-Banana Smoothie Pops
The pops feature Greek yogurt which is my favorite type. (Fage is my brand of choice.)
Ingredients
1 container(s) (7-ounce) Greek yogurt
2/3 cup(s) thawed orange juice concentrate
2 large bananas
Zest of 1 lime
1 tablespoon(s) fresh lime juice
I love how they used baking tins instead of regular popsicle molds — they create a more festive pop! French Canele Bordelais Molds might also create a fun alternative. Sur La Table has them as well as Amazon (what doesn’t Amazon have?!)
My husband and I recently returned from a wonderful trip to Paris. He extended a business trip into a vacation and we were able to “unplug” from the world for a few days in an amazing city. What a blessing!
Tops on my itinerary was to hit the organic market at Boulevard Raspail in the 6th Arrondissement. I had read a review of it by Ina Garten and knew I needed to check it out.
We decided to go to the market late morning and pick up some items for a picnic in nearby Jardin du Luxembourg. I salivated over the amazing bread, produce, cheese, and butcher stands. There is something about the freshness of the ingredients in France that doesn’t seem to compare to the U.S. (though we are certainly beginning to hold our own here).
We picked up an amazing baguette, some goat cheese, fresh strawberries, and some jus du pomme and headed to the park. We set up a little picnic on a bench with a lovely view, including active Parisians playing tennis, practicing tai chi, and learning martial arts moves. Just another Sunday in Paris!
I had packed some picnic essentials from home — knives, forks, napkins, cups… — so we were able to have a lovely meal and relax in the park for a while.
Summer picnics are one of my favorite things to do when the weather is nice. It doesn’t take much to create a little feast to enjoy on sunny day with friends: a blanket, some victuals, a few beverages and voila! Al fresco dining!
A great place in DC to picnic is at Wolf Trap. What could be better than reclining in the grass on a breezy summer evening listening to great music?! Here are some ideas for setting up a great picnic at Wolf Trap this summer.
Football fans everywhere, are you ready for the 2010 NFL Draft? Starting tonight and through the weekend we’ll watch, wait, and pray as our favorite teams make their picks. (Patriots, don’t do me wrong!)
So as you are watch the painstakingly long and often nail-biting process, you may want to invite your friends over to enjoy another kind of “draft”… of the “hops” persuasion.
Instead of bottles and cans at your Draft Day party, why not try a beverage dispenser (or, using a term I haven’t heard since college, a kegerator)?!
The Krups Beertender at $99.00 is a nice, entry level, accessible model. It’s small enough to fit on your countertop and can be easily stored away when you aren’t using it. One downside is that you can only use it with Heineken 5L DraughtKegs. But if you like Heineken, you can’t go wrong. It’s an easy way for guests to serve themselves and it is likely to be a good conversation piece!
Krups Beertender
If this model is too “pedestrian” for you, you can always go for the cadillac of kegerators: Viking’s 24″ Built-in Beverage Dispenser. It can accommodate a half barrel of whatever beer you can order.
Viking's Built-in Beverage Dispenser
After you’ve setup your beverage dispenser, you’ll want to set out some glassware for your guests. Chilled mugs are always appreciated. I particularly love these pint glasses from Sur La Table.
Pallino Ottimista/Pessimista Beer Glasses from Sur La Table
Baccarat and beer seem like an unlikely pairing to me … but, nonetheless, these Baccarat Oenology Pilsner-style beer mugs are beautiful.
Baccarat Oenology Beer Mug, available through Geary's
Finally, I remember traveling in Belgium years ago and being amazed at how each brand and type of beer was served in its own special glass designed specifically by the brewery to ensure optimal flavor. While not quite to that extent, this collection of glasses follows that line of thinking. The set includes a glass each for pilsners, wheats, ales, and stouts.
Mikasa "Brewmaster's Collection" Varietal Glasses, Set of 4, available at Macy's
With all of our “Draught Day” equipment, I think we are ready to watch Round One and hope for the best for our teams…
Go Patriots! (Skins fans, no taunts or jibes, please!)
French fries are a weakness of mine. I wish I could be as disciplined as my friends who choose a side salad over fries with their sandwich or burger… but I just can’t! And when they are labeled “frites” on the menu, forget it — they somehow become even more irresistable!
Serving “cones” of fries at parties is not a new thing. Caterers often fold parchment or other paper into a cone and present the fries in the cones. That’s easy enough to do at home, as well, but now it’s even easier…
I spotted these wire containers on Crate & Barrel’s site recently… just in time for summer BBQs! I am pretty sure the Truffled French Fries featured on Epicurious would fit very well in one of these!
Bon Appetit!
French Fry Holder & Burger Basket with Liners, from Crate & Barrel
french fries presented in a wire cone with fun paper
When faced with the choice between a cocktail, a glass of wine, or a flute of champagne, I will choose the latter every time. There is something so festive and refined about champagne, and a good champagne flatters the tongue with its effervescence.
It’s really no surprise, then, that Maria C. Hunt‘sThe Bubbly Bar: Champagne and Sparkling Wine Cocktails for Every Occasionis very likely to be the next book added to my library. Hunt has designed custom champagne cocktails for Preston Bailey, Alicia Silverstone, Hall & Oates, and countless brides and grooms — each using fresh ingredients combined in sophisticated ways.
The Bubbly Bar, available at Amazon.com
Specialty cocktails and signature drinks are a great way to personalize a party. Serving them as guests arrive, along with sparkling water for those who may not wish to partake, is a welcoming touch.
Champagne Bars are another stylish way to serve the bubbly beverage. Offering fresh fruit juices, herbs, and speciality liqueurs to complement the champagne adds a creative and interactive element to a party.
At the Washingtonian Bride & Groom’s Unveiled event recently, Design Cuisine offered a version of a Champagne Bar and included herbs in their list of ingredients. I love how they displayed them — a great focal point for the Bar. (Forgive the iPhone photo!)
Herb "tree" from Design Cuisine
Try a Champagne Bar at your next gathering. Let me know how it goes!
