 |
| From left to right, Leslie, Tina and myself. |
Day two of our eating extravaganza started at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. The timing of our trip couldn’t have been better because we actually got to see a special access team scaling the Washington Monument looking for cracks. You can barely make it out in the photo above, but this close up below you can see them a little better…
Not something you get to see everyday!
We lunched at the Mandarin Oriental’s Sou’Wester, where the executive Pastry Chef and “chef’testant” on Bravo’s Top Chef Just Desserts, Season 2 personally demonstrated his winning dessert from episode 2 – Lemon Curd with Almond Sable, Sweet Basil Sauce Topped with Creme Fresh.
Chef Petersen was really down to earth and was happy to answer any questions. He swears by his Vitamix blender which is now on my shopping list! I was also interested to hear that he favors King Arthur flours which confirms what I suspected; paying a little more for your flour will give you better results.
After we watched Chef Petersen prepare his dessert, we lunched at the Sou’Wester, one of the Mandarin’s two restaurants which has riverfront views and a contemporary American menu from Chef Eddie Moran.
Disclaimer: What you are about to see is not exactly skinny!
All breads are baked on premises…
We started with Fried Oysters in a Smoked Pepper Aioli and Grilled Oysters with a Bacon Vinaigrette…
The spinach salad with apples, pecans, blue cheese and crostini w/ red onion jam is something I could see myself recreating. It was fresh and seasonal, as we are right in the heart of apple season here in the North East.
Coming from the north, I’ve never had shrimp and grits so I knew I wanted to try that! The grits were cheesy, almost reminded me of creamy polenta which I adore. This is a dish I think I will try to re-create very soon!
The perfect ending to our meal was Chef Petersen’s Lemon Curd with Almond Sable, Sweet Basil Sauce, topped with Creme Fresh.
The portion was the perfect size to have just a taste and presentation was like a work of art on a plate.
We walked all over DC, so luckily we burned off most of the calories we consumed on this trip. Although it seems like a lot of food, we shared most of our dishes and walked some more!
Next up: DC’s farmer’s markets, dinner at Adour at the St. Regis, Little Ethiopia, a giveaway and yes, there will be recipes too, I promise!
Can't wait for you to re-create the shrimp and grits! We have a local restaurant that makes them and they are very delicious – non-skinny, but delicious!
I just wanted to say thank so much for sharing your wonderful "skinny" recipes Gina!! Your blog is so amazing! I absolutely luv receiving your emails in my inbox!! Great work & thank you!!!!
Shannah, you should go 🙂 I would have loved to dine at CityZen. Next time!
I will play with shrimp and grits soon. Won't post unless it's great!
I love this! I live near and work in DC so it is great to see your perspective as a "visitor". I drive by the Mandarin everyday and dream of my past dinner at CityZen. I haven't made it Sou'wester yet but those pictures make me move it a little higher on my list.
LOVE shrimp and grits! looking forward to your version!
here's one of my favorite recipes for it- http://www.tabasco.com/taste_tent/recipes/recipe.cfm?id=379&name=Shrimp_and_Grits
my husband took me to this restaurant (City Grocery) before he proposed. i think i said yes partly due to the shrimp and grits. 🙂 -mia
As a "Southerner" I love Shrimp and Grits! Can't wait for your version. Please do it sooner rather than later. Love the travelogue.
I'm from the south & shrimp & grits are my ALL TIME FAVE!…but definitely not a lite dish! Congrats, looks like a great time!
This looks like so much fun! Can't wait to live vicariously through your posts!
Maria, I hear that a lot!! It's not cheap, but worth it. Which one do you have?
Corey, I think I will too! Let me know what you come up with!
um…those shrimp and grits LOOKED amazing…going to try to recreate some sinfully amazing grits this week…fingers crossed!
xoxo from Trinidad
Recent fan and lurker here. I *ADORE* my Vitamix. It seriously changed my life and how I cook. I sound all commercially, hehe, but it's true!
Loooove your site and recipes! )
That salad looks so yummy!!
everything looks delicious!
You're welcome, more to come : )
Thanks for blogging your weekend in DC! I now have a few more places on my list of new places to try!