Our DC Food Adventure!
Anyone who knows me knows I love to eat. I only eat one meal per day most days (it’s a stomach thing - digestive issues… moving on), and I go to bed at night thinking about what my dinner is going to be the next day. So when we’re on vacation, I put LOTS of extra care into my meal planning! It becomes almost a game!
The Hungry Games!
Anyway, y’all know Steve and I were in DC last week on a work trip/mini-vacation and BOY did we eat! In fact, we ate SO WELL while we were there that I’m honestly trying to process it all (hahaha). When we go to big cities (read: NOT in Alabama) or really anywhere that has an international presence, we try to eat what the locals eat.
While we were there we ate Afghan food, Belgian, English (ok, probably not “English,” but it was a pub with lots of beer… so - YAY ENGLAND!), Indian, Asian, and Cuban. I’ll tell you what - eating international will really make you question what you THOUGHT you knew about “comfort food!” Food (GOOD food) just makes you happy. It makes you feel loved and cared for. It doesn’t have to be super expensive to be considered “good food” either. A pan of chicken pot pie isn’t expensive to make, but it makes you feel all warm and cozy.
I feel the same way about Middle Eastern food. Specifically Indian. I LOVE Indian food. But it’s really a new found love. I resisted trying Indian FOREVER because of the way it looks (yes, the girl who DOES judge books by the cover judges food the same way). I’ll spare you the details that I had built up in my mind. ANYWAY, Steve drug me to the local Indian restaurant for dinner one night kicking and screaming (hey, I’m an only child. Leave me alone!) and as I scooped that first bite of beef and green pea samosa into my mouth the heavens parted. My taste buds exploded with riotous joy. The angels sang... I was converted! Where have these flavors been my whole life? Right there, apparently… How could I have lived 40+ years without ever having tried curry and tikka masala and NAAN… don’t forget the naan. How could anyone ever forget the naan?
I’m so sorry - I’ve totally gotten off on a tangent. A yummy tangent, but still a tangent. Well, since I love Indian as much as I do, Steve knew I’d like his favorite restaurant in DC - the Afghan Grill. Oh holy 6lb 7oz sweet baby jesus - I think I like Afghan as much as I do Indian! The same spices are there, but it still tastes uniquely Afghan (and not Indian). There’s sweet. There’s savory. There’s sautéed pumpkin with meat sauce and cinnamon? What? Yeah, imma need someone to go on ahead and open up an Afghan restaurant in my town. PRONTO! I’ll be a financial backer. Not really - but I’ll come eat there OFTEN… that’s my financial promise!
Ok y’all... I was totally planning on making this post short and sweet. I’m already a day late as it is… How about if I promise to post more “DC food highlights” on social media throughout the week? Spotlights on some really great food. Sound good?