AGAIN AND AGAIN AND 'AGAINN'

Growing up in DC, I have always had a fascination of all things that are "across the pond." Everything from red telephone booths, to tea and scones, to 'bangers & mash' make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And I remember going to London for the first time and really feeling how "old" the city really is. I know that DC and New York City are pretty old as well, but London - as you know - is pretty ancient. But London (and England as a whole) is a place that knows how to mesh its rich history with the current day, and it's definitely at the top of my list of favorite cities.

One of Britain's best contributions to society would have to be the "public house," or "pub" for short. The British are geniuses for setting up these establishments meant for the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Throw in a little pub grub like salted crisps, pasties, and fish & chips, and you've got one hell of a good time ahead.

In the early 90s, a counter culture in Britain began to stem from the iconic public house concept. As "foodie" culture began to evolve around the world, the British began to take the concept of a fully-operable restaurant placed within a pub. Thus, a renaissance in pub and dining culture in Britain was born, as was the concept of the "gastropub."

The gastropub may not be as gritty as a pub can be known to be, however it is still a place where drinks are enjoyed plentifully. Couple this with carefully prepared food that goes above and beyond "pub fare," and you've got yourself a laid-back, foodie paradise. On our side of the pond, AGAINN proudly serves as a great venue to hang-out, eat, and drink to your heart's contentment.

Pronounced "aguinn" (a-g-uin), this recent addition to Washington, DC's list of trendy restaurants bills itself as a "contemporary British Isles Bistro." Like most of the new food establishments that are popping up around the city, AGAINN prides itself in the sourcing and use of local produce, and meats and seafood that are more or less organic and sustainable.

At the helm of AGAINN is Executive Chef Wes Morton, who spent some time in London prior to the restaurant's opening. There he found inspiration for many of the restaurant's offerings. He also brings a wealth of experience from some of the restaurant world's top spots like Thomas Keller's Yountville, CA mainstay - French Laundry, Michel Richard's DC restaurant maven - Citronelle, and Houston's award-winning *17 restaurant at the Alden Hotel.

Like most of the city's new restaurants, it capitalizes on an industrialized space: stone & wood floors, dark metal accents, and dim lighting. Hardwood table tops line the glass-windowed walls along the side of the restaurant, while booths and banquettes occupy the middle --giving that added touch of comfort that you'd usually find in a classic pub. The bar area is bustling, and the libations are plentiful. Beer on tap, beer in bottles, and top shelf alcohol (along with well selections) are of importance here. Like any restaurant, an extensive wine list is offered, as well as an interesting "Scotch List" which is sure to bring out the Englishman in all of us. At the bar I ordered a Manhattan as I waited for my table, and I can honestly say that the attention to detail that the mixologist gave to my drink perhaps made it the absolute best Manhattan (with Maker's) that I've ever had.

Public House elements: a partial view of one of several dining areas, and the Scotch collection

The food, just as well, was not a disappointment. My friends and I decided to partake in the 'restaurant week' menu that was being offered. Two of us decided to start with the pan-seared diver scallops, which were served on a bed of sunchoke puree & watercorss broth, with parsnip crisps as a garnish. The scallops were cooked perfectly, and were 'melt-in-your-mouth' good. Another friend went with the beetroot salad: a mixture of frisee, walnuts, young goat cheese, and honey dressing; a light and flavorful start to dinner. For the main course, my friends both went with the Tamworth pork belly, which was served with Anson Mill's white grits, smoked tomato jus, and baby mizuna (Japanese mustard leaves). It honestly tasted like it came fresh from my mother's kitchen; the rich flavors of Philippine lechon topped with culinary refinery. I, on the otherhand, decided to go the full length of the Brit experience with the steak & chips --an 8 oz Hereford hanger steak served with bone marrow persillade. I, myself, am a "fry guy." In this instance, the "chips" definitely took a back-seat to the hanger steak, which was full of flavor and tender. To follow, we each ordered our own sticky toffee pudding; a warm bread & toffee pudding glazed with toffee sauce, and served with stout ice cream; a delectable end to an amazing experience.

Delectable tastes: beetroot salad & Tamworth pork belly

AGAINN also offers a raw bar, charcuterie plates, and is open for lunch and Sunday brunch ($5 mimosas!). And a pub, gastro or not, wouldn't be a pub without "pub grub." Scotch eggs, Guinness-soaked pretzels, and ale-battered cod fingers can be enjoyed alongside specialty cocktails like Pimms Cup No. 13 or a Yeoman Afternoon.

Refinery: AGAINN's fully-stocked bar, and decorative accents

Located in the neighborhood of the city's new-ish convention center, and near other foodie spots such as Acadiana and Brasserie Beck, this DC restaurant is sure to have you coming back again... and again. (No pun intended.)
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AGAINN, 1099 New York Avenue (doors on 11th St.) NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202-639-9830

(Photos from the restaurant's website.)

HAVING MY COOKIES (AND EATING THEM, TOO)

There is nothing that can come between me and my Nutter Butters. I kid you not.

Recently, my 5-year-old niece was over, and she decided to "hang out" in my room as I was cleaning and putting things away. She started picking through all my things: DVDs, CDs, magazines, pens, and even picture frames that sit on the window sill. I was barely paying attention to her when I noticed that I had a "snack pack" of Nutter Butters on the side table beside my bed. I honestly didn't think anything of it, until I noticed Lexie making her way toward it.

All of a sudden, a slight panic set in, and I sort of slowed my pace with the cleaning to see what Lexie was doing. At first, I instantly thought that she wouldn't even pay it any mind. My bro and SIL do an amazing job of teaching the kids about what's good for them, and what's not. I figured that cookies aren't generally a part of my niece's favorite things to eat. But in a second, a flashback came to my mind: The last time I was at my brother's place for dinner, my SIL had brought Lexie with her to pick-up food. When they returned later, I remembered that Lexie asked her mom if should could "...have my cookie after I eat my dinner?" At that realization, I looked at my niece as she moved in what seemed to be a slow-motion-like fashion. She reached out for the pack of cookies on my nightstand, and I turned white as a sheet.

At this point I had to make a decision in case she decided to ask if she could have them. Being her Godfather & uncle, and knowing in my heart that I love my niece to NO end, I figured that I'd just suck it up and give her the cookies if she asked. So in that brief instant, I knew that was what I was going to do. Here is how the conversation went:

Lexie: "Ninong, what's this?" (I noticed the wanting glint in her eye.)

Wen: (Pretending to not have been paying attention...) "What's what?"

Lexie: "This." (She was waving the pack at me at this point.)

Wen: (Non-chalantly) "Oh, those are my medicine cookies for my cough." (Add a fake cough here.) "When I eat it, yucky medicine comes out. It's so gross."

Lexie: (Immediately putting them back on the side table.) "Oh..."

I'm evil, I know. And I felt even more evil for lying to her! But then she got on top of my bed, and started jumping gleefully. Usually, I'd give her the look, and she'd get off the bed immediately. But I decided that she deserved this round since I terribly lied to her just so I could have my cookies... and eat them, too.

MANGIA, DC!

The Capital City is quickly becoming a veritable "foodie" city. However, one thing about the DC dining landscape is that there aren't any specific pockets of ethnic food enclaves. For instance, in NYC you definitely know where to find a plethora of Chinese restaurants, and even the trailings of a once-abundant Little Italy. Baltimore, too, boasts its own Little Italy, while San Fran is home to a quaint Japantown, China town, and North Beach (Italian). Then there's sprawling Los Angeles, with its many pockets of places specializing in Viet, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and even Indian cuisine.

DC, on the other hand, is a little more integrated with its food communities. Not that it's a bad thing, but you definitely have to venture outside the city limits in order to find a thriving ethnic food community like Annandale (Korean) or Falls Church/Eden Center (Vietnamese). And while I love that my Asian cousins are representin', I really wish there was an area that is more Italian-centric.

Nonetheless, DC has it's own spattering of Italian dining spots. They range from the chainey, to the hole-in-the-wall, to the "mom & pop's," to the high-brow. Recently, I was able to visit a relative new-comer to the DC-area's Italian dining scene: Potenza.

Conveniently at the corner of H and 15th Streets NW, Potenza sits comfortably on a large corner that is easily accessible to city dwellers, area employees, and visitors alike. As the latest addition to the Stir Food Group family (Zola is also theirs), Potenza is somewhat of a triple threat, serving as a trattoria, a bakery, and a wine bar.

I had the pleasure of dining at Potenza with two of my friends during this past restaurant week. For a Tuesday night, the place was bustling and packed. I presumed that the crowd was a mixture of restaurant week patrons and happy hour celebrants, but wouldn't be surprised if this is the norm for a fairly new-ish addition to the city's dining roster. As the DC palate continues to evolve to amazing levels of sophistication, Potenza fits in like a glove.

While the dining area could potentially seem a bit stuffy, it is pretty vast with a conglomeration of stand alone tables, against-the-wall seating, and large comfy booths. The wait staff is quick, and all casually sport their Italian "soccer" jerseys. When the place is packed, conversation nicely bounces off the walls, but not to the point of annoyance; it adds to the charm, and gives off a lively air.

A view of the bar

The food itself was very good, with dishes ranging from being on-point to being ridiculously excellent. This isn't The Olive Garden, that's for sure. And it's miles away from Maggiano's. Potenza is possibly the epitome of "mangia."

My dinner party enjoyed the following appetizers: Arancini alla Salsiccia di Cinghiale (fried risotto balls stuffed with wild boar sausage and provolone), Frittelle di Baccala (salt cod fritters, parsley aioli), and the Insalata Mista e Antipasti (Romaine, treviso, provolone, salami, roasted peppers, red onions, tomatoes, oil cured olives in a red wine vinaigrette). Together, the three would've easily passed as a full meal encompassing the strong, delicious flavors of the risotto balls, the perfectly seasoned cod, and the smart taste of the salad.

Our main course followed: Mezzelune di Ricotta (half moon pasta stuffed with ricotta, spinach, preserved tomato and fontina sauce), Coda di Rospo con Limone Olio' Oliva (lemon olive oil poached monkfish, pancetta, artichokes, olives), and Cotoletta di Maiale alla Milanese (Milanese style pork, arugula, charred lemon, parmesan and arugula pesto). The pork was nicely cooked as good as a Milanese can get, but was just a tad bit salty. But coupled with the mezzelune pasta, and it was a hit. The monkfish also shined with the infusion of the lemon, pancetta, and olives.

To end the night - we partook in three of their delectable choices of desserts: Bombolini (oven baked Italian doughnuts morello cherry confettura), Chocolate-Hazelnut Semi Freddo (milk chocolate and hazelnut mousse with an espresso sauce), and Tiramisú (Espresso soaked lady fingers layered with marsala whipped mascarpone, chocolate-cinnamon sauce). The Italian doughnuts would've been perfect with a cappuccino, and the tiramisú was pleasantly not-too-sweet. I've had instances where the tiramisú just wouldn't cut it: either too sweet, or not sweet enough. Potenza has the formula down. The clear winner of this round, however, went to the Semi Freddo... the hazelnut mousse being the clear stand-out.

Potenza might come off as a bit high-end, but with reasonable prices, and good food to match, the whole experience turns out to be more comfortable than anything else. And despite the fast-pace of restaurant week, no one seemed to rush us out of there. What we got was a perfectly quaint, and tasteful, dinner... which is really all you can ask for early on in the week. It is definitely worth a visit.
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Potenza, 1430 H St. NW, 1430 H St. NW, (202) 638-4444

(Photos courtesy of the restaurant's website.)

KALBI, BULGOGI, KIMCHI - OH MY!

This is a re-post from my Yelp! profile/account. Cheers!

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Annandale, VA. As a DC-area native, I've grown up to know that Annandale, VA is pretty much the Korean capital in Our Nation's Capital. (Ha.) It wasn't until I moved to Los Angeles, though, when I realized that all things Korean lead to Koreatown - smack in between West Hollywood and Hollywood. Now that is some serious Korean-ness right there.

After moving back to the DC area a few months ago, I found myself longing for the countless Korean BBQ spots that I had come to know and love during my stint as an Angeleno: Gui Mok, Manna, and my fave -- Tahoe Galbi. I also miss the other fried chicken places that popped-up alongside Bon Chon: Kyochon, O B Bear, or Chicken Day. And I can't even forget the light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel spot: BCD Tofu House. *swoon* Oh Koreatown, how I miss thee...!

Back in DC-town, I really have no other choice but to hit up Annandale. And I don't mean that in a bad way. It's just that it's not Koreatown as I had come to know it. But in all honesty, there are some gems in Annandale that are worth visiting multiple times.

Case in point: Hee Been.

Now from the outside, Hee Been does not look like a place that you would care to visit. In fact, it's right smack in the middle of one of Alexandria's more ghetto-er spots (which, by no means is truly "ghetto," PS). The building that it's in? Sad. The parking lot? I loathe. But you have to get past that, and step into the doors of Hee Been to understand and know that heaven really does exist. (Queue the music, Bob.)

On my first visit, which was actually post-LA (Can you believe it?), I was a skeptic. But as soon as I entered the doors, and the familiar smells came wafting at me, I almost instantaneously bowed to the greeter and an almost-fluent "an-nyeong-ha-se-yo" left my lips. Like clockwork, I got bowed back to, and was quickly ushered to my table. I felt like I was back on Wilshire and Grammercy again. (sniff)

Scenes from Hee Been

Hee Been is a Korean buffet, much in the same fashion that those Chinese buffets are set-up. Hee Been is obviously better, with less dishes to choose from (which I actually heart), and a raw meat bar where you pretty much pick-and-choose what you'd like instead of the waitstaff constantly bringing meats to you. Oh, there's also a sushi bar, which is a joke. One thing I've learned while being in L.A. is that you cannot trust sushi at a Korean-owned spot. It is just not the same!

I was a little unnerved at the fact that I had to get my own panchan*. I'm used to the servers bringing them on little plates, and spreading them out all over the table. But this is a "buffet" after all, so you're pretty much on your own - except for the cooking part. While they didn't have any panchan that I wanted to sing and dance about, everything was OK. The choice of meats was fine - the pork belly and bulgogi being my favorites. And the buffet dishes were diverse. How do you not love pa-jeon, malgeunguk, and tempura sweet potatoes?

The waitstaff was super nice compared to what I remember of Koreatown in L.A. I feel like in K-Town, it was almost normal to have a non-smiling person serve you, and you were always better off going with a Korean friend to help make things all the more easier (Thanks, C!). But in Annadale/Alexandria, the waitstaff was pretty attentive --smiles and all.

The interior is worlds apart from it's exterior. The decor is quite Korean with the paneled walls, use of dark wood, and decorative accents spread out across the place. There's even a stage in the main party room, where - I'm assuming - karaoke takes place on certain nights (among other things). And there are also smaller, more quiet party rooms in the back, where we held my mom's surprise birthday lunch last month.

Hee Been is definitely an OK spot. I'd rather go there than Gooldaegee (Honey Pig), which I'll save for another review. As I continue to find my little piece of L.A.'s Koreatown in Our Nation's Capital, Hee Been will have to be my go-to spot for now. This I don't mind so much.
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Hee Been, 6231 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312-1716, (703) 941-3737

(Photos courtesy of the restaurant's web page.)