DC in June, Day 2

Day 2:

I had to be at my conference for 8 am. I slept as late as possible, and headed downstairs. I did have a break between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, so I made a brunch reservation (I actually made it the night before) for a spot in Chinatown called Matchbox. 

DC's Chinatown - all signage must be in English and Chinese characters

We again decided to go ahead and walk. DC is just a very walkable city, and given that we drive almost everywhere at home, it felt good to get out and move. While it did not appear that we really needed a reservation, brunch turned out really great. The restaurant is long and narrow, with a very cool outside patio and a modern – industrial vibe that is very trendy right now. Think exposed brick alongside sleek glass pendant lighting, with plenty of wood and chrome accents. It’s almost a cliché at this point, but they did it well.

Huevos Rancheros Yumminess

The pancake concoction

My husband got coffee and I went with what was essentially a Bellini, though they had a different name for it and added peach schnapps. It was a bit on the sweet side, but ok. For food, Ben went with the special – pancakes filled with coconut brownies, topped with three eggs over easy, and a mass of potato strings. It sounded really odd, but the execution was perfect. Salty and sweet, crispy and soft all at once. Great and totally unexpected blend of flavors and textures. I went with the huevos rancheros. It was not an easy call – there were several other options that looked great. I did not regret it. It was served on crisp fried tortilla that tasted homemade. Lots of flavors going on, a hint of spice, the eggs were just a bit runny (a good thing for me, I like the yolks runny), and it was all topped with a huge scoop of guacamole (referred to on the menu, inexplicably, as avocado relish). It left us feeling full but not grossly stuffed like we would at a buffet-style brunch. We took the Metro back and took another nap! Again, this is huge for people like us who basically don’t have that option in our daily lives.

I then had to say goodbye and go back to my conference. Hubby planned to keep napping and then go get his haircut before starting the trek back to the airport. I did see him one more time before he left, and the haircut, from Capitol Hill Barbers, came out very well! Much nicer than his standard SuperCuts ‘do. After my conference ended and we said our final goodbye, I went to check out the gym. I did some time on the elliptical before returning to my room to shower and get ready for dinner. I managed to use body lotion as hair conditioner. I don’t recommend it. 

I took the Metro back to Chinatown to check out a Mediterranean/Lebanese place called Zatinya. It is one of Jose Andres’ restraurants, who is well-known in DC as being a quality restaurateur and starting a trend towards small plate experiences. I liked the vibe at Zatinya right away. I got greeted very warmly and my request to sit outside was immediately granted. The patio area had a view of the National Portrait Gallery, which I really enjoyed because the architecture of DC is one of my favorite aspects of the city. It was very mellow otherwise, in the cool blues and bright whites of the Mediterranean. 

The goat cheese honey spread

Now, I am starting to realize that this is a trend for me, but my waiter was VERY slow and not especially attentive. For the most part, that was fine as I just wanted space to enjoy the food and relax. He was, however, very warm and accommodating. I decided that given my inability to choose between the many attractive options, I would just go with the chef’s choice tasting option. I asked how many plates and was told 4-5. I ended up with 7! I requested the cold cucumber soup, and said to otherwise focus on veggie dishes and spreads. The first spread they brought out, to be eaten with the puffy lavash-style bread, was on their special menu. It was a goat cheese with honey and pinenuts that was phenomenal. 

The cold soup

The cucumber soup came out next. Cold cucumber soup is a must order item for me. This was very unique, with crisp melon balls, cheese, and something crunchy that tasted a bit like grapenuts. I am really not sure what the crunch was, but the combination was just right. Now, my wine still hadn’t come – I had ordered a Lebanese rose. This is where the slow service was a factor. The next dish to come out was the Brussels sprouts. I love Brussels sprouts, but even if you don’t, you might like these. They are not the best I’ve ever had, but a close second. They were done nice and crisp, with a creamy, tangy sauce and little bits of what I think was pomegranate. Next out was my favorite dish of all, and one that I completely devoured and can’t wait to have again. It was essentially squash in a light tomato broth baked in a cast iron skillet with a variety of cheeses on top. Un-f-ing-real. Next came out a huge plate of mushrooms. I had forgotten to mention that I don’t eat mushrooms, and I decided that I would speak up because it was worth a shot. I said that it was my fault, but he still insisted on bringing out something else. I ended up with three more dishes after that – hummus, which was good but not spectacular, a kale and giant bean dish soaked in a dill and garlic broth, and a cheese covered pita/pizza. The kale and bean dish was another favorite. The broth was incredibly flavorful and rich. The pita pizza was also good, but I was so full that I took most of it home. I actually had enough food left over for lunch the next day, which was nice.

The Brussels Sprouts

The I-could-die-now with no complaints insanely good squash dish

When I got back to my hotel, I crashed. I had just enough energy to ask that they bring me a refrigerator for my leftovers, which they happily did. While it took a good 45 minutes, or maybe an hour (not totally sure because I fell asleep while waiting) to arrive, it worked great and did not involve any additional charge. 

And there it is again, because why the f not.