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Food.Fun.Stuff: Fall Is Near

September 1, 2010 By Johnna Leave a Comment

Fall is about a week away from my life and the thought of cooler temperatures confirms I might be walking around with a undiagnosed disorder: seasonal depression. Cold weather honestly changes my, and what seems like 50% of the DMV’s, attitudes. Lucky for me I live in a city that has a host of events that makes the adjustment a tad easier with warm cocktails and nifty little treats. So here we go:

>>>Tomato Feast- The Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival is an annual reception celebrating regional produce of the Mid-Atlantic by pairing top area farmers with leading area chefs with enthusiastic home gardeners and cooks with tomato tastings and wine pairings. Each year the event will showcase a “red” fruit and 2010 kicks off with the TOMATO. I’m working on my tomato recipe as we speak…

The Who: Hosted by The International Wine & Food Festival

The What: The Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival

When: Friday, September 24, 2010 from 6-8 p.m.

Where: Woodrow Wilson Plaza at the International Trade Center and Ronald Reagan Building

>>>Lobster and Beer pair up this Thursday- Chinatown Coffee Company and Red Hook Lobster Pound DC team up for “Lobster Roll and Beer Happy Hour.” Red Hook Lobster Truck will be parked outside of Chinatown Coffee Co., on the corner of 5th and H Street, NW, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Thursday, September 2, 2010. In celebrating its new liquor license, Chinatown Coffee will be offering $3 Lagunitas IPA, Dale’s Pale Ale and an assortment of different wines.

>>>Learn how to mix up Fall/Winter cocktails with Againn mixologist, JP Caceres. For $35 a pop, guests will learn the art of mixing the perfect cocktail and Caceres will offer a history lesson on the origins of the world’s most popular libations, starting with the first known cocktail and ending with a personal DC favorite.

The When: September 15, 2010 @ 6:30 pm

The Where: Againn, 1099 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

>>>Ladies Unite! On October 3, 2010 (*5 pm-8 pm), over 30 leading women chefs will unite for an “indoor food festival” @ Willow Restaurant. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased here. Foods will range from crepes made to order to an array of wines, beers and spirits.

Filed Under: Announcements, Food.Fun.Stuff., Washington D.C.

And The Winner Is…

September 1, 2010 By Johnna Leave a Comment

And the Winner is…Drum Roll, please…Amanda!! After thumbing through the cute, quirky phrases for the biz card giveaway, I thought this one stood out the most: “Sweat is the New Black”. As a contributor to the blog Candid FitNut, Amanda thought this phrase matched perfectly to the theme of the blog in efforts to get recipients pumped about exercising. Just the way a little black dress is necessary for every women’s closet, so is sweat from exercise in everyone’s weekly regimen. Go fit!

Congrats to our Winner and thank you to all who made submissions!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Etiquette Tuesday: Cheapskate

August 31, 2010 By Johnna 6 Comments

This week will be easy: do not leave with what you brought. For some of us, this is the no-brainer etiquette tip…for others not so much. After venturing to another 30-something b-day party, I made my way around the party just enough to engage in some good ‘ole Etiquette Tuesday talk. This one particular guest was charming, funny and offered the serenity needed in this 30 and older house party. This guest, however, thought it would be a good idea to snag that bottle of Jack Daniel’s that they brought to the party as they headed out the door. Now we laughed and joked at this concept but seriously…this is bad etiquette.

When you go to a party/soiree/kickback/etc. and you bring a bottle/dish/etc., it should not leave with you. It is at the very least a kind way of saying “Thank You” to the host for opening their home to you and your guests for the event. If you feel what you brought is worth more than what you got from the party, then consider a cheaper bottle of wine or liquour for the next swaray but for tonight, leave the bottle at the host/hostess house. When you snag the bottle on the way out the door, there are a few terms that come to mind: cheap, tacky and hmm, inconsiderate. I have a friend or two with this terrible habit and they have been coined the “cheapo’s”, which is not a name you want attached to the tact resume. It’s ok to be cheap, but do this on your own time and maybe stay home when you feel you need to carry the bottle back home with you…

Filed Under: Food.Fun.Stuff.

Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta

August 30, 2010 By Johnna 1 Comment

In the kitchen again! And this time, I took pictures (*pretty good if I say so myself). Being a food blogger is more than just cooking and eating…it’s actually visualizing, knowing the right lighting and the perfect camera to buy and the list goes on and on. Needless to say when I started Johnna Knows Good Food three years ago, I did not know this would be the equivalent of a full-time, part-time job. I love every minute of it.

Below is my attack back to the kitchen while also creating my version of the Julie and Julia bruschetta recipe that will hopefully make the cut on Endless Simmer’s 100 Ways to Use a Tomato (*fingers crossed):

16 oz. heirloom tomatoes (*can be found at your local farmers market when in season)

1- 24″ French baguette bread (*cut into 1″ slices)

Kosher Salt

Fresh Ground Pepper

1 tbsp. chopped garlic

1 garlic clove (*peeled and halved)

1/4 cup fresh basil (*chopped)

Truffle Olive Oil (*Suggested: Olevano Truffle Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

Rinse tomatoes.

Cut all the tomatoes in half.

Chop up the basil.

Toss the tomatoes with the chopped basil, about 2 tbsp. of the truffle olive oil, salt and pepper (*to taste). Set aside.

In a skillet, add the chopped garlic clove and about 2 tbsp. olive oil. If you need additional olive oil to coat the pan, feel free to add.

Add the sliced french bread to the pan and brown on both sides.

Once browned, rub each side of the bread with the halved garlic cloves.

Spoon on tomato mixture…

And Enjoy!

*Johnna’s tip: Unless you and your guests are prepared to eat the bruschetta immediately, I suggest keeping the tomato mixture seperate from the bread because it will become soggy. Serve the tomato mixture in one bowl and the bread on another serving platter. Be prepared to get a little messy!

Filed Under: appetizers, finger-foods, vegetarian

World Tour: Viva Las Hot Dogs!

August 27, 2010 By Archele 2 Comments

When most people think of Las Vegas, they probably think of bright lights, casinos, great shows, late nights and all that other great stuff that happens AND stays in Vegas. When I think of Vegas, I think of something that I wish didn’t have to stay in Vegas- Pink’s Hot Dogs.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy all the other great things that Vegas has to offer as well, but on my past two trips to Vegas, as soon as I land, I look forward to grabbing a delicious Pink’s hot dog. Now, I am aware that the original and infamous Pink’s restaurant is located in California; unfortunately, I haven’t had the great fortune of a visit yet. But let me just say this, if the original Pink’s serves up hot dogs better than the restaurant in Vegas, I just may have to move to Cali- they’re THAT good! This place has taken an American treat and flipped it on its head, offering delicious variations and combinations. My personal fave, the Bacon Chili Cheese Dog, is a delicious beef hot dog topped with bacon, chili, cheese, tomatoes, mustard & onions. I subbed the onions for mushrooms and enjoyed what would be one of my fondest (among many) memories of Vegas- hot dogs.

My plan is to hunt down a cheap flight and head over to Cali within the next year so that I can visit the birthplace of the beloved Pink’s hot dogs. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a good deal from American Airlines, because I’m definitely hoping to go sooner than later!

Filed Under: Food.Fun.Stuff., World Tour

Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now!

August 26, 2010 By Johnna 3 Comments

Ready. Set. Go. I love giveaways! Especially when they include something that can actually be useful to my readers. If you are in any type of social network, you know the necessity of a business card. A good business card can get you a job, a wedding ring, the love of your life or more…Ok, I may be exaggerating with the love stuff but it will at least keep you in the rolodex. For a food blogger, a business card is key…you need some way to remember all these blogs! Courtesy printing company, UPrinting, this months giveaway is sure to please the foodie and the like.

Simple and to the point: Send me your best tag line for your biz cards and the person with the best phrase will take home…(drum roll, please)…500 Business Cards for One Winner!! UPrinting will provide the business card printing for the lucky winner.

*Details: 500 Premium Business Cards, 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card), 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock, Full Color Both Sides; Winner must be a U.S. citizen and 18 yrs. or older; Giveaway submissions end on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at Midnight.

*Disclosure Statement: This giveaway is provided courtesy an offer from UPrinting Company. Johnna Knows Good Food will recieve a set of business cards from UPrinting as a thank you for hosting this giveaway. Johnna Knows Good Food does not have any affiliation with this company other than for the purposes of this giveaway.

Filed Under: Announcements, Food.Fun.Stuff.

Flawlessly Flourless Brownies

August 26, 2010 By Johnna Leave a Comment

What are the benefits of leaving flour out of your brownies?

You’ll have fudgy, smooth, lump-free chocolate delights that will have friends wondering what your secret is. When you use cornstarch instead of flour, you’re using the preferred thickener in puddings and custards, so your brownies will be naturally moist and consistent in texture.

As an added bonus, any of your friends who might be on a gluten-free diet will be begging for this recipe!

Ingredients

½ cup butter
¼ cup cocoa powder
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
¼ cup cornstarch
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips
½ cup nuts, if desired

Instructions

1. Lightly grease an 8×8 pan.

2. Preheat your oven to 350°.

3. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl.

4. Whisk in the cocoa powder.

5. Stir in the brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

6. Mix the salt and baking soda into the measuring cup of cornstarch.

7. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts, if desired.

8. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

9. Let cool and enjoy.

*Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident education blogger and performs research surrounding College Scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming and avoiding her laptop.

Photo: Public Domain
URL: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/3140138494_2e3f6ea115.jpg

Filed Under: Food.Fun.Stuff., Various Cooking Styles, sweets

Wednesday Guest Post: Ted’s Bulletin Recap

August 25, 2010 By Johnna 1 Comment

I love my readers. They honestly inspire me to eat more, write more and see more in the food world. One of my readers recently shared their experience at a local eatery that I have raved about since I tasted my first milkshake at this spot. As an old friend of mines used to say (*I think he actually coined this phrase) “That’s what’s up”…well Ted’s Bulletin is “What’s Up”. They serve breakfast all day. #Win. They serve enough flavors of milkshakes that you won’t get bored with them. #Win. Last but not least, they serve a Sammy that I cannot seem to shake. #Win. Enough about what I think, below is the impromptu review I received from a foodie and loyal reader:

“We made it a family night out. My hubby had a turkey burger—he said it was good, but he prefers Rogue States. It came with this DELICIOUS homemade salsa. Fries fried in peanut oil always win in my book. I had the best chicken fried steak in my LIFE there. The sirloin was not over cooked and they did not drench it in so much gravy that you could not appreciate the crispiness of the steak. It came with roasted brussel sprouts that were dolloped with a little blue cheese and apple-wood bacon. I did not like the mac and cheese because it was the soupy type, not the cake type—it did not taste bad, but I prefer the chunky mac n’ cheese.

The kids got a burger which was also very good, but the APPLESAUCE, was also the best I have ever had. It is chunky, made with golden delicious apples and they use pie spice to season it—it tasted better than some of the best apple pies I have ever eaten. For dessert—Peanut butter chocolate cake—very good and peanut buttery; the homemade Pop Tart—will make you never want to eat a regular Pop Tart again; and I had the “Twinkie” cupcake—it was good, but I prefer Wagshal’s “Twinkies”. There were so many things I wanted to try. I cannot wait to go back.”

Filed Under: Food.Fun.Stuff., Washington D.C., restaurant reviews

Let Me Upgrade You

August 24, 2010 By Johnna Leave a Comment

The Modern Gentlemen Series comes to Bibiana this Fall. The four-part series begins October and runs through November on Saturdays. Participants will learn about cigars and whisky, craft beers and deft grilling, cocktails and bespoke tailoring. Additionally, participants will learn carving, champagne sabering and the art of a classic shave.

The Series is based on Jason Tesauro’s book, The MODERN GENTLEMAN: A Guide to Essential Manners, Savvy & Vice, and is priced @ $125 per class or $95 for each class if you purchase them at once. More info here.

Filed Under: Announcements, Food.Fun.Stuff., Washington D.C.

Happy Monday: Poste (DC)

August 23, 2010 By Johnna 3 Comments

Back where it all started. The DC Food Blogger’s take over Poste next Wednesday for cocktails, snacks and restaurant review convo’s. This month is really special for the group because this marks the 1st Anniversary of the DC Food Blogger Happy Hour. Woohoo! Over the past year, it’s been a pleasure chatting, exchanging cute biz cards and getting to know those in all arenas of the food industry in the DMV area. Big thanks to Gradually Greener (www.graduallygreener.com) and Modern Domestic (www.moderndomestic.com) for hosting this months happy hour!