Restaurant Review - True Food Kitchen

This past weekend I was super excited to try out True Food Kitchen which has now recently open in Mosaic District, Fairfax, VA. I had very high expectations about this restaurant because I was especially interested in their anti-inflammatory diet that is highly advertised. I honestly thought that this restaurant was going to become my holy-grail, healthy eating go-to place, especially because they boast about "honest food that tastes really good". Maybe some people agree with that bit, but my experience was nothing of the sort.

To start, we ordered two drinks from their natural refreshments list. Hangover Rx (no, I did not have a hangover) - coconut water, pineapple, vanilla, and orange juice. And the Pomegranate Limead - lime juice, evaporated cane, pom juice, and chia seed. These weren't bad at all! They were simple and could easily be made at home.

As for the entrees, at least for mine, it didn't go as well. I am usually very good at ordering and this meal just wasn't what I thought it would be. I ordered the spaghetti squash casserole - fresh mozzarella, organic tomato and zucchini. They used those ingredients very literally because there was no thought behind the dish. It had obviously been sitting because by the time I received it, the cheese had already hardened. As for the casserole, it was squash strands drowned in pulverized tomato mush... Yes, mush. It was completely inedible and I was actually very frustrated and annoyed. I asked the waitress to take it back and I quickly ordered a new meal off their menu.

I quickly ordered a wild mushroom pizza, which was also a disappointment. It was composed of roasted garlic, teleggio, and mushroom. It was basically a fondue pizza with (in my opinion) a few small mushrooms on it. That's all I have to say about that. 

As for the service, it was lunchtime so it was very chaotic. However, because it is lunchtime I expect to get my order out, receive my food, eat, and be out within an hour. That did not happen. The service was very slow, and I honestly thought we had been forgotten about a few times. It was all below satisfaction and I'm not sure if I would ever go again. If you have been to True Food Kitchen, I'd like to know your experience! 

Flashback Friday - Ipanema Cafe

I wish I could go back to last weekend so I can enjoy a wonderful date night! Another great food experience, located in Richmond, Virginia, Ipanema Cafe features very creative and select vegan and vegetarian dishes. However, I noticed that they have expanded to feature at least one non-vegan/vegetarian dish, which is usually a seafood dish. Not bad at all!

We started off with one of their tea selections - African Vanilla Rooibos tea which is South African Rooibos blended with pure vanilla cane. I definitely need to do some research and get my hands on my own blend! 

For our entrees, I got the pasta roulade which was absolutely delectable. I'm pretty sure they used lasagne noodles to construct the roulade. It was also made with oyster mushrooms, french green beans, arugula pesto, tofu ricotta, and tomato sauce. I was VERY impressed with the tofu ricotta - it definitely tied the entire dish together. 

Another dish I tried was the Tilapia fish with vegetables over rice in a green curry sauce. Spicy, spicy, spicy! 

Ipanema cafe is one of my favorite go-to restaurants that has a relaxing atmosphere. It is a very cool underground experience (literally).  It is small and intimate and perfect for quick date nights with your special one!

Casa Lola Criollo Kitchen - San Juan, Puerto Rico

The reason for my long awaited blog post is because I had the pleasure of traveling to Puerto Rico, for the second time! I was extremely excited to go and even more excited to reacquaint myself with the wonderful food. Although I did eat from local Puerto Rican kitchens, for a more homemade preparation, I really wanted to try a professionally prepared take on the traditional foods. We were recommended a restaurant named Casa Lola (most adorable name ever).

Adorable and sexy exterior/interior!

The following bread appetizer and five dishes were chosen and served:

What a visually appealing array of dishes!

•  Arepas - Island flatbread made with coconut and served with a side of a mayo dipping sauce.
• Mofonogo de Yuca with a Vegetable Guiso (stew) - Made with mushrooms, onions, peppers, habichuelas de Lola, swiss chard, and cherry tomatoes. Mofongo is a fried plantain dish typically made with fried green plantains mashed together.
• Planchao of local Chillo (red snapper) - with a garbanzo bean criollo guiso and lemon gremolata.
• Grilled Swordfish "chop" with a classic seafood Manposteao rice
• Chicken oregano brujo pinchos with arroz frito de pina and mavi BBQ sauce - Oregano chicken kebobs with rice.
• Crab cake piononos rellenos de queso crema - Crab cakes with queso cream 

LASTLY, I was served the best cocktail in all of the Caribbean - Sangria! Oh how I love sangrias.... I am not a fan of wine, but if you add fruit to it (and a touch of brandy), I will down it. With that said, it was sweet and tangy and wonderful. 

I was sad to leave Puerto Rico, but I will definitely be returning for a third trip! Gracias, Casa Lola!

Hippie's Paradise - Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant

Is vegan or vegetarian food more appealing if it has an asian influence? I definitely think so. Not only did I have to practically drag my wonderful boyfriend to such a place, but he was pouting the entire time. What a cry baby. Although I do not consider myself an officially appointed vegan or vegetarian, I will always choose those food options over others. Last night, I was able to eat at Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant for the second time -- such joy! It is located on Maple Ave, Vienna, Virginia. There is another location in Falls Church, VA, as well. As you can see here, Sunflower is very popular in the Northern Virginia/Washington DC area. And let me tell you... They take their name very seriously, with an eclectic variation of sunflower items decorated all over their adorable restaurant space.

To start with, I ordered four Cold Basil Rolls (wheat free). They were constructed with the following amazing ingredients:

• Jicama 
• Carrot 
• Lettuce
• Dry spiced tofu
• Vegi-ham (interesting, right?)
• Basil 
• Wrapped in rice paper
• Side of the most delicious creamy dipping sauce

Light and fresh starter

As an entree, I ordered Mizuni Sansai Noodles with the most fun noodles, Udon! It was made with:

• Sauteed soy gluten
• Wood ear mushrooms
• Japanese parsley 
• Bracken (type of Fern)
• Various veggies
• Seacress (green nori flakes)
• Udon noodles (thick wheat noodles)

Great flavors and fun ingredients

The other entree ordered was General Tso's Surprise. This was made with:

• Round chunks of crispy soy protein 
• Steamed broccoli
• Steamed carrot
• Spicy kong-pao sauce

Overall, I'm super happy about discovering Sunflower Restaurant. There are not many, if any, vegan or vegetarian restaurants and it is somewhat tough to find restaurants that offer vegetarian options.. Because, frankly, I'm tired of salads. This is definitely going to be my go-to and guilt-free comfort food place.

A Taste of Clarendon - La Tagliatella

I thought it would be a good idea to have my VERY FIRST blog post overview my most recent trek into Clarendon, Virginia. I was interested in trying a new coffee shop, but to my unfortunate realization, I was actually starving. So out of the many many restaurant options, I decided to settle for La Tagliatella. Located on the corner of Clarendon Boulevard and Garfield Street, La Tagliatella presented itself as an authentic italian atmosphere. Not only is the interior majestic but the food was just as appealing.

There were many pasta options that could be paired with various sauces, to create your desired combination. I chose Cuore di zucca, a butternut squash filled pasta which I paired with pesto (always a favorite). The duo was exactly what I hoped it would be.

The pasta was perfectly cooked and the butternut squash flavor was delicate and really complemented the more overpowering flavor of the basil, pine nut, and parmigiano- reggiano pesto - which is considered an olive oil based sauce. 

In conclusion, I probably would be interested in eating at La Tagliatella again. I look forward to trying one of their other food items. In the meantime, I suggest looking at their restaurant site here and giving it a try!