Posted By LBJ on August 16, 2010

Sunday,  Season 6 of Food Network’s Next Food Network Star came to a close as the image of Aarti Sequeira was reveled on the Wall of Fame of life-sized photos of networks hosts.

I pegged Aarti as one of my two picks for the winner of this season.  My other pick made it to the top 4, but I believe her attitude was that little thing that made a big difference–thus her departure prior to the final round.

It should come as no surprise that Aarti was a natural in front of the camera.  She is a former Producer at CNN, and she hosted her own web show on her food blog Aarti Paarti, but that did not mask her natural vulnerability in front of the camera that would make any viewer want to hug her and taste her food!

Aarti, wowed the judges and selection committee week after week with her culinary point-of-view.  She added Indian flavors to classic American food! One week, Iron Chef Bobby Flay said he was interested in opening a restaurant with Aarti, and Iron Chef Cat Cora offered to invest! Once those words were uttered, I knew Aarti was the winner!

Congratulations Aarti! From Food Blogger to Food Star! We wish you well!

Here’s Aarti’s pilot show, directed by Rachel Ray.

Category: News, Television | No Comments »
Tags: Aaarti Paarti, Aarti Sequeria, Bobby Flay, Food Network, Next Food Network Star, Rachel Ray

Posted By LBJ on August 16, 2010

Now through August 22 over 200 DC are restaurants will celebrate  Summer Restaurant Week!  Diners can enjoy prix fix, three course meals for $20.10 (Lunch) and 35.10 (Dinner).

You can reserve your seat for most participating restaurants at Open Table, or by calling the restaurant.

Click “more” to view my TOP 7 PICKS for this Summer’s Restaurant Week! (more…)

Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By LBJ on August 16, 2010

Paula Dean, Rachel Ray and Chef Bobby Flay will headline this year’s Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show!

November 13 and 14 the Washington Convention Center will be full of foodies tasting, sipping and experiencing various nuances of the wonderful world of food!  If you have not experienced this event, you must add it on your things to do!

Here’s the celebrity schedule:

Bobby Flay Celebrity Theater Presentations
Saturday,  November 13th at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday,  November 13th at  4:00 p.m.

Rachael Ray Celebrity Theater (Q&A and audience interaction)
Sunday, November 14th at 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, November 14ht at 3:30 p.m.

Paula Deen Celebrity Theater Presentations
Saturday, November 13th at 1:30 p.m.
Sunday November 14th at 1:30 p.m.

Paula Deen Lunch & Photo Op
Saturday November 13th at 11:00 a.m.
Sunday November 14th at 11:00 a.m.

Make sure your face is in the place! (And have your Foursquare ready to check-in.  Maybe there will be badges to earn!)

For tickets, click here.

Category: In the News, News | No Comments »
Tags: Bobby Flay, Paula Dean, Rachel Ray, The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show

Posted By LBJ on July 29, 2010

Beat the heat and fancy your taste buds with a nice, FREE bite from local leading chefs!

From 3 pm-7 pm, you can visit Toyata’s Farm to Table Tour located at 810 Vermont Ave. NW.

Guests will enjoy samples from Executive Chef’s from some of the most notable restaurant kitchens in DC!

Chef’s include:

Ryan Wheeler | Restaurant Eve

David Varley | Bourbon Steak

Kyle Bailey | Birch & Barley

Mike Isabella | Zaytinya

Nora Pouillon | Restaurant Nora

Olivier Perret | Ici Urban Bistro

Nicholas Stefanelli | Bibiana

Paul Stearman | Marcel’s

Scott Drewno | The Source, by Wolfgang Puck

The Farm To Table Tour travels to farmers markets across the USA to showcase the connection between chefs and the farmers that produce and sell locally grown ingredients. Toyota makes a donation to each partnering farmers market on the Tour.

Category: Free Food, News | No Comments »
Tags: David Varley, Farmers Market, Kyle Bailey, Ryan Wheeler, The White House, Toyota's Farm to Table Tour

Posted By LBJ on July 29, 2010

It is sad to say that 1 in 4 children in the United States face hunger everyday. Share Our Strength is committed to surrounding children with healthy food where they live, learn and play.

Tomorrow, the Great American Bake Sale will convene at Capitol Harvest on the Plaza from 11 am-3 pm! Come, support and enjoy the feature cupcakes by Red Velvet Cupcakery, homemade bars, pies and other treats!

If you cannot make tomorrow’s bake sale, don’t fret! Share Our Strength will host other bakes sales this summer! If you want to host a bake sale and support this effort, click here.

Category: Community Service, Dessert, News | 1 Comment »
Tags:

Posted By LBJ on July 27, 2010

WASHINGTON – A study of health inspections at stadium food vendors across the United States found the Verizon Center to have some of the worst health violations in the country.

The report, conducted by ESPN, finds every food vendor inside the home of the Capitals, Wizards, Mystics and Georgetown University basketball to be in violation of health codes. The report found at least 10 vendors with mice droppings in food preparation areas.

The only other stadium in the United States to have as many health violations as the Verizon Center is Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, Florida, which is the home of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays.

Captials and Wizards’ owner Ted Leonsis responded to the report on his blog:

“I was surprised by ESPN’s recent industry-wide report and ratings related to the cleanliness of professional sports venues, including Verizon Center. Since we acquired Verizon Center from Washington Sports and Entertainment six weeks ago, we have been planning and making improvements. Please be assured that we take the complaints of our customers extremely seriously, and quality and cleanliness are paramount.”

Aramark, one of the companies in charge of the Verizon Center’s concessions, released a statement Monday:

“Food safety is our top priority. We have rigorous employee training and quality assurance processes, and we continuously invest to enhance our food safety training, resources and safeguards. Any time we learn of potential issues we take prompt action to investigate and remedy all concerns. Issues raised in past reports were addressed and receive our continued attention.”

The report found 25 percent of vendors at Nationals Park to be in violation of health codes. The report specifically cites a critical violation at one location that did not have a D.C.-certified food manager’s card.

RFK Stadium was not measured in the report.

from WTOP

Category: News | 1 Comment »
Tags: DC, ESPN, Health Violation, Verizon Center, WTOP

Posted By LBJ on July 19, 2010

Welcome back from your weekend!

Good Enough Mother, Rene Syler, made a recipe from LBJ’s Brown Bag and put an easy meatless spin on it using the veggie crumbles from the first Meatless Monday post.

The Eggbake Caserole is extremely tasty and easy to make! You’ll wow tasters and yourself at the start of any morning. Trust me!

Watch Rene, in the kitchen, and enjoy.

Click here to see the recipe. Remember you can make this with or without meat.

Category: Breakfast, Vegetarian, Videos | No Comments »
Tags: Breakfast, Good Enough Mother, Meatless Breakfast, Rene Syler, Vegetarian

Posted By LBJ on July 15, 2010

Did you watch Top Chef last night? Washington’s Chef Timothy Dean was asked to pack his knives after a pretty bland dinner service.  Here are some of his afterthoughts…

Category: Reality Chat, Videos | 2 Comments »
Tags: Bravo TV, DC, Timothy Dean, Top Chef

Posted By LBJ on July 14, 2010

I was just added as a Citizen Journalist on Examiner.com! Please click the picture below, see my first article, comment and forward it to others! You can also link it to your page on Facebook, your Twitter profile, and your weblog. There’s more coming!

FYI-This is today’s ONLY post.

Category: News | 1 Comment »
Tags: Examiner.com, Larry Brown Jr., LBJ. LBJ's Brown Bag

Posted By LBJ on July 13, 2010

If you polled the average American and asked what is their favorite French Fry, most likely, they would utter “McDonald’s” as their first choice without any reservation.  Any true Foodie will, most likely, channel a considerably cavalier countenance upon hearing such a declaration.  In fact, if they’re anything like me, I’d turn, walk away and not even entertain the pointless debate.  That’s what you call cheeky!

Since I’m not a mean spirited person, and I love to use my influence to get people to try new things, I’d probably persuade any chump of the golden arches to trade in their super sized voting ballot for a more refined and opulent option: Duck Fat Frites at Bourbon Steak DC.

Arriving at the table on a double-trio wooden plank, this starting accoutrement is a lovely way to induce your palate to the upcoming excursion of provocative menu features.   The frites are served three ways: freckled with garlic and herb, brushed with truffle oil and dashed with paprika. Alongside are three dipping sauces: oniony ketchup, creamy truffle aioli, and smoky barbecue sauce.  I think I need to back away from the screen and grab some water–I’m salivating!

Each spud stick seems like it was handcrafted by a team of artisan chefs commissioned for each table.  From their temperature, texture, flavor and presentation, the Chef Michael Mina’s Duck Fat Frites put any spud to shame on any occasion! Be careful. They’re quite addictive.  When your server asks if you’d like more, order with caution…

Bourbon Steak DC
2800 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 944-2026

Category: Restaurant Reviews, Tuesday's Temptation | 1 Comment »
Tags: Bourbon Steak DC, Duck Fat Frites, Michael Mina