Favazza’s Restaurant: Watch the Video

A friend stumbled upon the website for my family’s restaurant today–and it reminded me that I should post it here. My dad Tony and brother Mark did a fantastic job here:

My kind of Halloween treat

I’m. so. making. this.

Are you dedicated?

Tomorrow’s post will provide the context for this question… but first, listen without prejudice: Have you ever suspected that a restaurant’s food made you sick, and returned to eat there anyway?

Have you been to Horace and Dickies?

Frank has sang its praises. Now, the TV show “Man vs. Food” and, by extension, our friends at Capital Spice Blog are talking about it.

Now, it’s my turn. I’ve never been to Horace and Dickies, at H and 12th NE, admittedly because I’m a little intimidated. I love the H street corridor bars and restaurants (Argonaut is my all-time favorite bar in DC), but I have a tendency to get a little too comfortable in the area and forget that I am still somewhere that requires alertness. Beyond the typical safety concerns, I haven’t known quite what to expect. But I think I’m excited enough to get over my fear of the unknown now.

Horace and Dickies serves lightly breaded fish and not too many other things (click here to view a photo of the menu), but I’m ready to give it a shot.

Have you ever tried Horace and Dickies? Any feedback or suggestions?

From the Vault: Tuscan-Style Grilled Tuna, Pasta with Arugula and Tomatoes

[Before there was TheFoodventure.com, I posted some blog posts about the Foodventures of Frank and I on my personal blog, including the following Foodventure, which was originally posted on August 3, 2008.]

Nearly every weekend, my boyfriend Frank and I experiment with different recipes we find (mostly online). During these “Foodventures,” as we’ve taken to calling them, I learn so much and, partially because I got a new camera, I’ve decided to start a series of posts about said experiments.

(Full disclosure: My parents own an Italian restaurant in St. Louis, Mo., and I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m not a very good cook. But, perhaps that’s relative. I have friends who think cooking means defrosting a pizza. Anyway, let me say now that Frank does most of the cooking and I do most of the…assisting, observing and wine-opening. But I digress…)

Most of the recipes that Frank and I use come from Serious Eats, our favorite food blog, and tonight was no exception. I first read about this pasta with arugula (my favorite among the lettuce varieties) and tomatoes there last week–and when it came time to decide what to cook tonight, there was no hesitation in my mind. Frank wanted to pair it with “something fishy,” and we agreed we needed a thicker fish for the event. At the store, tuna looked great, so tuna it was. We found a very straightforward, very fresh recipe for grilled Tuscan-style tuna on the Food Network website, courtesy of Rachel Ray.

Without further adieu, here’s the photo essay of tonight’s Foodventure:

Here’s a picture of the beautiful raw tuna with the parsley, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper blend. Unfortunately, the grocery store was out of fresh rosemary, so we had to go without. It did leave something to be desired, but certainly didn’t ruin the dish. Read more »

Wine Wednesday: La Cappuccina Sauvignon

One of the wines I love the most–and I think Frank would agree–is La Cappuccina’s Sauvignon.

La Cappuccina!

I first discovered it at The Italian Store in Arlington, Va., and I haven’t seen it anywhere else in the last two years, though I’ve been back to the Italian Store for it time and time again. (I hadn’t bought much wine at the time and, it’s worth noting that I still consider myself very much a novice.)

While searching for a good pick for Thanksgiving back in 2007, I spotted this selection and its label boasted hints of “tomato leaves, sage, oregano and yellow peppers.” To me, that screamed Thanksgiving; it was eerily serendipitous. Sure enough, the dry white lived up to the high expectations I set upon reading the description, and I’ve been in love with it ever since. Read more »

Have you ever wanted to swim in a pool of jalapenos?

…I have, though I recognize the fun would be pretty short-lived, as this would likely burn my skin. Where did I have such a ridiculous idea? At a Mexican market in Denver, along South Federal Boulevard.

If you’ve never ventured into an international or ethnic market of any sort, I highly recommend it. Smell some new things. Explore a little. You never know what treasures you might find, like pre-made mole sauce, religious candles on display next to ketchup, new vegetables or even a pool of jalapeno that makes you imagine crazy swimming adventures. Read more »

Travel the World for the Very Best Foods

Apparently, this is the world's greatest pho

The British newspaper The Observer has a list billed as The 50 Best Foods in the World and Where to Eat Them. The list has very specific foods and where the best is, like oysters from Northern Ireland and olive oil from Turkey by way of a London shopkeeper, as well as broad cuisines like the best place Algerian food (shockingly, in Algiers!). The list skews slightly toward British tastes (I am apparently too narrow minded for steak and kidney pie), but there are also items that seem almost too mundane (the world’s greatest tomato juice!).

In looking at the list, one thing, as an American, that I felt was missing, was the world’s best fried chicken. In looking at the list, do you see any foods that you wish were on it?

Hot Links: Food Story Roundup

These Chicken Feet May Prevent a Trade War

New York Times: Tasty feet may keep China from banning U.S. chicken.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Lots of ideas to enjoy the peak apple season.

Denver Post: Don’t miss the Great American Beer Festival.

Chicago Tribune: Want to make Indian food at home? Start with naan.

Washington Post: Homemade “fast-food” is a recession buster.

Web Gem: Cheap, Healthy, Good

Here at Foodventure we’re all about sharing the love. That’s why we’re debuting “Web Gems,” a feature that will shine the spotlight on other great blogs. This week, we’re looking at “Cheap, Healthy, Good,” a blog that truly lives up to the name. Kristen Swenson, Leigh Angel, Jamie Green, and Rachel offer up a great collection of recipes, links, and original articles with an emphasis on lots of veggies.

Chlorophyll and Awesomeness Salad...What a title!

“Cheap, Healthy, Good” has a ton of recipes that are extemely well organized: Breakfast; Breads; Soups, Stews, Stocks, and Chilis; Sauces, Spreads, Dips, and Dressings; Sides; Vegetarian Entrees; Carnivore Entrees; Snacks and Desserts; and Beverages. Every recipe has the nutritional information and the cost-per-serving posted, so readers can really see just how the recipe is going to affect their wallet and waistline.

Foodventure readers should check out “Cheap, Healthy, Good” for inspiration for anything from weeknight dinners to brunch ideas fit for company. I’m sure we’ll be linking to more of their recipes in the future.