Restaurant Reviews: Krungthai Street Grill (Hampton, VA)

Last weekend, I went away with the bf for a short getaway to the Virginia Beach area. Unfortunately, the weather did not hold up and it was cold and rainy until Sunday when we left, go figure.  The highlight of our trip revolved around eating two delicious meals at two very different establishments.

Being that I am a self-proclaimed foodie, several weeks prior to our mini-vacay I did some research on restaurants in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Norfolk, and Newport News to find out which ones had the best reviews.  The ones that kept popping up were Krungthai Street Grill and Circa 1918.  

When we arrived down in VA, I thought to check the Yelp Reviews for Krungthai, why I hadn't checked them weeks ago I have no idea.  The Yelp reviews were a mix of high praise declaring it the best Thai restaurant for miles around to people who expressed petty dislikes. 

There were a few recent negative comments, one of the reviewers complained "the food was good but the sauce was too thin" and another said "they kept trying to upsell him".  Hey, it's a restaurant, that's what they do.  Fortunately, for us we ignored the reviews.

So we drove to Krungthai and it was located in a small, strip mall that appeared to be straight from the 1970s.  I expected people with afros and bell-bottoms to walk out of the neighboring establishments at any moment.  We walked in and were instantly greeted by the hosted.  It was a small venue, I'd say there were about 10 tables and it was half full, which was surprising for a Friday night.

We were starving so we ordered your typical spring rolls as soon as we sat down along with some Thai Iced Tea.  I was surprised the iced tea came out in a large glass, guess that's because they didn't offer refills, not that I expected them to.  It was good, never had bad Thai Iced Tea before.  The piping hot spring rolls came out shortly after.  I ordered the shrimp with garlic sauce (because of my newly acquired adult peanut allergy, I can no longer order my favorite Thai dish, Massaman Curry) and the bf ordered the Drunken Noodles with beef.  

Within 5 minutes, both dishes came out and were huge, hearty portions.  My entree had 12 extra large shrimp on it, yes I counted, which is rare these days when everyone is cutting back, with a large helping of steamed broccoli.  I'm a garlic lover so I relished in the fact I could actually see slices of garlic in the sauce.  (Let's just say my bf wasn't too pleased with my breath after dinner, LOL).  

Usually, I'll eat half of my meal and save the rest for later.  That night, I devoured every last morsel and the bf did the same.  Everything was delicious.  As much as I wanted to try their sticky rice for dessert, I was too full to even utter, we can take it to go.

The food was excellent and the service was even better.  For a hole in the wall Thai restaurant in not the most desirable neighborhood in Hampton, VA, I was extremely impressed.  Our waitress was extremely friendly and accommodating.  Our laugh of the night was when she brought back our check with my debit card and said my manager said, "You look like Oprah Winfrey".  Hmm ok, I've never heard that one before but it made for a great laugh.

By the way, our check came out to $40, which wasn't bad at all.  It was maybe more than someone on a college budget could afford (it's about 5 minutes from Hampton Univ), but it was a great deal to us.

If you ever find yourself in the Newport News/Hampton, VA areas, I'd definitely make a visit to Krungthai Street Grill you won't be disappointed.

Krungthai Street Grill
1109 North King Street
Hampton, VA 23669
757.728.9788
http://krungthaistreetgrill.com




Next post: Circa 1918

Restaurant Review: Blue 44

A few weeks ago, I went to Blue 44 for the first time and then went back again last weekend. That should be a good indication of what I thought about the place, right?

So my boyfriend lives in Friendship Heights, on the border of Upper NW and Chevy Chase, MD, in a very residential part of DC that is definitely not known for their food establishments. From the looks of the places that have popped up over there over the past year, they are trying to change that.

Next to Blue 44 is a great wine shop called Circle Liquors. Their selection is amazing and the staff is incredibly helpful in aiding you to find the perfect pairing for whatever meal you are planning. But I digress, back to Blue 44.

It's a quaint little restaurant that couldn't possibly seat more than 45-50 people, including the few seats at their bar. They have a few tables in the window, perfect for people watching, then several small tables along the outer walls. There are larger tables in the center perfect for groups or families.

For brunch I've had the pumpkin pecan pancakes and the bourbon spiced french toast with sides of home fries and bacon. The french toast was very filling but I loved the taste of the pumpkin pecan pancakes so much more. I liked the fact that the flavors weren't overly pronounced and the pancakes were light and fluffy.

I'd have to say what impressed me the most was their bacon. I'm a bacon aficionado and their bacon is definitely in the top 3 best I've ever had, in life. It's peppery, thick cut and not too oily. If eating bacon daily was healthy, I'd definitely be there every day.

Hopefully, I'll go back soon to try their dinner. I've heard great things about their Monday Night Special. It's a 3 course meal including a salad, fried chicken "with all the fixins'", and house-made dessert for only $19. Not bad right?

Blue 44 is a one of those neighborhood gems, you only hear about via word of mouth or from a food blogger. Also, Washington Post Food Critic Tom Sietsema, wrote a review about them recently. He didn't give them a great score, but don't let that deter you.

Again, I've only been there for brunch but I'd recommend it solely based on that. It's great for small groups and families and those who want a great brunch experience without the hassle of a long wait. The staff is extremely friendly and does their part to ensure everything is to your liking.

Blue 44
5507 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20015
202.362.2583
http://www.blue44dc.com

Things to Do: St. Jude Gourmet Gala

Recently, I was invited to attend the upcoming 14th Annual St. Jude Gourmet Gala which is being held on February 21, 2012 from 5:30 - 9:30PM at the National Building Museum.

I've heard so many great things about the event in the past and have always wanted to participate, but couldn't for one reason or another. Looks like this year I will finally have a chance.

If you're not familiar with the St. Jude Gourmet Gala, please see below for more information, as obtained from their press release.

Led by Honorary Chair and Chef Geoff Tracy, more than 40 top chefs from the area’s finest restaurants will lend their culinary skills to create a memorable experience for more than 750 business, financial and political leaders.

“It’s an honor to share our talents at an event that will help St. Jude find answers to save the lives of countless children,” said Tracy. “On a lighter note, the gala presents the perfect setting for collaboration among some of the industry’s best and a friendly competition to produce the perfect dish.

Attendees will vote for their favorite dish of the evening to determine which chef is the winner of the Taster’s Choice Award. Last year’s award recipient was Chef Scott Drewno from The Source by Wolfgang Puck who prepared spicy tuna tartare-filled sesame miso cones with shaved bonito and tobiko. Additionally, guests may choose to participate in live and silent auctions, featuring items such as a trip to Memphis to tour St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

To date, the St. Jude Gourmet Gala has raised approximately $3 million for the hospital, which opened its doors 50 years ago. St. Jude relies primarily on the public’s generosity to support its lifesaving mission. It costs $1.7 million to operate the hospital every day, with more than 75 percent of that funding coming from the public through fundraising events like the Gourmet Gala. And in keeping with its mission, families never pay St. Jude for anything. St. Jude covers the cost of treatment, travel, lodging and food for each patient and a family member.

Below are some of my faves who are participating in the gala:

Brasserie Beck, Cakelove, Estadio, Founding Farmers, Graffiato, Indique, Michel Richard's Citronelle, Sou’Wester, Taberna del Alabardero, Zaytinya

For more information, to become a sponsor, and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.stjude.org/gourmetgala.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stjudemidatlantic
Twitter: @StJudeGourmet

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering research and treatment of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The hospital’s research has helped push overall survival rates for childhood cancer from less than 20 percent when the institution opened to almost 80 percent today. It is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children, and no family ever pays St. Jude for care. For more information, visit www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

National Building Museum

401 F Street, NW
Washington, D.C.

Thing to Do: From the Bay, For the Bay

Just came across this and wanted to share. I'm a seafood lover, but then again I grew up in Maryland so that's a give in. If you can go out this week to support this worthy cause please do.

Bay, For the Bay Dine Out
October 2-9, 2011

From October 2-9, participating restaurants will be featuring fresh, locally caught Maryland Seafood. Each of the participating restaurants is donating $1 for every Maryland seafood dinner that is sold during this week to the Oyster Recovery Partnership.

To see a listing of participating restaurants, click here.

P.S. I highly recommend Acadiana, Dino, Smith Commons, and Oceanaire, they are all participating!!!

Restaurant Review: Sou'Wester

Since the purpose of Restaurant Week is to try new restaurants out for a fraction of the cost, every time that week rolls around I take full advantage. This go around my second restaurant choice proved to be much better than my first which was when I went to Vidalia. I decided to finally try out Sou'Wester which is located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel located in Southwest quadrant of Washington, DC, hence the name.

It was a beautiful day so I jumped at the chance to sit outside. The patio area overlooked a grassy area where they were just dismantling from a wedding. It was very quiet and peaceful back there, so much so it was hard to tell you were still in the city.

The waiter came over introduced himself and welcomed us to the restaurant. They had an extensive wine list but I decided to stick with a glass of Riesling while I decided on what I wanted to eat. Honestly, practically everything looked good on the menu and it took me a little while to decide on my three courses. I love when places offer most, if not all, of their regular menu during Restaurant Week.

For my appetizer, I started off with a wedge salad but this wasn't your run of the mill wedge salad. It was drenched in a buttermilk ranch dressing and topped with lots of fresh bacon. I'm sure it had twice the calories of a salad that would have been good for me, but I settled on eating something that was good to me instead.


Next, I had the grilled North Carolina shrimp with Anson Mills Grits, Roasted Tomato, Pearl Onions, Felts Country Ham Sauces for the entree. It was just the right portion after having that hearty salad. From the first taste of the shrimp and grits, I knew it was a winner. Prior to having the shrimp and grits at Sou'Wester, Art & Soul was my hands down favorite. Now Sou'Wester has taken #1. The grits were incredibly creamy, the shrimp was fresh and I'm sure I tasted some andouille sausage in there which was a perfect complement to an already excellent dish.


By this time, I was full and didn't think I could eat another bite but that was until I saw what came out. The blackberry cornbread buckle (similar to a cobbler) was served with a side of sweet corn ice cream. I was a special place in my heart for blackberry cobbler and I'm glad to say this dish didn't disappoint. It was baked to perfection. I truly appreciated how they put the ice cream on the side so that it didn't melt into the dish and detract from its rich taste.

Overall, Sou'Wester impressed me from their very accommodating waiters to their superior food and atmosphere. Everything I had was an A+ and it will definitely be going on my list of places I must take guests who are visiting Washington, DC. If you haven't been there, it's a definite must!

Sou'Wester
1330 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20024
202.554.8588
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/washington/dining/souwester/

Restaurant Review: Bobby's Burger Palace

As I write this, I'm still fantasizing over how good the food was at the newly opened Bobby's Burger Palace (BBP). On Tuesday, August 16, Bobby Flay's latest burger joint opened at the corner of 21st and K Streets NW in Washington, DC.

I learned last week that the restaurant was slated to open on August 16th but when I called to confirm, I was told the opening was likely to be pushed back. To my surprise during lunch time yesterday, I saw that one of my Foursquare connections had checked in there. When I did a search online I saw people talking about how long the lines were but how they were excited to have the chance to meet Bobby Flay who was on-hand for the grand opening to mix and mingle.

Since I couldn't leave work mid-afternoon to wait in line for a burger, I ended up going immediately after work with 2 of my co-workers. I was shocked that the line had died down, I was expecting it to still be down the street but fortunately for us it wasn't. We ended up waiting in line for about 20-25 minutes, which was much better than I anticipated.

The Inside. The inside of the restaurant was pretty much as I'd expected it to be, bright, vibrant, eclectic and even a bit retro. The last Bobby Flay restaurant I went to was Mesa Grill in Las Vegas. BBP is no where as grand as Mesa Grill but I could see some similarities.

The Order. We all ordered burgers and for our sides the regular fries, sweet potato fries and onion rings. I had hoped to polish off my meal with the frozen cactus pear margarita but apparently they didn't have their liquor license yet (I was told they should have it by Thursday, 8/18) so of course they also couldn't serve their spiked milkshakes. Oh well. But I didn't let that get me down, just gave me another reason why I must go back.

I, along with a coworker, ordered the Bobby's Blue Burger. It was a ground beef burger topped with lettuce, tomatoes, crumbles of blue cheese and my fav two large strips of bacon. The other coworker had the Santa Fe burger.

So we took a seat, placed our numbers in front of us, and waited for them to deliver each of our meals. The manager, Lawrence, came over while we waited and explained to us each of the sauces (Burger Sauce, Jalapeno Ketchup, Chipotle Ketchup along with the usual condiments) along with making small talk about the restaurant. He did share with us that we'd missed meeting Bobby Flay by only 30 minutes.

The Sides. When the food came out, since I'm one of those weird people who like to eat everything separately, I slowly enjoyed each of the fries (both were crispy on the outside and soft in the middle with a hint of sea salt) and then moved on to the onion rings. I never eat onion rings but these were absolutely delicious. They were lightly breaded and the onion was slightly sweet which made for a pleasant surprise.

The Burgers. After like 5 minutes, I finally cut my burger in half and went to town. My burger was so juicy and flavorful the blue cheese and the other toppings seemed to be just an added incentive. Advice: It was a bit messy so make sure when you eat there you're not wearing white. The thing I liked most is although there were plenty of sauces available (the "Burger Sauce" is my personal fav) my burger didn't need any of them to top it off. It was perfect as-is!

Lawrence came back over to check on us and asked us which of the burgers did we wish we'd ordered. At first we thought it was just a random question, next thing you know we had a hot Miami burger in front of us. The Miami burger was made like a Cuban sandwich. It was beef patty, topped with ham, cheese, pickles, mayo and mustard and the hamburger bun was pressed like a panini.

While I loved my Bobby Blue, that Miami Burger just did something to me. The sauces combined with the pickles and ham, whew just the thought of how it tasted makes me want to go back again and again. Yes! it was really that good, I even made noises to express my satisfaction.

The photos I took of the meal via my iPhone don't even do it justice. The service was spectacular, the venue was very welcoming and had a communal feel and most importantly the food was amazing! Next time I may even ask to be "Crunchified", it's when they put potato chips on top of your burger.

Make sure when you go, you ask for the BBP Rewards card which enables you to rack up points toward a free burger, sandwich or salad. I have no doubt I'll be using mine often, which means I need to put in an extra workout each week. Since they will be serving drinks soon, beer, wine, and margaritas (all under $5), I'm sure this will make for a great happy hour spot.

Bobby's Burger Palace
2121 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202.974.6260
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com

Restaurant Review: Taberna del Abardero

Feels like I haven't written a restaurant review in a while and I am long overdue.

Being that I'm a fan of Spanish food, when I saw an offer on The Capitol Deal for Taberna del Abardero I knew I had to buy it. Since the menu is somewhat pricey I decided I'd go during lunch so I could get more for my money.

One of my friends from college met me there around 1:00PM on a Friday afternoon. The weather was perfect so we grabbed a seat under an umbrella on their patio. The staff was very attentive and constantly checked up on us as we finally came to a decision on what we wanted. I ordered the Roasted Sea Bream and Shrimp in Garlic with Cayenne Pepper served With Sautéed Wild Mushroom and my friend ordered the Supreme and Thigh of Baby Chicken stuffed with Shitake Mushrooms, Scallions and Marinated Vegetables. We also ordered a side of Fried Potatoes. Would've been nice to have ordered a glass of wine too but since I had to go back to work I decided against it.

As soon as we ordered a basket of bread came out. Either I was really hungry or that bread was some of the best bread I've had in a while. It was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, just how I liked it. They already had olive oil on the table for dipping so I went to town.

While my friend and I chatted we noticed the pace of the meal was somewhat slow, especially since we were both on our lunch breaks. But I do know from going to Spain they relish in having leisurely meals and this was pretty normal being that it's an authentic Spanish restaurant. All that was missing was a bowl of olives.

So the food arrived and the aroma had me hypnotized. I was also enticed by the presentation. If there's one thing I look for at restaurants of this caliber it's the plating. My friend and I were ready to eat but of course I had to snap a few shots before we dug in.

My fish was lightly seasoned and the sauce was delicious. The dish also had 4 small shrimp and sauteed mushrooms. It was a perfect meal for lunch because it didn't leave me feeling weighed down. The fried potatoes we shared on the side were delicious and didn't need any sauce and were perfectly seasoned. I really could have just eaten those by themselves, but they were a welcomed addition to an already great meal.

Things got very quiet as we both enjoyed our meals. I had a bite of my friend's dish, it was good but definitely not as good as mine. Hers definitely had an interesting taste, it was hard to describe but it tasted kind of like a mix between curry and barbecue sauce with a hint of cumin.

Since my hour lunch break, had evolved into an hour and a half, as soon as we finished eating we requested the check. Our waiter and another staff person came over to convince us that we couldn't leave without having dessert. We kindly refused but when our waiter brought the check, he also set two small glasses with a creamy concoction inside. It tasted like some kind of mousse with frozen bits of cantaloupe, watermelon, and apple, with shaving of pistachio on top. I'm still not sure what is was but it was definitely good and a welcomed surprise.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the service, the atmosphere and most importantly, the food. I'd definitely go back again. My advice would be to go for dinner and not lunch. The pricing is actually pretty much the same and you'll have time to sit back and enjoy the

Upcoming Event
Sommelier Gustavo Iniesta of Taberna del Alabardero hosts a Wine & Tapas Tasting.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 6:30 - 8:00PM
Cost: $65 per person

Taberna del Alabardero
1776 I St NW, Washington, DC 20006
202.429.2200
http://www.alabardero.com/

Food Trucks in the City

So word on the street is the next food truck extravaganza will be held this Friday, July 15th. I heard the last one was something that shouldn't be missed so I'm hoping to take full advantage.

According to their website, over 18,000 hungry people showed up to our first Truckeroo and all the food trucks had their busiest day since they have been in business.

The event is hosted by Truckeroo and will be held Friday, July 15th from 11:00 AM - 9:00PM at Half and M Street, SE across from Navy Yard Metro Station. You can expect to see 20-25 Food Trucks as well as listen to live music.

Admission is FREE!

For more information about the vendors who are participating, visit http://www.truckeroodc.com

Things to Do: Safeway BBQ Battle

In case you hadn't heard, the annual Safeway Barbecue Battle is this weekend, June 25-26. It's held downtown along Pennsylvania Avenue (between 9th and 14th Streets NW). I went last year with a couple of my girlfriends and we had so much fun.

Despite the extreme heat, we made our way up and down the streets a few times, sampled some delicious BBQ, picked up a bunch of goodies, listened to live musical entertainment (can't remember who it was though) and ended up cooling in the shade with some BBQ. All I remember is leaving full and happy.

Unfortunately, I'll be out of town for this year's event (I'll be at the Taste of Chicago) but don't let that stop you. Have a big, greasy rack of ribs for me.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. If you plan to go both days, buy the weekend pass it's only $18. Also, if you can try to buy your tickets in advance so you don't have to spend time waiting in line. Get your tickets here. The best part of the event is the proceeds go to support the Boys and Girls Clubs.

To learn more about this year's event visit: http://www.BBQDC.com

Restaurant Review: Souk Moroccan Restaurant

Last weekend, I decided to go to Souk, they call themselves a Moroccan Tapas Bar, located in the revitalized H Street Corridor. I'm a lover of all things Moroccan so when a deal for the restaurant was on Groupon, I jumped at getting it.

I made reservations for 7:30, but had to call them to let them know I wouldn't be there until closer to 8. They said no problem, which was cool for a Saturday night. We walked in right at 8 and were given the choice of sitting in the front bar area or the dimly lit cozy back room, we chose the latter. I have to say it wasn't at all what I expected. While there were random Moroccan elements such as lanterns, it wasn't at all like the Moroccan restaurants I've been to where you sit on pillows and the wait staff are dressed in their native clothing wearing a fez. But different can be good right?

As soon as we were seated, our waiter came over to take our drink orders. I was feeling adventurous so I ordered this blackberry whisky & vodka drink that our waiter suggested. When he brought it out I took one sip and was like whoa, it was way too strong. I told him I didn't like it and 2 minutes later he came back with a better, less lethal version of the same drink.

Since, I'd done my research I had an idea of what I was going to order. Although the reviews were a little shaky, everyone seemed to rave about how good the Baba Ghanouge (photo 1) was. So we went with that for starters. Truthfully, I think I like saying it more than anything. It was tasty and the perfect consistency, but when our waiter brought out the spices, that really complemented it and changed the taste completely. Needless to say, we devoured it within a matter of minutes, and it was an ample size for an appetizer.

I'd never had a shrimp dish, nor any other type of seafood, at a Moroccan restaurant so I was pleasantly surprised to see some there. They usually specialize on chicken, beef and lamb. We ordered the Harissa Shrimp for our second course. It was seasoned with just the right amount of spice. The only thing was the shrimp were really small, but at least we got a lot of them and they were fresh. (photo 2)

For the entree we wanted something different than just the usual Moroccan dishes, i.e. bastilla, chicken with lemons or beef kabobs. Once again our waiter came to the rescue and suggested we try the Mixed Grill (photo 3). According to the menu, it was a combination platter of chicken and kafta kabob and lamb merguez (sausage), served over rice with saffron-infused tomato sauce. It was dee-lish! I will say I'm not a fan of lamb so that was the only thing on the plate I didn't eat but everything else was amazing.

I'll definitely be adding Souk to the list of my places to recommend. The food was excellent and the servers were very attentive and full of suggestions. So glad I didn't listen to the reviews on Yelp.

Food A+
Ambiance B
Service A

Souk
1208 H Street Northeast
Washington D.C., DC 20002
(202) 658-4224
www.souk-dc.com/