Posts in Food
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks: Pasta & Crab Cakes in DC
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks: Pasta & Crab Cakes in DC

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steak. I got the Lump Crab Cake and Salmon Rigatoni. Is it bad if I say the salmon rigatoni didn't leave a lasting impression? It was okay and as I was eating the pasta, I completely forgot there was supposed to be salmon in this dish - that's how little salmon they gave; I was not impressed. This dish wasn't anything spectacular. I did, however, enjoy the lump crab cake, which was the clear winner. 

I was running a little late but once I arrived, my friends were telling me how they had to wait to be seated and had table problems, despite the fact that we made reservations before coming in. The service was extremely slow and we sat at the restaurant playing the waiting game for too long. I'm not sure if I'd ever go back with my two feet unless I happen to be in the area already and a friend of mine highly recommends we go. 

Overall Rating: C+ 

FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
My Favorite Ramen Place in DC
My Favorite Ramen Place in DC

I told you I'd write about a ramen place soon (re: Momofuku & Milk Bar Post). But anyways, I believe I finally found my favorite ramen place in DC. The clear ramen winner in DC for my stomach is (insert drumroll): Toki Underground! 

We started our meal with pork dumplings and fried chicken steam buns as appetizers. The fried chicken steam buns were amazing! They had a bit of a spicy kick to it, the mayo gave it some sweetness, and the greens and the buns balanced everything out. I also liked how we were able to create our own buns and control how much of everything we wanted. The dumplings were dumplings; you can't really go wrong with them. 

Clear winner for appetizers? The Fried Chicken Steam Buns. You must order these when you come here. So. Good. Yum. 

Now, to the ramen. I got the Toki Classic while my friend got the Red Miso. For the Toki Classic, I loved how savory the broth was with the pulled-pork kick and, most importantly, how the ramen was not greasy. Once our food arrived, for a good two minutes, my friends and I sat in silence and enjoyed our meal as our taste buds started to tickle. Wow, just everything about this ramen was incredible. 10/10 I would go back and this is, no question, my favorite ramen spot in DC now. 

My Overall Rating: A-

P.S. If you're planning to go, which I highly recommend, I also highly recommend you to get there early so you can guarantee a seat and won't have to wait in line. 

FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
Dangerously Delicious Pies in DC
Dangerously Delicious Pies in DC

I now see why these pies are "Dangerously Delicious".

I overheard my coworkers talking abut this place a few days ago, so I decided to drag my friends here after lunch since 1. we were already in the neighborhood and 2. we were looking for a place to satisfy our sweet tooth. I got the Pecan Pie while my friends got the Chocolate Cream Pie and Blueberry Pie; and boy, were they good! This place has everything from quiches to sweet and savory pies. If you're ever around the H-street area, make sure you stop by this place whether it's for dessert or for lunch! Next time I'm here, I'll probably try their savory pies/quiches.  

The Pecan Pie was warm, sweet, and crunchy, and I didn't feel like they ripped me off with the number of pecans they gave on this slice. 10/10 -- but then again, you can't really go wrong with pecan pie. 

The Chocolate Cream Pie was "rich, fluffy, and delicious", as my friend would put it; and when I took a  bite, I couldn't help but agree with her statement. 

Lastly, the Blueberry Pie. Like the pecan pie, they were not shy with the amount of blueberries they gave. 

The slices are huge and the cafe-feel gave a nice atmosphere for my friends and I to talk about everything and anything as we enjoyed our pies.  

Also, now that I think about it, I don't think I've been to a pie shop in DC in the longest time. I'm going to do some research and visit my old go-to pie places so I can do a comparison and pick-out my favorite. TBA -- so keep an eye out for more. 

My Overall Rating: B+ 

FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
Momofuku & Milk Bar -- Who Won?
Momofuku & Milk Bar -- Who Won?

After waiting for the opening of Momofuku and Milk Bar, I was extremely excited to be able to finally try out this place. For Momofuku, the experience was... it was okay. Maybe it's because I was expecting a lot from Momofuku that it ended up not meeting my standards. 

The ramen and brisket buns were mediocre and, to be honest, I don't think I'd come back for more. BUT the Milk Bar? Oh my goodness. It was: amazing, addicting, mouthwatering, just absolutely delicious. 

If you want ramen recommendations in DC, I have a few lists up my sleeves! Keep a look out, because I just might blog about one soon.  

My Overall Rating: The Meal? C+. The dessert? A

P.S. my experience at Momofuku is featured on my most recent vlog, which you can watch by clicking here 

FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
Pulled Pork at Old Glory
Pulled Pork at Old Glory

A friend and I went to Old Glory, located around the Georgetown area. I've always walked past this place but never had any interest to step inside. Why? It always looked a bit divey from the outside, so this place never appealed to me. But when you're starving, you can't think of a place to eat, and your friend recommends this place, you just kind of go with it; and oh boy, I'm glad I did and you can bet I'll be coming back for more in the (near) future. 

My Overall Rating: B+ 

FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
Kafe Leopold in DC
Kafe Leopold in DC

Brunch with a few friends at one of my favorite-somewhat hidden-spots around the Georgetown area. A friend of mine introduced me to Kafe Leopold about three years ago, and ever since then, this place has become one of my go-to spots. Everything on their menu is absolutely delicious; the restaurant, although it can feel crowded, is very modern and clean; and... have I mentioned that their food is great? I always try to get something new every time I make my way over here. 

My Overall Rating: A- 

FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
GBD Chicken Doughnuts, DC
GBD Chicken Doughnuts, DC

GBD doesn't have a grand selection of doughnuts, but the doughnuts they do have are pretty good. If you're looking for fried chicken, a good happy hour deal, and doughnuts to end your night, then this is your place.

I also liked how relaxing and causal this environment was, it made it perfect and easy to catch-up with friends. We had our own little booth, so we easily got lost in our conversation, and because GBD is conveniently located in DuPont Circle, there's an 8/10 chance I would go back for more. 

FoodJulia KimDC Metro Comment
Chocolate Covered Strawberries & Oreo Truffles
Chocolate Covered Strawberries & Oreo Truffles

Decided to make some sweets this weekend and play around with my 50mm lens since its been sitting on my shelf being neglected. Here are a few photos of my Chocolate Covered Strawberries & Oreo Truffles! It's very rare for you to catch me making sweets or somewhat difficult food - I'd rather eat than cook - but this was surprisingly very relaxing and it was nice being able to zone out for a few hours. Maybe I'll start playing around with more recipes (please note the "maybe"). 

Food, BlogJulia KimDC MetroComment
Itaewon (이태원) Korea
Itaewon (이태원) Korea

Itaewon: The place you'll find the most foreigners in Korea and some good fusion/international food; the food, of course, still catering towards the Korean tastebuds. 

I visit Itaewon a lot whenever I come to Korea, but for some reason, I never thought to venture out to all the hidden restaurants. I always stuck to my two to three favorite places and would call it a day, but this time was different. This time, instead of going to Hongdae or Gangnam to meet up with friends, I decided to go to Itaewon instead, and oh boy am I glad that I did. If you're ever in the mood for international food, Itaewon is your place to go. 

See below for some yummy photos I captured. 

FoodJulia KimKoreaComment
My Spontaneous Trip to Annapolis, MD
My Spontaneous Trip to Annapolis, MD

I'm already planning for a food-centric trip back here with a few friends for early 2016.
Stay tuned!  

Life & Travel, FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
Afternoon Tea at Lady Camellia
Afternoon Tea at Lady Camellia

Due to busy schedules, I realized I hadn't seen one of my closest friends in almost 2 months, so we spontaneously decided to meet up yesterday afternoon for tea. It's hard to find good coffee/tea shops in DC -- or maybe I'm just not looking hard enough -- so it was a nice surprise stumbling across this place. This place was very quaint and absolutely endearing; this is my way of saying it was very girly and cute. 

We made reservations and stopped by Lady Camellia, located on Prospect St. around the Georgetown area, which ended up being the perfect place to make kwento and catch up on life. 

They had a few selection of tea sets. We decided to do one Cream Tea and one Light Tea. The Cream Tea comes with one pot of tea and two scones, while the Light Tea comes with one pot of tea and four pastries. Since it was already late in the afternoon, we both didn't want to get anything caffeinated. My friend ended up ordering the Vanilla Rooibos Tea while I got the Ginger Root Tea. 

The space is small and has limiting spacing, so if you ever want to stop by, I would highly recommend calling ahead of time to make reservations. The pastries and scones complemented the tea really well, I was surprised how good they were. The macaroons were much smaller than we expected and I was a little skeptical about the ginger root tea, but they both ended up being great choices. 

10/10 I would go back again. 

FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
Sushi at Sushiko
Sushi at Sushiko

Sushiko with a few friends for dinner.

I'm a huge huge huge fan of Japanese food, especially sashimi and rolls. I've been searching for a good Japanese restaurant in DC ever since I've arrived and I can now proudly say that I finally found a place. Out of all the Japanese restaurants I've been to in DC, I must say, that Sushiko is my favorite. 

I can't seem to remember the name of the drink I got when I was there, nor could I find the name online, but I do remember it tasting like an alcoholic-Mango shake with a bit of a ginger kick. It was really good. 

I absolutely love this place and would seriously eat here every other day if I could, I'm saying every other day because otherwise I'd get sick of the food. I can't believe I only discovered this place recently. I just might stop by this weekend again and grab lunch here. 

FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
Max Brenner post Crafty Bastards Event
Max Brenner post Crafty Bastards Event

A friend and I made a deal to make 'attending Crafty Bastards every year a little tradition of ours. I completely forgot to take photos from the Arts & Crafts Fair, but did manage to take photos of our fondue from Max Brenner. This time last year, my friend Colleen and I thought we wouldn't make it to this year's event, so we were excited that we were able to keep this tradition going for another year. 

This time last year, we were seniors in college, unaware with what the future had in store for us. We had big dreams (and we still do), and with the future being hazy, we both secretly knew that the possibility of attending this year's event was slim. We did hope for the best, so you could only image how surprised and excited we were able to say, "Crafty Bastards 2k15 #ThreeYears #FallTradition." Yes, I had to include the hashtags. 

We did things a little bit differently by stopping by Max Brenner, and it was the perfect way to end our day. 

FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
Weekend Trip to Atlantic City, NJ
Weekend Trip to Atlantic City, NJ

This pretty much summarizes my trip to AC. I warned you, this isn't exactly your typical AC trip. I don’t gamble, so I’m not a casino person. I did end up eating a lot of good food, took some nice photos, and got to catch-up on sleep. Wow, I never thought I’d say that post AC-trip.

P.S. I went on this trip with a few family members. If I had gone with friends, who knows, maybe my experience would've been different. Actually, I know for a fact that it would've been different. 

Life & Travel, FoodJulia KimNJ NYComment
The Capital Grille: Is It Worth It?
The Capital Grille: Is It Worth It?

Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese

Sliced Filet Mignon with Cipollini Onions and Wild Mushrooms

I've been curious about this restaurant and whether it was good as everyone said it to be, so I decided to take a peek myself. After doing much research, I quickly learned that the Lobster Mac n' Cheese was a crowds favorite - the name itself is intriguing to begin with - so I decided to try this out myself. 

The winner of the night was definitely the Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese and I've been daydreaming about this dish; I could really go back for more. I'm not the biggest meat-lover, but I was oddly craving a fillet mignon, so I decided to order this. Like I said, I'm not the biggest fan of meat, so unlike the Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese, this dish didn't leave me wanting more. 

Overall, the food was really good, the restaurant was a little pricey, the service was excellent, and I had an enjoyable experience. Now, is it worth your money? I'd only say yes for the Lobster Mac 'n Cheese. 

FoodJulia KimDC MetroComment
Summer Friday Brunch at Peacock Cafe
Summer Friday Brunch at Peacock Cafe

Since I had today off from work (yay for Summer Friday's), a friend and I decided to stop by Peacock Cafe, which is located near M street. I got the Smoked Salmon Platter, which came with a bagel, cream cheese, Bermuda onions, capers, and horseradish. 

Once we stepped in the restaurant, we were greeted very warmly by whom I believe is the owner. Since the weather was nice, we decided to sit outside and enjoy the very rare non-humid sunny-summer DC weather. I absolutely love anything salmon, so I was excited to try this dish. The bagel was perfectly toasted and crunchy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. I'm usually not a huge horseradish fan but when I put all these ingredients together on my bagel, I liked the little kick it gave to my taste buds.  

Great food, great weather, great vibes. 10/10 I would go back for a casual brunch spot. 

FoodJulia KimDC Metro
Gotham, New York City
Gotham, New York City

What an amazing night. From the Foie Gras to the Steak and of course, Apple Tarte Tatin for dessert.  

Foie Gras

Foie Gras

Steak & Wine

Tarte Tatin

Gotham serves American Food and is in, surprise, New York City. The interior was beautiful, the room was perfectly dimmed, and although this restaurant is fairly big, the noise level was very controlled. I was still able to make conversation with everyone at my table an easily hear them too. 

This was the first time I had Foie Gras and after trying it at Gotham, I couldn't believe I wasn't introduced to this dish earlier. I've never tasted something like this; it's a very rich and distinct soft taste that just melts in your mouth as the sauce gives it a bit of a sweet-kick. The steak was very tender, flavorful, and was right in between medium rare and medium well  done (that's a little confusing, I know). The fried onions was probably the winner for me (just kidding) but they were really good. And of course, ending the meal with something sweet is always needed, especially with my big sweet tooth. Might as well go big or go home, right? 

Ranking of food: Apple Tarte Tatin, Foie Gras, Onions, and then the Steak. I know, I'm putting the main entree last, but I'm just not a huge meat person. Why did I order the steak? Oddly enough, I was craving steak that night. 

FoodJulia KimNJ NY
Food Adventures in Manila
Food Adventures in Manila

Quesadillas at TGI Friday's

T.E Half Chicken at Todd English Food Hall

BiBimBap at Sariwon

Pad Thai & Fresh Mango Shake at Mango Tree

Halo-Halo at the Peninsula Hotel

This post is a little late but being the foodie I am, I wanted to write down the few places I went to when I was in Manila, Philippines.  

1. Quesadillas at TGI Fridays: This isn't the most impressive but I always seem to order this whenever I go to TGI's in Manila. I love quesadillas and would honestly eat them all the time if I could, which probably explains why I always order this when I come here. Also, they don't sell quesadillas at TGI Friday's in America. Someone needs to change that. Just saying. 

2. Todd English Food Hall: a fairly new restaurant at the new SM Mall in Fort Bonifacio. They have a wide range of food, which is always fun but also very risky. They had burgers to sushi to roasted chicken dishes. With such a diverse menu, I was skeptical on the taste and quality of food. But once my food came out, I quickly inhaled my food and drooled over my friend's. It's safe to say that I enjoyed my meal here and would come back for more. 

3. BiBimBap at Sariwon: Sariwon is probably one of my favorite Korean restaurants in Manila. The BimBimBap wasn't the best but their Korean BBQ is what this restaurant is good for. My mouth is watering just thinking about their galbi. 

4. Pad Thai & Mango Shake at Mango Tree: This was my first time here. It was a cute restaurant with decent food located in Greenbelt. To be honest, I don't really remember how good the food was. All I remember is feeling overwhelmed by their cluttered menu filled with photos of every possible food you can order. 

5. Halo-Halo at the Peninsula Hotel: I grew up coming here just to eat their Halo-Halo. This is still my favorite place to get desserts and something I always must have before leaving the Philippines. It's always a great way to end my trip. 

That being said, thanks for all the memories, Manila.  
Until next time. 

FoodJulia KimPhilippines
Road Trip to Philadelphia
Road Trip to Philadelphia

Pat's Steaks Philly Cheese Steak

LOVE Statue

At the Franklin Square Park

At the Reading Terminal Market

Cannoli French Toast at Cafe Lift

Pub & Kitchen's Burger

Over Fall Break (October 10 - 12) my friends and I decided to take a spontaneous road trip to Philadelphia. It was nice being able to get out of town and relax for a few days. We ate a lot, tried their famous Philly CheeseSteak, and went to local tourist spots. 

When driving around Philadelphia, I noticed they had a different marketing approach than they do in DC (although not pictured in this blog post). They have a lot of street and wall art and used pop art in their billboards. This clearly demonstrated the importance of researching who your target audience is and learning about their culture. 

I had a lot of fun learning about Philadelphia and I can't wait to go visit again. Especially for some Philly CheeseSteak! 

Life & Travel, FoodJulia KimPhilly, World
H Street Festival
H Street Festival

H Street Festival Crowd

Fresh Fruit Smoothie in a Pineapple

Cooking BBQ

Behind the Scenes

Deep Fried Oreos

"Melo"

We stood in line for an hour just for a fruit smoothie in a pineapple and I finally got to try deep fried Oreos. We walked around the streets singing along to songs and stopping to watch the live performances. I can't wait to go back next year! 

FoodJulia KimDC Metro
Fresh Conch, Nassau Bahamas
Fresh Conch, Nassau Bahamas

When you come to the Bahamas, almost every local restaurant you visit, you’ll come across “Conch” and “Kalik” beer, which I highly recommend you try.

Everything from a Conch salad to fritters to even a sandwich is amazing and you’ll want to eat conch everyday you’re there. If you only have time for one dish, I highly recommend the fritters and salad (with the Kalik beer on the side).

FoodJulia KimBahamas, WorldComment
Bahamian Club, Atlantis Bahamas
Bahamian Club, Atlantis Bahamas

During our last night at the Bahamas, my friends and I decided to treat ourselves to a nice restaurant. We decided to check out Bahamian Club.

We ordered some champaign to cheers to the end of our spring break trip. The main course was pretty good, but the highlight of this meal was the dessert (see bottom right photo).

The chocolate brownie was nice and warm, the vanilla ice-cream with the caramel twist would melt in your mouth. This was definitely the highlight of the course, and I’d go back in a heartbeat just for this brownie dish.

FoodJulia KimBahamas, WorldComment