Review - Cashion's Eat Place

Brunch has never been a big deal to me. I'm usually up in time to have breakfast, and end up hungry for an actual lunch. But as I've been spending more time over the weekends hanging with Agatha and co., brunch has begun to enter my eating schedule.

I've passed Cashion's Eat Place a number of times, but decided that today would be a perfect time to give a new restaurant (for me) a shot for a new meal (again, for me) - I made the right call.

The atmosphere inside Cashion's is incredibly comfortable. The space is seemingly small, but very open. High ceilings and open windows make even the deepest parts of the restaurant seem spacious.

Cashion's brunch menu is fairly limited, but filled with plenty of great options. I decided upon the bison burger, which was actually a good sized hunk of ground bison sitting atop a grilled tomato with a fried egg and bernaise sauce, served with home fries.

The bison was very flavorful, but served to me well done, not medium as I asked. Fortunately, the bison was the only misstep on the kitchen's part, as everything else was right on (including the two bowls of very good crusty bread that we went through pretty quickly).

Included in that everything else was Agatha's greek yogurt with local blackberries and granola. THe blackberries looked perfect, and the granola was home made. Agatha made a point to compliment the yogurt, which she said was particularly good.

Steve decided upon the two eggs with potatoes and sausage. I'll have to admit, I didn't ask Steve about his dish, but he seemed pretty happy about everything.

Cashion's isn't the cheapest place for brunch. I spent around $15 for my dish, and Steve and Ags paid about $12 a piece for theirs, but it's certainly one of my favorite places I've been to for bruch, and a place I certainly intend to visit again.

(Side note: I know I might be behind the times on this one, but I think I remember hearing from several different sources that Cashion's is moving - probably on Tom's chat. I hope wherever Ann Cashion decides to move it, it's metro accessable.)

First Taste - Ardeo Restaurant

If you've known me for over a year or so now, you've probably had a drink or two with me at Nanny O'Brien's (when Nannys didn't suck, when it still smelled horrible, and when you couldn't breathe for a week after because the smoke was so thick - oh those were the days!).



Furthermore, if you know me really well, you've probably stumbled out of Nannys with me, and noticed a little restaurant next door called Ardeo. I've always been curious about Ardeo - but never bothered to try it out.

My loss.

The dinner, while there were some stumbles, was simply fantastic. The service was on the money, Chef Trent Conry's menu was well thought out, and Sommelier Lesley Gallagher's wine presentation was very informative.

The meal started out with a chioggia beet salad, with large pieces of sweet chioggia beets with avocado, sun gold tomatoes, micro basil, a pomegranate-saba reduction, and an yuzu gelee that really tied everything together nicely. The dish was very refreshing, but also had some weight to it, which created a nice balance.

The second course was a roasted halibut with brussel sprout leaves, parsnips, and lentils (i.e., fish with green stuff). Honestly, I would have been quite satisfied with just the fish (though the brussel sprouts were really good). The halibut was rediculously fresh, only two days from the water according to Chef Conry, and was seasoned very well.

The third course fell a bit flat, and wasn't very well recieved at the table. One would think that a breast of duck with foie gras, sitting aside a crisp noodle cake with huckleberry extraction with watermelon radish would be something to be excited about. But when you undercook the duck, leaving it tough, and overcook the foie gras, you're going to miss.

The dish itself was a good concept - I was struck by the smell once it was put down at the table, I think the extraction was well suited, but it would have been even better if the duck and foie gras was prepared better.

But never fear, there's always dessert! And man oh man, what a dessert! I'm usually not a huge fan of cheesecake. It's always too heavy and I regret it afterwards - but not this time, oh no not this time. Banana-macadamia nut cheesecake? I don't know about you guys, but I'm in. What a stark contrast from the failed dessert attempt at 1789 two nights before - this dish, so incredibly simple, worked so well.

I didn't stumble out of Ardeo, I walked out quite satisfied, full from a very good meal. I may not have been to Nannys in a long time, but I don't think I can walk past Ardeo again without at least thinking about stopping in for a bite to eat.

Gerard's Place closing, opening again in new form

Are you ready for another French bistro!?!

Straight from the boards of donrockwell.com, Gerard Pangaud, head instructor at L’Academie de Cuisine, will be closing down Gerard's Place and has opened Gerard Pangaud Bistro to take its place.

Below is a post from Gerard himself that will shed some light on the Michelin chef's plans:

I am Gerard and I want to clarify some points:
I already changed the menu and we are doing a smooth transition for several reasons.
The building is being sold and the landlord delayed the release of the funds agreed upon the extension of the lease. So the the construction is delayed.
The canopy is ordered and the restaurant will be named Gerard Pangaud Bistro not Adeline.
This week I am in vacation from the school and I am training people.
I will be at the restaurant on a regular base especially for dinner.
The price of he entrees is between 18 and 28 dollars.
I kept the Foie Gras on the menu (it is bistro food look at l'Amis Louis)
It is my food, the food I love and I cook at home and my mother was cooking when I grew up.Just using good ingredients and cook them well.
If you are looking for very imaginative and sophisticated you will be disappointed if you are looking for good and REAL food you will enjoy your experience.
So in many ways it is open and I want a smooth period where my staff is adjusting.

I hope to see you soon all of you.

Gerard

It might as well be Anthony Bourdain day

From the board of donrockwell.com, bad-ass blogger and author Michael Ruhlman and everyone's food hero Anthony Bourdain have found a way to legitimize the harsh judging of their peers - an awards ceremony!



Check out this link to find out the details, but let's just say that Mario Batali is involved. I think I might have to save up to fly home for the South Beach Food and Wine Festival to see the golden clogs handed out.

I guess I just won't buy food for a week...

...because I'm going to have to pay $150 to go see Anthony Bourdain and Jose Andres host the DC Central Kitchen's "Capital Food Fight", on November 6th.



The list of chefs attending are worth the price of admission alone: Roberto Donna of Galileo and Bebo Trattoria Anthony Chittum of Vermilion, Bryan Voltaggio of Charlie Palmer Steak, RJ Cooper of Vidalia, Barton Seaver of Hook, and Cathal Armstrong, Mayor of Old Town Alexandria.

I really can't wait for this event. It should be a lot of fun and it's for an awfully good cause.

So, to my friends out there; if you're wondering what to get my for my birthday this year, a nice contribution to the Capital Food Fight fund would certainly be appreciated.

(Edit: Immediately after writing this post, I bought my ticket. I just couldn't wait.)