DC report (with Ganglians)

Back from DC!  What a cool town.  I love a city that's sensibly laid out on a grid and has a good metro.  I always knew my cardinal directions and how to get places.  That alone will make me love a place.  Add to that that it's a very social town and people love to go out and looovvve to drink (is this making me sound like an alkie? too bad) and I'm sold.

 The metro stations have nice design.  Kinda brutalist.  I don't know what I'm talking about when I say that.  That's never stopped me before.  More pictures after the jump.

 
 This is the tweed ride DC.  In DC it rides right by the white house, which is probably pretty fun.

 I ate at Shake Shack.  I'm not usually into fast food, but I trust Danny Meyer.  The patty was quite good, if a wee bit salty.  I don't like crinkle cut fries.  Period.

 OK, I know this looks menstrual, but it was frozen vanilla custard with wine-soaked figs (also from Shake Shack) and it ruled!

 There's a big Sol Lewitt piece in the DC convention center.  A ray of sunshine, if a bit phoned in.

 I ate at at WONDERFUL tapas bar called Esadio in DC.  I HIGHLY recommend it.  Quite reasonably priced as well.  The cocktail above is made with fino sherry, vermouth, and bitters.

 Here's what it looks like inside.  Cozy.  It was popular and packed, as was just about every restaurant in the NW area every night.  That could be a little stressful if you were hungry.

 This grilled squid was so charr-y and tender.

 Fava bean dip.

 Lightly pickled garlic (odorless somehow) with olives, onions and cornichons.

 cute

 cute

 patatas bravas.  just ok.

 grilled shrimp

 I know it's not  nice to post pictures of people when they're eating.  sorry.

 The spread was worthy of a Roman emperor.  Table crammed with food.  Including yummy pea shoots and kale.  And mahon.  One of the best things was a teeny bocadillo with sauteed morcilla (blood sausage) and cabrales (a Spanish blue).  Fuck. Yes.

 I got this at Churchkey.  A very tart Berliner Weisse.

 Rasta house.  DC has beautiful neighborhoods.

 I've eaten in Chinatown in DC twice and both times gotten crappy meals.  I'm not going to do it again until I get a recommendation.  This place (Chinatown Express) was really popular and tons of reviews in the window.  These are hand-pulled noodles but the soup was bland.

 These alleged soup dumplings were awful.  Look how sad and desiccated they are.  And no broth inside.

 Another thing I like about the east coast is that eating oysters is not such a precious thing.  It's a more common appetizer.  A bit cheaper and not so exotic.  This is at a place called Pearl Dive Oyster Palace.  There are a couple of Wellfleets in there.  I washed it down with a glass of vouvray.  Delish.

 The decor is a bit cheesy, theme-park-ish.  But it's an all right place.

 That same night I had second dinner, again at Estadio.  Just a snack of fino sherry, jamon serrano, and La Serena sheep cheese.  So stoked.

 The best thing at the Smithsonian American history museum is Julia Child's kitchen.  It's very humble and chock-full of cat art.

 Enlargement of a Kliban cat.

Look at that cutting block.

 I'm glad that Johnny Hart made it into the Smithsonian.

 I gotta stop giving the thumbs up in photos.

 More oysters (and littleneck clams) at Old Ebbitt Grill.  It's a labyrinthine restaurant opened in 1856.

 Then I went to see the Ganglians.  I missed Friends, who they all said were good.  They are doing like 20 dates with them.  They sounded great.  Blood On The Sand is such a classic.

 I taught Kyle the term Stiping because it's very useful on tour.  Adrian had just been to a whiskey tasting and was in a mellow mood.  That was one of the most fun things I did the whole time I was there.

 When I went to leave yesterday I went to the wrong damn airport.  What an idiot.  I flew into Dulles, so I thought I flew out of Dulles.  Nope.  Ronald Reagan.  One hour, a lot of stress and a 75 dollar cab ride later, I made my flight!

Back to Sac! Pho Saigon.