Tag: food blogger

Focus On: Agua 301

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I’m excited to share my first “Focus On” with you! I’m not a good critic, which is why I never got into Yelp. I’m not good at writing negative reviews, especially about the restaurant business, because I know how easy it can be to have one bad night due to unusual and unexpected circumstances that don’t accurately reflect the place. Now, ask me to write a negative review about an apartment that I spent 24/7/365 in and I will happily rip open a new one á•™(⇀‸↼‶)á•—

Anywho, I only write about restaurants I love – short and sweet, so let’s put the focus on Agua 301 in Washington, DC.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting Agua 301 with a group of foodie friends. The Yards Park restaurant at the Capitol Riverfront serves a variety of delicious Mexican dishes with a modern flare for dinner, lunch, brunch and happy hour.

Chef JAO’s talent and passion for Mexican cuisine is quite evident. Every dish I tasted was incredible! Even things I don’t normally eat, like Pork Belly, made its way to the top of my favorites list in the form of Tacos. Other dishes among my favorites included Chipotle Shrimp, Steak & Shrimp Fajitas, Crab Cakes Benedict, Sopa de Mariscos (seafood soup), and Mushroom Huarache (a vegetarian flatbread.)

We had such a great night of community, eating, and enjoying margaritas and sangria. It’s such a fun atmosphere and the location is nice too. Chef is so personable and talented, the staff was super friendly and attentive, and the food speaks for itself! If you haven’t had the chance to check it out yet, do yourself a favor and go!

Halloween Giveaway

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On Halloween morning, I will be hosting my very first Instagram giveaway! I went back and forth on what to do before finally deciding on Dunkin’ Donuts. My boss and I took an afternoon walk to Dunkin for her tea, and while we were in line I saw this adorable spider donut. I didn’t have an easy month, and it wasn’t very festive. Sometimes it just takes something little to turn your mood around. I couldn’t resist the donut that made me smile.

While contemplating giveaways, it was important to me to make my first one applicable to my many friends around the country – obviously the DMV, but also so many in New Jersey and New York, Florida, Arizona, Chicago, etc. Dunkin is pretty much everywhere! And if you weren’t aware, the Dunkin company supports many local organizations that address issues like hunger, safety and children’s health.

In the future I plan to do local giveaways as well because I am an advocate of supporting small businesses. But I’d also like to include my international friends in a giveaway.

As we head into the season of thanks and giving, I want to say THANK YOU to my friends. I hope we continue to support each others’ journeys for a long time. But for now, excuse me while my spider donut and I get back to watching Hocus Pocus!

Happy Halloween donut!

Discovering new wineries

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Summer is still kicking in Northern Virginia, and I’m not taking it for granted. Labor Day, the unofficial “last day of summer,” provided us with perfect weather to remain outside. 

I don’t remember how, but I stumbled upon this hidden gem in Leesburg – Fleetwood Farm Winery. It feels secluded enough, but guess what?! There’s none of those winding roads or hills that I can’t stand!

They weren’t offering their standard food menu because of the holiday, but Paella Deliciosa was there to keep us satisfied, and believe me, it was truly deliciosa!

We tasted several reds and whites, and ended up choosing a glass of Riesling to sip on the patio with our paella. The scenery was beautiful, but not too far from the road, which is a definite perk for this city girl. 

After two bowls of paella, we left the back patio and headed to the front patio, which contained a fire pit (obviously not yet in use) and a couple corn hole boards. We played one round, and I lost by a point.

As easy as this place is to get to, I’m already sure this will be a regular hangout for us throughout the fall.

(Note: This is an adults only winery, so you will need to make other plans for the under 21 crowd beforehand!)

  • Fleetwood Farm Winery
    Fleetwood Farm Winery
  • Wine and paella
    Wine and paella
  • The vineyard
    Enjoying the vineyard scenery
  • Cornhole
    Cornhole
  • Beautiful patio
    Having fun on the patio!

But the beautiful weather didn’t stop there. 

Last weekend, I visited another new winery for a team building event with some coworkers – Arterra Winery in Fauquier County. This winery was far and took a while to get to from Fairfax, but we had an amazing time. 

It’s definitely secluded, but there are a lot of pick-your-own fruit farms right nearby. The owners also sell their beautiful art there. They don’t have food, but they sell a nice variety of cheese and chips to munch on while you sip.

Three of us ordered a bottle of sweet apple wine to share on the patio with our snacks. While I generally choose a red wine, I noticed that all summer I’ve been picking a white. I guess I associate a crisp, fresh white with summer, whereas I prefer to pair a spicier red with autumn. 

Despite Arterra being a little further out than my liking, I have a feeling I’ll be back to visit regardless.

  • Team Building
    Team Building
  • The Vineyard
    The Vineyard
  • Wine tasting
    Wine tasting
  • Wine and snacks on the patio
    Wine and snacks on the patio
  • Cheers!
    Cheers!

DMVRW recap

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Did you get to check out your city’s restaurant week this summer? I always try to attend at least one because I know a lot of thought goes into planning these fun events, and it gives local restaurants a chance to really shine.

Last week, my friend and I braved an infamous DMV downpour after a long day of work and headed to The Capital Grille at Tyson’s Corner during DMVRW. We chose The Capital Grille because it was close, and one of only a handful of places in the area that could afford to offer filet mignon (my favorite!) without an upcharge. It ended up feeling like a super fancy date night. We were all dressed up and had the car valet parked (no parking otherwise.)

This was actually my first time at a Capital Grille. The atmosphere felt upscale and the other patrons gave off a chill vibe. Service was excellent, and everything we ordered was delicious!

  • Assortment of unique breads
    Assortment of unique breads
  • Fresh salad
    Fresh salad
  • Filet mignon and cocktails
    Filets and two sides with no upcharge
  • Creme brulee
    Creme brulee
  • Chocolate mousse
    Chocolate mousse

Luckily for us, some restaurants extended their RW menu another week. This week we chose Baba in Arlington, since I had such an amazing solo-dining RW experience there last summer!

This year was no different. From the moment we entered the brick stairway to head downstairs, it felt like we were in on something secret. But once you get inside, you immediately know it’s no secret that everyone is welcome! It’s a small place, so the setting feels more intimate. It feels like you’re dining among family and friends.

And the food and drinks – my only problem with this place is that I can’t physically try one of everything!

My RW order
B&B cocktail (made with beet juice), salmon tartare, and filet mignon with a foie gras croquette
Notes: There was also no upcharge for the filet here – score! And I tried fois gras for the first time ever – let’s just say, I will not be trying it again 😛 Call me a terrible foodie, but to me, it smells (and probably tastes) like dog food! I also ordered an extra drink – the Pisco Passion, which I also had last year.

Friend’s RW order
Brazilian Smash (x2), prosciutto croquettes, and Baba burger with fries
Notes: My non-foodie friend was expecting standard french fries, but what he got was so much better – perfectly seasoned, homemade chips. I may have stolen all but one 😛 Friend also ordered a Baba’s Secret cocktail after his meal. He wanted to drink it before asking what was in it.

  • B&B/Brazilian Smash
    B&B/Brazilian Smash
  • Menu
    Everyone’s Welcome at Baba’s House
  • Prosciutto croquettes appetizer
    Prosciutto croquettes appetizer
  • Salmon tartare appetizer
    Salmon tartare appetizer
  • Burger and fries entree
    Baba burger, and the most amazingly seasoned, crispy, chips!
  • Filet mignon entree
    Filet mignon entree with a fois gras croquette
  • Fois gras
    My first time trying fois gras.
  • Cocktails
    Pisco Passion and Baba’s Secret – drinking our desserts

Check out last year’s solo-dining experience at Baba (Click here)

All in all, I would absolutely encourage anyone to check out this hidden gem! Take a group and order some plates to share.

Let’s go!

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Fellow foodies: What started your obsession with food?

For me, it was my obsession as a child with learning about other cultures. I grew up in a very diverse New Jersey community, where many of my friends (myself included) had immigrant parents or grandparents. We always wanted to learn about the places where each other’s families came from, and a common response was always “come share a meal with us.” Over those meals, we not only learned about the food, but we discovered different types of music, ways of dress, languages, religions new to us, diverse cultural traditions, and rich histories. At the center of it all – there always seemed to be food involved.

Sometimes food really is the way to the heart, but for a lot deeper reasons than we realize!

I’ll do my best to create fun content here. This site is connected with my instagram account of the same name, @foodfixxe. I’m looking forward to sharing and learning with everyone!