Support Local Chinese

March 10, 2020 foodfixxeLeave a comment

As we are all aware, coronavirus has landed in the U.S. Those of us in large metropolitan areas like the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia) are prepared to see a higher number of cases. My city reported one of the first cases in our large state, followed by another case in the county, then 3 more cases in neighboring counties. The chaos and supply outages around here started well before that.

Am I worried? Yes, of course. I’m most worried about my elderly family members and those with health conditions. I’m worried about my sister who’s an ER nurse. I’m worried about vulnerable populations in all parts of the country and world. I almost cried last week when my radio alarm went off to the sounds of CSPAN – with a 71 year old caller from Detroit on the line, expressing his concerns about being a bus driver with chronic illness. Those are the people I’m most worried about.

Still, we can’t hide from it. It’s here and it’s going to be more prevalent. We must all be cautious and vigilant but not so fearful that everything else comes to a halt.

But not only are people wiping out the hand sanitizer and water (and toilet paper???) aisles in stores, other ugly things are surfacing.

As you may imagine, one of my primary news sources is Eater. They recently wrote an article about the vulnerable workers in the restaurant industry that don’t get sick leave. When people don’t have sick leave, they don’t get paid if they can’t work. If they can’t work, they can’t pay their bills. This is simply not an option for some people. People are going to get sick, think it’s not serious, tough it out because they need to get paid, and put their communities at risk, through no fault of their own. Don’t @ me, @ your Congressman.

But as Eater and other medias have also reported, people are still eating out… just not at Chinese restaurants. The upsurge in racism towards Asians, in particular Chinese, have caused a decline in local Chinese restaurant businesses. Fear in times of crisis causes hatred, prejudice and ignorance to soar.

Chinese food doesn’t spread coronavirus. Not washing your hands spreads coronavirus. WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS! Follow the CDC guidelines to limit the spreading of any germs (which as you will notice, does not include “avoid Chinese food.”)

And whether you’re a part of the foodie community or not, I propose an initiative to support those small businesses that are unjustly suffering right now. Go visit your favorite local Chinese restaurant this week. Then ask a friend which is their favorite, then go visit that one.

Stay safe, stay well, and stay woke. And wash your damn hands.

Resources:
Coronavirus Information from the CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Vulnerable Food Workers Don’t Have Sick Leave
https://www.eater.com/2020/3/5/21166187/food-service-workers-without-paid-leave-cant-afford-coronavirus-quarantine

Coronavirus Effects on Chinese Restaurants
https://www.eater.com/2020/2/10/21131642/novel-coronavirus-american-chinese-restaurants-explained

Coroniavirus Effects on DMV Chinese Restaurants
https://dc.eater.com/2020/2/26/21154257/coronavirus-dc-chinese-restaurants-peter-chang-rockville-fairfax

Giving Tuesday is Near

November 27, 2019 foodfixxeLeave a comment

“When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence.” – unknown

Happy Thanksgiving fam!

I hope you have a wonderful day and an amazing feast! I would like to encourage everyone to take this day as an opportunity, especially as you may gather with family and friends, to remind you that Giving Tuesday is next week.

As a foodie, I’m naturally drawn to hunger and food insecurity causes. The USDA estimates that 14 million US households are food insecure. Higher rates exist among men and women living alone, those with children, black and Hispanic households, and least surprisingly, low income households. That to me is completely unacceptable in a country that has more than enough food to feed everyone. Greed and waste are at the root of hunger and food insecurity, not lack of food. Sometimes it’s up to us as individuals and groups to ensure that our neighbors are taken care of when needed.

This year I’ve chosen to give to Patriot Pantry, a food bank for students of the university I work at, who are homeless and/or food insecure. This cause is very dear to me as a college administrator, and a former student myself, because students deserve to succeed, and hunger should never be a factor interfering with that. George Mason University is situated within one of the richest areas in the country – the Washington, DC Metropolitan area (DMV). Again, there is no excuse for these students to go without a basic necessity like food, where households a mile down the road may bring in million dollar incomes.

Other examples of local organizations in the DMV that fight hunger and food insecurity:
Maryland Food Bank
Arlington Food Assistance Center
Food for Others in Fairfax, VA
DC Central Kitchen

But I digress, your favorite cause doesn’t need to be food-related at all, it just needs to be important to you.

Have you decided yet which organization you will be giving to on Tuesday?

A Different Perspective

November 25, 2019 foodfixxeLeave a comment

It’s no surprise that most of my content revolves around food, but did you know there’s something else my life revolves around? Chronic illness. Yep, I’m a chronic illness warrior. People don’t typically know this unless I tell them, because I “don’t look sick.”

Without going into too much detail here, on a regular basis I battle multiple chronic illnesses. They started when I was 13 and experienced my first migraine attack. I like to mention it once in a while so that 1) I don’t feel invisible, and 2) others know they aren’t alone, and hopefully I can provide some sort of empathy and encouragement for them.

To lessen the effects of these conditions, there are certain things I try to incorporate into my routine. I do yoga every night, and I know it’s not a cure-all, but it definitely helps. I drink a lot of water and tea, use natural CBD salves, and say “no” when I’m not feeling well. Another important thing I do is constantly research nutrition and implement dietary changes. This is the most challenging thing for a foodie, because granted, I fall off the wagon A LOT!

So knowing firsthand the negative effects that gluten and soy have had on my body, I was so excited to be able to witness and participate in the VIP preview ceremony for a certified gluten-free bakery in northern Virginia – The Difference Baker. This is not only an important step for people with gluten intolerance and sensitives, but for the community in general, as it provides healthy and delicious food alternatives. This facility is also completely soy and peanut-free, and offers dairy-free, nut-free, and vegan options.

TL;DR

As guests of The Difference Baker, we sampled a number of delicious items like cookies, scones, cinnamon buns, and cupcakes. My absolute favorite was the “Everything but the Bagel” macaron – a unique sweet and savory cookie. We also enjoyed cheese and chicken quesadillas. I intended to eat only one slice, but I simply couldn’t resist helping myself to more.

Everything was so delicious! If you didn’t already know it was gluten-free, you probably wouldn’t figure it out without being told! How lucky to have a gluten-free bakery open up right in the area. I’m really excited for this family-owned and operated business to take off, especially as it opened 1 week from Small Business Saturday.

During my first visit there, I was able to chat briefly with the owners. Such an incredible family – they are really going to make this place shine! Check them out now, and stay tuned for what’s to come.

Discovering new wineries

September 10, 2019 foodfixxe2 Comments

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
Wine and paella
Enjoying the vineyard scenery
Cornhole
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
The Vineyard
Wine tasting
Wine and snacks on the patio
Cheers!

Winedown Wednesday

August 28, 2019August 28, 2019 foodfixxeLeave a comment

Happy Winedown Wednesday! And happy National Red Wine day, by coincidence. Last month, during one of the hottest weekends of the summer, we decided to visit Greenhill Winery in Middleburg, VA. I’ve visited several wineries before, but had yet to check off a winery from my Northern Virginia to-do list. After reviewing as many as I could, I decided that Greenhill looked like the perfect match for me, and I was not disappointed!

I’m a city girl, so the windy, hilly roads that got us there were beautiful, but a little too much for me to handle. I prefer the straight and flat roads, which sadly contributes to the reason why I haven’t frequented more wineries. Nonetheless, this place is amazing! The views are beautiful, and I loved the summery flowers around the patio. Service was amazing as well. We ordered a baguette and cheese plate to go with our wine tasting flight.

After we tasted a nice variety, we selected our favorite. Normally I choose a red wine, specifically a Malbec, but that day I was in the mood for something bubbly. I decided on a glass of Blanc de blancs, and we headed out into the field to relax on the large wooden chairs. It was so peaceful and quiet – overall, a beautiful experience that I would recommend to anyone!

Important note: the winery is adults only, which really only adds to its charm. Be sure you make other prior arrangements for the 21 and under crowd!

Road to the vineyard
Summer flowers
Gorgeous view
Cheese and baguette
Cheers!
Relaxing and peaceful
A view of the patios from the field
The path to the winery

DMVRW recap

August 24, 2019August 28, 2019 foodfixxe2 Comments

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
Fresh salad
Filets and two sides with no upcharge
Creme brulee
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.