A Guide to a Day of Eats in D.C.
Breakfast
Royal Palm.
Looking for an excellent way to start your day? Head to any location of Call Your Mother in D.C.! I went to the West End location, and it definitely took the award for most Instagram worthy. The Royal Palm was packed with flavor in every bite. This bagel has a lot of layers in it, so it is only right that each is given a spotlight. On an Everything bagel, the layer of plain cream cheese set a delicious, creamy base for the other ingredients. The smoked salmon had a fresh, rich flavor that really made it the star of the show. I enjoyed the use of cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion which gave it the fresh, juicy ingredients my palate needed. The last layer of capers really was the best finishing touch - it gave just enough flavor. All in all, I highly recommend getting the Royal Palm, but there are so many different options offered at the locations. If you are a bagel enthusiast, this is the place for you!
Lunch
Midday slump? Go to Oyamel Cocina Mexicana to wake up your taste buds! Bring your best pal (or maybe a few), because this restaurant is a great place to get a few sharing plates. To start off the meal, do not forget to get the guacamole. It is freshly made to order, and trust me you will not be able to stop eating it. José Andrés is a genius when it comes to the use of spices and flavor, and this guacamole is a testimony to that. The use of green tomatillo and serrano chile gave it the kick it needed. The crumbled queso on top gave it a good diverse use of textures.
Next up, make sure you are ordering the Albondigas Enchipotladas con Queso Doble Crema. These meatballs coated in chipotle sauce with queso fresco and cilantro have so much flavor packed in each bite. The chipotle sauce makes the dish spicy, smokey, and savory. The queso fresco and cilantro supplement the dish by incorporating new flavors and building layers in each bite. Of course, you cannot go to Oyamel Cocina Mexicana without getting a ceviche dish.
The Ceviche Verde was the freshest dish of the restaurant. The flavors blended together seamlessly. There was an excellent juxtaposition of the fresh bass and citrusy marinade. The use of avocado and tomatillo helped create the complex flavors of the dish.
Lastly, make sure you pick out a taco for yourself! I enjoyed the Taco de Lengua. It includes beef tongue, spicy chile morita salsa, white onion, and cilantro. I definitely stepped outside my comfort zone with this dish, but I loved how the different flavors came together. The salsa allowed the dish to have a smoky, spicy flavor which complimented the freshness of the cilantro. Oyamel Cocina Mexicana has so many mouth watering dishes to try, so what are you waiting for!
Dinner
To end the night, put your best outfit on and head over to North Italia. Your taste buds will thank you. The Spicy Rigatoni Vodka was an absolutely great way to end the night. It was made with al dente rigatoni pasta and coated with a spicy vodka sauce. The heat was not too overpowering and provided the perfect flavor to the dish. The Italian sausage brought a savory element and with the combination of garlic, basil, and pancetta made every spoonful delicious. The White Truffle Garlic Bread made the best sidekick. Every bite was full of ricotta and mozzarella. If I could eat it every day, I would.